Board Election Winners
Welcome to APPA's Newest Board Leaders: James Rosner and Louis Hengesbach
APPA is pleased to announce the results of our recent board election. Following a strong slate of candidates and an engaged membership turnout, we are excited to welcome James Rosner as Business Partner Director and Louis Hengesbach as Treasurer-Elect.
Both leaders bring deep expertise, a clear commitment to the profession, and a track record of service that will help shape APPA's direction in the years ahead. We extend our sincere thanks to every candidate who stood for election, and to every member who participated in the vote.
James Rosner, Business Partner Director
James Rosner was elected Business Partner Director in one of the closest races in recent memory, a testament to the strength of the field and the engagement of our voting members.
With over 22 years of experience, James serves as Principal Advisor, Higher Education (NA) at Johnson Controls, where he partners with clients on energy, infrastructure, and sustainability solutions ranging from renewable energy and energy storage to district energy, microgrids, and building automation. He also oversaw the development of the OpenBlue Net Zero Advisor, a GHG emissions tracking and reporting application.
Before joining Johnson Controls, James led facilities management organizations as Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management and Planning at the University of Denver and as Director of Utilities and Energy Management at Oklahoma State University. He also brings global perspective from his service as an Air Force Civil Engineer Officer, is active in the International District Energy Association (IDEA), and currently serves on the APPA Business Partner Advisory Council.
Louis Hengesbach, Treasurer-Elect
Louis Hengesbach was elected Treasurer-Elect as the sole candidate for the position, earning a strong endorsement from the membership and a clear vote of confidence in his readiness to serve.
As the Major Administrative Unit Financial Officer for Infrastructure Planning and Facilities (IPF) at Michigan State University, Louis provides strategic financial leadership for a complex, multi-funded organization, overseeing IPF's annual budget process and leading a team of five professionals responsible for budgeting, finances, and analytics.
With more than 16 years of experience in higher education, including 14 years in facilities, Louis regularly contributes to policy development, funding governance, long-range financial planning, and process improvement initiatives that strengthen financial transparency and decision-making. A Certified Public Accountant and MSU alumnus with bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting, he is actively engaged in professional leadership, serving as Treasurer of MiAPPA and participating in APPA through conferences, the CEFP program, and the Leadership Academy.
Looking Ahead
Please join us in congratulating James and Louis. Their leadership will help strengthen APPA's strategic direction, deepen our connections with business partners, and ensure the financial stewardship that supports everything we do for the educational facilities community.