David Thiel Email & Phone Number

Strategy, communications, and operational consulting that helps schools respond to today's shifting educational landscape, address competitive pressures, and achieve greater levels of organizational alignment and efficiency.— Frame and facilitate strategic planning and strategic frameworks. Translate strategic objectives into operational recommendations. Manage and guide plan implementation.— Provide insight on the shifting value proposition for educational institutions—with emphasis on competitive landscape, brand, friction, governance, financial sustainability, affordability, and value.— Guide and support improved governance practices, board planning, and critical policy.— Perform environmental scans, competitive and market analysis, and internal audits; deliver SWOT analysis that connects external and internal forces and guides institutions toward future positioning.— Assist with organizational structures, communications planning, and guiding documentation.— Brand strategy. Creative strategy. Crisis communications support.— Provide interim and transitional leadership support including HOS, CEO, CMO, and COO roles.

Tilton, New Hampshire, Us

Change agency and COVID management. Strategic oversight of all operations at Tilton School. INSTITUTED NEW PROGRAMS AND POLICIES TO INCREASE THE MARKETABILITY OF THE SCHOOL:— Simplified and repackaged Tilton’s “Mastery Approach” program into a jargon-free presentation more easily understood by prospective families.— Established a from-scratch marketing operation at the school; redesigned all school materials, including logo, direct mail, and website. Seeded a new brand position.— Shifted the arts program toward Commercial, Industrial, and Digital Arts as a source of differentiation.— Eliminated Saturday classes, implemented casual dress code, opened new social spaces, upgraded Winter Carnival, launched entrepreneurship program, redesigned academic schedule.— Created a DEI plan, including the fall 2021 implementation of an all-school inclusion readRESTRUCTURED THE ORGANIZATION AND REFOCUSED THE SCHOOL’S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND CAMPUS PLANS:— Reduced workforce. Aligned roles with decision rights, budgetary control, areas of accountability, and program delivery. Added HR function. Coached admin team who were virtually all new to their roles.— Created a zero-base budget, identified critical performance metrics, and focused leadership and the board on financial sustainability and intergenerational equity. Negotiated and cancelled unfavorable contracts.— Raised $4.8 million, plus $3.5 million in pledges to 2021-2022 projects. (Plus $2.3 million in PPP financing.)— Conceived and launched major renovations to the Dining Hall and the Library, an all-school amphitheater, and the construction of an outdoor education pavilion—all scheduled for completion fall of 2021.ACHIEVED OUTSTANDING COVID MANAGEMENT RESULTS:— Full year interscholastic sports; Tilton played more sports than perhaps any other independent school in New England.— Unmatched freedom for students, several mask free months, trips to town/mall, and strong mental wellness,

Deerfield, Ma, Us

Work with the Head of School, Senior Staff, and the Board of Trustees to provide strategic planning, research, and decision support related to program/operations, long-term strategy, and organizational alignment.LINKED THE ACADEMY’S STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO DAILY DECISION-MAKING:-- Established an organizational alignment framework linking strategic planning, brand strategy, and culture to Academy practices, processes, projects, and programs. -- Developed agendas and tracked progress for the senior administrative team. Identified key points of leverage and provided targeted recommendations for actions and decisions from the Head.-- Performed a comprehensive SWOT analysis of the Academy’s strategic position. Created a central research clearinghouse. Introduced data visualization tools.-- Established the Strategic Marketing Council and the Strategic Calendar Committee to provide an integrated view of resources surrounding messaging, audience, and use of time.ENSURED THAT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES WERE CONSISTENTLY FRAMED AND REITERATED IN MARQUEE DOCUMENTS AND SPEECHES:-- Authored Academy Mission, Vision, Decision-Making Framework, and other key documents. Authored Head of School remarks. board reports, and talking points across virtually all events and audiences. -- Provided consultation and writing support to senior administration on critical documents including the Student Handbook, the Academy’s Core Values, Gender Inclusion Guidelines, and Board handouts.PARTNERED WITH THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ON CRISIS MANAGEMENT, SPECIAL PROJECTS, AND DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES:-- Performed crisis management and communications in collaboration with Board leadership, the Head of School, and the Academy’s general counsel. -- Provided analysis on strategic, complex, and urgent projects, including dress code, gender-inclusion, organizational structure, job descriptions, accountability, and departmental audits.

Deerfield, Ma, Us

Established Deerfield's Communications Department, including from-scratch budgeting, staffing, equipment, and workflow. Developed a team widely regarded as one of the most creative and prolific operations of its kind.Aligned communications tactics with strategic plan priorities of the school, supporting fundraising efforts totaling more than $350 million.Developed strategies and tactics that helped lift alumni donor participation to 52% (from 36%) over a three year period. Rebranded the annual fund into a participation focused brand (“The Green and White”) and a high-dollar donation brand (“1797 Society”). Transformed the Deerfield Academy Brand through redesigns of virtually all print and electronic communications including magazine, admission print and video suites, direct mail, and web properties. Codified brand architecture, identity, and editorial guidelines in a comprehensive handbook.Increased communications density while lowering costs by doubling magazine issue/page count, establishing enewsletters, and creating a leading, high engagement presence through social media channels and search marketing.Provided PR and crisis communications management for numerous national news stories, including a 2016 Spotlight investigative report. Ensured the success of key student programs through the development of novel intracampus and public brands, including “Think 80|20” (Sustainability), “Cross the Valley” (Inclusion), “Live Clean, Eat Dirty” (Healthy Eating), and "The Experimentory" (Summer Program).Personally developed, produced, and published content across all media types and channels. Extensive photography and videography work on assignment. Wrote under byline and as a ghost writer--including speeches, advertising copy, and technical/procedural content. Authored, edited, and structured landmark documents for the school.

Founded this online retailer of specialty coffee for pod-based brewers. Led the company to profit in year two, with sales exceeding $1 million by year three.

Rochester, Ny, Us

Catalyst Direct acquired my previous firm, Auragen, in November of 2007. Headed up the Digital Marketing operation in this vertically integrated direct marketing firm. Developed digital strategies around emerging technologies in search and display advertising, behavioral targeting, print-to-digital customer acquisition, couponing, and other applications of big data and segment analysis.Clients included Valvoline Instant Oil Change, HSBC, Eastman Kodak, Bank of America, Pitney Bowes, and M&T Bank.

Rochester, New York, Us

Turnaround management: increased sales, utilization, and WIP throughput by creating new proposal/pricing and resource management methods; eliminated more than $1.3 million of debt by restructuring the business, constructive termination of contracts, strategic partnerships, and negotiation with vendors; established new lines of business to capitalize on emerging markets; positioned the company for sale, successfully attracting three competing offers; maintained 90% employee retention during turnaround and sale of the business.Auragen was acquired by Catalyst Direct in November of 2007.

Rochester, New York, Us

Responsible for the primary value chain of Auragen including service offering, development process, client engagement strategy, and creative direction. Primary spokesperson for the company. Individual contributor of information architecture, strategic business consulting, and account management services for major accounts.

Rochester, Ny, Us

Organized reunion and other alumni relations programs for young alumni. Created electronic and print newsletter program. Managed alumni and development websites. Enhanced engagement by packaging alumni programs into a "membership" style presentation.

M.B.A., Business Administration

B.A., Biology And English

Education record