For this expanded March-April issue, which appears onsite at the NBOA Annual Meeting, we wanted to feature examples of how NBOA members in a variety of school roles have volunteered for NBOA and what they have gotten out of the experience. These individuals currently sit on the Net Assets Editorial Committee, but many have served in other capacities as well.
The “other duties” entailed in volunteering with NBOA can be at lower and higher commitment levels, with members engaging through emails, Zoom calls or in-person meetings. In short, there may be an opportunity for anyone involved with school business interested in serving with their peers. NBOA’s call for volunteers is open now through April 11. Learn more.
“If you are struggling with an issue, chances are another school is experiencing the same thing. When you share your experiences, other schools might be able to help. Volunteering, through writing for the magazine and serving on committees, makes me a better business officer, and I get to help other people.”
—Alex Penry
Senior Director for Finance and Advancement,
Headwaters School (TX)
Program Selection Committee
Mission-Anchored Compensation Strategies research participant
Editorial Advisory Committee
“As someone who has worked in pretty much every school office except for the business office, it was a pleasant surprise to find some of the best professional development through NBOA. The business of schools is important to all aspects of school life, even academics and student life, and all of us working in independent schools can look to NBOA for exceptional resources and important professional development.
Net Assets in particular makes business operations topics accessible to those outside the business office. In serving on the Editorial Advisory Committee, I’ve been able to contribute to the overall themes and content of the magazine, and even contribute writing. My advice is that if you have an idea, share it, put it out there, be in touch with the editorial staff. They’ll work with you on the writing and production end of it.”
—Carney Heavey–O’Brien
Director of Strategic Enrollment Management, Chatham Hall (VA)
Editorial Advisory Committee
“I’m not in the business office at all. I’m in DEI, and what motivated me to volunteer was trying to grow as a leader myself. Our offices are all more connected than we think, and schools are businesses at the end of the day, and with my DEI lens, sometimes I forget that. I wanted to understand more of what business officers are talking about while adding a different voice to the conversation.”
—Erica Graham Thompson
Assistant Head of School for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School (DC)
Editorial Advisory Committee
“HR in the independent school world is very different than HR in the corporate world. We rely a lot on our community members to help us figure out human resource responsibilities, ranging from how to manage a leave of absence to more complex issues. We really need that support from each other. The volunteer councils give us the opportunity to tap into different experts and learn collectively. I really enjoy my time supporting NBOA; it’s been a snowball effect. I started on the HR Council then became chair. I have served on other committees and presented at the Annual Meeting and webinars and the contributed to the magazine as well.”
—Amelia Reed
Human Resources Manager, Presbyterian School of Houston (TX)
Human Resources Council, former chair
Program Selection Committee
Editorial Advisory Committee
“I've had a couple of motivations. Number one is wanting to give back to the community, and the more you give, the more you get. Also, our roles can feel very isolated. Issues come up every day that you might not be able to discuss with anyone in your own school. Within NBOA there may be 1,500 people that can relate to your problems with whom you can share advice and ask for it. The NBOA Connect communities have been a real lifeline. These opportunities to share what our school is doing and the connections I've made give me a rush of adrenaline that also contributes greatly to my job satisfaction. I started volunteering by introducing sessions at the Annual Meeting and gradually built up the confidence to deliver a session and webinars.”
—Joe Sharp
CFO/COO, Jewish Leadership Academy (FL)
NBOA Connect Ambassadors
Program Selection Committee
Editorial Advisory Committee
“I've been motivated by an interest in stewarding our organization that has grown up so much in the last 20 years or so and is thriving. I want to support that progress. Being regularly engaged with colleagues from across the country in different types of schools has been really helpful in terms of gaining insight into the market writ large, and has helped me lift my head up out of my own situation.”
—Bill Auerswald
CFO & COO, Greenwich Country Day School (CT)
Business Officer Council
Editorial Advisory Committee
“The opportunity for me to learn from and feel affinity with others who have similar jobs is what keeps me coming. The opportunity to learn from others is really key.”
—Vinita Ahuja
Chief Strategy and Operations Officer, Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School (DC)
Editorial Advisory Committee
“Being international, I’ve found it valuable to share with most of the other U. S. members. Being able to write and share about my experience in a couple of different ways has been a very good opportunity. I most recently wrote about the political instability we sometimes experience in Kinshasa after an election and how we prepared for every eventuality. I’ve also helped shape programs and introduce speakers at the Annual Conference, but sharing my experience has been the most rewarding.”
—Kareen Laplanche
Finance & Operations Manager, The American School of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Program Selection Committee
NBOA Connect Ambassador
Editorial Advisory Committee
“Giving back to those who need our support is not just a commendable act — it’s our responsibility. We all sought guidance from more experienced individuals when we were new and found ourselves in need, and now it’s our turn to pay it forward by sharing the insights we have gained. Through these efforts, we foster a sense of community and ensure that those who come after us benefit from our collective experience.
When I'm engaged as a volunteer either in the conference or with volunteer groups, I pay more attention than when I'm not volunteering. I tend to be more on the sidelines not gain as much as I can gain from the community unless I’m more actively involved.”
—Stephen Valentine
Senior Director, Quality Assurance, Milton Hershey School (PA)
Editorial Advisory Committee
