2005 Presentation of the Kenneth A. White, Jr. Distinguished Business Officer Award to Kate Lindsey

It is both a great pleasure and great honor to be making this presentation tonight. We are blessed to have an extraordinary example of expertise and professionalism with Ken White. I knew Ken, albeit briefly, at the end of his career and I experienced some of the thoughts and discussions that were the seeds of a national business officers organization. He was one of the main early influences on NBOA and he was one of the only people I've met who could tell Terry Armstrong what to do and have him do it, without a response or remark.

This evening is for me, the high point of the conference. It is a time where, hopefully, we have stepped back from the multitude of details we sort through every day in our jobs. We see friends and colleagues that we see, perhaps, only once a year. Through our discussions, presentations, even late night ramblings, we gain an appreciation for the complexities, demands and pressures of our jobs. And we come together this one time a year, to recognize that some of us bring to this profession an incredibly unique combination of skills, background, business and organizational acumen and compassion. Frankly, there are a number of individuals who embody most of the major characteristics necessary to succeed at their schools and in this profession. But some of us feel it is not enough to be expert in accounting, insurance, financial modeling, school governance, human relations, strategic planning, federal, state and local compliance issues, to name a few. In order for our profession to flourish, to grow and provide the expertise that is so valuable to our schools, there must be another factor. One must recognize that our success depends on teaching others, on working with others locally and nationally, to address the many, many challenges, tasks and projects we all encounter. For the solutions we develop, the answers we find, can be the prototype for other solutions and answers for schools in similar situations.

So we have the expertise, we have an individual who understands the rewards of thinking both locally and nationally and who realizes that we are teachers to each other in this profession of educational administration. But this award is about that extra quality that distinguishes an individual in our field, who we all agree on this special night, stands as an example of excellence, of knowledge, of integrity and character. It is obvious to anyone who knows this year's recipient of the Ken White Award, that she not only possesses all of these critical variables, but she also possesses an intensity of spirit, of compassion for others and a wonderful sense of humor, that makes her truly worthy of this great honor.

Kate Curtin Lindsey or "Katie" has been the Business Officer at Georgetown Country Day School since 1985. Before that, she was an Assistant Vice President at American Security Bank for 6 years. Prior to that, she was Senior Analyst at Morgan Stanley and Co. in New York. Locally, she is active with the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW), the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS), a regional purchasing consortium and a regional health insurance association for participating schools. I mention this because it's important to know of Katie's many local involvements.

Nationally, she has been active in NAIS, especially with the Institute for Finance and Administration, the Summer Institute, and the old Business Services Committee. As most of you know, she has been a key member of NBOA, starting as a charter member, serving on the Board and establishing the Summer Institute.

I have the great pleasure of working with Katie on some of the local groups and NBOA and I am always amazed at the many, many commitments that she balances so well. I'm not sure Katie knows how to say "no" to a request, because, I think, she believes so strongly in the importance of each project she takes on.

Katie's energy, her intellect, humor and professionalism are known to many in this room tonight. If you have heard Katie make a presentation, worked with her in an association or talked with her about any of the aspects of our job, you know what an exceptional woman she is. She is so clearly deserving of this honor tonight and I know that I am joined by many here including her husband, Jeff and her Head of School, Peter Branch in celebrating the many contributions she has made to our field.

But there's one more personality trait I'd like to mention. One more that many here probably don't know about. You may be able to sense it, but you have to experience it to truly appreciate it. And that is her truly profound sense of caring, kindness and respect for others. She understands that at our very best, our profession is more than the sum of its' many, many parts. It is a business of people, and in order to maximize our contribution to the wonderful field, we should never lose sight of the value of each person that is joined with us in this venture. Katie knows this, she believes it and feels it every day.

It gives me great pleasure to present this year's Ken White Award to my truly exceptional colleague and great friend, Kate Curtin Lindsey.

– Bill Hodgetts, Garrison Forest School, Garrison, MD