Bootcamp 2022: Essentials of Financial Management & Administration

Anne Arnold is Treasurer/CFO at Gibsonburg Exempted Village Schools in Sandusky County.   She oversees the financial operations of the district with a general fund budget of almost $11 million dollars.

Before coming to Gibsonburg, Anne was the Treasurer/CFO at Edison Local School District in Milan and prior to that at Benton-Carroll-Salem in Oak Harbor. 

Anne graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism.  After a career in retail management, she decided to pursue public education and became the Accounts Payable Coordinator at Fremont City Schools.  While there, she obtained her School Treasurer’s License in May 2003. 

Anne has been involved with OASBO for many years and has served on a number of committees, served as an officer for the Northwest Chapter and been a presenter at several professional development meetings.  She was also named Outstanding Treasurer/CFO of the Year for 2017. 

Anne lives in Lindsey, Ohio with her husband and son.  In her spare time, she enjoys day trips with her family and friends and spending lots of time at the lake.

Alan Binger has 30 years of experience as a school Treasurer/CFO having recently retired from Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Centers after 8 years.  Prior to that appointment he had served as Treasurer at Clyde-Green Springs Exempted Village Schools for 22 years.  He spent 7 years in commercial banking prior to his school experience.

He has gone through the chairs at the NWOASBO chapter having served as president in 2001-02.  He is a past recipient of the Rich Unger Professionalism Award in 2011 and was the Regional Distinguished Service Award winner for NW Ohio in 2020.  During his career Alan has been a frequent presenter and seminar director at OASBO professional development events.

A lifelong resident of Sandusky County, Alan has served the community in many ways.  He currently serves as Treasurer of Communities for the Arts, serves on the Clyde, Ohio Tree and Landscape commission and is a past board member for the Project Excellence Foundation and the Fremont Memorial Hospital Foundation Board.  He served two terms on the Sandusky County Fair Board.  He continues to serve on the fair’s budget and finance committee.  He was a board member and treasurer of the Fremont Youth Hockey Boosters for many years and coached youth hockey, baseball and football.

He has also played the organ at his church since the age of 14.

He has owned and operated a choose and cut Christmas tree farm in Clyde for 20 years and serves on the board of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association and is chairman of its finance committee.

Kate Davis is a member of Bricker & Eckler's Education group and practices in the firm's Dayton office. She counsels public sector clients on a variety of issues with a particular emphasis on labor and employment matters, including collective bargaining, grievance arbitration and representing employers before the State Employment Relations Board. She also partners with school districts and higher education institutions on a variety of issues, including administration of policies, public records issues, student affairs, constitutional issues, real property tax valuation and exemption laws and compliance with federal laws. Kate regularly advises clients regarding employment and labor-related matters involving Title VII, FMLA, ADEA, ADA, FLSA and R.C. Section 4112 issues, and frequently assists clients with policy revision and training.

Katie Johnson is the Executive Director of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials. Katie is the seventh Executive Director and the first woman to lead the organization since its inception in 1936.

Katie was the Deputy Executive Director for OASBO prior to being named Executive Director. In that role, she served as legislative lead and in-house legal counsel for the association, keeping staff and members abreast of legal and regulatory compliance issues in school business. In addition, she has served as the chief learning officer, developing curriculum to support OASBO’s strategic plan and the Ohio school business profession.

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 past President of the Ohio Chapter of Women in Public Finance.

Katie holds a bachelor's degree in Business Finance from the University of Colorado, a master’s degree in Education from The Ohio State University, and a law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Jennifer Bruns is the Treasurer/CFO for St. Henry Consolidated Local Schools where she has served since January 2016. Prior to coming to St. Henry Consolidated Local Schools, Jennifer served as the Chief Financial Officer of Riverside Local School District in Logan County. Before beginning a career in school finance, Jennifer spent fifteen years working for the Ohio Auditor of State's Office and supervised numerous financial audits.

Jennifer has been active in OASBO for many years. She is a past President of the West Central OASBO Chapter, and currently serves as the Chair of the Auditor of State OASBO Committee and as the Northwest Regional Director on the OASBO Board of Directors.  Jennifer is a graduate of Bluffton University with a Bachelor Degree in Accounting. 

Jenny started at Columbus City Schools in December 2014.  Jenny has over 20 years of experience in school finance.  Prior to her time at Columbus City Schools, she served as the Treasurer/CFO of Licking Heights Local School District and as an assistant to the treasurer at Southwest Licking Local Schools.  Jenny holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, with a minor in Business Administration from Ohio University.  She holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Capital University.  In February 2022, Jenny completed her black belt training in Lean Six Sigma.

Matt Stout is a partner in Bricker Graydon's Public Finance group and practices in the areas of public finance and public law, emphasizing school and local government law. He assists and advises with the documentation and issuance of general obligation and revenue bond transactions for municipalities, school districts, and other political subdivisions; assists and advises municipalities, school districts, and other political subdivisions with tax-exempt lease purchase financings; and provides general counsel assistance to political subdivisions.

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. 

Cynthia Ritter is a School Business Consultant with K-12 Business Consulting, Inc. and Grant Consultant to Envision Ed Plus. Cynthia has served as a consultant to Ohio Department of Education with the Academic Distress Commissions and Education Reform. She has over 32 years of successful leadership and management experience as treasurer/CFO for several school districts.

She has been a member of the Education Standards Board Ohio Department of Education, OASBO Board President, served on the Auditor of State Regional Advisory Committee, Board member and treasurer of the Pickaway County Employees Benefit Program, speaker and presenter at numerous OSBA, BASA, OASBO and ASBO seminars.

She has received many awards and recognitions including the Rich Unger Professionalism Award, Distinguished Service Award and was a Herb Brum Scholarship recipient.

Amelia Gioffredo is the Treasurer/CFO in the Amherst Exempted Village School District. Amelia oversees the Treasurer's Office and is directly responsible for Amherst's financial operations.

Before coming to Amherst, Amelia was the Treasurer/CFO of Fremont City Schools for over three years.  Previously, she served as Assistant Treasurer at Strongsville City Schools for five years.

Amelia received her undergraduate degrees from Bowling Green State University, earning a Business degree in Accounting and Arts & Sciences degree in Fashion Merchandising.  She is currently attending Baldwin Wallace University, working towards an MBA in Business Analytics. Amelia has been involved in OASBO, and has served on a number of committees, served as Chapter officer and committee chair.  

Amelia is the proud mother of Joey and Ben, who are very active teenagers who love the outdoors.  When not working, she is often taking them to skate parks to ride scooters and trick bikes.

Dawn is the Treasurer/CFO for Van Buren Local School District.

Jacobs had been Treasurer/CFO for Huron City Schools since August 2014 before joining Van Buren Local in November.

Jacobs began her career in educational finance as assistant treasurer for Anthony Wayne Local Schools in 1993 and has worked in finance for a variety of Ohio school districts since, including the Lucas County Educational Service Center, Bucyrus City School District and Otsego Local School District.

Jacobs earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a master’s of business administration from Heidelberg University. She also holds an Ohio School treasurer’s license from the Ohio Department of Education and a School Finance and Operations Certification through the Association of School Business Officials International.

Ryan is a Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager at RedTree Investment Group. He has over 25 years of investment experience in the fixed income markets. Specifically, over the past 19 years, Ryan has been assisting public entities and other agencies with their fixed income investment needs. At RedTree, he is responsible for overseeing the firm’s investment process along with communication of the unique investment strategies for the firm’s clients.

Ryan obtained his undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Kentucky and his MBA in Finance from Xavier University. He has received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a current member of the CFA Institute. He currently serves on the Ohio GFOA Board and is on their Education Committee.