The Center for Early Education
The following is the nomination letter submitted by Bill Hodgetts from Garrison Forest School:
"Dee has provided years of leadership and training to Business Officers and heads of school in both the Chicago and Los Angeles areas. She has organized and led support groups, provided personal one-on-one mentoring, helped school leadership find appropriate Business Officers and worked diligently to better the profession, locally, regionally and nationally. In addition to providing support locally, she has served on national committees to improve the overall condition of independent schools. Dee Forgette is all that is inspiring about the broader, independent school community and the business officer niche in particular.
I'd like to formally recommend Dee Forgette to be the next recipient of the Kenneth A. White Distinguished Business Officer Award. I can think of no other Business Officer who better characterizes the balance of professionalism, knowledge and experience with such graciousness and ease. From my first days as a Business Officer almost 11 years ago, Dee's name was always mentioned as a leader on the national level. I have come to appreciate that Dee's influence also extends locally and regionally, as she shares her many talents with Business Officers all across the country. I was fortunate to work with Dee in a Summer Institute program several years ago and have had the pleasure of working with her recently in the establishment and development of the National Business Officers Association (NBOA) and as a member of ABOIS. I have always been very impressed with Dee's contributions to group discussions, her creativity and leadership style with the many organizations she is involved in. She is both a tremendous resource and an inspiration for all who work with her. Dee is a woman of great wisdom, style and grace.
Many other Business Officers who have known Dee much longer than me could write a more extensive and thorough recommendation for her. I can simply speak to the experiences I have had and the significant contribution she has made to my career and, from my perspective, to the profession as a whole.
Dee Forgette is the Business Manager of the Center for Early Education in Los Angeles, California. She has thirty years of experience as an Independent School Business Officer.
Prior to joining the Center ten years ago, Dee served as the Business Manager at the Elgin Academy (IL) from 1983-88 and Director of Operations at Oakwood School in North Hollywood, CA from 1978-83. She began her career in independent education as the Business Manager, Registrar, and member of the founding faculty of Thomas Aquinas College (CA), positions that she held for ten years. Dee is a graduate of Dominican College (CA) where she received a BS in chemistry.
Dee has served Independent School Business Officers in a variety of ways over the years, both nationally and locally. She has been on the faculty the NAIS Institute for Finance and Administration for eight years and served as the External Director from 1989-1991. She currently serves on the NAIS Statistics Advisory Committee. Her focus has been on the needs of the smaller schools and professional development for new Business Officers. Dee has served on the NAIS Business Service Committee. Dee is the immediate past Chair of the Association of Business Officers of Independent Schools (ABOIS) and serves as the Vice Chairman of the newly formed National Business Officers Association (NBOA).
On the regional level Dee has been the Chair of the Southern California Business Officers Group where she continues to be an enthusiastic member of the Steering Committee. She is on the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Business Advisory Committee. She is often called upon to make presentations for local school heads and trustees."