The Best Way To Merge? Rip the Band-Aid Off, with CFO Frank Aloise

In this episode, Frank Aloise, chief financial officer at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, joins NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields to discuss leadership in independent schools, particularly during a merger. Recorded in-person at the 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting, Aloise reflects on the time and energy required to complete the merger itself, on both the business and cultural sides, as well as the remarkable outcomes of the merged school 15 years later. He also reflects on the importance of taking care of his health in this demanding but rewarding profession, the value of professional connections to advancing his school and career, and the process of modernizing an independent school business office.