Contact NBOA Staff

As Director, Research and Data Analysis, Elizabeth leads the development, planning and management of industry research collected in the association’s Business Intelligence for Independent Schools (BIIS, pronounced “biz”) platform, in addition to other research activities as identified by the association’s strategic plan, in support of NBOA’s mission to inform NBOA members and other external stakeholders and encourage data-driven decision making throughout the independent school community.

Elizabeth brings to NBOA over 15 years of strong experience in research. She recently concluded seven years of service with the Data Quality Campaign, a nonprofit education policy and advocacy organization and the nation’s leading voice on education data policy and use, as their Director, Research and Policy Analysis. Over her career, Elizabeth has been instrumental in the development and execution of research tools, web-based resources, stories and publications that leverage research and policy analysis work. Her prior professional work experience has included research roles at Westat and Metis Associates, Inc.

Prior to moving into research, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from New York University, and she currently serves as an alumni mentor at NYU’s DC campus.

Liz Maher, CPA, MBA holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Marquette University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management and has worked in public accounting, corporate accounting, and independent schools, including four years of service at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart most recently as their Chief Finance and Resource Officer. With over 15 years of accounting experience, Liz brings expertise in accounting, finance, and tax compliance in her role as director, accounting, and tax programs at NBOA.

Mary Kay Markunas is the Director, Member Resources and Programs at NBOA. She joined the association in 2015 and in this capacity, she manages NBOA's research efforts and surveys, serves as faculty for several online courses, assists in presenting professional development programs NBOA sponsors as well as providing support to members. Prior to joining NBOA, Markunas served as the director of finance and operations at The Avery Coonley School for 12 years. Before working in independent schools, she worked in both corporate finance and engineering consulting. She holds a BS from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. She has served as a board member on her local high school's music association and volunteered with both local religious and educational organizations.

As chief learning officer, Jennifer serves as a strategic partner to the president and CEO and leads the staff team charged with delivering the association’s broad and diverse portfolio of programs, industry guidance, and resources to members and constituents across multiple delivery channels, including many partnerships with other associations serving independent schools. She serves the NBOA Board of Directors’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force and leads NBOA’s volunteer Business Officers Council, in addition to serving as a subject-matter expert on finance, accounting, tax and other independent school business, operations, governance, and legal matters important to independent school practitioners and leaders. She also serves on the teaching faculty for the Master of Education in Independent School Leadership program at Vanderbilt University’s Department of Leadership, Policy & Organizations at Peabody College.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Jennifer worked in assurance and advisory services for international “Big 4” public accounting firm, Ernst & Young, before joining Harpeth Hall School, an all-girls school with 700 students in grades 5-12, in 2009 where she served as a business officer for eight years. She joined NBOA in 2017 as director of accounting and tax programs and was promoted to vice president of professional development and business affairs early in 2018. In 2020, Jennifer was named NBOA’s chief learning officer and serves NBOA’s 1,500 members in that senior leadership role.

Jennifer is a leader at several not-for-profits and currently serves on the board of Renewal House. She recently served as president of the Junior League of Nashville (JLN), a 1,600-member organization of women volunteers, the 15th largest in the world under the Association of Junior Leagues International. She is honored to be a member of the Leadership Nashville class of 2018 and served on the board of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt from 2017-2019. Her past JLN positions have included serving as the League's first-ever executive vice president, the inaugural chair of the Mentor Program, chair of the Community Impact Committee, and co-chair of the new member program. Jennifer is an alumna of the Young Leaders Council and has served on advisory councils for W. O. Smith School as well as LEAD Public Schools. She was also a 30 Under 30 honoree of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2013 and a 2019 Nashville ATHENA Awards nominee.

Jennifer graduated in the top 7% of her class, magna cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, Spanish, and business. She studied abroad at St. John's College of Oxford University, England in 2004.

Jennifer wrote and illustrated the bestselling book, GOODNIGHT, NASHVILLE, and gives a portion of each sale to a local non-profit.

Dr. James Palmieri, Executive Vice President at National Business Officers Association (NBOA), joined the staff in 2018 following thirteen years of strong experience in school business operations leadership and with a passion for independent education. James serves as a partner to the President and CEO in carrying out strategic initiatives as directed by the NBOA strategic plan, and he supports program and product expansion in partnership with members of the senior staff.

Most recently, James served as Assistant Head of School at Trinity Hall (NJ), an independent all-girls high school, where he began his work as a founding consultant and the school's first employee and had primary responsibility for school finance, facilities, and business operations. Prior to opening Trinity Hall, James served as Director of Strategic Initiatives and faculty at Kent Place School (NJ), an N-12 all-girls day school.

James' related experience includes board service for One Schoolhouse, where he is currently serving as Treasurer and Finance Chair; as a Fellow in the NAIS Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads; and as an adjunct professor for the College of Saint Elizabeth (NJ), where he had taught an online doctoral-level course on leadership management of K-12 schools and systems.

Academically, James earned his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; his MA in K-12 Educational Administration and Supervision from Seton Hall University; and his BA in Elementary/Special Education from Providence College.

Jeff Shields, FASAE, CAE, has served as President and CEO of the National Business Officers Association (NBOA) since 2010. NBOA is the premier national association serving the needs of independent school business officers and business operations staff, who work in accounting, finance, tax, risk management, human resources, facilities, information technology and other areas. The association has grown from 23 founding member schools in 1998 to over 1,300 U.S. member schools, plus more than 300 member organizations and schools in Mexico, Canada and 20 other countries around the globe. NBOA provides member schools a full range of live events, webinars, online courses, publications, resources, original research, benchmarking data and other services to its growing membership.

Prior to this role, Shields spent 10 years with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). At the time of his departure, he served as the organization's senior vice president and chief planning officer. He began his career in association management as the assistant director for leadership training at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

An active member of the American Society of Association Executives, Shields is a member of the 2008 Class of ASAE Fellows (FASAE) and has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation. He has also been recognized by the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives (GWSAE) with the “Super Star” award, which recognizes the organization’s most active member of the year.

Shields currently serves as a director for the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and as a trustee for the Enrollment Management Association (EMA). His prior board service includes serving as a trustee and treasurer for One Schoolhouse, an innovative online school offering supplemental education to independent schools, and as a trustee for Georgetown Day School. He holds a B.A. from Shippensburg University and an M.A. from The Ohio State University.

Amber Stockham, SPHR holds bachelor of arts degrees in social sciences and psychology from Bard College and brings over 15 years of experience in human resources to her role at NBOA. Amber has worked in a variety of industries, including education, social services and manufacturing. Prior to joining NBOA, Amber served as the Director of Human Resources at Miss Hall's School, an independent day/boarding school for girls in grades 9-12. In her six years at Miss Hall's School, Amber transitioned the school's retirement plan from an individual contract platform and oversaw the implementation of a captive health plan and robust wellness program with goals of stabilizing costs for both the school and the employees, providing sustainable benefits to the tight-knit community and allowing employees to focus on the important task of educating and caring for the student body.

Amber's additional work in residential life at Miss Hall's School and volunteering in the larger community have brought her a better understanding of the complexity of school life and strengthened her commitment to mission-driven human resources practices. Amber was a key member of the school's Compensation, Evaluation, and Benefits Task Force and, in coordination with school counsel, represented her school in legal proceedings. Her strong working relationship with the school's legal counsel lead Amber to bring her extensive experience in talent acquisition and legal compliance to a volunteer position as a recruitment consultant for the Berkshire County (MA) District Attorney Transition Team. Her experience with organizational planning, compensation and benefits system construction and risk assessment also brought her to serve in a volunteer capacity as finance committee chair of Captivated Health and on the board of the New England Educators Insurance Association.