Kara is the Superintendent for the Hardin and Union County Boards of DD.  She has been working with OASBO since 2015 to deliver training including 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Leadership at the Speed of Trust, and Crucial Conversations.

Katie Johnson is the Deputy Executive Director of Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO). As Deputy Executive Director, Katie serves as the advocacy lead for the association and as in-house legal counsel, keeping staff and members abreast of legal and regulatory compliance issues in school business. In addition, she develops curriculum to support OASBO’s strategic plan and the Ohio school business profession.

Prior to joining OASBO, Katie represented school districts as a public finance attorney, focusing her practice on serving as bond counsel and underwriter's counsel in debt and lease financings and as general counsel for Ohio political subdivisions. Specifically, Katie worked with school districts on bond issues, note issues, leases, tax levies, public records and other matters of concern to school business officials.

Katie also serves on boards and committees focused on public finance, including serving as a member on the Finance and Appropriations Committee for Columbus City School District, as Treasurer of the Confluence Community Authority, and as President of the Ohio Chapter of Women in Public Finance. 

Dr. David Axner joined the BASA staff on January 1, 2015 and became the executive director in 2021. Prior to BASA, Dr. Axner began his administrative career in Sandusky City Schools and then accepted a job in the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District where he served that district as high school principal and superintendent for a total of 17 years. From Chagrin Falls, Dr. Axner was hired at Dublin City Schools and was the Dublin City School Superintendent from 2007 – 2013. After 35 years in education and retirement, he worked for one year with the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA) and then joined the BASA staff. 

Dr. Axner is a graduate of The University of Akron and defended his dissertation successfully at Akron on Instructional leadership. As a superintendent, Dr. Axner was active in BASA chairing a number of committees, serving on the Executive Board and represented BASA for two terms on the Educators Standards Board. He and his wife Chris have six children and seven grandchildren.

Katie Johnson is the Deputy Executive Director of Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO). As Deputy Executive Director, Katie serves as the advocacy lead for the association and as in-house legal counsel, keeping staff and members abreast of legal and regulatory compliance issues in school business. In addition, she develops curriculum to support OASBO’s strategic plan and the Ohio school business profession.

Prior to joining OASBO, Katie represented school districts as a public finance attorney, focusing her practice on serving as bond counsel and underwriter's counsel in debt and lease financings and as general counsel for Ohio political subdivisions. Specifically, Katie worked with school districts on bond issues, note issues, leases, tax levies, public records and other matters of concern to school business officials.

Katie also serves on boards and committees focused on public finance, including serving as a member on the Finance and Appropriations Committee for Columbus City School District, as Treasurer of the Confluence Community Authority, and as President of the Ohio Chapter of Women in Public Finance. 

Thomas L. Hosler has been a school superintendent for over 20 years, serving as Superintendent of Perrysburg School District for 13 years. Since his start at Perrysburg Schools, he has led the growing district through the passage of four operating levies, two permanent improvement levies, and a bond issue to construct an intermediate school, which opened in Fall 2017.

In 2016, Mr. Hosler helped found the Coalition of Advocates for Pre-K through 16 Education of Northwest Ohio (CAPE-NWO) with a mission to provide a collective voice focused on positive direction, promoting quality education for all students in Northwest Ohio. He serves as a member of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators Executive Committee and is also the Chair for the Alliance for High Quality Education, representing more than 60 high-performing districts in Ohio.

In 2018, Mr. Hosler was awarded the Ohio Superintendent Outstanding Performance Award by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, securing with it a $10,000 grant for the Perrysburg School District. He was also awarded the Exemplary Leadership Award by the Buckeye Association of School Administrators in 2016 and in 2020.

Prior to his appointment in Perrysburg, he served as the superintendent of Huron Schools in New Boston, Michigan for over seven years. Prior to working as a school superintendent, Mr. Hosler served as a high school principal at Addison High School in Michigan, and Associate Principal at St. John’s Jesuit High School

He earned his Bachelor of Education and Master of Education/Educational Administration from The University of Toledo, and his Education Specialist Degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. He is a former marathon runner and now avid cyclist. Mr. Hosler and his wife, Robin, have been married for over 28 years and they have four children.

Ryan Pendleton is the Executive Director of the North Coast Shared Services Alliance where he coordinates financial and operations support for northeast Ohio school districts through the Educational Service Centers of Northeast Ohio, Medina, and Lorain Counties.

Ryan is very active in state and federal issues concerning education and the potential impact on the students of Ohio. He is a member of the Fair School Funding Work Group, co-chairing both the Base Cost and Analysis and Support Groups.  As an inaugural member of the Work Group, Ryan made significant contributions to creating and advocating for Ohio’s new state funding formula.  His efforts contributed to the Fair School Funding Formula being included in the 2022-2023 Biennium Budget.

Ryan is a Leadership Akron Class 32 graduate and dedicated to serving the community, in particular the students across Ohio. Prior to working at North Coast Shared Service Alliance, Ryan was the CFO/Treasurer of Akron Public and Barberton City Schools and worked previously as a financial advisor.  

Ryan earned a BA in Business Administration from Malone College and an MBA from Cleveland State University.  

Jenni Logan is the Treasurer/CFO of Sycamore Community City Schools. Prior to this, she was the treasurer/CFO at District Lakota Local School District January 2011 to August 2022.  Before that she was a Director in the Public Finance Department of Robert W. Baird & Co.  Ms. Logan has over 20 years of experience serving school districts in Ohio, which include an ESC, JVSD, CSD, LSD and an EVSD.  She has been involved with several state committees for OASBO and served the organization as its state president in 2005-06.    

Dr. Hanlon is the Superintendent of the Chardon Local Schools, appointed to the district’s top post in June 2013 and is in his twenty-second year as a school superintendent. He is responsible for all day-to-day operations of the school district serving approximately 2,800 students and manages the district’s estimated $39MM annual operating budget.

Before his appointment in Chardon, he served as Superintendent of the Painesville City Schools for fifteen years, where he was responsible for all day-to-day operations of the school district, as well as long-range planning to enhance student achievement in a diverse student population served in its schools.

Dr. Hanlon received his Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University in 1996, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1987 from Cleveland State University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education cum laude in 1983 from Cleveland State University.

His interests include distance running, ice hockey, all forms of outdoor activities, and cooking.

Chris has over 38 years of proven successful governmental finance and management experience and is a licensed school treasurer, business manager, and holds an Ohio Health, Life and Variable Annuity license. He began his career at the Ohio Auditor of State's Office as an examiner and field audit supervisor leaving that position to become Treasurer/CFO and Executive Director of Business Affairs of public school system in 1984. He has served district from $30 million to $200 million in budget and has managed both CFO and Director of Business Affairs simultaneously in Dublin and Springfield CSD. Chris has received many awards during his career including Ohio School Treasurer of the Year, Ohio School Business Manager of the Year and the Virginia Ramsay Award for Distinguished Service to the profession. He brings considerable expertise to school clients in five year forecast assistance in areas of modeling, projecting and presentation; levy analysis; school comparison studies; efficiency reviews; budget preparation and monthly financial report preparation; superintendent and treasurer executive recruiting; mentoring for school business officials, and strategic planning.

Chris earned a MBA majoring in finance and administration, along with a BS in accounting from Miami University of Ohio, and an AS in business administration from Edison State College. He also holds a designation of Registered School Business Administrator and holds the Ohio Financial Accountability Certificate issued by the auditor of state's office. 

Marvin Founds is a director and municipal advisor with Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC. He has been an education finance professional for over 30 years, serving as treasurer/CFO for various school districts in Ohio and later as managing director for a large Midwest capital markets investment banking firm serving assorted education and traditional local government clients.

Through his longtime involvement in the field, Marvin has developed a statewide reputation for his range of knowledge in school finance. He has been a speaker and panelist at many conferences and workshops on topics related to public finance, capital planning, school district revenue and expenditure forecasting, millage studies and bond issuances. 

Marvin earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a Finance concentration from The Ohio State University, and has two Master’s Degrees from Ashland University - Business Administration and Education.

Ryan began his career with the Auditor of State’s Office and has served as a school district treasurer for the 16 years. He currently is a Senior Analytical Advisor for Frontline Education (formerly Forecast 5).

During his career, he has also served as Treasurer/CFO of the Stow Munroe Falls City School District, the Lorain City School District, the Fairview Park City School District, Berea City School District and Austintown Local School District.  He has been the recipient of 9 Association of School Business Officials International Meritorious Budget Awards (ASBO) and was the recipient of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials 2011 Outstanding Treasurer of the Year Award.   He is a past President of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, previously chaired the ASBO Meritorious Budget Award Advisory Committee and has served on numerous local, state and national committees.  Ryan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Youngstown State University and is a Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations.

Jennifer has spent over 20 years in government and non-profit service including as a legislative aide for Assistant Majority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives, as a lobbyist and grassroots coordinator for the Ohio School Boards Association, and as a communication consultant for public entities. Her love for civics started early when she volunteered for a local congressional campaign at the age of 8. Since then, she’s volunteered on several candidate campaigns and was the levy chairperson for her own local school district.

Jennifer has extensive experience in grassroots advocacy and creating strategy, as well as advocating in both the legislative and executive branches on behalf of client interests. She’s worked on both local and statewide ballot issues and candidate campaigns and has developed outreach strategies and communication plans for a variety of interests from the local, state and national levels with proven success.

Becka graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a business degree, marketing concentration and psychology minor. Her marketing experience has included creating and implementing plans for multiple corporate clients. Becka found her calling when she was able to combine her business degree, marketing experience and passion for kids and education. She has held leadership roles of multiple committees for Dublin Schools. She is especially proud to have chaired successful levy campaigns in 2012 and 2018.

Nicole Donovsky serves as general counsel to school districts with an emphasis in labor and employment issues, including contract negotiations, grievances, arbitrations, FMLA, ADA, workers’ compensation, evaluation, nonrenewal and termination. Nicole also advises school districts in the areas of career-technical education, student issues, civil rights, public records, abuse reporting, ethics, board policies and meeting requirements. In addition, Nicole assists clients with crisis management strategies and advises clients on conducting sensitive investigations.

Nicole is chief legal counsel to the Buckeye Association of School Administrators. She has presented extensively on issues affecting public education. Nicole also serves on Bricker Graydon's Southeast Ohio team.

In addition to proactively counseling clients, Nicole has represented school districts before a variety of courts and administrative agencies throughout Ohio, including the Ohio Supreme Court.

Danielle Prohaska has 17 years experience as a district administrator, currently in her 10th year as Superintendent of Mechanicsburg Exempted Village Schools. Dr. Prohaska earned her EdD in June of 2020, focusing on Educational Leadership and Administration. During her time at Mechanicsburg Exempted Village Schools, the district has focused on multiple measures that matter, including a shift in programming to promote the 3Es - Employment, Enrollment, and Enlistment. Mechanicburg’s mission is Aspire, Believe, Celebrate - Empowering all graduates for a successful and fulfilling tomorrow. The district uses their Portrait of a Graduate as the guide to support all students in developing the skills necessary for success in life. 

CFO/Treasurer of North Union LSD since August 1997, and shared services CFO/Treasurer for both North Union LSD and Mechanicsburg EVSD since January 1, 2013. Being in a small district there is a need to wear many hats.  Scott has operated, in addition to his CFO/Treasurer functions, as the Director of Operations, Construction Manager, Human Resource Director, and Food Service Director.  

Married to a beautiful, wonderful woman who is also in School Administration. Father of three sons (16, 20, 22) and two stepdaughters (22, 24). Enjoy owning, driving, and maintaining classic cars

Michael Sawyers began as Superintendent of New Albany-Plain Local Schools on August 1, 2016. Previously, Sawyers served the district as its Chief of Operations and Strategic Development for three years. Sawyers received the New Albany Chamber of Commerce Delta Award for Outstanding Business Leader in recognition of his excellent stewardship of the school district.

Sawyers brings 30 years of experience advocating for public education at the local, state, and national level. Sawyers served as a teacher, athletic director, assistant principal, deputy principal, director of curriculum and assessment, director of human resources, and/or superintendent in three Ohio school districts. At the state and national level, Sawyers served as an Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Acting State Superintendent of Public Instruction at the Ohio Department of Education before joining the district. 

Becky started her career as the assistant treasurer for her Alma Mater, Martins Ferry City Schools. After 12 years, she accepted the treasurer/CFO position for the Wellsville Local School District. Her love of the Central Ohio area found her accepting the assistant treasurer position at the fastest growing school district in the state of Ohio - Olentangy Local Schools. After a year and a half she was promoted to the Treasurer/CFO role. The district grew over twice its size to over 16,000 students under her financial leadership. After nine years with Olentangy Schools, she was recruited by the New Albany-Plain Local Schools and has been with this district for ten+ years. Becky has had the fortune of leading districts considered both wealthy and poor which gives her a unique perspective on the various challenges diverse districts face.

During these career transitions, Becky also helped lead OASBO. She held the offices of Board Southeast Region Director, Vice-President, President Elect, President and Immediate Past President. Through the years she has served on numerous committees and continues to serve on the Legislative Committee as well as many focus committees. Becky is also asked to speak on a variety of topics not only for OASBO seminars but other state organizations as well. 

Daniel M. Romano is Treasurer/CFO at West Clermont Local Schools in Southwest Ohio in August 2020. He is also CEO and a Co-Founder of Edventures in Learning, Inc. a strategic learning and communication company. Prior to his current roles, Dan spent 23 years in the public sector holding positions as Treasurer/CFO and Business Manager in both Toledo and Sylvania City School Districts in Ohio.

In 1997, Dan was recruited to serve as an international consultant assisting Fortune 500 companies in bringing their strategic plans to life through a methodology that democratized data and dialogue to all parts of the organization. In 2012 Dan, was again recruited. This time by Forecast5 Analytics, a start-up company focused on building a business intelligence and forecasting platform for the Public Sector. Serving as SVP, he was responsible for the development and growth of new and innovative business intelligence and analytic tools to a multistate market of local governments that included Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. In 2016, Dan resumed the full-time helm at Edventures in Learning. More recently the company has expanded its service delivery of innovative tools and resources to engage employees and stakeholders in the critical issues of their organization.

Dan is an active member with OASBO serving on various committees. He also assisted in the development of several of the “Essentials” curriculum which is a major component to an alternative pathway for Ohio school treasurer and Business Manager licenses.

Dan received both his Bachelor’s in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toledo.

Hugh Garside is the Treasurer for the South-Western City School District located in the southwest quadrant of Franklin County.  The District is the 6^th largest school district in the State of Ohio serving roughly 21,800 students housed in 31 school buildings.  Mr. Garside has served as Treasurer of the South-Western City School District for a total of 21 years and has been a part of constructing 27 new buildings over the course of his career in the District.  Mr. Garside also served as Treasurer of the Logan Elm Local Schools for 5 years, as the Executive Director of Budget and Fiscal Management for the Columbus City Schools for 3 years, and served on the School Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees for 6 years.

Kara is the Superintendent for the Hardin and Union County Boards of DD.  She has been working with OASBO since 2015 to deliver training including 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Leadership at the Speed of Trust, and Crucial Conversations.

Rejeana Woolum-Napier is a Client Services Manager for Sedgwick. Rejeana has more than twenty years of experience in the Ohio Workers' Compensation industry; working with Ohio employers on claim resolution, cost containment strategies and overall risk management.  Currently, Rejeana works with various organizations and trade associations offering the best possible solutions within their current workers’ compensation programs. 

Prior to her current role, Rejeana has also worked in human resources, medical case management and safety consulting. During this time, she worked directly with Ohio employers regarding claim mitigation strategies, treatment authorizations, safe and timely return to work as well as on-site safety inspections. She also previously served on the Executive Board for the Safety Council of Greater Columbus.

Rejeana majored in political science at Columbus State Community College and has also completed extensive training in medical management and safety. She currently holds OSHA certifications in both construction and general industry. 
 

Kiesha Martin has been an Account Executive with Sedgwick MCO since 2018, dedicated to simplifying the managed care process by assisting with controlling cost, client education and safety management programs.  Kiesha received a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Dominican University.  Kiesha has over 25 years’ experience in the workers compensation industry from claims management, hearings, self-insured and account management. 

Pamela has more than 33 years of experience in unemployment and workers’ compensation. Pam has been with Sedgwick since 2004 and has been a Hearing Consultant for both unemployment and workers’ compensation. Pam is well versed in the unemployment hearing process, witness preparation and representing employers in all states. Over her career, Pam held such roles as claims examiner, hearing representative, account executive and manager. 

Mr. Sawan has been in the Safety, Health and Environmental field for over 29 years.  During his well-rounded career, he has worked in the consulting, manufacturing and Healthcare industries.  In his various professional roles, he has worked to improve the safety conditions and maintain environmental compliance in these industries.  In his current role with Sedgwick, Andy specializes in customer safety training, development of written safety policies and procedures, conducting educational presentations and recordkeeping compliance.  He currently resides with his family in Akron, Ohio.

Rejeana Woolum-Napier is a Client Services Manager for Sedgwick. Rejeana has more than twenty years of experience in the Ohio Workers' Compensation industry; working with Ohio employers on claim resolution, cost containment strategies and overall risk management.  Currently, Rejeana works with various organizations and trade associations offering the best possible solutions within their current workers’ compensation programs. 

Prior to her current role, Rejeana has also worked in human resources, medical case management and safety consulting. During this time, she worked directly with Ohio employers regarding claim mitigation strategies, treatment authorizations, safe and timely return to work as well as on-site safety inspections. She also previously served on the Executive Board for the Safety Council of Greater Columbus.

Rejeana majored in political science at Columbus State Community College and has also completed extensive training in medical management and safety. She currently holds OSHA certifications in both construction and general industry. 
 

Kiesha Martin has been an Account Executive with Sedgwick MCO since 2018, dedicated to simplifying the managed care process by assisting with controlling cost, client education and safety management programs.  Kiesha received a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Dominican University.  Kiesha has over 25 years’ experience in the workers compensation industry from claims management, hearings, self-insured and account management. 

Pamela has more than 33 years of experience in unemployment and workers’ compensation. Pam has been with Sedgwick since 2004 and has been a Hearing Consultant for both unemployment and workers’ compensation. Pam is well versed in the unemployment hearing process, witness preparation and representing employers in all states. Over her career, Pam held such roles as claims examiner, hearing representative, account executive and manager. 

Mr. Sawan has been in the Safety, Health and Environmental field for over 29 years.  During his well-rounded career, he has worked in the consulting, manufacturing and Healthcare industries.  In his various professional roles, he has worked to improve the safety conditions and maintain environmental compliance in these industries.  In his current role with Sedgwick, Andy specializes in customer safety training, development of written safety policies and procedures, conducting educational presentations and recordkeeping compliance.  He currently resides with his family in Akron, Ohio.