TASBO Report - May 2015 | Page 17

THE 2015 COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE RECIPIENT STEVE WEST, Chief Financial Officer | Georgetown ISD At the Annual Conference in February, the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) recognized Georgetown ISD’s CFO, Steve West as its 2015 Commitment to Excellence Award Winner. Each year, TASBO selects an outstanding member, who demonstrates consistent leadership within the organization and their profession. West has led a distinguished career in public schools and in the private sector. After starting his career at the Region 5 Education Service Center as Controller, West served in leadership positions at West Orange-Cove CISD and Pasadena ISD before serving as Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations at Allen ISD from 1994-2007. During his tenure there, West oversaw transformation of Allen ISD into a large school district. West retired in 2007 and became a Vice President at Morgan Stanley. He then served as Interim CFO at Austin ISD and Midway ISD before entering into a full-time CFO role at Georgetown ISD. West’s experiences at a wide variety of school districts provide him a unique perspective and expertise. According to Georgetown ISD Superintendent Fred Brent, “With Steve’s financial leadership, the District now held the previously elusive Gold Level Award of the Texas Comptroller’s Leadership Circle for two consecutive years.” West has also been a leader at TASBO, serving as its President in 2005, and more currently, serving as the Chair of TASBO’s Governmental Relations Committee. He was also designated a TASBO Life Member in 2007. West and two other finalists, Raymond Weaver from Plano ISD and Life Member Guadalupe Zapata, were honored at TASBO’s Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on February 19, 2015. More than one thousand people attended the luncheon, sponsored by AXA. “In appreciation of our partnership with TASBO we are committing $5,000 to this year’s award recipients. We will donate $3,000 to the 1st place recipient’s home district and an additional $1,000 each to the remaining finalists,” said Fred Makonnen, Regional Vice President for AXA, who sponsors the award. Steve West addresses attendees at the Awards Luncheon - “Our Superintendent, Dr. Brent, gave us a book which asked us, ‘Why? Why do we do what we do?’ I thought a lot about that and serving others for the common good is how I see my role in public education.” NOMINATE A COLLEAGUE Visit www.tasbo.org/abouttasbo/awards to nominate a colleague for the 2016 Commitment to Excellence Award. Award Sponsor Steve West and AXA present Georgetown Partners in Education with a check for $3,000. Pictured left to right - Kevin Pitts, Georgetown Partners in Education Board Member; Amy Brown, Georgetown Partners in Education Executive Director; Caitlyn Babel, AXA; Joe Morris, AXA; and Steve West. TASBO.ORG 17