Ryan Silvola

The Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) is the professional association for those employed in Wisconsin school districts and other educational institutions who serve on the business side of school operations, including Business Administration, Financial Management, Human Resources, Asset Management, Safety and Risk Management, Strategic Planning, Program Evaluation, Leadership, Facilities, Transportation, Food Service, Purchasing, Technology, Legal/Political and more.

Here’s more about my responsibilities at WASBO:

• Manage all sponsorship opportunities for more than 15 annual conferences and award/scholarship sponsors.
• Coordinate all exhibit opportunities for at least four annual conferences with exhibit halls. This includes managing all communications and exhibit hall booth placements and guiding exhibitors during the conference.
• Responsible for managing advertising opportunities for all of WASBO’s publications.
• Work with WASBO staff to plan over 50 professional development days annually.
• Create and send hundreds of mass emails marketing WASBO’s professional development opportunities, networking, and professional recognition opportunities annually to more than 1,400 members.
• Design all WASBO publications and marketing materials using InDesign and Photoshop.
• Recruit members to write expert articles for WASBO’s publications.
• Write expertly written articles to inform WASBO members of vital information about the profession and upcoming professional development opportunities.
• Provide annual upgrades to WASBO’s sponsorships and advertising opportunities.
• Produce, direct, and edit all WASBO promotional videos using Premier Pro.
• Oversaw implementation of mobile association app “WASBO Go” and provided daily updates to mobile app content.
• Created a monthly e-newsletter publication called “WASBO Focus.”
• Worked with WASBO staff to create an Editorial Committee comprised of members to oversee themes of WASBO publications.
• Refresh content on the association’s website daily.
• Manage and create posts for all of WASBO’s social media accounts.
• Write all of WASBO’s press releases.

  Here’s more about my responsibilities at WASBO:

• Designed and sent daily email newsletters and follow-up campaigns to more than 20,000 consumers using Infusionsoft.
• Accrued, reported and analyzed Google Analytics data.
• Contributed to daily website maintenance projects and updates using WordPress.

• Designed at least one to two pages daily.
• Worked on special design projects, such as feature pages.
• Responsible for writing at least one story daily.
• Wrote longer, in-depth features monthly.
• Responsible for town hall and school district beat.

 In Breaking Barriers in Wisconsin School Business, I examined gender pay gaps, racial disparities, and representation among school business managers and support staff. Despite women making up the majority of business managers, they earn about $22,000 less than men on average. People of color remain significantly underrepresented across all roles. Through interviews and data analysis, I explored how these gaps affect professionals in the field and highlighted steps WASBO and districts can take to foster equity in compensation, hiring, licensure access, and leadership opportunities. Published February 19, 2025.

In Balancing the Scales: An Opportunity to Close Gender & Race Gaps in Wisconsin School Facilities, I explored the significant racial and gender disparities among school facility supervisors and custodians. Through interviews and data analysis, I examined how these gaps affect minority leaders, the stereotypes they face, and the structural barriers to equity. The article also highlights voices from the field and details WASBO’s new initiatives—scholarships, networking groups, and training academies—aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion in Wisconsin’s school facilities leadership. Published December 10, 2024.

In Maintaining a Better Future: Why Strong Facilities Leadership Is Essential for Good Stewardship, I explored the critical role facilities directors play in maintaining safe, efficient, and welcoming school environments. Amid staffing cuts and rising costs, I highlighted how strong facilities leadership prevents deferred maintenance, improves community trust, and ensures long-term savings. Through voices from across Wisconsin, the article emphasizes how consolidating or eliminating facilities roles can backfire and how investing in professional development, leadership, and strategic planning is vital for schools to be effective stewards of public resources. Published August 14, 2024.