JB Welcomes Three New Board Members

Wednesday, September 09, 2026

Julie Billiart Schools is pleased to announce the newest additions to the Board of Directors, Carrie Morse, Dan O'Keeffe and Niki Schaefer. Together, they bring extensive experience in legal leadership, organizational development, and strategic planning that will further support the continued growth and mission of Julie Billiart Schools.

Niki Schaefer serves as Vice President and General Counsel for ReliabilityFirst, where she leads the organization’s Legal, Enforcement, and Compliance Monitoring teams and helps oversee the reliability of the electric grid across 13 states and Washington, D.C. A former trial lawyer and adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Schaefer earned a bachelor of arts degree with honors from Cornell University and her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service through board leadership with organizations including The Gathering Place and the American Heart Association.

Carrie Morse currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at ERC. Since joining ERC in 2002, Morse has held several leadership positions and developed extensive expertise in talent development, workplace culture, and organizational strategy. She also led the planning and execution of NorthCoast 99, ERC’s signature recognition program, helping establish it as a trusted benchmark for workplace culture and talent strategy throughout Northeast Ohio. An active community leader, Morse serves on the Board of Directors for Dress for Success Cleveland and the Advancement Committee of Julie Billiart Schools. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from John Carroll University.

Dan O'Keeffe is a Vice President at Allstate, where he leads an organization of more than 500 professionals across the United States, Mexico, and Europe. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, O'Keeffe has guided organizational transformation, strategic planning, and operational improvement throughout his career. He currently serves as Chairman of the School Advisory Council at St. Mary School, where he works with school and parish leadership on strategic planning, enrollment growth, and technology initiatives. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and Economics from Notre Dame College.

“We are so excited to welcome Carrie, Dan and Niki to the Julie Billiart Schools Board of Directors,” said President & CEO Lannie Davis-Frecker. “As we continue to advance our leadership in the field of special education, their expertise, perspective and vision align beautifully with our mission and values. The JB Way is reflected in each of their experiences and the passion they bring to this work and we look forward to having them as part of our growing Julie Billiart Schools community.”