Miller, Tanner receive professional achievement awards

The National Business Officers Association honored Controller Norma Miller and recently retired Human Resources Director Genie Tanner with the Professional Achievement Award.
By Sierra Smith, Communications Specialist

The National Business Officers Association awarded just 13 independent school professionals with its Professional Achievement Award in 2022 with Controller Norma Miller and recently retired Human Resources Director Genie Tanner among its recipients. 

According to the NBOA, “the recipients’ accomplishments exemplify high-quality performance and exceptional work ethic, and demonstrate the highest standards of management, knowledge, and business acumen.” 

Miller, who will retire later this academic year, has been an invaluable asset to University School of Nashville’s Business Office for 45 years. When Miller joined USN in 1977 as the business officer, she became solely responsible for the school’s business operations at a time of great financial instability. Just a year after Peabody Demonstration School was saved from closure by Vanderbilt University and renamed USN, Miller entered a school deep in debt with no cash and unstable enrollment and thoughtfully implemented policies and practices to turn around the school’s bleak financial situation and has continued to support USN’s growth to a financially strong independent school, ultimately growing its net assets from $0 to over $70 million along with enrollment growth from 400 to 1080. 

“Norma knows the importance of showing up, delivering, and striving for excellence for USN every single day. Her integrity, judgment, and kindness are always pitch perfect, and she has modeled loyalty in a way that will have a lasting impact on USN’s culture,” Chief Financial Officer Teresa Standard said. 

Meanwhile, Tanner spent 22 years as a vital member of the Business Office. After joining the school to help with bank reconciliations and payroll, she quickly saw and filled a need to broaden USN’s support for human resources, thereby leading the independent school industry in investing in HR. 

“I’ve never worked with a better professional and partner in change,” Standard shared. “[Tanner] always models kindness, professionalism, and hope for everyone and everything. She gives of her time to other professionals across the country in independent schools generously.” 

Passionate about her work and supporting other schools in similar endeavors, Tanner was the first human resources professional to serve on the board of Mid-South Independent School Business Officers, a purchasing consortium that supports more than 340 schools in 21 states in all business operations. Additionally, she became a national facilitator for Critical Friends Group coach training and served on the National School Reform faculty. Instrumental in shaping and meeting, USN’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, Tanner also served as the chair of the schools Hiring & Retention Committee for the Office of Diversity & Community Life where she challenged all supervisors to have more inclusive hiring practices and create a great place to work for all. 

Congratulations to both of these incredible individuals. Their impact on USN will be long-lasting. 
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