2022-2023 Principal Conference Partners

212-695-1175

For 75 years, CCS Fundraising has empowered many of the world’s greatest organizations to advance some of the most important causes in history. 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.  Members of the CCS team are highly experienced and knowledgeable across sectors, disciplines, and regions. Our unique, customized approach provides each organization with dedicated professionals who help mission-driven organizations meet their most pressing challenges and achieve their most ambitious goals. While the results of our work are immediate, our impact 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.

Aimee Gibison

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.

Liz Morse

TIAA was founded in 1918 to help teachers retire with confidence. That mission grew to include those in healthcare and more, creating reliable income for their futures while they work to make a difference today.Our commitment to doing the right thing—for our clients, employees and communities—has never wavered, and is why we’re an industry leader in building financially sound futures today.

Chris Brigham

Updike, Kelly & Spellacy P.C., with three 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.

Key Conference Partners

	Michael LeBlanc	203-938-8400	CCiVoice is a full service local telecommunications company with a history of 42 years in the phone business! We are a soup to nuts telecom provider, offering our own hosted phone service (we are your phone carrier, your phone system and your support), premise phone systems, networking, cameras, access control and cabling.  Over the years we have become especially attuned to the unique needs of independent schools and we're grateful to count 9 (and growing) Connecticut Independent schools among our hosted phone service clients, as well as schools in Massachusetts and New York. We know schools often have to stay up to date with technology while also grappling with older infrastructure and we love that challenge! We also know many schools have top notch IT people but other, smaller schools, may not have a dedicated IT resource, so our technicians and engineers can either collaborate with your IT staff on project planning and implementation or we can assume the role of your IT staff ourselves.  Give us a call or shoot us an email because we'd love to hear from you - [email protected] or 203-664-1777
	John Gover	717-979-9838	Cross Insurance is one of the largest family held insurance brokerages in the country, supporting businesses of all sizes with property & casualty insurance, risk management programs, as well as employee benefit plans. Cross is headquartered in Bangor Maine and has over 50 offices across the East Coast, including 10 in Connecticut. Our education practice is focused on helping independent schools with the design, implementation, as well as administration of individualized property & casualty programs. We strive to act as an extension of the business office and serve as the outsourced risk advisor to trustees and school leadership teams.
	Kate Henderson	781-635-0579	FACTS Management partners with K-12 schools across the country to help manage their end-to-end needs for everything academic and financial related. In CT, FACTS is partnered with over 100 schools to help with their tuition and fee receivables through flexible payment plan and student billing options.
	Christa Maull	860-368-2376	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.

Select Conference Partners

A.P. Construction Company is a construction management and general contracting firm headquartered in Stamford, CT. The Company is experienced in all types of construction including commercial, education, healthcare, multifamily, and municipal. A.P. Construction’s team approach and attention to detail, while meeting the needs of owners, tenants, and architects, have established its reputation for integrity, quality, efficiency, and savings.

Serving schools since 1930, Dewar is the originator of the Tuition Refund Plan, a proven method for protecting both schools and families from the financial consequences of student withdrawals and dismissals.

860-767-0175

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 ondesign innovation and environmental responsibility. Centerbrook’s work has been recognized with more than 400 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.

617-548-3205

FORVIS, LLP is a professional services firm providing assurance, tax, and advisory services. Created by the merger of equals of BKD, LLP and Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP (DHG), FORVIS is driven by the commitment to use our forward vision to deliver Unmatched Client Experiences™. Ranked among the top 10 public accounting firms in the country, FORVIS has 5,500 dedicated professionals who serve clients in all 50 states as well as across the globe. FORVIS is built upon the strong legacies of BKD and DHG, which are reflected in a name that comprises partner initials and represents our unique focus on preparing our clients for what is next. Visit forvis.com for additional information.

Gregory & Howe is a Management Company that provides personalized service and solutions to clients that are required to comply with State and Federal Safety regulations. Gregory & Howe reduces the administrative burden which allows our clients to focus on their core competency.

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.

MHR employs a multi-measure approach to optimize building health and performance. First, we maximize energy efficiency then we implement renewable energy systems and controls. Our holistic approach reduces total operating costs, while enhancing occupant health and comfort and improving the client’s asset value.
 
Comprehensive energy services include energy infrastructure planning, solar photovoltaic (PV), combined heat and power (CHP), geothermal heat pumps, architectural LED lighting, water and fuel conservation, demand mitigation technologies, building management systems, air purification systems, weatherization, and preventative maintenance optimization.

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.

914-478-3677

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.

If you look at a list of PKF O'Connor Davies' services they may look like many other firms. We provide accounting and assurance' tax compliance and planning services,family once and advisory services. But at PKF O'Connor Davies we know it's not what you provide that defines you, it's how you provide it and who delivers it that makes all the difference. Our longstanding commitment to serving not-for-profit organizations and special forte in Independent Schools equips us to bring meaningful experience and practical knowledge to administrators and their governing boards. In addition to outstanding audit and tax services, our advisory support helps managers address business issues that grow in quantity and complexity with every graduating class.

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.