Special Events

Cohort Receptions

Cohort Receptions

Kick off your annual meeting experience with a unique opportunity to connect with fellow attendees who have similar job duties, school missions or communities. Cohort receptions take place before the opening reception on Sunday, February 20. Enjoy refreshments with your colleagues and get to know one another prior to attending the opening reception. This year, visit cohort receptions for:

  • Boarding Schools
  • Day Schools
  • Controllers
  • Human Resources
  • New Business Officers (< 5 years)
  • Experienced Business Officers
  • People of Color

Please note: Cohort receptions are open to attendees from schools only. When you register, please indicate which reception you might attend. You may attend more than one cohort reception.

Opening Reception

Opening Reception

On Sunday evening, join us in the ballroom as you connect with colleagues you haven’t seen in two years and make new connections as well during this signature event! Enjoy the tastes of local Chicago specialties, and be sure to have your photo taken for the cover of our Net Assets magazine.

Opening Keynote

Opening Keynote

Kick off your learning experience on Monday morning with a riveting opening keynote address from inventive concert pianist, author and speaker Jade Simmons, who will offer transformative strategies to cultivate excellence, innovation and productivity and with an emphasis on emboldening and revitalizing teams.

Business Solutions Showcase

Business Solutions Showcase

On Monday, mingle with fellow attendees and 100+ business partners specializing in solutions that will help your school’s business and operations run more efficiently and effectively. Enjoy light refreshments and learn about new opportunities.

Leadership Awards Luncheon

Leadership Awards Luncheon

Join us for lunch on Tuesday when NBOA recognizes and hears from the recipients of NBOA’s highest honors, the Ken White Distinguished Business Officer Award and the Sarah Daignault Outstanding Support of Independent Schools Award, as well as the Jeffrey Shields Award for Innovation Excellence in School Business Operations.

Then, hear from keynote speaker Ben Nemtin, who will share how he inspired a movement that encourages individuals to realize their dreams while helping others in the process. Nemtin will show how you can take these principles of success and apply them to the K-12 independent school industry and beyond.

NBOA Breakfast

NBOA Breakfast

Open to All Attendees

Join your colleagues for the closing breakfast on Wednesday, February 23, featuring the State of NBOA (details below), followed by a keynote address from Derrick Gay, Ed.D., who will enhance awareness and reframe conventional DE&I constructs in an effort to deepen empathy that fosters inclusive independent school learning communities.

State of NBOA

At the NBOA Breakfast on Wednesday, NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields and NBOA Board Chair Rose Neubert will update attendees on NBOA's latest offerings and the association's vision for the future.

Jeff Shields

Jeff Shields, FASAE, CAE

President and Chief Executive Officer, National Business Officers Association (NBOA)

Jeff Shields, FASAE, CAE, has served as president and CEO of the National Business Officers Association (NBOA) for more than 10 years. NBOA is the premier national association serving the needs of business officers and business operations staff at independent schools. The association has grown from 23 founding member schools in 1998 to over 1,300 U.S. member schools, plus member schools in Mexico, Canada and 20 other countries around the globe. Shields serves on the board of directors of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and as a trustee for the Enrollment Management Association (EMA). Previously, he served as a trustee for One Schoolhouse, an innovative online school offering supplemental education to independent schools, and Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC.

Rose Neubert

Rose Neubert, CPA

NBOA Board Chair, Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart

Rose S. Neubert, CPA, is chief financial and operating officer at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart. She first joined Stuart as director of finance and operations in 1989, and then returned in 2010 in her current role. Neubert is committed to diversity and inclusion efforts at her school, which includes serving on the Stuart Committee for Diversity and Inclusion. Prior to Stuart, for 12 years, she was a founding trustee and business officer for Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart. Before serving independent schools, Neubert worked for KPMG. In addition to chairing the NBOA Board of Directors, she is treasurer and finance committee chair of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools and a board member of the Pennsylvania Independent School Business Officers Association.