Led by experienced School Business Administrators, meet and participate in professional discussions relative to the work of School Business Administrators, as well as how to make the most of this year's conference. This breakfast is intended for new SBAs and is by invitation only.

Lindsey Albernaz, Business Manager

John W. Ferris, Interim School Business Administrator

Michael MacMillan, School Business Manager

Julia Saari-Franks, Director of Business Services

Sponsored by

On July 1, 2025, Pedro Martinez became the 25th commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Mr. Martinez moved to Chicago with his family at the age of 5 and credits education with changing the trajectory of his life. The oldest of 12 children, he was the first in his family to graduate from high school and college. He eventually returned to the school system of his youth, serving as Chicago Public Schools' chief financial officer from 2003 to 2009 and later as its CEO from 2021 to 2025.

Mr. Martinez has spent more than two decades in systems leadership, including 12 years as a superintendent. During his tenure, Chicago Public Schools expanded full-day early childhood classrooms, posted strong post-pandemic reading gains, and set new records in terms of graduation rates, scholarships earned, and college credits obtained in high school.

Prior to being CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Mr. Martinez was superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District, which the Texas governor and education commissioner recognized for being the fastest improving large district in that state in 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Before joining San Antonio, Mr. Martinez was superintendent in residence for the Nevada Department of Education, where he advised the governor's office and the state superintendent of instruction on education policy. Prior to that, he was superintendent of the Washoe County School District in Reno, Nevada.

As a data-driven leader with in-depth knowledge of academic reform strategies, he firmly believes that with the right supports, students can and will rise to any challenge and that by setting the bar high, more young people will aspire to perform at higher levels and be prepared for success in college, career, and civic life.

Mr. Martinez holds a master's degree from DePaul University in Chicago and a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois. He is the first Latino to serve as DESE commissioner.

Mr. Martinez and his wife are the proud parents of two children.

Pedro Martinez, Commissioner of Education

Strategic Budget Restructuring in a Reduced Funding Environment

This session will guide participants in strategically realigning staffing and financial resources to address declining or constrained funding. Attendees will learn to analyze enrollment, staffing, and financial trends, evaluate fiscal constraints and funding opportunities, and differentiate between mandated and discretionary expenditures to support sustainable, legally compliant budgets. The session also emphasizes clear, transparent communication strategies to explain realignment decisions to stakeholders effectively.

Daniel Gale, Director of Finance and Operations

Cynthia D. Mahr, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations

Michelle Clark, Director of Finance and Operations

Participants will:

1. Identify gaps & opportunities to increase Medicaid revenue that could help address student health needs
2. Assess their district’s infrastructures to support school health services and Medicaid reimbursement
3. Learn strategies from their peers on critical drivers of success, e.g., revenue sharing agreements with municipalities and training to support staff participation in claiming and the Random Moment Time Study (RMTS)

Emily Hall, Program Director Center for School Based Claiming

Margot Tracy, MassHealth School Based Medicaid Program Manager

Patrick Murphy, Business Manager

Cybersecurity in Schools: Prevention, Response, and Recovery

This session will focus on actual MASBO members who were part of a Cybersecurity attack at their Districts. They will share how it happened, what they learned and topics on how to effectively keep data safe for your District staff and students.

Nicholas Bernier, Director of Business Services

George McCormack, Director of Finance

Lindsey Albernaz, Business Manager

Strategic Leadership Beyond Finance: When the SBA Becomes the Superintendent

This session examines the unique and increasingly common pathway from School Business Administrator to Superintendent and how financial leadership skills can translate into effective district-wide leadership. Participants will explore the evolving expectations of the superintendent role and the mindset shift from managing budgets to leading vision, people, and change. The presentation highlights how fiscal expertise can support instructional priorities, student outcomes, and organizational culture while maintaining strong community and political relationships. Real-world examples and practical strategies will help aspiring leaders intentionally prepare for the transition and build credibility beyond the numbers.school system.

Brian Allen, Superintendent

Keith Taverna, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations

David Coelho, Director of Finance

In this session, we are reviewing how to properly project enrollments, budget tuitions and other program costs for the Business Manager of our Public School Collaboratives in Massachusetts. We will hear from our colleagues on the best way to prepare for a budget shortfall and adjust the current year budgets based on actual enrollment shortages.

Lindsey Albernaz, Business Manager

Anna Bishop, Director of Finance and Operations

Facilities in Focus:  Planning Projects and Preventive Maintenance

Effective facilities management is critical to supporting safe, efficient, and financially sustainable school operations. This session is designed for school business administrators, facilities directors, and district leaders responsible for long-term capital planning and day-to-day maintenance oversight. Participants will explore strategies for prioritizing projects and implementing preventive maintenance programs that extend asset life and reduce costly emergency repairs. The session will also address communication strategies that support transparency with school committees and the community.

Kenneth Wertz, Executive Director

Susan Bottan, Director of Finance and Operations

From Burnout to Buy-In:  Engagement Strategies for School Business Leaders

School business professionals lead teams that keep districts running, often under intense pressure, staffing shortages, and constant change. This session explores practical leadership strategies to move teams from burnout to buy-in by strengthening engagement, communication, and support at the supervisor level.

Siobhan McMahon, Chief Operations Officer

Keith Taverna, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations

From Allocation to Advocacy: The SBA's Role in the Next Round of Student Opportunity Act Funding

School Business Administrators play a pivotal role in ensuring Student Opportunity Act (SOA) funds are not only allocated accurately, but also sustained and expanded through strategic advocacy. This session explores how SBAs can use data to become influential voices in shaping the next phase of SOA funding. The session will discuss areas of the foundation budget, from formula changes and local contribution calculations, that need to be addressed in another round of Student Opportunity Act funding. Attendees will leave with practical tools to align their district data with policy advocacy in support of equitable student outcomes.

Brian Allen, Superintendent

Daniel Gale, Director of Finance and Operations

Attendees will learn why alternative fueled school transportation is so important. They will learn what alternative fuel options are available and how to access funding. Lastly, to understand the importance of implementation and support.

Jim Anderson, Co-owner/Vice President

Bob Gerardi, Sales Representative for Northern MA, NH, and VT

Eric Zimmerman, Sales Representative For MA & RI

David Coelho, Director of Finance

Break Free from Chaos: Your Path to Predictable Health Insurance Costs

If rising premiums and ongoing uncertainty have felt overwhelming, you’re not alone. This session offers a supportive look at why it’s important to thoughtfully address this year’s cost increases and how doing so can create more stability for your organization. You’ll hear from MASBO colleagues who have walked this path and are willing to share the practical approaches and real experiences that helped them move forward with confidence. We’ll also explore how Borislow Insurance partners with municipalities and school districts to develop more predictable and sustainable benefits strategies.

Robert Alconada, Director of Finance & Operations

Susan Boisvert, Vice President

Susan Bottan, Director of Finance and Operations

Debra Young, Vice President of Sales

Kirsteen Patterson, Director of Finance and Operations

From Vision to Portfolio: How Lowell Accelerated Solar Adoption

Three years ago, Lowell set out to expand solar across its portfolio to cut costs and support long-term decarbonization goals. After issuing a Request for Information, the City chose Solect, whose thorough response and PowerOptions alignment gave Lowell confidence to pursue a full portfolio strategy. This session will show how Lowell assessed building readiness, paired Massachusetts School Building Authority and other funding sources, secured grants, and mapped out 26 potential projects at schools and municipal facilities. In the first year alone, the City has more than doubled behind-the-meter solar projects. Attendees will learn the steps, tools, and lessons Lowell used to accelerate solar adoption.

John DiModica, Clean Energy Project Development Executive

Amanda Dupont, Deputy CFO

Katherine Moses, Housing and Energy Sustainability Director

Derek Pinto, Director of Finance and Operations

Patrick Murphy, Business Manager

Beyond the Purchase Order: Medford’s Partnership that Delivers More

Join us to hear how Medford Public Schools and Amazon Business transformed a procurement relationship into a true strategic partnership — built on earned trust, proven cost savings, and solutions that serve every department, including nutrition. We'll share how Amazon Business goes the extra mile with proactive pricing analysis for back-to-school planning, furniture solutions tailored to district needs, and the fast response times that keep schools running when last-minute needs arise.

Emily Devin, Senior Education Advisor

Noel Velez, Business Manager

Nicholas Bernier, Director of Business Services

Harnessing AI for Smarter Schools: Revolutionizing Facility Management and Energy Efficiency

1. Understand the transformative potential of AI in optimizing school building management for sustainability and efficiency.
2. Learn from case studies that highlight tangible benefits and real-world impacts of implementing AI technology in educational facilities.
3. Gain insight into how AI solutions can support energy reduction, operational savings, and carbon footprint minimization.
4. Explore key considerations for school facility managers assessing AI-driven approaches for smarter building operations.

Morgan Perras, Energy Services Account Executive

Patrick Murphy, Business Manager

TBD

Lin Chabra, Senior Risk Management Manager

Kirsteen Patterson, Director of Finance and Operations

Attendees will be provided a deep dive into the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System. We will also cover how Social Security and additional retirement accounts work together with your existing pension benefits. Attendees will be given steps they can take to help plan for their financial future.

Tracy Cahill, Financial Advisor

Allei Holway, Financial Advisor

Michael Linehan, CRES, Senior Regional Vice President

Lindsey Albernaz, Business Manager

Securing School Data in the AI Era: What Every School Business Administrator Needs to Know

Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every aspect of school operations—from budgeting and HR to classroom learning tools. But as AI expands, so do the data privacy and security risks. This session gives school business administrators a clear, actionable overview of how AI impacts data privacy, what makes cloud-hosted information vulnerable, and the steps districts must take to ensure their data remains protected. Attendees will walk away with concrete strategies for responsible AI adoption, cloud security best practices, and the questions every district should be asking vendors before sharing student or staff data.

Robert Hamel, Public Sector Specialist

Suzanne McLaughlin, Executive Vice President

Mason Sock, Client Relationship Manager

Michelle Clark, Director of Finance and Operations

Student Activity Funds Made Simple: Fixing the Processes

Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how Massachusetts’ savings account structure, warrant process, and compliance requirements impact the management of Student Activity Funds. They will also see how digital workflows for warrants, budgeting, requisitions, and cash handoffs can improve compliance while saving time and reducing paperwork. The session will highlight how clearer, standardized processes strengthen communication among students, advisors, administrators, and the district finance team. Participants will leave with practical, actionable ideas for making SAF management easier, more transparent, and more consistent districtwide.

Kevin Rossi, Co-Founder

Tom Rossi, Co-Founder

Susan Bottan, Director of Finance and Operations

Capital Planning, Facilities, and Your School's Future: The Critical Relationship

This session will pull back the curtain on how the earliest stages of educational facility assessments lay the groundwork for subsequent success for your schools and district. Presenters will outline the Facilities Condition Assessment process, as well as the nature and depth of information revealed by this work. For towns and districts seeking public funding for school improvements, the findings of the FCA may have implications for the newest iteration of the Massachusetts Accelerated Repair Program (ARP). Following a recap of these ARP changes, the panel will connect the dots to look at how long-term capital planning is best informed, funded, and publicly supported when administrators are equipped with the most current information and most comprehensive view of where they hope to lead their districts. Our panel will offer their insights and experience in all of these areas.

Kevin Provencher, President

Elizabeth Lewis, Senior Project Manager / Structural Engineer

Matthew Meehan, Director of Facilities

Kara Lees, Director of Finance

What do teachers really need to feel confident in their retirement planning? This session unpacks new national survey data that reveals the key factors shaping teachers’ financial decision-making. We’ll take a deeper look at their barriers to retirement savings, who they trust for financial advice and how they view the relationship between financial advisors, plan fees and plan choice. This presentation will offer insights to help school business administrators understand what teachers really need to better prepare for retirement.

Nate Glassey, Executive Director

Tamara Indianer, CFP, AIF, CRES, VP of Retirement Marketplace

Kirsteen Patterson, Director of Finance and Operations

Payroll and district staff to understand the various plans that the district offers.

Randy Feid, VP of Business Development, East Region

Gordon Taylor, Senior Vice President

David Coelho, Director of Finance