For this Seattle business officer, bicycling is more than a favorite "after school" activity. It's a way of life.
3 min read
Our profession is experiencing a generational shift that is both exciting and troubling.
3 min read
How do you lead business strategy in an environment that's all about culture? “A problem requires a solution, but a dilemma must be managed because it will never be solved or go away.” — Howard Teibel,
3 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Leadership
-
|
Risk Management
After last week's heartbreaking shootings in Orlando, it's comforting to be spending this week among what I consider to be the best kind of professional company: independent school business officers and business office s
2 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Boards and Trustees
-
|
Governance
As you wrap up what I hope has been another successful year and develop your summer to-do list, NBOA is planning ahead as well. Part of that process involves identifying individuals within the national independent school
2 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Boards and Trustees
-
|
Leadership
"I'm afraid that schools the size of mine are on the verge of extinction." Last week, while I was on the road in Denver, a business officer from a small independent school (enrollment less than 200 students) confided thi
3 min read
Every city has a story, but few illustrate important leadership lessons like the story of Chattanooga, Tennessee. That's right, the city that many of us know for a catchy tune about a choo choo is so much more—and
2 min read
Who knew learning German could be so amusing?
3 min read
Each year we have a unique opportunity to recognize two colleagues who reflect our highest professional standards and our community's aspirations for excellence within independent school business and financial operations
2 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Culture
-
|
Parent Organizations
As a trustee at my daughter's school, I get a lot of "feedback" from other parents. It ranges from concern over ERB scores to "can't we get more comfortable chairs for parents to sit in at assemblies?" I listen, smile an
2 min read
The financial lens of independent school leaders is about to get a lot sharper. As you begin 2016 at your school, I'm very pleased to share that NBOA is also beginning an exciting new endeavor—one that promises to
2 min read
A business officer's 40-year love affair with sailing.
3 min read
Your job won’t get any easier this year. Find opportunities to energize, support and manage yourself.
4 min read
With today's unseasonably warm weather in Washington, D.C., I recall that freezing morning in Boston like it was yesterday. The 2015 Annual Meeting Fun Run, in fact, is one of my favorite memories from NBOA's last 12 mon
2 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Boards and Trustees
-
|
Governance
A dynamic group of volunteers, a hard-working staff and a well-defined mission to which both groups are committed: This is the unique ideal of nonprofit governance, but it is not easily achieved. In fact, nonprofit leade
2 min read
It has been a week of tremendous loss for the independent school community and the world. Like all of you, I was shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of NAIS President John Chubb on November 12. He was a friend a
1 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Boards and Trustees
-
|
Governance
One of the greatest challenges of any nonprofit board is to ensure that its conversations are both generative and strategic. Frustratingly, boards too often get mired in committee work. As a consequence, the full board s
3 min read
A former chief financial officer connected with the students at her school by chaperoning overnight trips.
4 min read
"The bean counters are taking over the world!" A school faculty member posted this on Twitter, the implication being that the "numbers people" were influencing too many decisions at his school. I don't know a single busi
3 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Boards and Trustees
-
|
Compliance
It's often been said that the only constant is change. As we enter another school year, this cliché is spot-on.
3 min read
