By Dena Mayer, CPA, CFO, MSBO Immediate Past President, Director of Finance and Human Resources, Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD
Following are excerpts from comments given by then MSBO President Dena Mayer at MSBO’s Annual Business Meeting held at the Amway Grand Plaza as part of the 2022 MSBO Annual Conference.
I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to serve you. Representing our organization, especially this past year, has been most challenging, motivating, and exciting. I leave this position with the greatest sense of pride of having been associated with people who are dedicated to, and concerned about, public education in Michigan.
I want to give a special shout-out to the MSBO staff for the countless and tireless hours they have dedicated to make sure we had an annual conference to learn all the latest and greatest information. Also, the vendors, for their continued support of our organization and returning this year and making themselves available to all of us – I hope you all were able to find time to meet and connect with the vendors and get all the information you need.
I want to take a few moments and reflect back on how I got here and to encourage any of you that has a desire to expand your leadership – just take that leap. Get involved with your local groups, regional groups, and MSBO committees. While it is a lot of work, it is rewarding! It has provided me an opportunity to meet many wonderful people across our state, people I now call friends, that I can call on when I am in a tough spot, or just need to run an idea past. I encourage anyone who wants to serve as a Board member of this amazing organization, to just take that leap.
I want to reflect back on this last year. Last August, we had our first in-person workshop. After being virtual for a year and a half, it was great to see people again and be able to have conversations over lunch. As the year continued, we were able to have more and more meetings in-person and here we are – wrapping up this year’s annual conference: in-person. I am hopeful, this all continues and life as we knew it before March 2020 returns.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. We do not always know at the time, and sometimes, we never know the reasons, but I keep my faith and trust everything happens for a reason! We have all experienced different matters in our personal and professional lives that we never would have expected.
Again, I want to thank the truly amazing staff at MSBO. Being on the Board of Directors over the past six years, I have had a glimpse at the amount of time and energy that the staff have put into organizing not only this conference, but all the conferences, workshops, meetings, and overall availability and email communications to help keep us informed of all the latest and greatest information.
I want to thank the exceptionally awesome team in the EUP. Many of them who are here this week and are sitting down here in front, showing their continued support. Our ISD and local districts have always been collaborative and the support we provide to each other, is truly exceptional. We are an extended family! I am really honored to be on this team of remarkable people!
I want to thank my family! I want to thank them for supporting me and their understanding when I have to miss various activities, sporting events, or just good ‘ol family time when I am away on school business. We have a very busy life. My husband, of almost 21 years, Anthony, attended this year’s conference along with our three children. Without their unconditional love and support, I would not be where I am today. Being a wife and mom is, and always will be, my greatest accomplishment in life!
In closing, I look back at this past year as your president and I will be forever grateful and honored. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!!
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- MSBO Membership Renewals Coming Soon
- MSBO Update – David Martell
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- We All Have a Role to Play- Julie Omer
- Welcome New Members