Everything Under the Sun: New Ideas and Learning Pathways at the 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting

Last week’s 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting in Orlando brought together more than 1,500 independent school business leaders — our largest gathering of business officers and industry partners to date. 

The magic started Sunday as attendees filtered through registration and NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields interviewed three distinguished business officers for forthcoming episodes of the Net Assets Podcast. Podcast listeners can look for those episodes in March, April and May.  

Three dynamic pre-conference workshops dove into: the power of data analysis and NBOA’s BIIS data platform; facilities management led by APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities, and business leadership, as explored by the NBOA Leadership Academy.

The opening reception in the warm Orlando breeze featured a band, local artisans and above all, the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and spark new professional relationships.  

The 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting opening reception.

Monday set the tone for a powerful week. We began by honoring the 2026 recipient of the Sarah Daignault Outstanding Support of Independent Schools Award, Patrick Schuermann, who spoke about the transformative power of community in our schools. 

Patrick Schuermann, Ed.D., accepts the 2026 Sarah Daignault Outstanding Support of Independent Schools Award.

He was followed by keynote speaker Tucker Bryant, who challenged us to “do different things differently” in an era shaped by AI and sameness. His sidewalk poetry illustrated that by allowing ourselves to “stop and look twice,” we can open the door to breakthrough ideas. 

Poet Tucker Bryant delivers the Opening Keynote.

NBOA Annual Meeting concurrent session attendees.

The Business Solutions Showcase opened up on Monday for lunch, with its largest footprint at any NBOA Annual Meeting, giving both attendees and exhibitors more space to connect and explore relevant services and products. The Solutions Theatre, offering micro-sessions by select business partners, ran Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning in a "silent disco" format. 

The Annual Meeting hit its stride Tuesday morning with the return of the NBOA Fun Run — back for the first time in six years.  

The Annual Meeting Fun Run kicked off the day with a burst of energy, getting attendees moving and motivated.

At the general session, NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields shared several exciting new programs and member benefits, including the forthcoming Human Resources Policy Guidance for Independent Schools and new online workshops and courses, including one on Enterprise Risk Management. He also introduced a forthcoming AI-powered resource: Bo, a custom chatbot designed to help members navigate NBOA content and find answers quickly — all within the secure NBOA environment. 

The 2026 recipient of the  Ken White Distinguished Business Officer Award, Ann Marie Tidona, cited the Quaker tradition of her school, Friends Academy, in her acceptance of the award, emphasizing that service to others is not a diversion from our work, but rather its very foundation. 

2026 Ken White Distinguished Business Officer Award recipient, Ann Marie Tidona.

Wednesday brought the meeting to a meaningful close. After a morning of concurrent sessions on AI in the business office, we recognized this year’s Jeffrey Shields Innovation in Independent School Business Operations Award recipients — Aspen Academy and Pine Crest School — whose strategic work in AI has saved their business offices innumerable hours and continues to push our profession ahead. 

The 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting Business Solutions Showcase and Solutions Theater.

Closing keynote speaker Heather McGowan then invited us to imagine new futures while connecting with each other. She reminded us that the struggle of learning in an age of rapid change is not a setback but a catalyst for growth, and that meaningful progress often requires stepping into discomfort. 

Futurist Heather McGowan delivers the closing keynote at the 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting.

Attendees and anyone who purchased the on-demand package can revisit sessions, recordings and power points from mid-March, when they become available, through late June.

We hope to see you in Dallas for the 2027 NBOA Annual Meeting, February 21-24!  

NBOA President & CEO Jeff Shields, joined by NBOA staff, invites members to next year’s NBOA Annual Meeting in Dallas.