NWAIS Business Officers Conference

April 28, 29 & 30, 2025

Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront

Ruston, WA

Sessions And Speakers

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Keynote Session

Future-Proofing Independent Schools:

Strategic Forecasting and Financial Resilience in a VUCA World

In an era defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), independent schools must navigate an ever-evolving landscape with agility and foresight. This keynote will explore practical strategies for strategic forecasting and financial resilience, equipping school leaders with tools to anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and build sustainable, future-ready institutions. Participants will gain actionable insights to strengthen their schools' adaptability and ensure long-term success in an unpredictable world.

featuring

Mike Cobb, Senior Innovation and Organizational Excellence Strategist,

Mission & Data

Mike Cobb is a visionary and results-oriented educational leader with a track record of successfully steering schools towards organizational excellence. With over 34 years of experience, he has served in various roles, including accomplished classroom teacher, division head, admissions/enrollment leader, and Head of School. He is also an international speaker and has been a key education leader in the forward-looking NEOM project in Saudi Arabia.

Previously, Mike served as the Head of School at All Saints Episcopal School in Tyler, Texas and is a co-founder of the Sandbox, an Innovative Think Tank where thought leaders share visions in a grown-up sandbox setting. During his 20-year tenure at The Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, Mike held various roles during his educational leadership journey, including Director of Admissions and Enrollment, Head of Middle School, and Director of Summer Programs. Mike has been active in the greater independent school world throughout his career. He has served on several boards, including the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and Texas Association of Private and Parochial School (TAPPS). He has extensive accreditation experience, having led multiple visiting teams. Mike has advised boards and heads on topics ranging from strategic planning, innovation to best practices in leadership.

Mike’s career reflects a dedication to transformative education, organizational excellence, innovative leadership, and continuous learning with participation in programs such as Dare to Lead Trainer Certification, SAP Certified Associate in Design Thinking,  the NAIS Aspiring Heads Fellowship, NAIS New Heads Institute, Vanderbilt University's Peabody Fellow in the Institute for Independent School Leadership, and more 

And Additional Sessions 

Regional Legal and Policy Update with Karen Kalzer, Partner, Helsell Fetterman, and Retained Legal Counsel

Karen will guide a journey through the regional impacts of the current legal landscape including how the executive orders from the current administration are impacting member schools. During this session Karen will share trends that she has identified from the many consultations with member schools and share context from the advisories she has authored for NWAIS. 

After her session Karen will remain onsite for one-on-one consultations with anyone who would like to discuss questions related to individual school circumstances. 

The Affordability Landscape for NWAIS - Trends and Dynamics with Mark Mitchell, Vice President, National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

Tuition costs are an increasing pressure on families considering independent schools while financial aid investments are an increasing pressure on schools’ budgets.  Get a scan of the recent trends in affordability in NWAIS schools (and nationally) and discuss the strategic issues facing schools today.  Leveraging the newest NAIS Trendbook content, NAIS's DASL data on tuition, financial aid and enrollment, and insights from recent surveys of administrators and parents, this session will highlight several key trends to spur reflection and conversation about how school leaders can respond to today's pricing and financial aid pressures.  Attendees will take-away examples of innovation that schools have engaged in relative to price and affordability initiatives.  They will also walk away with guidance on the key dashboard metrics they should be tracking and the critical questions they should be addressing to inform their strategic conversations about affordability.  

Mark J. Mitchell is a vice president at the National Association of Independent Schools, managing special projects on the topics of tuition pricing, affordability, demographic andincome trends, socio-economic diversity and inclusion, and school financial aid policy and practices. Mark also serves as part of the NAIS Innovation Team, designing and delivering resources to assist schools in making innovation happen. Prior to joining NAIS in 1998, Mark worked in financial aid administration at Northwestern University, Lake Forest College, and Access Group, Inc., a graduate student education financing nonprofit. An alumnus and past trustee of Moorestown Friends School (New Jersey), he serves as a trustee of the Enrollment Management Association and is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Partnership for Educational Access. Mark earned his BS in communication studies from Northwestern University.

Employee Retention Strategies with Amber Stockham, NBOA’s Senior Director of Human Resources

In a recently released report by NBOA, 77% of respondents identified recruiting and retaining high quality faculty and staff as a top priority for the next few years. In another recent NAIS survey, 47% of respondents reported increasing wages above projected inflation rates in an effort to retain faculty and staff. Join Amber Stockham, NBOA’s Senior Director of Human Resources to discuss successful retention strategies for every school-type and budget. Learn how to determine what is important to your faculty and staff, focus your efforts on proven strategies, and identify options that can improve your retention rate in the coming years.

Amber Stockham, SPHR, holds a master of business administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and brings 20 years of experience in human resources to her role at NBOA. Prior to joining NBOA in 2020, Stockham’s career spanned a variety of industries, including social services, manufacturing and construction. She found a passion for education when she served as the director of human resources at Miss Hall’s School, an independent day/boarding school for girls in grades 9-12. In her six years at Miss Hall’s School, Stockham was a key member of the school’s compensation, evaluation and benefits task force.

In her role as senior director, human resources programs at NBOA, Stockham designs and leads courses and workshops on topics ranging from difficult conversations and employee supervision to benefits administration. Working with the volunteer Human Resources Council, she is proud to provide professional development through numerous avenues which help member schools expand their network of peers in independent schools.

What 100 Heads of School Reveal About the Independent School Business Model with Peter Baron, Founder, MoonshotOS

After more than one hundred conversations with heads about the independent school business model, the results are in. Uncover the critical challenges facing today's independent schools and discover how schools effectively iterate the model. This session is designed for CFOs and school finance professionals looking to dive deep into what’s working—and what’s next. We’ll explore case studies of schools iterating the model, highlighting various approaches, including breakthrough revenue strategies, mergers and acquisitions, expense optimization, and innovative uses of auxiliary services. These stories offer real-world examples of how schools tackle challenges and build sustainable futures. If you’re ready to rethink your school’s business model, uncover opportunities, and drive meaningful change, this workshop will give you examples and inspiration to take the next step. 

Peter Baron is the founder of MoonshotOS, a professional learning community empowering leaders to reimagine the independent school business model. He served as the Chief Member Relations Officer for the Enrollment Management Association, directing EMA's marketing and communications, member recruitment and retention, outreach functions, leadership training programs, research, and other related strategic initiatives. Peter has hosted more than 300 podcasts focused on leadership and independent school growth and his success has been built on listening to schools' and families' needs — rooted in a deep commitment to the transformational experience that independent schools can have for students. He has showcased his expertise at various conferences, from NAIS to EMA and numerous state and regional associations. He graduated from Brewster Academy, Skidmore College (BA), and Tufts University (MAT). Peter lives in Seattle, WA, with his wife, Akiko, and two children.

AI Trends and Considerations in Education with Brad Rathgeber, President & CEO One Schoolhouse

Independent schools are working now to figure out the place of Generative AI in their schools. In this session, we'll consider a whole-school, human-centered approach for independent school leadership and boards.  Discover best practices for determining ethical use, fostering critical thinking skills, and ensuring AI empowers, not replaces, a human expertise. 

Brad Rathgeber is the president and CEO of One Schoolhouse, a non-profit organization that partners with independent schools to advance their diverse approaches to education. One Schoolhouse has two primary programs, an online, supplemental Academic Program, and the Association for Academic Leaders. Rathgeber has been leading the organization for 12 years. Previously he worked as an administrator and teacher at Holton-Arms School. Rathgeber is an independent school graduate, holds an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina, and holds a graduate degree from Dartmouth College.

From the Classroom to Courtroom: Legal Trends for Independent School Business Officers with Megan Mann, Founder, Approach

Review the legal, crisis, and risk-related trends seen across the country in the independent school community this academic year. Whether we are talking about enrollment agreements or the impact of geopolitical events on campus, this interactive session will utilize case studies and discussion to explore these topics. Participants will have the opportunity to consider how these trends impact everything from the boardroom to the classroom, as well as share strategies for preparing for and managing them. 

Megan Mann is the founder of Approach, a firm dedicated exclusively to guiding organizations towards continuous improvement. Prior to launching Approach in 2024, Megan served as General Counsel and Vice President of Legal Education and Support at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) for five years. With a legal career spanning over 16 years, Megan has a proven track record of partnering with leadership teams to mitigate risk and drive organizational growth.

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