Recommended Slate of Candidates for the OASBO Board of Directors and Foundation Board of Trustees

4/12/2023

by Maria Rellinger
 
Over the past few years, the school business profession has faced unprecedented challenges. Nonetheless, OASBO members have admirably met the challenge by working together to ensure our districts persist in serving our students and communities. The remarkable achievements of OASBO are, in large part, due to the passionate and devoted volunteer leaders who have contributed their time and expertise to the organization. It is that time of year when a new group of leaders are selected to continue this work!

In my final duties on the OASBO Board of Directors, as Immediate Past President I chair the OASBO Nominating Committee, overseeing the selection of the next group of volunteer leader candidates for the OASBO Board of Directors and Foundation Board of Trustees. The committee members took on this task with meticulous attention to detail, thoroughly vetting each candidate’s skills, values, and experience. Their dedication to this process ensured that the most qualified candidates were identified. The candidates made this task challenging because they were all incredibly qualified for the job. The Nominating Committee’s efforts are a testament to the profound impact that can be achieved when a group of individuals come together with a shared vision and a deep sense of purpose. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the following members for their time and service in vetting applicants as a part of the Nominating Committee: President-Elect Scott Gooding; Past Presidents Ryan Ghizzoni and Alana Cropper; and Professional Member Lisa Ritchie.

The following slates will be presented during the first general session of the Annual Conference on April 19 and will be voted on and subsequently sworn in during the Annual Business Meeting on April 20. More detailed information about each candidate will be sent digitally to all members in the weeks leading up to the conference.

If you have any questions about the selection process, please reach out to me or any member of the Nominating Committee.
 
Maria is the treasurer/CFO at Apollo Career Center and immediate past president of OASBO. She can be reached at maria.rellinger@apollocc.org or 419.302.3848. 
 

Click here to review the 2022 Business Meeting Minutes that will have a vote for approval at the 2022 Business Meeting. Click here for the proposed bylaw updates that are also up for a vote at the Business Meeting
 

OASBO Board of Directors Slate of Candidates

Vice President
Kent Zeman
CFO
Lakewood City Schools
Serving a one-year term ending June 30, 2024; and then will proceed through the chairs of president-elect (one-year term), president (one-year term), and past president (one-year term) all ending June 30, 2027.


Member

• 2009 - present

Board of Directors Positions

• 2018 - present: Northeast Region Director

Committee Involvement

• 2022: Ed Finance Committee Member
• 2022: Audit Committee Member
• 2020 - 2022: Mentorship Program

Chapter/Local Committee Involvement

• 2022: Lakewood City Schools - Visioning Team Member
• 2022: Lakewood City Schools - Strategic Plan Development Member
• 2023: NEOASBO Vice President
• 2014 - 2016: NEOASBO President
• 2013 - 2014: NEOASBO Vice President
• Certified Public Accountant
• Past President - American Red Cross Lorain County Chapter
• Past President - Junior Achievement Lorain County Chapter

 
Vision for OASBO:
Empower all school business officials to be the financial, operational, and business leaders in their Districts. To support OASBO mission and vision at the State and Local level. Promote OASBO as the “go to” resource for legislatures and boards of education in financial and operational decisions. In addition, to encourage and promote the profession to new individuals to strengthen the profession. Expand the role of OASBO members at the state and local level in being advocates and leaders in the education community, not just the financial leaders, but educational leaders. Engage and empower members understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all people.
 


Secretary/Treasurer
Christine Poetter
Treasurer
Princeton City Schools
Serving a two-year term ending June 30, 2025



Member

• 2007 - present

Board of Directors Positions

• Southwest Region Director serving a three-year term ending 6/30/203

Committee Involvement

• 2019 - 2020: Chair, Licensure/LPDC Committee
• 2018 - 2020: Licensure/LPDC Committee
• 2019 - present: Legislative Committee
• 2019 - present: Education Finance/ODE Advisory Committee
• 2019 - present: AOS Committee Member

 
Chapter/Local Committee Involvement

• 2019 - present: Southwest Region Director
• 2016 - present: Ohio Valley Chapter OASBO – Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, President, Past President

 
Vision for OASBO:
To continue building on the importance of school business official work for school districts throughout Ohio. I have witnessed the voice of the school business officials grow over the past decade. OASBO members, board members, and staffers have been focused on increasing our voice. I am so proud of the hard work of my colleagues and want to be a part of continuing to keep school business officials involved in conversations that impact schools over the next decade.
 


Southwest Region Director
Terrah Stacy
Treasurer/CFO
Springboro Community City Schools
Serving a three-year term ending June 30, 2026



Member

• 2007 - present 

Chapter/Local Committee Involvement

• 2019 - 2022: OASBO Ohio Valley Officer
• 2018 - 2019: SERS School Employer Relations Panel

 
Vision for OASBO:
My vision would be to continue moving the foundation in the direction it is currently in. OASBO listens to the challenges all districts are experiencing, and finds solutions to those challenges through advocacy, communication, and collaboration. Some of the things that comes to mind are:

The collaborate site: You have created a platform for districts across the state to collaborate with their peers on various issues, processes, procedures they are facing, and get feedback, suggestions, and insight from others. You are unifying our profession and increasing communication among peers. Another is advocacy, the OASBO team from top down, is top notch. I appreciate your ability to create change through communication from all parties, to ensure our students, children, and future leaders have the quality education it deserves, for years to come.

My vision would be to continue the amazing work OASBO leadership is committed to doing. While the work is never done, I would collaborate with peers on new or existing challenges we are faced with, to help be part of the solution!
 
   

Northwest Region Director
Jennifer Bruns
Treasurer/CFO
St. Henry Consolidated Local Schools
Serving a three-year term ending June 30, 2026



Member

• 2012 - present

Committee Involvement

• 2012 - present: OASBO Auditor of State Committee, currently Vice Chair

Chapter/Local Committee Involvement

• 2012 - 2015: Miami Valley Chapter
• 2015 - present : West Central Chapter
• 2019 - present: Advisory Committee Member for the St. Henry Community Center
• 2016 - present: Chair of the Mercer-Auglaize Benefit Trust Finance Committee (13-member school cooperative)
• 2021 - present: Executive Board Member for the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Cooperative
• 2018 - present: Executive Board Member for the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council

Vision for OASBO
My vision for OASBO is a continued focus on building up strong School Finance Officers and business officials. Over the last several years I have dedicated a lot of time to working with new Treasurers/CFCs in the Northwest Region of the State. Our area has had a tremendous amount of turnover in Treasurer/CFO positions, as I am sure many other areas of the state have also experienced. My passion is drawing more young professionals into the school finance field. I believe there is a great need to reach a new generation of finance/business officials and provide mentoring support as they get established in their roles. OASBO members have the opportunity to impact thousands of children through strong and ethical management of resources at their Districts. Continuing to build the next generation of School Business officials is crucial. We can build up strong professionals who are new or coming into the school business field by being an association who teaches the importance of collaboration, advocacy, networking with other leaders, and community outreach in our respective Districts.
 

OASBO Foundation Board of Trustees Slate

Northeast Region Trustee
George Anagnostou
Treasurer/CFO
Strongsville City Schools
Serving a two-year term ending June 30, 2023



Member

• 2011 - present

Chapter/Local Committee Involvement

• 2018 - 2019: NE OASBO Chapter Vice-President
• 2019 - 2020: NE OASBO Chapter President Elect
• 2020 - 2021: NE OSABO Chapter President
• 2021 - 2022: NE OASBO Chapter Past President

 
Vision for OASBO
I would first learn the operations of the foundation for my initial period. Then I would like to contribute by collaborating with the other Board of Trustee members on how we can expand the foundation and the reach it can provide.

 

Central Region Trustee
Kyle Smith
Treasurer/CFO
Bexley City Schools
Serving a two-year term ending June 30, 2023



Member

• 2009 - present

Committee Involvement

• 2019 - present: Education Finance/ODE Advisory Committee
• 2019 - present: Legislative Committee
• 2020 - present: PD Leadership Subcommittee

Chapter/Local Committee Involvement

• 2014 - 2017: Central Chapter OASBO - Secretary, Treasurer, VP, President

Vision for OASBO:
My vision for the Foundation would be to recognize contributions made to the profession as well as to bring more individuals into the profession that will strengthen and diversify our membership.
  


Southwest Region Trustee
Kevin Hawley
Treasurer/CFO
Franklin City Schools
Serving a two-year term ending June 30, 2023



Member

• 2015 - present

Committee Involvement

• 2018 - present: ASBO International Committee
• 2020 - present: Education Finance/ODE Advisory Committee

Chapter/Local Committee Involvement

• 2017 - current: OASBO Ohio Valley Chapter Past President

Vision for OASBO
I have been honored to serve on the OASBO foundation over the last two years. I have been blessed in many ways through OASBO for opportunities earlier in my career and I have been excited to give back through this foundation for colleagues to increase their scope and knowledge base. Also, for them to give back to their local communities. Mv vision would be to continue this great work and look for other creative ideas as the foundation has evolved.
 
  

At-Large Professional​
John Espy
Treasurer/CFO
Milford Exempted Village Schools
Serving a three-year term ending June 30, 2026



Member

• 2016 - present

Committee Involvement

• 2020 - present: Education Finance/ODE Advisory Committee
• 2020 - present: Annual Conference Special Events Sub-Committee
• 2020 - present: Legislative Committee
• 2020 - present: Licensure Committee
• 2021 - present: LPDC Committee Vice Chair

Chapter/Local Committee Involvement

• 2017 - present: OASBO Ohio Valley Chapter

Vision for OASBO
l believe that OASBO is a catalyst for success ill the Treasurer and Business Manager roles, and I believe that the vision of OASBO for the future should be to continue to evolve and develop into the most cutting edge forms of professional development and mentoring programs. This has already been evidenced by the pivot to remote professional development that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 


At-Large Vendor
Paul Rutter
Partner
Bricker Graydon LLP
Serving a three-year term ending June 30, 2026



Member

• 2010 - present

Chapter/Local Committee Involvement

• 2018 - present: Active in local OASBO chapter continuing education
• OASBO Sponsor

Vision for OASBO
My vision for the OASBO Foundation is for it to maintain the excellent work it has already been doing while also striving for it to be an essential resource for promoting education and excellence for Ohio's public and private school business officials.