Welcome to this special bonus episode of CBO Speaks. We’ve been asking each of our interviewees to sum up their thoughts, in less than a minute, on various topics that are top-of-mind for our listeners right now. We’ve collected their responses to share with you in these mini topical episodes and today we’re hearing from business officers about analytics. Colleges and universities are embracing analytics and using data, technology, and specialized knowledge to answer questions, reveal institutional needs, predict outcomes, or improve financial performance. Let’s hear from our CBOs on how they’re using analytics on campus to best prepare their institutions for the future.

CBO Speaks

Special Episode: Business Officers Share Their Thoughts on Analytics

Welcome to this special bonus episode of CBO Speaks. We’ve been asking each of our interviewees to sum up their thoughts, in less than a minute, on various topics that are top-of-mind for our listeners right now. We’ve collected their responses to share with you in these mini topical episodes and today we’re hearing from business officers about the economic model. When higher education leaders envision the future of their institution, they’re challenged to think about the ideal financial or economic model that will support their mission, which can often mean shifting and growing in new directions. Our CBOs shared some ways they’ve been grappling with this complex topic on their campuses.

Special Episode: Business Officers Share Their Thoughts on The Economic Model

In this special episode, Megan Strand joins Jill Creighton, host of the SA: Voices From the Field Podcast, and two former CBO Speaks guests, Nicole Trufant and Gerald Hector, to look at how student affairs officers and business officers can work together towards mutual success. The discussion ranges from seeing business officers as human to how student affairs and business office professionals can help each other promote justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. They talk about the importance of transparency, open communication, and building relationships with people at all levels to improve collaboration across all departments. It’s a great conversation between these four people and a great way to spend time with the NASPA team.

NASPA & NACUBO Join Forces to Discuss the Crossover Between Student Affairs and Business Officers

Welcome to this special bonus episode of CBO Speaks. We’ve been asking each of our interviewees to sum up their thoughts, in less than a minute, on various topics that are top-of-mind for our listeners right now. We’ve collected their responses to share with you in these mini topical episodes and today we’re hearing from business officers about collaboration. We often hear that success isn’t found in silos, but rather in working with colleagues across campus and the higher education sector toward a shared goal or purpose. Our CBOs are experts on how a collaborative approach is key to achieving their institution’s mission and supporting the mission of higher education in general.

Special Episode: Business Officers Share Their Thoughts on Collaboration

Kevin Davenport is the Vice President of Finance & Administration at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. In this episode, Davenport joins Megan Strand to talk about the value of learning from every opportunity and why the saying ‘if you’ve never failed then that must mean you’re not trying hard enough’ means so much to him. “CBOs need to be able to really challenge themselves and to work outside of their comfort zone, not being afraid to fail,” he says. Too many people fall into patterns of comfort and stop challenging themselves. It’s critical to always be finding ways to push yourselves to improve and become a better CBO.  “In order to grow, you really gotta do something different, you know? And take yourself out of what you feel most comfort with.”  Join us for a conversation with Kevin Davenport as he talks about how every opportunity of success or failure is a chance to improve yourself and how even a pandemic can be a good thing if you use it to become better and stronger.

Virginia State University CBO Kevin Davenport on the Importance of Failure in Order to Succeed

Welcome to this special bonus episode of CBO Speaks. We’ve been asking each of our interviewees to sum up their thoughts, in less than a minute, on various topics that are top-of-mind for our listeners right now. We’ve collected their responses to share with you in these mini topical episodes and today we’re hearing from business officers about advocacy. Whether it’s regarding legislative or agency activity, public perception of higher education, or other timely issues, NACUBO is your constant advocate in action. Let’s hear from our CBOs on how they’re working to be advocates for higher education at the student, community, state, and national levels.

Special Episode: Business Officers Share Their Thoughts on Advocacy

David Gingerella is the Vice Chancellor of Administration & Finance and Chief Financial Officer at UMass Dartmouth in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. In this episode, Gingerella joins Megan Strand to talk about learning to connect in the remote digital world and why it’s still important to have spontaneous conversations NOT about work, as hard as it may be. “I have regular meetings with everyone but they’re much more structured. That’s not as personable as I’d like it to be,” he says. Working remotely also means it’s harder to provide the transparency he’s used to, and when you’re working with numbers, it’s good to be transparent. “What you don’t want people thinking is that this is ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and someone behind the curtain is doing all these kinds of things to the budget and they don’t get to understand them.” Join us for a conversation with David Gingerella as he talks about the unique opportunity of being in a place to identify possible future CBOs, and why it’s important to get out of your office and attend events and conferences, even if they are virtual.

UMass Dartmouth CBO David Gingerella on Being Prepared for Change and Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

Greg Sanial is the Vice President for Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. In this episode, Sanial joins Megan Strand to talk about more frequent but shorter Zoom meetings can help everyone support each other and get things done, and why communication and decision-making skills are so critical. “You’re never going to know everything,” he says. Dealing with decision-making and ambiguity are critical skills for any CBO. It’s hard to learn how to make decisions when you have to base it only on the information you have. “You can’t let that handcuff you…. You have to know when you have enough information to move forward.” Join us for a conversation with Greg Sanial as he talks about the importance of language around the information you know when making decisions, and why a refresher course in crisis communications might be a good idea for all CBOs. 

Grand Valley State University CBO Greg Sanial on Not Letting Ambiguity Handcuff Your Decision-Making

Melissa Hopp is the Vice President for Finance & Administration at the Community College of Baltimore County in Baltimore, Maryland. In this episode, Hopp joins Megan Strand to talk about the early days of being a CBO and why knowing how to learn and grow with the times is one of the most important development skills for any CBO, no matter where they are in their career. “The skills, they change,” she says. Whether they’re budgeting skills or learning to work with coworkers, or knowing which details and data to pay attention to, as systems are always updating. “The skills that you have today are not the skills that you’re going to need tomorrow.” Join us for a conversation with Melissa Hopp as she talks about why understanding personality assessments can help understanding coworkers’ approaches to work, and why there always needs to be heart with your data – remember, people are at the end of every decision. 

Community College of Baltimore County CBO Melissa Hopp on Data With Heart

Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings is the Vice President for Finance & Administration at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. In this episode, Vazquez-Skillings joins Megan Strand to talk about navigating COVID as a marathon, not a sprint, and learning the ropes through the program review process. “The first leg of the marathon came out of the program review,” she says. They were able to learn to move students across programs and delivery models, train faculty in new technology, and leverage unforeseen opportunities along the way. “We were able to engage students, parents, faculty, and staff in new ways that I think will stick around beyond the pandemic.” Join us for a conversation with Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings as she talks about learning to move quickly without neglecting what matters along the way, and defining short-term solutions that support long-term initiatives.

Oberlin College CBO Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings on Being a Marathoner, Not a Sprinter

Welcome to this special bonus episode of CBO Speaks. We’ve been asking each of our interviewees to sum up their thoughts, in less than a minute, on various topics that are top-of-mind for our listeners right now. We’ve collected their responses to share with you in these mini topical episodes and today we’re hearing from business officers about transformation. Although higher education institutions have always had to be creative, flexible, and innovative to achieve their strategic goals, they’ve had to be especially nimble this year. Our CBOs shared some words of wisdom for this time of constant, fast-paced change.

Special Episode: Business Officers Share Their Thoughts on Transformation

Beth Reissenweber is the Vice President for Administration & Finance at Midwestern State University in North Texas. In this episode, Reissenweber joins Megan Strand to talk about being an essential employee, keeping COVID off campus, and leading with empathy. “It’s about enjoying the work, engaging folks, and making this a great experience,” she says, “because we spend a lot of our waking hours together at work so we want to have it a pleasant and supportive experience.” Join us for a conversation with Beth Reissenweber as she talks about doing the work to support diversity, developing a great toolbox to be a better CBO, and using her creative side to develop promotions that helped grow enrollment at Midwestern.

Midwestern State CBO Beth Reissenweber on Giving Space to Your Staff and Being Intentionally Compassionate

Welcome to this special bonus episode of CBO Speaks. We’ve been asking each of our interviewees to sum up their thoughts, in less than a minute, on various topics that are top-of-mind for our listeners right now. We’ve collected their responses to share with you in these mini topical episodes and today we’re hearing from business officers about leading through change.  Change management is often cited as one of the most challenging aspects of leadership. It involves not only getting everyone on board with change, but also keeping them informed and engaged along the way. Let’s hear from our CBOs on some ways they’ve navigated this challenge in their role.

Special Episode - Business Officers Share Their Thoughts on Diversity Leading Through Change

We’ve been asking each of our interviewees to sum up their thoughts, in less than a minute, on various topics that are top-of-mind for our listeners right now. We’ve collected their responses to share with you in these mini topical episodes and today we’re hearing from business officers about diversity. Hearing and valuing input from people with all types of experiences, perspectives, skills, interests, and backgrounds can lead to an environment rich with innovation and creativity, which, as we’ll hear from our CBOs, is especially impactful to the mission of higher education.

Special Episode - Business Officers Share Their Thoughts on Diversity

Bill Guerrero is the vice president for finance and administration at Ithaca College. This week on the show, Guerrero joins Megan Strand to talk about cash vs. crisis management and the rise in sharing services between higher ed institutions, and how these initiatives are critical in these times. “That was kind of unheard of years ago to think of three completely different institutions saying, ‘Let’s work together on some projects’,” he says. “You would think that dining services is a competitive are, but we all buy food from the same places. If you can work together on that, you can get an economy of scale with that.” Join us for a conversation with Bill Guerrero as he talks about the importance of investing time into your people, keeping open lines of communication to find ways to work together, and why you should only schedule hour long meetings for 45-50 minutes.

Ithaca College CBO Bill Guerrero on the Growing Importance of Sharing Services, and Why You Should Schedule Shorter Meetings

CBO Speaks from NACUBO showcases our most seasoned CBO colleagues from top institutions around the country as they share stories of their journey as business officers. Their experiences inspire us and show us what’s possible in our own work.

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CBO Speaks

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