At SilverFern Advisory, we’re dedicated to helping colleges, universities, and students thrive. The higher education landscape is changing rapidly, characterized by declining numbers of traditional-aged students, increasing sensitivity to college costs and student debt, encroaching “substitutes” from outside the realm of traditional institutions, new developments in the science of learning, and job market shifts that require life-long learning. We work with higher education leaders – at the institution and department level – to address the question, “How might we better position and differentiate ourselves, leveraging our core strengths for a sustainable future?” With our campus partners, we develop strategies and tactics, metrics and models, curricula and content, to ensure that the institution and its students are positioned for long-term success. Project examples include: - Thought leadership strategy for a highly innovative university with a mission to lead by example. - Five-year strategic plan support for a nationally-ranked university. - Strategic advisory services for the provost of a national liberal arts institution. - Board strategy facilitation for several education and youth development non-profits.- Strategic vision statement and detailed financial model for a ground-breaking initiative to transform career support in the liberal arts, leading to a $9 million naming gift. - Change leadership to support a department seeking to regain its edge.- Student focus groups and leadership development pilot workshops. - Curriculum design for interactive student workshops to promote career preparation at three prominent institutions. - Partnership development with 13 highly-ranked liberal arts colleges on behalf of a Seattle-based start-up. We also work directly with a select number of college students and recent graduates who want to accelerate their path to a meaningful future. Find out more at www.SilverFernAdvisory.com.

Motivated by opportunities to break new ground. Built new finance and strategy capabilities in both corporate center and business unit positions -- always in service to the Nordstrom customer. Pioneered numerous roles over 13-year Nordstrom career, including: - first-ever Director of Financial Planning & Analysis - first VP of Corporate Strategy & Development, reporting to company's first EVP of Strategy - VP/Divisional CFO for Nordstrom Rack during a critical period of strategic repositioning - VP/Program Manager for Merchandising Process Redesign, including org & technology impacts - first and only embedded category strategist as Sr. Director of Cosmetics Strategy & Operations - Innovation project leader for first holistic Customer Experience re-design & full-scale prototypePassion for identifying clear solutions to complex problems. Success derived from uncommon ability to: distill core issues, connect the dots to see the opportunity, collaborate to drive innovation, create actionable recommendations, tell the story at senior executive and board levels to win support for change. Customer-focused solutions achieved through qualitative & quantitative insights, analytical excellence, cross-functional teamwork, strong project & engagement management, effective executive communication.