The NBOA Professional Achievement Award recognizes the invaluable contributions made by independent school business, finance and operations staff who are not business officers. These staff members distinguish themselves every day and make exceptional contributions to their schools and the independent school community. The highlights below come straight from their colleagues' nominations.
See a full list of the inaugural recipients. Stay tuned to NetAssets.org for additional profiles.
Title: Director of Finance
School: The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Years in Position: 30
Years in an independent school business office: 30
Master of finance: Goodrich always seeks ways to manage healthcare costs at The Lawrencevillle School and urged school leaders to consider alternatives to fully insured plans. In collaboration with the CFO, the HR team was able to move to a self-insured product, providing savings on premiums as well as lower pricing volatility year over year to both the school and employees. “Though Christina is not the CFO of the school, we recognize immediately that based on her knowledge and expertise, she is in all ways a complete peer with the other members of ABOPS who hold the CFO title,” says Chuck McCullagh, Chief Financial Officer, Williston Northampton School, and Goodrich’s colleague of 20 years, and fellow member of the Association of Business Officers of Preparatory Schools.
“There are many aspects of the school that I have enjoyed over the years, but the common theme is the people,. The hard working, supportive colleagues, the managers who have provided opportunity for growth and the caring friendships across the entire organization — it really is a community that inspires the best in each and seeks the best for all.”
Christina Goodrich
The Lawrencevillle School
Creating tech solutions: The school’s finance office looks for opportunities to leverage technology to support and serve its community. Supporting that goal, Goodrich suggested a cashless card system as a solution to reduce loss of cash, provide convenience for families and students as well as distribute financial assistance in a discreet manner. “
Beloved community: Goodrich was not familiar with independent schools when she came to Lawrenceville 30 years ago, but she was seeking to be part of a community. “There are many aspects of the school that I have enjoyed over the years, but the common theme is the people,” Goodrich says. “The hard working, supportive colleagues, the managers who have provided opportunity for growth and the caring friendships across the entire organization — it really is a community that inspires the best in each and seeks the best for all.”
See a full list of the 2020 recipients and read more about the NBOA Professional Achievement Award. Net Assets will post additional profiles of award winners throughout the spring — check in to learn more about other recipients.
