Page 21 - The EDGE Winter 2025
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"Brian was an outstanding person in everything he
did, as a Business Administrator, Husband, Father,
and Friend.
Brian and his family moved to Arizona in the late
1980s. The company he worked for was hired to
run the food service program for the Show Low
Unified School District. We became close friends
almost immediately. Brian and his family attended
the AASBO annual conference with our family that
first year. When we returned to Show Low, after the
conference was over, Brian told me that he wanted to Ref lections on Leadership
become active in AASBO.
My family and I moved to Cottonwood AZ in February 5, 2024
1987 to become the Business Administrator for the "Do the right thing because it is right."
Cottonwood Oak Creek School District. Brian was This quote from Immanuel Kant highlights the
hired to be my assistant. Brian attended the classes importance of moral and ethical principles in decision-
and received his business management certification. making. Great leaders must possess a strong sense of
After a few years Brian became the Business integrity and do what is right regardless of external
Administrator for the Murphy School District. pressures or consequences. This requires thinking
In the mid 1990s Brian and I worked together again. beyond immediate goals and prioritizing the greater
He became the CFO for ABS School Services, a good for all involved. On the other hand, managers
company that provided Business services to Charter sometimes focus mainly on efficiently achieving set
Schools. I left ABS in 2002 and shortly after Brian objectives and goals, often optimizing resources and
left to become the Business Administrator in the processes. While being efficient is crucial, it should
Pendergast School District. never come at the expense of doing the right thing.
To say Brian got involved in AASBO would be an Great leaders understand the distinction between
understatement. He didn't do anything halfway. After doing things right and doing the right thing and
serving as President of Arizona ASBO, he served on prioritize the latter. They recognize that ethical
the Board of Directors for International ASBO. He conduct and decision-making pave the way for long-
later served as President of International ASBO, and term success and earn the trust and respect of those
then he became Executive Director of AASBO. No they lead.
one in Arizona history has ever been more involved In contrast, managers who only focus on doing things
in AASBO than Brian. right due to the pressures of target goals, bottom lines,
Brian you will be missed." and achievement may compromise their principles
-Bill French, Retired SBO & Past President and values, leading to negative consequences for
themselves and their team in the long run. However,
the most successful managers also possess leadership
qualities. They understand that true success goes
beyond just meeting targets and achieving goals. They
recognize the importance of doing the right thing to
build a robust and sustainable organization. A leader-
manager knows how to balance the organization’s
needs with their team’s and stakeholders’ well-being.
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