Principal Conference Partners

Sarah Levin

212-695-1175

As leading consulting experts in campaign and development strategy, we plan and implement fundraising initiatives to help nonprofit organizations make a bigger impact—locally, nationally, and globally.For over 70 years, CCS has empowered many of the world’s greatest organizations to advance some of the most important causes in history. Members of the CCS team are highly experienced and knowledgeable across sectors, disciplines, and regions.Our unique, customized approach provides each organization with a dedicated professional to provide real-time solutions. While the results of our work are immediate, the impact of the strategies, tools, and tactics we develop with our clients is enduring.

John Toscano

860-231-6612

CLA exists to create opportunities for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services. With 7,400 people, more than 120 U.S. locations, and a global affiliation, we promise to know you and help you. For more information visit CLAconnect.com. Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.

Jeff Clark

Flagship Networks is an Information Technology leader focused on providing custom technology solutions to clients of all sizes. We have nearly two decades of experience working with customers in all industries from schools and municipalities to healthcare institutions and professional practices Our comprehensive consulting, implementation, monitoring and support capabilities, combined with profound industry knowledge and IT expertise, help our clients achieve their technology goals and run their business more productively.

Sara Schwartz

Schwartz Hannum PC, a law firm founded in 1995, is a strategic partner for forward-thinking educational institutions striving to promote a positive learning environment and prevent workplace issues. Nationally-renowned independent schools throughout the United States, including Connecticut day and boarding schools, rely on Schwartz Hannum PC to provide the clarity, foresight, and legal guidance necessary to make smart choices. SHPC attorneys understand the unique dynamics of the school environment, how each decision – from hiring and admissions to governance and discipline – affects relationships with communities, students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and governing boards. They translate that understanding into solutions that enable independent schools to focus on offering and expanding superior educational programs. Should disputes arise, SHPC attorneys have extensive experience in litigating school-based cases before state and federal government agencies, courts, and arbitration panels.

Chris Brigham

203-786-8310

Updike, Kelly & Spellacy P.C., with four offices throughout the state of Connecticut, represents a wide range of education law clients in a variety of practice areas including Commercial Lending and Banking, Employment, Healthcare, Real Estate, Governance, Taxation, Environmental, and Trust & Estates. We believe in a common sense approach to legal issues and challenges facing our education and business clients. Our firm provides legal and counseling services to independent schools on a variety of matters. Our attorneys have the expertise to help schools navigate internal and external investigations, student discipline issues, employment issues, municipal tax exemption matters, school/parent relationships, board relationships and governance issues, by-law reviews, student, parent and faculty handbook reviews, and vendor, staff and faculty contract preparation and review.

John Duggan

and

Tracy Mungeam

860-278-1320

Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW) is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. Our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas — the dynamic formula that drives business performance.Together, we unlock potential.

Select Conference Partners

Centerbrook designs diverse and sustainable buildings for independent schools, research institutes, civic and cultural organizations, colleges and universities, businesses, and religious congregations. Since its founding in 1975, Centerbrook has grown from seven architects who primarily designed passive solar houses into a practice of 57 from seven countries focusing on design innovation and environmental responsibility. Centerbrook’s work has been recognized with 416 awards for design excellence, including the National AIA Firm Award, the highest honor the American Institute of Architects confers.Centerbrook has been commissioned by 52 private independent schools to design master plans, athletics facilities, classroom buildings, residence halls, power plants, student centers, science buildings, music and studio arts centers, dining halls, and headmaster’s houses.

Originally founded in 1973, MDG is a nationally respected employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm licensed in over 30 states. We assist clients with the design, implementation and administration of employee benefit programs. Our staff members are seasoned insurance industry professionals with a wealth of subject matter expertise.MDG services a variety of clients in the education space. We recognize each school has its own unique circumstances and challenges relating to employee benefits. Our staff takes a consultative approach to evaluating each school’s needs and goals. Employee benefit strategies and plans are customized to each school’s needs. MDG continually monitors and assists with plan administration throughout the year.

NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized property and casualty, corporate benefits, retirement and individual solutions. We enable client success through the expertise of our professionals across the globe, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors and financial institutions. Learn more about who we are and key elements of our organization.

The world is changing at an increasingly quick pace. New technologies are adopted as quickly as newer ones are introduced. While all of this can be overwhelming, the opportunity for marketing and communications is tremendous. We have the ability to know our customers better than ever before. And, we can find them before they find us, allowing us to serve up the most relevant content to meet their needs and desires. To drive enrollment and development, schools need to differentiate themselves from the competition. From private secondary to public post-secondary schools, Overabove does just that. Academia, however, is not all we do. Overabove clients live in diverse worlds, including travel & leisure, financial services and healthcare. We use the discipline we have gained from working in these competitive categories to help Overabove education clients outsmart and outperform their peer schools.

Paymerang provides streamlined invoice and payment automation solutions that bring Accounts Payable (AP) departments into the modern age. Paymerang's solutions save AP departments hundreds of hours annually, enhance visibility, increase accuracy, improve efficiency, and earn rebates while reducing paper, fraud risks, and operating costs.

Peter Gisolfi Associates, founded in 1976, is an award-winning firm of architects, landscape architects, and interior designers, with a different point of view. Our mission is to design "places" -- buildings or groups of buildings which connect emphatically to outdoor spaces. These places relate strongly to their setting, and respect local and regional history, context, and traditions.

The firm, modeled after design studios in schools of architecture, is a place of learning. We think beyond the boundaries of conventional solutions to be effective stewards of the environment. We listen and learn from each other, from the world at large, and from our clients.

Our projects include academic buildings, campus master plans, academic and public libraries, municipal buildings, hotels and restaurants, commercial and corporate spaces, housing, private residences and gardens, urban space plans, parks, athletic fields, and recreation facilities.

SchoolPass is a K-12 platform that helps schools manage campus movement, attendance, and campus wellness, in the cloud. Schools can consolidate and modernize the arrival, screening, and departure of students, visitors, and staff in one place, while enabling staff to more quickly and accurately account for everyone on campus throughout the school day, especially during an emergency.

Shipman's Independent School lawyers understand firsthand the complex issues and distinctive nature of the independent school environment. As experienced advisors in the education and school law field, we are counsel to over 150 educational institutions, including a diverse group of independent day and boarding schools, including Montessori, K-12, junior boarding, and religiously affiliated schools. Working across internal school departments, from the head of school to human resources, we provide integrated counsel tailored to meet the needs of the school community. We understand the complexity of the school environment and our clients’ need to have practical, real-time solutions to even the most complicated legal issues in a timely and cost-effective manner. Whether our clients are navigating a student discipline matter or employment claim, engaging in new campus construction, or responding to regional, national or global disruptions, we have them covered.

The S/L/A/M Collaborative is distinguished by design excellence and integrated services. A national leader in planning and design for independent schools, SLAM brings a high level of expertise as a multi-discipline design firm with project experience at over 60 independent school campuses.SLAM’s integrated project management approach ensures seamless and experienced oversight to improve cost efficiencies, maximize team effectiveness and ensure successful outcomes.With a depth of experience and in-house resources, SLAM has the ability to exceed your project expectations. Our extensive industry knowledge as planners, designers and builders, bolsters our reputation as trusted leaders and advisors and adds value at a level that is unique among architectural and construction management firms.