Thomas P. Ference, 1941–2022

Dr. Thomas P. Ference, PhD, MS, led a career in strategic management, leadership, the management of professionals, career development and management, and the management of not-for-profit organizations. Dr. Ference was director of the Columbia Business School Executive MBA Program from 1974 through 1994. He is a founding member and first Chair of the Executive MBA Council. He was the founder and head of the Riverside Group, a management consulting and executive development firm, and has consulted with and designed and conducted executive development programs for many firms, including the Hay Group, the NPD Group, the Duncan Group, Novartis, and Aventis, among others. He has taught in executive programs in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Colombia, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Brazil, France, and Spain.

He was also a founder and Faculty Director (1976–2011) of the Columbia Business School Institute for Not-for-Profit Management and has consulted with a number of prominent not-for-profit institutions including New York Presbyterian Hospital, the New York City Police Department, UJA-Federation, Holy Name Hospital, and the 92nd Street Y, among others. He was Chair of New Jersey’s Haworth Municipal Planning Board. He was Chair of the Board of the Volunteer Consulting Group and past Chair of the Board of Reality House. He has served on the Board of Bergen Catholic High School and on several other public and not-for-profit boards.

Education
PhD, 1967, Carnegie-Mellon University
MS, 1966, Carnegie-Mellon University
BS, 1963, Carnegie-Mellon University

Columbia Affiliations
Faculty Director, Institute for Not-for-Profit Management

Honors and Awards
Dean’s Award for Innovation in Curriculum, 2005­–2006

Areas of Expertise
Ethics, Healthcare Policy, Healthcare Providers, Managed Care, Physician Education

Select Urban Health Activities
Police Management Institute: Dr. Ference directed an executive development program for senior New York Police Department executives under auspices of the Institute for Not-For-Profit Management.
Institute for Not-for-Profit Management: Dr. Ference served as faculty director for a 30-year-old program aimed at professional development needs of senior agency executives in NY Metro area not-for-profit organizations.

Select Global Activities
Executive Education: Dr. Ference designed, directed, and taught in Executive Development programs in the countries noted.

Last Updated: April 26, 2022