Title: Chief Financial Officer
Company: Mercy Chefs
Location: Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Ronald Leigh Fritch, Chief Financial Officer at Mercy Chefs, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Nonprofit Administration.
Mr. Fritch, chief financial officer at Mercy Chefs in Portsmouth, Virginia, has been serving in his leading role since 2023. In this capacity, he oversees the financial operations of the nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to providing chef-prepared meals to victims of natural disasters and food insecurity across the United States. Drawing on more than four decades of experience in accounting and finance, Mr. Fritch has been instrumental in strengthening Mercy Chefs’ fiscal infrastructure and ensuring the organization’s resources are deployed efficiently to reach those most in need. His leadership has also contributed to the expansion of mobile operations, particularly in regions vulnerable to tornadoes and hurricanes.
Before joining Mercy Chefs, Mr. Fritch was the chief financial officer at Eggleston in Norfolk, Virginia, from 2018 to 2022. His tenure was marked by a commitment to ensuring that the nonprofit could continue to prosper through its mission of empowering individuals with disabilities via employment and support services. Earlier, Mr. Fritch served as the chief financial officer at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk between 2017 and 2018. In this position, he managed all aspects of church finances, implemented robust internal controls and supported the church’s outreach initiatives through sound fiscal stewardship.
Between 2015 and 2017, Mr. Fritch excelled as the controller at WHRO Public Media in Norfolk. He was responsible for overseeing budgeting, reporting, and compliance for a major public broadcasting entity serving southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Among earlier professional opportunities, Mr. Fritch served as the assistant director of finance for the city of Norfolk, as the chief financial officer at The Consortium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and as the chief financial officer at Bethanna in Southampton, Pennsylvania, dating back to 2004.
From 1999 to 2004, Mr. Fritch was the chief financial officer and director of finance at Young’s Medical and NHS in Philadelphia. He began his career more than 15 years prior, in 1983, as an auditor and management consultant with Ernst & Whinney, now EY. During this time, he developed expertise in trust accounting systems and played a pivotal role in addressing major financial crises for banking clients. Notably, Mr. Fritch was instrumental in recovery efforts following significant trust accounting failures involving $27 billion and $52 billion system discrepancies at banks in Minnesota and California. By identifying complex transaction errors overlooked by traditional methods, including recognizing a third type of transaction error, he contributed directly to reconciling billions in discrepancies and restoring confidence in these institutions’ financial integrity.
Mr. Fritch’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on accounting from The Ohio State University in 1981 and coursework toward a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in finance and management service from the University of California. He also holds credentials as a certified public accountant and certified management accountant, reflecting his commitment to professional excellence and ethical standards within the field.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Mr. Fritch is deeply engaged with civic organizations and faith communities. For more than four decades, since 1984, he has been an elder at his local Presbyterian church, where he teaches Sunday school classes and writes curriculum for Christian education programs that have been copyrighted under his authorship. Since 2015, Mr. Fritch has also served as a board member for the Faith Inclusion Network, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding opportunities for people with disabilities within religious settings, and continues this work today. Additionally, he has coached baseball and soccer throughout his life, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to youth development and community engagement.
Mr. Fritch’s achievements have been acknowledged through several honors, including being named Teaching Assistant of the Year at the University of California, Berkeley, and earning a Certificate of Honor from The Consortium. His decision to pursue a career in accounting was motivated by a desire to make a tangible difference beyond traditional business roles, particularly within nonprofit organizations focused on supporting individuals facing adversity due to disability or disaster. Inspired by faith-based principles, Mr. Fritch transitioned from public accounting to nonprofit finance to ensure essential resources would be available for those most in need.
Looking ahead, Mr. Fritch intends to continue strengthening Mercy Chefs’ capacity so that it remains resilient, responsive and impactful long after his tenure concludes. He also aims to create sustainable frameworks for future leaders while expanding outreach into underserved areas affected by disaster or food insecurity through innovative mobile operations based out of Huntsville, Alabama.
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