He was elected as the President of the Sunshine State Conference for the 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 academic years. In 2008, construction on the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts began at the Florida Institute of Technology under Catanese. It is the only textiles center of its kind in Florida. Catenese launched a $50 million capital campaign for the university's Golden Anniversary that year. The following year the campaign exceeded its goal and raised approximately $60 million. The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida President's Council elected Catanese to serve a two-year term as chairman in 2010. He also served as president or chair of the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities and the Florida Campus Compact.