2024 Business Officer Institute

David Braemer assumed the role of head of school at Kent Denver School in 2022, following a ten-year tenure as head of school at Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to that, he served as upper school head at Greenhill School in Dallas and was dean of Students at Durham Academy in North Carolina. A teacher at heart, Braemer taught history and social studies at Greenhill, Culver Academies in Indiana, Blair Academy in New Jersey and at public schools in Boston and Lawrence, Massachusetts. Braemer holds a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College, where he was a varsity football and lacrosse player, and a master’s degree in education from Boston College. He also participated in the Klingenstein Institute for Independent School Leadership at Columbia University’s Teachers College, as well as cross-cultural learning through the Fulbright Memorial Scholar program in Japan.

Wendi Cantwell, PHR®, brings more than 10 years of experience in accounting and human resources at an independent school to her role as manager, human resources programs at NBOA. Prior to joining NBOA in 2024, her career spanned from high school business teacher, adult computer instructor, accounts payable coordinator and most recently, human resources manager at New Hampton School, an independent co-ed day/boarding school for grades 9-12/PG in New Hampshire. In her ten years at the school, Cantwell was the accounts payable coordinator for five years and human resources manager for 5 years, serving on the benefits task force, safety committee and strategic planning committees involving compensation and retention.

Appointed in 2007, Mike Davis, Ph.D., is the eleventh head of school in Colorado Academy’s (CA) more than 110-year history. Under his leadership, CA has expanded both its experiential and global education offerings, broadened the school’s work in equity and inclusivity, and maintained a mission-based balance of academics, arts and athletics. He also teaches two history courses and leads student trips. He has served on the faculty of NAIS’s Aspiring Head’s Institute since 2017 and also serves on the Association for Colorado Independent Schools board. Davis came to CA after serving as head of the upper school at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, Texas. There, he also chaired the history department, curriculum committee and directed the school’s outdoor education program. His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree from The College of Wooster; a master’s degree and doctorate from Vanderbilt University; as well as numerous teaching, research, and dissertation fellowships and grants, including the Klingenstein Fellowship, Klingenstein Center Teachers College, Columbia University, the Dwight Eisenhower/Clifford Roberts Dissertation Fellowship and the JFK Presidential Library’s Marjorie Kovler Research Fellowship.

Whitney Johnson assumed the role of chief operating and financial officer at Colorado Academy in 2022. She has extensive experience in all aspects of independent school business, including human resources, accounting, budgeting, finance, facility operations, risk management and employment law. Johnson's prior roles include serving as CFO at the Ensworth School in Nashville, Tennessee, and as director of finance and human resources at the Hockaday School in Dallas. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Arkansas, as well as certifications from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy and Society of Human Resource Management.

Grace H. Lee is a partner with Venable, LLP in the Labor and Employment Practice. Lee is an independent school law attorney whose practice focuses on employment law, risk management and other compliance and regulatory matters that impact independent schools and nonprofit organizations. She has significant experience formulating and implementing policies and procedures that assist her clients in complying with applicable state and federal laws, and provides them with proactive and preventive strategies.

Mary Kay Markunas supports NBOA's full line of professional development offerings including the NBOA Annual Meeting, Business Officer Institute, webinars and online courses, and also provides resources and support to members. A former independent school business officer, she develops and delivers programs and content related to independent school business operations, leadership and governance, and nonprofit accounting practices. Markunas joined NBOA in early 2015 after serving as the director of finance and operations at The Avery Coonley School for 12 years. While a business officer, she served on the NBOA board of directors for five years (2010-2015). Before joining the independent school community, she worked in corporate finance at a global corporation and in engineering consulting.

Karyn Nishimura Sneath owns Npower, a nonprofit-focused leadership and organizational development consulting practice. She likes to describe herself as a Flexible (and fun) Facilitator, a Smart Strategic Planner, and Creative Consultant.

As NBOA’s chief learning officer, Jennifer Osland Hillen, CPA, CGMA, leads the team that delivers the association’s broad portfolio of programs, industry guidance, and resources across multiple delivery channels. She serves as a subject-matter expert on independent school finance, operations and governance, leads NBOA’s DE&I efforts, and supports the Board's Governance Committee. Hillen serves on the American Society of Association Executives’ Professional Development Advisory Council and has also served on the faculty for the M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership at Vanderbilt University. She worked at Ernst & Young before joining Harpeth Hall School, where she was a business officer for nearly a decade. Hillen has served on the boards and advisory councils of several nonprofits, including Renewal House (treasurer), the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, LEAD Public Schools, and WO Smith Music School. She is a past president of the Junior League of Nashville and a member of Leadership Nashville, and also wrote and illustrated the bestselling children’s book, “GOODNIGHT, NASHVILLE.” 

James Palmieri, Ed.D., CAE, is executive vice president at NBOA. Palmieri 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. Palmieri previously served as assistant head of school at Trinity Hall and as director of strategic initiatives and faculty at Kent Place School, both independent all-girls schools in New Jersey. Palmieri has served as treasurer and then chair of the board of directors of One Schoolhouse, an online education provider to independent schools. Palmieri 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 NBOA since March 2010. NBOA is the premier national association serving the needs of business officers and business operations staff at independent schools. Shields, an active member of the American Society of Association Executives, has been recognized as an ASAE Fellow (FASAE) and earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) professional designation. His current board service includes serving as a director for AMHIC, a healthcare consortium for educational associations in Washington, DC, as well as a trustee for the Enrollment Management Association. Previous board service includes serving as a director for the American Society of Association Executives, as a director for One Schoolhouse, an innovative online school offering supplemental education to independent schools, and as a trustee for Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC. Shields holds a BA from Shippensburg University and an MA from The Ohio State University.