Penny joined Independent School Management 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 over 20 years.

Her areas of expertise and passion include:

• conducting assessments for enrollment management and marketing communications programs;
• completing volunteer group audits, including parent and alumni associations;
• building and implementing strategic plans for enrollment management, marketing communications, and
• advancement;
• developing and executing digital and inbound marketing strategies;
• crafting marketing message frameworks and fundraising case statements;
• providing advice and coaching for media relations and crisis communication planning; and
• constructing creative staffing structure solutions to optimize function.

As Advancement Department Head, Penny ensures effective content development and service delivery for ISM’s enrollment, marketing communications, and development consulting services. Additionally, she leads the Advancement Academy, an annual premier professional development conference that educates and mentors School Heads, Board members, and development, enrollment management, and marketing communications professionals.

Penny leads multiple in-person and online workshops for ISM related to marketing communications and enrollment management, and she frequently speaks at regional and national education conferences. She also is a regular contributor to ISM’s flagship publication, Ideas & Perspectives.

Penny began her career in schools in 2001 at Ravenscroft, a Pre-K through grade 12 school in Raleigh, North Carolina. As the Annual Fund Director, she managed all aspects of the school’s annual giving program. Penny later became Ravenscroft’s Director of Communications and was charged with building the school’s communications program from the ground up. From 2013–17, Penny served as the Director of Admissions & Marketing at Academy at the Lakes, a Pre–K3 through grade 12 school located in Tampa, Florida, where she helped the school reach record application and enrollment numbers.

Penny graduated with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a Digital Marketing Certificate from the University of Vermont. She attained ISM’s International Advancement Program—Leader certification (IAP-L) in 2012.

As a graduate of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program via their Institute for Transformational Leadership, Davies invests in leaders dedicated to becoming their best selves and living their best lives. Davies current clients span all sectors, from technology and entertainment to government and education, and all levels of leadership, from rising stars to c-suite veterans.

In 2022 Davies published School Leadership from A to Z: How to Lead Well Without Losing Your Way, a book about the ups, downs, and all-arounds of school life and leadership. In Davies’ wildest dreams, it will help start a revolution of radical self-care and personal growth among school leaders.

The son of a bricklayer dad and bookworm mom, Davies was born and raised in Minnesota. When not roaming the Earth as an author, coach, and speaker, Davies calls Colorado and Madrid home.

You can follow Davies on Instagram at bradley.james.davies and via Facebook at Bradley James Davies.

Jim Fries
Jim is an Assurance Partner and Co-Leader of the Not-for-Profit and K-12 Education niches off Brown Edwards. He is based in the Harrisonburg office and has over 19 years of accounting experience, with a focus on not-for-profit organizations, including private education, foundations, healthcare entities, and other social service organizations. In addition, Jim has a wide range of experience in other industries, including employee benefit plans, manufacturers, utilities, and cooperatives. Jim is a member of our peer review services team, providing quality reviews to regional public accounting firms around the country. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy, both from Virginia Tech. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Jim serves as a board member at his local chapter of the IMA, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, and Redeemer Classical School. In addition, he serves on the finance committee of his local church and has board/committee positions on several other not-for-profit organizations.

Allison Guenther 
Allison is the Vice President of External Affairs at Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, a nonprofit organization that advocates for quality educational options through parental school choice. She provides the strategic vision for activities that engage at the grassroots level, educate North Carolinians about their educational options, and empower families to have a voice in their children’s education. She provides leadership over a multi-faceted marketing campaign for North Carolina’s two scholarship programs, oversees communication and relationship-building with parents, private schools, and other stakeholders, and oversees all aspects of NC Schools Around Me, the state's only school finder website. Allison maintains a deep understanding of school choice policy, developing policy solutions that will positively impact students and families. She is a proud graduate of North Carolina State University where she earned a B.A. in public policy and a B.A. in history. She serves on the board of a private school serving students with autism. Allison and her husband live in Fayetteville with their three children.

Phil joined ISM as a full-time Consultant in 2023. A nationally recognized leader in philanthropic efforts and a renowned speaker, his expertise is in fundraising and development. Phil works with schools to develop their strategic vision, establish financial priorities, and formulate campaigns to fund identified strategic initiatives.

Phil most recently served at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, North Carolina. In over 20 years with this school, starting as the Director of Development and transitioning to the Associate Head of School for Philanthropy, he helped establish 75 new endowments equating to nearly $14M raised in outright and deferred gifts.

Phil started his career in 1987 at Washington International School, Washington DC. Since that time, in his 36 years of independent school advancement work, he has served four additional schools.

At St. Albans School in Washington, DC, he collaborated on a $15 million capital campaign. At Norwood School, Maryland, he headed development programs that included another $15 million capital campaign. He has also served at Sandy Springs Friends School and Landon School, both in Maryland.

Phil was a founding faculty member for ISM’s Advancement Academy and has served as a planning architect, instructor, and mentor for over 12 years. He teaches workshops related to the alignment of advancement objectives, institutional strategic planning, management of major gifts programs, roles and responsibilities of the Development/Advancement Committee, and effective use of advancement data. He holds Leader Certification through ISM’s International Advancement Program (IAP−L).

Phil has presented at more than 30 local and national conferences for CASE, NAIS, NCAIS, AISGW, and NCPG. He served as Chair of the 38th annual CASE-NAIS national conference and has served on three planning committees for this event. He served as a member of the CASE District III Board; he chaired the CASE/NAIS conference in 2008 and is a member of the CASE Laureates.

Phil earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Richmond, Virginia.

Over the course of his thirty-year career, Dr. Mott has had the privilege of working with many independent and faith-based schools. In his third book on governance, Dr. Mott’s focus is on the importance of unity, relationships, and building a culture for the head of school and the board of trustees to thrive. Healthy Boards – Successful Schools: The Impact of Governance and Leadership on Independent and Faith-Based Schools is a book that will resonant with heads and boards who strive to be a best-practices governing board. It has become a valued resource to hundreds of board members and heads across the country.

Dr. Mott’s experience includes being the head of school at three different independent schools and a member of the board of trustees of several independent schools as well as other nonprofit organizations. He consults with independent and faith-based schools across the country and is a frequent speaker and workshop leaders at national, regional, and state conferences.

In addition to the above experience, Dr. Mott is on the faculty of Vanderbilt University as an Adjunct Instructor for the master’s program in independent school leadership. Dr. Mott received his Ph.D. in educational leadership from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College and B.A. from the University of Mississippi.