Director of Marketing and Communications
Providence Country Day School/Henry Barnard School

Greg is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Providence Country Day School (PCD) in East Providence, Rhode Island. PCD serves 350 students in grades PreK-12 and has been co-ed since 1991. Greg oversees the school’s branding and messaging initiatives, along with the day-to-day management of all external marketing and internal communications. His work utilizes storytelling in a manner that is engaging and has institution-wide impact. Greg acts as an instructor and mentor during Independent School Management’s Advancement Academy to help advancement professionals perfect their communications and marketing strategies. Greg has also presented at national education conferences, including NAIS and CASE-NAIS.

Chief Communications Officer
The Browning School

Jan Abernathy is the Chief Communications Officer at The Browning School and a member of the CASE Commission on Marketing and Communications and on the faculty of the CASE Academy. She was previously the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Elisabeth Morrow School and is the president of the New York City Independent Schools Communications Professionals group as well as a co-founder of the Black Advancement Network. She is also a trustee of Grace Church School and Tessa International School. A graduate of Northwestern University with a B.S. in journalism, she is a frequent contributor to NAIS' Independent Schools Magazine.

Senior Consultant and Advancement Department Head
Independent School Management

Penny joined ISM in 2010 as a member of the Advancement Academy’s founding faculty. As a Senior Consultant, she specializes in marketing communications, enrollment management, and development. Her experience in these areas comes from working in private-independent schools and other non-profits for more than 20 years. Penny also serves as the Advancement Department Head, ensuring effective content development and service delivery for ISM’s enrollment, marketing communications, and development consulting. This includes leading ISM’s Advancement Academy, an annual premier professional development conference that educates and mentors School Heads, Board members, and development, enrollment management, and marketing communications professionals.

Director of Strategic Communications
Turning Point School

Courtney Baker joined Turning Point School as Director of Marketing and Communications in July of 2014 after serving for ten years as the Communications Director for Lawrence School in Cleveland, Ohio. In her role, she has overseen two all-school full rebranding campaigns, has twice served as a member of a CAIS Accreditation Committee, and has presented in various capacities at national conferences and events. Ms. Baker has had the honor of volunteering with several non-profit organizations including CASA of Los Angeles, where she currently serves as a court-appointed advocate for children in foster care. Ms. Baker holds a BA in English from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Director of Marketing & Communications
The Wolf School

Rebecca Bernardo-Hartley is the Director of Marketing & Communications at The Wolf School. With a background in video and photography, Rebecca discovered her love for digital marketing early in her career and returned to school to complete her master's in Digital Marketing & Design at Brandeis University. With over 8 years of school marketing experience, Rebecca is passionate about showcasing each school's unique story through marketing.

B2B Brand Strategy
Niche

Angela Brown is the Manager, B2B Brand Strategy at Niche, where she oversees content and partner engagement strategy for K-12 and higher education institutions. Before joining Niche, she was the director of marketing and communications at Flint Hill School, a PK-12, co-ed day school outside of Washington, DC. In addition to developing research and content for Enrollment Insights, Angela is a frequent conference presenter, guest author, and podcast guest.

Head of Communications and Marketing
Nanjing International School

Kyle Bueschlen is the Head of Communications and Marketing at Nanjing International School, a leading PK-12 IB World School in China. Kyle has 15+ years of in-house Marcom experience working in healthcare, agency PR, and now international education. A seasoned strategic marketing leader, he has developed and led transformational branding initiatives, campaigns, communications, and websites for schools. Kyle has presented at Finalsite Marcom workshops, won an AVA Digital Award (2017) for the Western Academy of Beijing website redesign, and hosts the NIS Voices podcast, the winner of an InspireED Brilliance Award (2022). He holds a master’s degree in Communication from Purdue University.

Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing
The Peck School

Heather Burchfield is the Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing at The Peck School. Heather has spent more than a decade in marketing and communications at several New Jersey independent schools. She presented on lead nurturing and email automation at the Association of Independent School Admissions Professionals conference in 2020 and attended the National Association of Independent School's School Leadership Institute for emerging school leaders in 2022. Heather has bachelor's degrees in Newspaper Journalism and Women's Studies from Syracuse University and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Founder & CEO
Easy School Marketing

Aubrey Bursch, CEO of Easy School Marketing, is passionate about supporting small and independent schools to increase enrollments, retention, and revenue. As the daughter of lifelong educators and the mom of two independent school students, she combines her love for schools with her 20+ years of marketing and development experience to help schools identify and implement high ROI initiatives. Aubrey co-hosts the Mindful School Marketing podcast, leads free Small School Leaders monthly meet-ups, facilitates the Small School Solutions professional development program, hosts the Small School Leaders Virtual Conference, and speaks nationwide.

Managing Director
Fine Point Communications

Scott Butterworth leads Fine Point Communications, a full-service consultancy devoted to helping independent schools improve their strategic messaging. Scott brings unique expertise to clients, thanks to his experience as an editor at The Washington Post and directing communications at a D.C. girls' school. Fine Point assists clients on everything from crisis communications and staff development to magazine and website publication. Scott founded Fine Point in 2020 and teamed with RW Jones Agency in 2023 to expand the services available to schools. He writes a monthly newsletter on school communications, Refill. This is his third year judging the Brilliance Awards.

Director of Marketing & Communications
Edmund Burke School

Julia is the Director of Marketing & Communications at Edmund Burke School in Washington, DC, where she also advises the student newspaper and the Jewish affinity group. She previously served as Director of External Relations at a dance education organization. She holds an AB from Princeton University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.

Director of Digital Engagement
Flint Hill School

Lisa Campo is the Director of Digital Engagement at Flint Hill School, where she creates and manages content and advertising for current and prospective families. A former journalist, she began working in school marketing and communications only two years ago after about ten years at nonprofit trade associations. She is passionate about telling the stories of students, teachers, faculty, and staff. Lisa graduated from Loyola University New Orleans and is a proud to be a born-and-raised Louisianan.

Owner
Design TLC

Tara Claeys of Design TLC, LLC is a seasoned website designer and developer with a marketing background going back over 25 years. She prides herself on listening deeply to her clients, and crafting their digital identities with care. Combined with a data-driven marketing strategy, Design TLC school website projects are designed to help schools support and enhance their enrollment and retention goals. The team at Design TLC specializes in beautiful and performant WordPress websites, including integration with Blackbaud data into a more user-friendly and affordable WordPress environment.

Director of Marketing and Communications
Marin Academy

Justine Clifford is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Marin Academy, a nationally recognized leader in competency-based and transdisciplinary education, located in the SF Bay Area. With 15 years of independent school experience, Justine has previously served in a number of roles including as a Director of Admissions and an Athletics Director. She is the Vice President of the Board of Directors at Maybeck High School in Berkeley, CA, and has been engaged in non-profit governance for nearly ten years. She holds an MBA with an emphasis in marketing and has garnered commendation from the California State Legislature and others for her community activism and leadership.

Director of Communications
Dana Hall School

Liza Cohen is the Director of Communications at Dana Hall School, a role she has held since 2006, so she can remember (barely!) a school communications landscape that did not include social media. She oversees all print and digital communications, brand strategy, and public relations in support of the school's mission. Prior to her time at Dana Hall, Liza held writing and communications positions at Children’s Hospital Boston and WGBH. She has a B.A. from Tufts University.

School Storyteller
Cursive Content

Emily Cretella is a strategic storyteller, content marketer, and school marketer’s best business friend. The owner of Cursive Content, Emily helps school marketers tell powerful stories that attract dream families, increase inquiries and enrollment, strengthen communities, and grow school influence. Prior to founding Cursive in 2012, Emily was the director of strategy at a Connecticut marketing agency, where she managed the execution of large-scale traditional and online marketing campaigns for clients ranging from schools and nonprofits to Fortune 500s. She now works solely with independent and private schools, colleges, and universities. Emily would love to hear YOUR school story. Are you ready to tell it? Get in touch at www.cursivecontent.com.

Marketing and Communications Manager
Snowy Mountains Grammar School

Brooke is a school marketer passionate about alpine sports, trail running, nordic skiing, mountain biking, and exploring the beautiful outdoors with family. With a zest for dynamic environments, Brooke thrives on challenges and excels at collaborating with teams to bring innovative ideas to fruition. Embracing the digital era, Brooke has revelled in the rapid changes in school marketing, which saw her and the team at Snowy Mountains Grammar School announced as the winners of the Gold InspirED School Marketers Brilliance Award for their 2022 Kindergarten Readiness Social Media Campaign.

Director of Brand & Community
Australian Industry Trade College

Nicole has held executive brand and advancement roles at several independent schools in Queensland, Australia, having effectively harnessed the power of digital and traditional platforms to strengthen school brands. Nicole believes education is ultimately defined by people. This passion led to recognition for best-practice within the education industry as speaker at four Australasian conferences. In 2015, Nicole led an award-winning identity project and innovative advertising campaign to ensure the school’s brand was not just a promise, but a promise delivered. In her current role, Nicole strikes a balance between creatively meeting the needs of customers and articulating the philosophy of the school.

Principal
DiGiovine Design

Adrienne is an independent designer who specializes in design strategy and visual identity. She is, and enjoys being, a design partner, educator, and problem-solver. Her clients are independent schools, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses. By working with a network of professional partners, she is able to offer broad expertise on projects large and small. With a BFA from Pratt Institute, Adrienne has produced award-winning materials for independent schools, including viewbooks and logos.

Photographer
Rebecca Drobis Photography

Rebecca is passionate about capturing compelling, high-impact images of the learning environment. For over 13 years, she has worked with independent schools, colleges, universities and education publications across the United States. Rebecca’s training as a photojournalist instilled in her a keen sense of observation and the ability to capture impactful, story-telling moments. Rebecca prides herself on being a proactive, enthusiastic and flexible team player. She engages with her clients to understand their marketing goals and unique culture so that she can translate that to a library of photographs that are versatile, strategic and unique. Based in Washington D.C., available nationwide.

Creative Director and Principal
CEH Design

Carolyn Eiseman is the founder and creative director of CEH Design Inc., a woman-owned business celebrating its 33rd anniversary. A natural at collaboration and project coordination, she understands the challenges independent schools face and is focused on achieving results that answer those challenges and authentically engage the audience. Carolyn has a demonstrated talent for transforming ideas into visual elements, creating both online and print iterations tailored to the client’s needs. Her unique brand of leadership has garnered a cadre of loyal clients in the independent school market.

Director of Communications, Marketing and Development
Channing School

An accomplished senior marketing professional with extensive experience of brand development, strategy setting and delivery of effective campaigns, Rachell has worked in both the private and public sector. She spent a lot of her career in commercial radio, at the BBC and working for national charities, before joining the education sector six years ago. As Director of Communications, Marketing & Development at Channing Rachell spends her time raising awareness of the school’s distinctive ethos, growing demand for the school amongst prospective families, dispelling myths about all-girls’ education and independent schools and strengthening the bonds between former students and the school.

Director of Marketing & Communications
Tampa Preparatory School

Julia Freeman is the Director of Marketing & Communications for Tampa Preparatory School, a 6-12 independent school in downtown Tampa. She previously worked as the Director of Marketing & Community Engagement for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and spent 24 years as the Director of Marketing & Promotions for Cox Media Group, overseeing three Top 5 ranked radio stations. Julia holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Journalism from the University of South Florida. She and her husband, Brian, live in South Tampa with their two children.

Director of Marketing & Enrollment Management
Sheboygan Christian School

There is no "I" in team, and there is no "Y" in Rudi! Rudi Gesch is the Director of Marketing and Enrollment Management at Sheboygan Christian School in Sheboygan, WI. Rudi previously worked as the Marketing Director of Timothy Christian Schools in the suburbs of Chicago and the Director of Marketing and Enrollment at Eastern Christian School in the NJ/NYC Metro area. For the last 15+ years, Rudi has been blessed to be able to do what he loves- use his creative gifts and analytical eye to help grow the profile and the enrollment of three great Private Christian Schools. Rudi lives in Sheboygan, WI with his wife Stephanie and 3 children.

Chief Marketing Officer
Alice Smith International School

Andrea has worked in the education sector for over 15 years in a range of settings including both public and private universities, for-profit education providers and media agency. She is currently the Chief Marketing Officer for Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur. Andrea holds an MBA and is a part time doctoral student at Anglia Ruskin University, UK. Before heading to Malaysia, Andrea was Marketing Director for Cambridge Education Group, leading the global marketing and strategic development of the Group's academic brands; CATS International Schools, Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts (CSVPA) and ONCAMPUS International Foundation centres

Assistant Professor, Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations
Vanderbilt University
Director of the Independent School Leadership Master's Program
Vanderbilt's Peabody College of Education and Human Development

Dr. Carrie Grimes is the Director of the M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education and Human Development. She is a Professor in the Department of Leadership Policy, and Organizations and teaches across master's and doctoral programs. Carrie also facilitates workshops and learning sessions for independent schools and associations on topics such as leadership, storytelling, strategic fundraising, and organizational flourishing. Carrie has over 20 years of professional experience in independent school leadership in New York, California, and Maryland. Carrie's scholarly interests include emotionally intelligent leadership, program design, institutional advancement, and social identity and community building within school settings.

Director of Marketing and Communications
Anglican Church Grammar School

Matt Hade is an independent school professional of 20 years, currently director of marketing and communications for a leading school for boys in Australia. With a diverse career spanning the creative industries, music education, corporate events and journalism, Matt enjoys the multi-faceted and always-changing landscape of education marketing. Doing ‘a lot with a little’ is something Matt knows all too well, which is at the core of what makes education marketers unique professionals. He is looking forward to seeing and acknowledging the great work of private school marketers around the world.

Brand Strategist and Creative Director
Creosote Affects

"Nothing is off-limits. Unless it's off-brand." This is how Emily has been leading comprehensive branding efforts at Creosote for more than a decade. She works closely with clients to define a school's most compelling messages, develop bold expressions and implement strategies across every channel. Emily began her career in higher education advancement. Emily has presented at TABS, AISAP and EMA, and her work has been recognized nationally by Communication Arts and Educational Advertising Awards. Partnerships include Avery Coonley School, Marietta College, Delbarton School, Pomfret School, Shady Side Academy, Old Trail School, The Lawrenceville School and The Meadowbrook School of Weston.

Editor, Peddie Chronicle
The Peddie School

Carrie Harrington is the editor of the award-winning Peddie Chronicle and associate director for content strategy for The Peddie School. Under her leadership, the Chronicle was a 2019 Gold Winner for Feature Article Writing and Feature Article Design, and the recipient of two CASE Circle of Excellence Awards for Independent Magazine Publishing. Before she arrived at Peddie, Carrie previously worked in communications and media relations at Purnell School in New Jersey and Marin Humane in California. Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of New Hampshire.

Director of Communications
Bay Ridge Prep

Anthony is the Director of Communications at Bay Ridge Prep, an independent K-12 school in Brooklyn, New York, where he also is an adviser to the Student Activities Committee. In addition to his work at Bay Ridge Prep, Anthony advises student-journalists of the Fordham Observer, the award-winning student newspaper of Fordham University. He is also Vice President of New York City Independent School Communications Professionals (NYCISCP), a networking group supporting communications and advancement professionals at New York City-area independent schools. He holds a master's degree in Independent School Leadership from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies from Fordham University.

Director of Marketing and Communications
Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child

Meghan D. Hodgin is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, a Catholic, Independent PK-12 school in Summit, New Jersey. She is a journalist-turned-certified marketer who is passionate about driving traffic and increasing leads using an inbound approach. Hodgin recently presented at the 2022 Enrollment Management Association’s Annual Conference on the admissions-marketing partnership, the 2020 AISAP Annual Institute on lead nurturing and SchneiderB’s VirCon8 on starting a podcast during a pandemic. She holds a master’s degree in integrated marketing communication and a bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Vice President of Communications and Enrollment Marketing
Mount Saint Joseph Academy

Bonita Huggins has over 20 years of experience in communications and marketing. Located near Philadelphia, she currently serves as the Vice President of Communications and Enrollment Marketing at Mount Saint Joseph Academy and was previously the Director of Communications for Abington Friends School. Bonita has managed re-brands and school strategic plans and collaborated on capital campaigns and development strategy. Her career began in the corporate world and she spent several years leading her own media relations company. She holds a master's degree in educational administration and a bachelor's degree in journalism.

CEO & Consultant
IMPACT Marketing International, Inc.

Deborah is an adventurous executive with a passion for people and strategy. As the CEO of IMPACT Marketing International, Deborah leads a team of marketing experts in attracting international students and faculty to schools around the globe. As an extension of a school's marketing and admissions team, we only work with one school within a competitive region. We believe that each school has a unique DNA profile that is a perfect match for the best fit families and we help tell that story online.

Digital Media and Content Manager
Fort Worth Country Day

I’m a strategist, creator, and manager of digital media and content, with over 20 years experience sharing brand-shaping stories that increase interest, engagement, and revenue. I take a wholistic approach to an organization’s web presence, focusing on the entire digital footprint. I specialize in strengthening the complete online expression of the brand with strategies for digital marketing, websites, SEO/SEM, social media, advertising, blogs and online listings. I have been a website manager for two decades.

Director of Digital Strategy
La Salle College High School

Former Emmy-Nominated TV Professional turned Digital Media Strategist and Instructor at La Salle College High School and the award-winning WEXPtv Media Program.

Kristina Kerns has nearly 20 years of marketing experience (15 of which in independent school communications and advancement) and is currently looking for her next opportunity. Most recently, she served as the Director of Communication for the Benedictine Schools of Richmond and was previously at The Steward School, both in Richmond, Virginia. She has overseen and collaborated on three school strategic plans, two capital campaigns, and two re-branding processes. While in this season of transition, Kristina is consulting for local non-profits and small businesses on their development strategies and communication processes.

Director of Marketing and Communications
Perkiomen School

With 20+ years of experience raising awareness of non-profit organizations and educational institutions in the Greater Philadelphia area, Bernadette has held various roles in advancement and academics, from public relations assistant, to adjunct professor, to stewardship officer, to development director. In her current role as Director of Marketing & Communications, Bernadette delights in reinforcing brand identity and telling the impactful stories of the students and faculty at Perkiomen School, an independent day and boarding school in Pennsylvania. With both a bachelor’s and Master’s in journalism, Bernadette believes in the power of strong writing to provide the foundation for strong messaging.

Director of Marketing & Communications
Wooster School

Lori Kriegel is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Wooster School, a grade 5 - 12 coed day school in Danbury, CT. She enjoys all things related to marketing, branding, storytelling, strategizing, and communicating. Lori is also a member of the CAISCT Commission on School Advancement. Prior to her arrival at Wooster School, she was the Director, eMarketing at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Lori holds a M.S. in Education and a B.S. in Management from Elmira College.

Communications Manager
The Alexander Dawson School

Rachael Lachhwani is the Communications Manager at The Alexander Dawson School, a top-ranked Early Childhood through 8th-grade independent school in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is passionate about connecting with students, faculty, staff, and families across campus to tell the unique story of her school. In collaboration with her team, Rachael has contributed to several award-winning content pieces for Dawson. Prior to joining the School in 2015, she provided academic advising to college students and created website content for two Las Vegas news stations. Rachael has a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in communications and a Master's degree in journalism and media studies. She and her husband are the proud parents of three Alexander Dawson School students.

Director of Communications
Hackley School

Aisha joined the Hackley community as the Director of Communications and editor of the school’s digital and print publications in October 2020. About her daily work on the Hilltop, she says, “I cannot do the work of storytelling without the incredible contributions from members of the Hackley community – faculty and staff, current students and their families, alumni and friends.” Aisha has worked in marketing, public relations, and communications for 16 years in the fields of entertainment, education, and nonprofits focused on health, social justice, and youth programming.

Strategist, Writer

Andrea Lehman is a freelance marketing strategist, writer, and editor for independent schools and colleges as well as for travel guides. Author of Fodor’s Around Philadelphia with Kids, she previously was Editorial Director of the School Division (college and independent secondary school guides) for Peterson's Guides. She and her daughters are the proud products of terrific independent school educations.

Director of Communications and Marketing
Bright School

Deanna has worked in independent schools for nearly 20 years. She began her career in the development and communications and marketing offices at Girls Preparatory School where she worked for 12 years. She then served as the Director of Digital Communications and Photography at McCallie School. In that role, she was responsible for email communications, the school website, and social media management. She has been a speaker at the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS) conference and the Finalsite users' conference.

Director of Marketing & Communications
University of Toronto Schools (UTS)

In 2021, Kara joined UTS as the Director of Communications. Kara has worked since 2011 in the independent school market and has over 15 years of experience in not-for-profits, focusing on education and international academic exchange. She is the President/Chair of the High Park Nature Centre and has served on a variety of boards enriching life in Toronto through culture and education since 2005. Kara holds a Certificate in Digital Media Studies from OCAD, as well as an MA in Japanese Studies from SOAS (UK) and a BAH in Communications from Queen's University (Canada). She has lived and studied in Canada, the US, England and Japan.

Senior Graphic Designer
Phillips Academy | Andover

Anne Marino is a seasoned freelance art director and strategic storyteller whose award-winning work spans the profit and nonprofit sectors. She is currently the Senior Graphic Designer at Phillips Academy, an independent secondary school, where she focuses on advancement communications. In addition, Anne serves on the Board of Directors at the Windham Endowment for Community Advancement. She holds an MA in Communication—New Media and Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University and a BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
Cate School

Matthew McClenathen is the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications at Cate School, a coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9-12 located in Carpinteria, Calif. He is in his fourth year at Cate, and in his role, he serves as the managing editor of the award-winning Cate Bulletin among other responsibilities. Prior to joining Cate, Matthew worked in athletic communications at the intercollegiate level, and he holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in communications. He lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, Katie, and two sons, Dean and Grant.

Communications Manager
Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

Jessi McDonald is the communications manager at Crossroads School, a K-12 independent school in Los Angeles. She oversees newsletter communications, manages the school’s social media accounts, and is an editor and writer for Cross Sections magazine. Her experience extends into the classroom where she has taught kindergarten, first grade and in Learning Resources. Jessi’s background in marketing and communications began in the NHL, where she worked for the LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks, combining her passions for education and sports while managing the Ducks’ award-winning Reading Is the Goal program. She holds a B.A. in media studies from U.C. Berkeley.

Principal
The Leapfrog Group

As the creative force behind Leapfrog Group, Nancy McDonald challenges both colleagues and clients to think differently. With passion and intuition for devising far-reaching, innovative, and cost-effective solutions for virtually any communications challenge, Nancy believes that every design should elevate the reader experience. She is an industry leader on the effective use of photography, typography, and printing techniques and is known for her solution-oriented approach. Nancy has taught graphic design at the undergraduate and graduate level at both Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design.

Managing Director
Schoolcraft Digital

Jesse is a co-founder and managing director for Schoolcraft Digital, a digital marketing agency that helps schools share their school story with the digital native parents of today through targeted, multi-channel marketing campaigns. Jesse also hosts the Open House podcast focusing on enrollment marketing challenges, solutions, and case studies from industry experts and peers and presents at both regional and national conferences for school marketing and enrollment professionals. Prior to Schoolcraft Jesse managed the residential life program, admissions department, and student life department through the years at an international boarding school in Florida.

Vice President for Enrollment Management
Woodward Academy

Nija Majmudar Meyer joined Woodward in 2014 to lead marketing and communications, and her responsibilities expanded to include admissions and financial aid when she was named VP for Enrollment Management. In 2022, Ms. Meyer received the EMA Rising Star Award, honoring educators distinguishing their schools in the field of enrollment management. She has been a presenter and a panelist for multiple conferences and webinars. Ms. Meyer previously served in strategic marketing and consulting roles for Fortune 500 companies. She graduated summa cum laude with a BBA degree from Emory University and a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Business.

Director of Marketing and Communications
Georgetown Preparatory

Connie Shaffer Mitchell is in her third year at Georgetown Preparatory School as the Director of Marketing and Communications, after having served in the same role for 11 years at her alma mater, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. Prior to that she worked for a legal business-consulting firm in D.C., and then transferred to the nonprofit sector, working in an advisor role at the National Association of Corporate Directors, and then as the Executive Director of The John Carroll Society, a lay Catholic professional organization serving the Archdiocese of Washington. She attended Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Communications (and a minor in Italian), at Fairfield University in Connecticut, and studying in Florence, Italy.

Director of Advancement and Community Engagement
Hunter Valley Grammar School

Dionne is the Director of Advancement and Community Engagement at Hunter Valley Grammar School in NSW, Australia. She has held executive and senior leadership marketing, communication and engagement positions in the education sector for the past 10 years. A seasoned marketer she has developed award-winning marcomm campaigns, delivered TedX style talks at Australasian conferences and had her photography and videography picked-up for state and national social media campaigns for a variety of brands. Dionne is passionate about the customer and on providing a customer experience that is memorable and meets and exceeds all expectations.

Owner/Creative Director
Monzo Media Productions

Joe Monzo, Owner/Creative Director of Monzo Media Productions, is based in the Greater Philadelphia area and loves helping independent schools tell their story through the power of compelling video. Utilizing effective video strategies, Joe and his team work to help achieve the enrollment goals of their school clients.

Director of Communications
Kent Place School

Rachel Naggar, Director of Communications at Kent Place School, brings more than 25 years of marketing and communications experience to her position. She joined Kent Place in 2003 and has won numerous InspirED School Marketers, CASE Accolades, and Circle of Excellence Awards for their print publications and website. Prior, she ran the marketing department at the American Program Bureau, a global lecture and entertainment agency in Boston, and was the assistant director of alumnae relations at Brandeis University. She is an advisor emeritus for Blackbaud K–12’s product advisory board and a member of the Dana Hall School Alumnae Council.

Director of Marketing and Communications
The Riveria Ridge School

Jaime Nelson leads The Riviera Ridge School’s Marketing & Communication Department, managing learning management systems, and overseeing the development of brand and marketing initiatives. With a BA in Organizational Communications, a minor in Human Resource Management, and a Master’s degree in Education, Jaime began her career as a Marketing Specialist prior to her work in education. Over the past twelve years, Jaime has served in many capacities within the Advancement Team at Riviera Ridge. Jaime is a skilled writer, copy editor, webmaster and coordinates the collaboration of technology infrastructure at Riviera Ridge. As a member of the Administrative Team, she continues working side by side with the Advancement Department as well as supporting the important PR initiatives. Jaime and her husband, Jason, have two children and enjoy spending time together outdoors hiking, biking, and swimming in and around beautiful Santa Barbara.

Founder and President
DNI Consulting

Dana has twenty-five years of experience working within and between all levels of administration and faculty, parents, students, board members, and other community stakeholders. Dana is an expert in market research, enrollment feasibility studies and strategic enrollment management projects. Additionally, she has led projects as a consultant in areas including parent satisfaction, admission office efficiencies, staff coaching, curriculum planning, and exit interviewing. As a coach, Dana leads her signature mastermind program, "The Assembly" for a group of school leaders each year and provides executive coaching services one-on-one.

Head of Marketing
Digistorm

Timo’s a passionate marketer, community builder, and firm believer in putting the customer at the center of everything an organization does. Currently leading marketing efforts for Digistorm’s teams in the US and Australia, his previous roles in established tech platforms gave him extensive experience with building customer journeys, pushing strategies into action, and driving customer loyalty. His favourite thing about the education industry? The gusto with which schools take on their digital (and brand!) transformations.

Director of Marketing and Communications
Rowland Hall

Stephanie Orfanakis is the director of marketing and communications at Rowland Hall. She enjoys strategic communications and all things design related. Stephanie brings 20 years of experience in visual communications to her current role and continues to expand her knowledge of best practices in communications, marketing, and technologies.

Principal
Crane + Peters

Shelly believes your brand is one of your organization’s most powerful assets, and you must steward it accordingly. Years of experience in nonprofit education consulting and corporate management have led her to understand that success—with a marketing program or in an organization—requires that every community member believe in the same overarching purpose and feel inspired to contribute their unique talents toward the larger vision. Shelly holds a dual BA in psychology and educational studies from Emory University and studied learning and organizational change at Northwestern University.

President
Little Foxes Marketing

Little Foxes Marketing works exclusively with independent schools and nonprofit universities, providing digital marketing services such as search engine and social media advertising.

Founder and Principal
LeadTeam Partners

Chris Pryor is the Founder and Principal of LeadTeam Partners. Following a 20+ year career in independent schools, Chris developed his school partner search practice to support school administrators by finding the right consultant, coach, facilitator, speaker, or vendor for their needs. Prior to LeadTeam Partners, Chris served as Assistant Head of School for Advancement and External Affairs for Congressional School (VA) and as a Director of Business Development for Independent School Management (ISM). Informed by how private schools and consulting firms operate, Chris seeks to manage the search process for busy school leaders so that they can focus on the day-to-day operations of their school.

President and Co-Founder
Rhodes Branding

Austin Rhodes is the President & Co-Founder at Rhodes Branding, a branding-led marketing agency working exclusively with public districts, public charters, and independents of all sizes. In an increasingly competitive market, he is excited to bring a diverse team of experts from not only K-12 but also higher education and corporate America.

Director of Communications and Marketing
Girls Preparatory School

Caitlin Riddle is the Director of Communications and Marketing at Girls Preparatory School, an all-girls 6-12 school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communication with a minor in marketing from Middle Tennessee State University. She previously worked as a Senior Graphic Designer at a healthcare marketing firm and uses her design expertise to elevate school branding and optimize the user experience. A thoughtful collaborator and creative problem solver, she has a passion for showcasing stories and engaging families.

Director of Marketing and Communications
Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart

Joanna’s career in marketing, communications and advancement has spanned both the business and education industries over the last 20 years. She has served independent schools in various roles and is currently the director of marketing and communications at an all-boys school in Princeton, NJ. Joanna has presented on strategic plan marketing at the CASE DII conference and collaborates periodically with NJAIS, Finalsite, EMA and other leading organizations on brand identity, enrollment marketing and strategic communications. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Marketing Analytics and Insights from Penn State World Campus. As a proud parent of three, Joanna has been an active parent volunteer at five independent schools over 14 years.

Director of Marketing
North Star Marketing

How far is it from Boone, NC, to Greensboro, NC? If you're Sarah Sams, it's a few thousand miles, covering 38 countries (and counting) with her husband and daughter. After earning her B.S. in Journalism from Appalachian State, Sarah invested her creative writing efforts in data-driven marketing work in education — working with schools in Japan, Uganda, Senegal, and Romania before landing back “home” in NC. Now, she helps independent and faith-based schools across the country pursue goals that contribute to healthy enrollment. North Star Marketing has four areas of focus: online marketing, school websites, Age-and-Stage® message workshops, and academic and athletic branding.

Director of Marketing and Communications
United Nations International School of Hanoi

Nishel is an award-winning sales and marketing professional specializing in the Independent and International School sector for more than a decade. Originally from the UK, she has experience working at girls & co-ed schools, day & boarding, across UK & IB curriculums in the UK, Hong Kong and Vietnam. Nishel is also leading the Parent Engagement and Professional Learning & Development initiatives at UNIS Hanoi.

Managing Director
Gowan Group

In his professional life, Mike balances his time between consulting and serving as the Executive Director of the Association of Independent Michigan Schools. He is a Managing Director at Gowan Group, a full-service consultancy to independent schools based in Connecticut. Before becoming a consultant, Mike worked in independent day schools for 30 years, as a teacher, coach, dean of students, division director and for eleven years as head of school. Mike also maintains his own consulting brand, Knuckleball Consulting, and he publishes a monthly newsletter called Ahead in the Count. Mike's consulting work has focused on enrollment strategy, strategic planning, governance and leadership searches.

Founder and President
Truth Tree

Trevor Waddington is an edupreneur and Founder of Truth Tree, an award-winning digital marketing agency that provides strategies and solutions for schools. Truth Tree's services include SEM/PPC, SMM, SEO, and email and content marketing. Trevor began his career as a teacher and coach, quickly moving into roles in admission, marketing, communication, and financial aid during a 17-year career working in schools. He is considered the leading expert on school digital marketing, presenting on and producing content ranging from tactical how-tos to next-level engagement strategies.

Co-Founder and Strategic Director
[YELLOW CAR]

Dr. David Willows is Co-founder and Strategic Director at [YELLOW CAR], a training and consulting firm designed to help schools stand out. Between 2005 and 2022, he was Director of Advancement at the International School of Brussels, Belgium. David is widely regarded as one of the most innovative practitioners in the field, helping to shape and define the future of Advancement in schools. He was recently listed as one of the world's Top 10 Global Education Influencers. An author and regular keynote speaker & trainer at international events around the world, David is passionate about helping schools advance in ways that are relevant for today’s educational landscape.

Manager, Strategic Innovation
Metric Marketing

Dan Yorsh is the Manager of Strategic Innovation at Metric Marketing, where he has been instrumental in developing innovative marketing solutions for the private and independent school market over the past five years. In his current role, Dan manages a number of private and independent schools across North America - helping them stay ahead of the curve with cutting-edge marketing and enrollment strategies. He works closely with each school to identify their unique challenges and goals, and then develops customized solutions to meet those needs in highly competitive markets.