 Lisa Carbone Warren of Moorestown Friends School Named 2025 John Batley Award Recipient
May 8, 2025 - The traditional highlight of the PAISBOA Annual Meeting is the presentation of the John Batley Award, our highest honor. A former CFO of Westtown School and recipient of the PAISBOA Visionary Award -- and the man in whose name the John Batley Award was created -- John’s legacy is one of selfless giving and inclusion in PAISBOA. We celebrate his character, competence, and consistency each year with the presentation of the John Batley Award.
For 2025, the John Batley Award goes to Lisa Carbone Warren, CFO at Moorestown Friends School. She was presented the award by PAISBOA Board Chair Rob Marcantuono, right.
As the sun sets later this year on her 35-year career at Moorestown Friends School, Lisa Carbone Warren will walk out with many fond memories. Since 1989, Lisa, who currently serves as the Director of Finance and Operations, has overseen the growing complexity of the business office at MFS, as well the expansion of the overall business officer portfolio over the years.
She will also take with her the 2025 John Batley Award. Lisa has been a longtime supporter and active member of PAISBOA and has served the Association for many years. “My school was a founding member of the original PAISBO group,” she said. “And when I came on board at MFS I continued to meet with this group of business managers who were mostly from the Main Line schools. Our membership continued as we transitioned to PAISBOA.
“As a new business manager and not familiar with independent schools, I welcomed the opportunity to learn from other business managers. The support and the collaborative spirit of this group (although a small one at first) was invaluable and made me feel like I was not alone as I faced new challenges every day!”
Over the years, she immersed herself into PAISBOA. She is currently a member of the PAISBOA Board, held the position of Treasurer from 2016-2020, and has been President of the PAISBOA Services Corporation since 2021. Lisa has also been a mentor to new business officers, a resource for veteran business officers, and an advocate for many of PAISBOA’s programs, especially the PAISBOA Business Insurance Group.
 “Lisa has a unique combination of brilliance, resourcefulness, and humility,” said Carolyn Hapeman, Assistant Head of School for Finance and Operations at Westtown School. “Throughout her successful career as an independent school business officer, she has always shared her wisdom and experience with others. Most admirable is her humility; when she doesn’t know something, she readily admits it and seeks to learn more. I’m grateful for her contributions to our profession and to PAISBOA, and I truly value her as a friend and colleague.”
Lisa holds an undergraduate accounting degree from St. Joseph University and an MBA from Rutgers. “I began my career in Atlanta as a trust accountant with a leading bank after graduation from SJU,” she said. “I then moved to Philadelphia, where I worked for a real estate firm and then a for-profit business school based in Pittsburgh. I then spent some years as the Controller at Lewis Gilman & Kynett, a Foote Cone & Belding subsidiary in Philadelphia.”
At Moorestown Friends, a PS-12 independent school in South Jersey, Lisa works closely with a number of trustees and collaborates regularly with the School Committee. She has been a key representative on numerous strategic planning committees that helped guide campus and program development and growth.
“There is no aspect of the school’s operations that has not been impacted by Lisa’s steady hand over the years, said Head of School Julia de la Torre. “Lisa is known for her confident leadership of our finances and operations, and for her warmth, humor, and deep love for the school and her colleagues.
“Over 35 years and in collaboration with her Heads of School, Lisa has played a vital role in the history of Moorestown Friends. Having grown the school's budget, overseen countless construction projects, advised on property needs, navigated through a global pandemic, and guided the school through the ups and downs of the economic and enrollment landscape, Lisa has seen it all.
“We are grateful for her collaboration, care, and leadership through three decades of the school's growth and development,” she added.
Outside of her immediate school community and in addition to PAISBOA, Lisa was honored with the NBOA (National Business Officers Association) Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award in 2017.
Lisa has also served on many important committees, including the Assets Committee (board finance), various subcommittees, ad hoc committees such as investments, buildings, and others, and was the school’s Environmental Sustainability Director.
Lisa’s service at MFS – as well as her outside professional connections – have been rewarding. “Many of my connections with colleagues at other schools, especially those whom I met early in my career and served as role models for me, have inspired me to be better at what I do,” she said. “And, it might be odd to state this, but my work with school board treasurers and members of my assets committee have had the most impact on me. I am fortunate to have worked with wonderful trustees who gave so much of their time and expertise to MFS, and I have learned from each and every one of them. I am eternally grateful to them for their unwavering support throughout my years at MFS.”
Lisa has been an integral member of PAISBOA’s Executive Committee, and thoroughly embraced the Board’s most recent strategic planning initiative, calling it one of the most valuable professional experiences of her career.
“I always want to support our organization in any way that I can. Serving on the board is one small way I can show my support,” she said.
PAISBOA President & CEO Aggie Malter couldn’t agree more, as Lisa was right there at the beginning of her tenure with the association. “She was a great partner to me as a new leader for PAISBOA!” she said. “Lisa has been an important voice in the PAISBOA boardroom and a generous collaborator and mentor to many colleagues.”
“From our days collaborating on financial aid and enrollment budgets at Moorestown Friends, Lisa has always been the calm in the chaos — thoughtful, steady, and incredibly sharp,” said close friend Rachel Tilney Niezelski. “Her insight, leadership, and quiet humor made even the most complex challenges feel manageable. I’ve been truly fortunate to work alongside her as both a colleague and friend. At PAISBOA, she brings that same heart, wisdom, and dedication to everything she does.”
“I tell every new business manager and Head of School that I speak with that they absolutely should become active in PAISBOA,” Lisa said. “I often receive calls from NJ schools who are looking for help and want to pick my brain about one thing or another. After I provide them with information, I ask them if they are familiar with PAISBOA, and I encourage them to join the association.
“I explain the benefits and how there are so many resources that could help them with their particular situation. I also make sure that my own staff and administrative team know all the benefits our school receives from our membership, and as a result EVERYONE at my school knows what PAISBOA is!”
At home, Lisa enjoys spending time with her son Parker, her parents Marian and Ercole Carbone, and a couple of very good friends, Rachel Tilney Niezelski and Martha Cameron. “I don’t know what I’d do without these two people in my life,” she said.
Outside interests include watching Netflix in her spare time and online shopping, as well as gardening, outdoor activities such as hiking and running, cooking and entertaining family and close friends. And, she loves spending time at the shore!
“It’s difficult to enjoy my hobbies right now since I have little spare time. My days are filled with my family and work,” she said.” But I hope to have more time for reading and spending more time outdoors when I leave MFS. I also want very much to find meaningful ways that I can help others by volunteering my services in some way.”
Winding down a rewarding and fulfilling career often leads to reflection, and Lisa is no different. “I don’t think that I would have lasted 35 years at Moorestown Friends without PAISBOA,” she said. “It exposed me to relevant professional development that was not available elsewhere – at least before wide use of the internet – and access to trustworthy and qualified vendors. Having access to a wide range of information, experienced colleagues, and various document templates cannot be overstated. Not only did it save me valuable time but, more importantly, it gave me credibility in a field where I had little experience and provided resources that I would otherwise not have access to.”
“I have known Lisa for almost 30 years,” said Hal Davidow, former CFO at William Penn Charter School and our 2024 Visionary Award honoree. “She has been a knowledgeable leader who possesses valuable insights into business practices as well as into the people who practice business. She is also funny. Very funny. (Just don't get on an airplane with her. It could be embarrassing!)”
The sky’s the limit for Lisa, and we are honored to send her on her way with the 2025 John Batley Award!
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