Practice Team Lead: Finance & Schools

Areas of practice: public school district operations and finance, human resources, municipal finance, and information technology

Biography

After spending much of her early career in corporate banking, Heather transitioned into public service. For over a decade she has worked in public school district operations and finance, serving in positions such as data analyst, accountant, manager of accounting and systems, and director of fiscal affairs for Windham and Avon Public Schools in Connecticut. By writing, implementing, and training staff on best practice-based policies and procedures — covering a multitude of areas such as payroll, benefits, purchasing, accounting, facilities management, nutrition services operations, and student activities — Heather has transformed department activities into exemplary models. Her work implementing modern IT solutions and creating paperless workflows has generated greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability for school districts. Some of Heather’s proudest accomplishments include creating and implementing the first nutrition services consortium in Connecticut, designing benchmarking protocols for both certified and non-certified staff negotiation strategies, fashioning, negotiating and implementing health plan changes, instituting risk management practices to address workers compensation costs, and presenting on public school finance best practices at Quinnipiac University’s summer 092 administrative certificate program. She holds School Business Administrator certifications in both Connecticut and Massachusetts as well as a New England Swim Official credential, often officiating on a volunteer basis throughout the northeast. Heather serves as a Board Member for her regional high school booster club and sits on the Principal’s School Council for the regional middle school.

Degrees

MS, Organizational Leadership, Quinnipiac University

BGS, Business Administration, Eastern Connecticut State University

Areas of practice: public school district leadership development and management, K-12 human resources, and K-12 education, and executive searches

Biography

Dr. Wilson’s experience in the field of education includes 7 years as superintendent of schools in Sudbury, MA and 3 years as assistant superintendent for human resources in Brookline, MA.  In addition, Dr. Wilson has experience as a middle school principal, assistant principal, and mathematics instructor (middle school, high school, and junior college) in California, Pennsylvania, and Florida.  Her experience includes leadership and development of high-performing teams at the school and district levels focused on meeting diverse student needs through collaboration and a focus on continuous improvement. She also served as the founding principal of Diablo Vista Middle School in Danville, CA with responsibility to supervise construction of the building, conduct all hiring, and develop programmatic design for the new school.  Dr. Wilson also has taught a doctorate level human resources management course at Boston College as an adjunct faculty member.

Degrees

PhD, Educational Administration, Boston College

MS, Curriculum, California State University, East Bay

BS, Mathematics & Secondary Education, Bloomsburg University

Matthew Gillis has been in the field of School Business Administration since December 2001 and has worked in a K-12 Regional system, and in small, medium, and large municipal school departments. In that time, he has overseen transportation in rural, suburban and urban communities and has been a procurer of transportation vendor services as well as an owner and operator.

He holds a current School Business Administrator license and Superintendent’s license from DESE.  He earned his MPA from Suffolk University’s Sawyer School of Business, his BA from Marist College, and refined his knowledge of school administration field  15 graduate credits from Westfield State College. In the last 22 years, Matthew has built, helped present, and managed to live within: operating budgets, capital project budgets, grants, revolving fund budgets, and warrant articles. He has kept his knowledge and skills sharp over this period with membership and attendance the following organizations: MASBO, ASBO, MA Treasurer’s & Collector’s Association, the MA Inspector General’s Office, and workshops with MA Department of Revenue. Matthew is a past President of the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials (MASBO), and has presented on a variety of topics to his colleagues over the years. Currently, he is looking forward to joining the Natick Public Schools leadership team and helping the system reach its student achievement goals while providing strong value for parents and taxpayers.

Cynthia Mahr has spent more than twenty-five years in state and school finance. She joined Wellesley Public Schools in 2018. Prior to Wellesley, Cynthia served as the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations for Weston Public School and Director of Administrative Services for the Public Schools of Brookline. She is a Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations and a Meritorious Budget Award recipient (Weston and Wellesley) from the Association of School Business Officials International, as well as the recipient of the President's Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials (MASBO). Cynthia is a Past President of MASBO. Cynthia earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Hartwick College and her Master’s in Public Administration degree from Suffolk University.

Mary Ellen Normen is a knowledgeable and skilled leader in public education and municipal management. She has spent 30 years working in municipal and school finance roles for MetroWest area communities in Massachusetts. She has held the roles of Treasurer/Collector and School Business Administrator in six communities during her career in municipal finance after starting her career as a Presidential Management Intern with the US GAO. She often serves as an instructor and mentor for many school business administrators in the areas of municipal finance law, policy analysis, program evaluation, and is an advocate for fostering collaborative partnerships within schools and municipal departments.

Profile

§  Has more than 20 years’ experience in public finance

§  Joined the firm in 2001

§  Provides quantitative and technical support in connection with the issuance of municipal debt

§  Has extensive experience in developing financing models and identifying and structuring refunding opportunities

Education

§  College of Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science, Northeastern University, Magna Cum Laude

Licenses Held

§  Registered Representative of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA

Areas of Focus

Advises municipal issuers on all aspects of debt issuance and credit considerations

Profile

§  Has 45+ years’ experience in public finance

§  Joined the firm in 2001

§  Specializes in problem credits and structured financings

§  One of three principals who started the Boston office of Fleet Securities; served as team leader of Fleet Securities’ and later Fleet Bank’s  municipal advisory groups

§  Former vice president and manager of the municipal advisory group in Shawmut Bank’s government finance department

Education

§  Bachelor of Arts, Simmons College

Licenses Held

§  Registered Representative of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)

§  Registered Principal of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB)

Current Affiliations

§  Serves on Town of Swampscott finance committee, former chairman

§  Board member, Association of Town Finance Committees, past president

Other Affiliations

§  Member of the Massachusetts Municipal Association Fiscal Policy Committee

Profile

§  Has more than 7 years’ experience in public finance

§  Joined the firm in 2017

§  Provides quantitative and technical support in connection with the issuance of municipal debt

§  Has extensive experience in developing financing models and identifying and structuring refunding opportunities

Education

§  Bachelor of Science, Northeastern University

Licenses Held

§  Registered Representative of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50

Michael Knight, MBA is the School Business Administrator Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School District. Michael has worked in the field of school business for 6 years and was credited with implementing cost saving strategies saving over $400,000 annually in his previous school district, Groton-Dunstable Regional. Previous to working in school business Michael worked in technology and construction sales.

Michael’s goal serving as a board member would be to help foster an environment of continuous learning and thought share within MASBO. The greatest strength MASBO has is the membership, there are millions of hours of experience collectively held by the MASBO membership and finding ways to share and memorialize the lessons learned from this experience would be his top priority.

When not crunching budget numbers, Michael enjoys playing golf, hiking with his dog, and watching sports.   

Taylor Pirog has served as a registered dietitian and assistant food service director at Andover Public Schools for the past six years and is the current Vice President for the School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts.Taylor holds a Master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and is dedicated to creating nutritious, sustainable, and student-approved menus and recipes. She emphasizes the significance of nutrition education, empowering students to make informed food choices for their overall well-being. She believes successful school nutrition programs create an environment where students can thrive both academically and physically.

Cynthia Mahr has spent more than twenty-five years in state and school finance. She joined Wellesley Public Schools in 2018. Prior to Wellesley, Cynthia served as the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations for Weston Public School and Director of Administrative Services for the Public Schools of Brookline. She is a Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations and a Meritorious Budget Award recipient (Weston and Wellesley) from the Association of School Business Officials International, as well as the recipient of the President's Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials (MASBO). Cynthia is a Past President of MASBO. Cynthia earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Hartwick College and her Master’s in Public Administration degree from Suffolk University.

Mary Ellen Normen is a knowledgeable and skilled leader in public education and municipal management. She has spent 30 years working in municipal and school finance roles for MetroWest area communities in Massachusetts. She has held the roles of Treasurer/Collector and School Business Administrator in six communities during her career in municipal finance after starting her career as a Presidential Management Intern with the US GAO. She often serves as an instructor and mentor for many school business administrators in the areas of municipal finance law, policy analysis, program evaluation, and is an advocate for fostering collaborative partnerships within schools and municipal departments.

Michael MacMillan is currently the Business Manager for the Monomoy Regional School District. He previously held the same position in the Cohasset Public Schools and Wareham Public Schools. Prior to entering school finance, Michael worked in school technology, national government finance and policy, and management consulting.

https://www.scit.org/page/492/...

35 years of experience in the Municipal Sector servicing over 60 Municipal Accounts annually. Member of the AICPA, MSCPA, GFOA and GAQC. Board member, MSCPA Government Auditing Committee. Special Review Member – GFOA CAFR review program. Frequent discussion leader across the State -  MSCPA, MCTA, MMAAA, MGFOA, NEGFOA, MASBO. Works very closely with all his clients regarding GAAP/GASB implementation.

Lindsey Albernaz is a Certified Public Accountant, former auditor in the Governmental and Nonprofit public accounting sector and is currently the Business Manager for READS Collaborative located in Middleboro, MA. While starting her career out in public accounting in 2005, Lindsey transitioned into the public education beginning as the joint Director of Business and Finance for the Somerset Public Schools and Somerset Berkley Regional School District in 2014. She joined READS Collaborative in 2019. Lindsey holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s degree in Taxation. She currently lives with her husband and two daughters in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.