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SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Mr. Sal Miroglotta
President
Lake Catholic High
School
Mentor, Ohio
“We brought SDG Advisors in to help
restructure our Board of Advisors. What impressed me was
their ability to give us a really good system that we
were able to share with our board members.
SDG helped us see what we were trying
to do in terms of defining our vision. They provided
helpful documents that were beautifully organized. We
could then put our mark on them and personalize
according to our needs. In terms of board committee
structure, they helped me focus on the kind of person we
wanted to attract who would serve the school well. They
are good at establishing the profile of an ideal board
member and honing in on what specific skills are needed.
With the exception of meeting with our
board at the summer workshop, SDG worked behind the
scenes. They have a good image and are organized and
informed. Their background with Catholic education was
important to us and our board. They were good at
identifying with the audience.
Sr. Ritamary and Stacey produce an
instant credibility and inspire confidence. They are
very non-threatening and have excellent people skills
when it comes to talking with our staff, board members
and others. They present options and clearly communicate
what we’re about.
We’ve been working with them since
January, and they’re now helping to boost our annual
fund. Our contract with them concludes in December. Lake
Catholic is a strong school that has not used
consultants in the past, but in this case, it was clear
there was an expertise we could tap that would be to our
benefit.”
SDG Advisors testimonial
from:
Mr.
James F. Geronimo, Esquire
Former Chair of the Board of Trustees
Villa Maria Elementary School
Erie, PA
“We engaged SDG Advisors to do a Board
review and strategic marketing plan. The bottom line is
to secure our school as a self-sustaining organization.
Sr. Ritamary and Stacey helped us restructure our Board
of Trustees from an Advisory Board to one with a
corporate structure, and they assisted us in forming
committees and defining the role of each committee.
Their recommendations to streamline the administrative
process have made the school’s operations more
efficient.
Overall, their approach is very
hands-on. They’re inviting, inclusive and
non-confrontational. They are very good at analyzing
numbers and at getting in up to their elbows when it
comes to talking to everyone involved to get a complete
understanding. They identified what we’re doing right
and applauded those efforts, and they also told us what
we’re doing wrong and how to fix those areas. They go
even farther by telling us what rewards we should see,
and they back that up with their experience with other
clients.”
SDG Advisors testimonial
from:
Mr. Brian Menard
Past President
Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School
Cleveland, Ohio
“I came on board as president in the
middle of the 2008-2009 school year, and Sr. Ritamary
and Stacey were indispensable to me as I got up and
running with very little lead time. As I assumed this
new position, I needed to bring under control a number
of elements to effect broad culture change on and off
campus.
SDG Advisors helped me prioritize
first steps in order to map out a strategy for how to
change the school’s direction. They were professional in
their demeanor, sympathetic, reassuring and supportive.
Their skill set is deep and adaptable to conform to a
client’s needs, from the smallest issues to the largest
and highest priorities.
There was no advisory board when I
came. SDG gave me the support I needed to recruit and
structure an effective and engaged board. I also had
some issues to address with our administration, and our
development program needed to be taken to a higher
level. SDG helped me untie the administrative mess,
restructure it and take the proper steps to accomplish
our goals.
Sr. Ritamary and Stacey were able to
provide the right kind of support that I needed. It was
not dictatorial but in a style that conformed to my
needs. They knew how to build on my strengths and
provide help where I didn’t have in-house support. They
also envision what the future of a Catholic school
should look like, and they understand that each Catholic
institution is individual in and of itself.
Sr. Ritamary and Stacey are a good
team in that each brings separate skills to the table.
Together, they are spectacular. Their communication with
the client and with each other is good, and they
understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Over the months, my needs and the way
I’ve worked with SDG have evolved. At first, each step
had the potential to explode. They had the tools to help
plot the course that overcame the challenges, and we
have been able to make incredible progress
institutionally. I owe a lot of that to SDG.
Our
first board orientation was a big event for the school,
and Sr. Ritamary and Stacey shepherded us to have the
right leadership in place to work effectively with the
administration. In addition to having great skills,
abilities and passion for helping Catholic schools, Sr.
Ritamary and Stacey are great people and a delight to
work with.”
SDG Advisors testimonial
from:
Sister Margaret Frank, SSJ
Past Director of Advancement
Villa Maria Elementary School
Erie, PA
“We hired SDG Advisors to do a
strategic plan, and they were very professional and easy
to work with. Before making recommendations, they
thoroughly evaluated our current situation, asked us
knowledgeable questions and reviewed all of our existing
marketing materials.
Sr. Ritamary and Stacey came back with
an excellent presentation to our board, and were
straightforward about praising the things we’re doing
well and suggesting things that we need to tweak or
improve. They surveyed our various constituencies, and
the responses were very positive, reconfirming our need
for more marketing. They also did a detailed analysis of
our demographics to see where our students are coming
from since we’re not a diocesan school.
What I really liked about SDG was
their positive approach. They identified areas that were
missing from our marketing plan and gave us fresh, new
ideas. They made us aware of the importance of
publicizing the school’s good news and stories to our
key audiences through the local media, our website and
other vehicles. We’re more professional and keenly aware
of our marketing efforts because of the help we received
from Sr. Ritamary and Stacey.
Schools are hesitant to make a
significant investment in marketing, but I believe it is
extremely important for schools to find those dollars
and invest in the future of our students.”
SDG Advisors
testimonial from:
Joan Agresta
Principal
St. Anselm School
Chesterland, Ohio
SDG Advisors helped us on many issues and provided
valuable feedback on our program and challenges.
We were impressed especially with the detailed marketing
program they totally mapped out and offered to us.
It was right on target--an incredibly useful tool.
SDG Advisors
testimonial from:
Sharon Vejdovec
Principal
Holy Spirit Academy
Bedford, Ohio
Holy Spirit Academy is a merged
elementary school that has been experiencing enrollment
challenges. We have a limited staff but know that we
need to pursue new marketing ideas.
We partnered with SDG Advisors to
develop a Marketing Plan for the school. We established
an internal, four-person marketing committee and met
with Sr. Ritamary and Stacey several times. They came
back to our committee with a written report and formal
presentation. This process pushed us to move forward
with a number of the proposed ideas.
Although we struggle with limited
financial resources to implement marketing initiatives,
we have benefitted from the fact that the
recommendations came from a legitimized outside source.
Sr. Ritamary and Stacey have a real working knowledge of
a school setting and gave us practical suggestions. They
helped hone in on what would be most effective and
prioritized things for us.
I appreciate the fact that Sr.
Ritamary and Stacey have called to follow up and check
in. It’s reassuring to know we still have a connection,
and I feel comfortable knowing I can call them when I
need a sounding board.
SDG Advisors
testimonial from:
Fr. Timothy P. Kesicki, S.J.
Provincial, Detroit and Chicago Provinces of the Society of Jesus
Former President, St. Ignatius High School
Former Board Member, Beaumont School
“With
the changing landscape of Catholic education today,
there is a significant need for the services provided by
SDG Advisors. I have seen the effectiveness of Sr.
Ritamary and Stacey’s work first-hand at Beaumont
School, and I am confident that they have the right
skill sets and fresh ideas to help Catholic schools find
the best practical solutions to fulfill their mission. I
admire their commitment to Catholic education and know
that they will bring value to their clients.”
SDG Advisors
testimonial from:
Sister Moira Sullivan, SSJ
Leadership Team - Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern
Pennsylvania
Erie, PA
“The primary
reason we invited Sr. Ritamary and Stacey to meet with
us was because our high school, Villa Maria Academy,
could possibly have benefited from their involvement as
our situation was similar to their past experience where
they successfully confronted and resolved some very
basic issues/problems.
Sr. Ritamary and
Stacey were very helpful to our constituencies in
understanding the various layers of leadership in
relation to our schools as well as their
responsibilities.
One of the
things I found most impressive about them is that they
are attentive listeners. This quality is ‘key’ to
working with anyone, and in our situation, it was very
important. I had the sense that they treat each project
as unique. They were clear about what was needed or what
was being asked.”
SDG Advisors
testimonial from:
Anne Unverzagt
Director, Sloat
Foundation
Cleveland, Ohio
“This is a phenomenal combination of experience and
expertise. Sr. Ritamary did a fabulous job at Beaumont
School. As a grantor, I found her to be an excellent
grantee and administrator. She is a great example of how
to run a Catholic school.
Although I’ve only known Stacey for a short time through
an advisory board, she is terrific. The fact that she
makes complicated financial matters sound simple and
translatable is an incredible gift for someone in
consulting. Stacey is extremely skilled at managing
finances as well as explaining things easily.
They have a combination of talents and the belief that
goes with that. They firmly believe in Catholic
education and know it can work. They offer an
outstanding range of services, and they’re not just in
the consulting business to make money. They really want
to help the schools, and that’s the extra edge for them.
They have the complete picture of the educational and
business aspects of running a school, plus the faith.
They are both extremely personable and exude confidence.
It’s a pleasure to work with them, and I could not
recommend them more. I would think that any school would
be fortunate to have their services.”
SDG Advisors
testimonial from:
Peggy Connell
Former
Principal of Beaumont School
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
“There are six
points I’d like to share about Sr. Ritamary and Stacey
Picard.
First, they
understand what a team is, and they work very well
together. They know how to guide others in building a
team. For example, Stacey worked closely with Beaumont’s
maintenance staff to develop them as a team.
Second, they’re
very thoughtful in their approach to a project. They are
very thorough in research and knowledgeable about
finance. They fully understand the president-principal
model of leadership as well as a religious community’s
sponsorship of a school. They understand the laws and
finances peculiar to non-profits.
They are also
very clear in the presentation of a project -- they
effectively use technology as an aid to clarify key
points.
Third, they view
issues and problems from various perspectives. They can
walk in someone else’s shoes and think from another’s
perspective. They are also, in a discussion or planning
session, able to draw out the participants’
perspectives.
Fourth, they
have excellent articulation skills. When they’re
conducting a group session, they’re able to summarize
what they hear, lead discussions and get all points on
the table. They clearly explain policies, procedures and
directions with an enthusiasm that encourages people to
get on board.
Fifth, they’re
personable. They relate well to people, and it’s easy
for others to relate to them.
Sixth, they’re honest, respectful and mission-driven.”
Testimonial for
SDG Advisors from:
Sister Angelita Zawada, OSU
Former President of the Ursuline
Sisters of Cleveland
Pepper Pike, Ohio
On Sr. Ritamary
Welsh, OSU:
“I’ve known
Ritamary as part of the Ursuline community for more than
40 years and have watched her in many ministries. If she
says she’s going to do something, she’ll do it.
She has a great
gift for finding new answers to old questions. She knows
how to launch a project -- putting together a master
plan with all the steps needed to bring that project to
a successful conclusion.
She’s a
delightful person to work with and has more
‘sticktuitiveness’ than super glue. She really doesn’t
give up on a project. When she sets her mind to
something, it happens.
She comes with a
great deal of expertise in fundraising as well as an
understanding of the inner workings of parishes, grade
schools and high schools.”
On Stacey
Picard:
“I’ve known
Stacey through Beaumont School for the past three years.
She has a great understanding of financial intricacies.
While we served on Beaumont’s Finance Committee
together, Stacey demonstrated the ability to organize
complex financial data in such a way that it can be
understood by a non-financial person.”
On Ritamary and
Stacey as a Team:
“Together,
Ritamary -- with her practical expertise -- and Stacey
-- with financial expertise – make an outstanding team.
They work well in a consulting setting as an on-site
team to effectively work through an institution’s
challenges and issues.
They have the
ability to take a project through to completion and know
how to ask the difficult questions. They’re not afraid
to explore new possibilities on how to answer those
difficult questions.”
SDG Advisors
testimonial from:
Sr. Anne Maline, SND
Director, Metro Catholic School
Cleveland, Ohio
“Stacey worked
closely with us during the launch of our capital
campaign. She gave us strong financial advice which was
clear and direct. Our Development Director said that she
was amazed at how easy it was to follow Stacey’s
suggestions. It is also an easy task to track additional
income that has come because of these suggestions.
Stacey is always
careful not to be pushy. She gives good suggestions and
is very open and broad-minded. She is also willing to
bring in others to lend their advice.
Stacey is highly
skilled and well educated. With her experience, Stacey
could have made more money in the corporate world,
however, she chose to work at Beaumont School where she
was extremely committed to its mission.
Stacey believes
that Catholic education provides students with the
values to be successful. She loves our school and is
very appreciative of the work that Catholic education is
doing to help poor families break out of poverty.
She is very
affirming of what we have accomplished and challenges us
to think outside the box. She is also effective at
encouraging educators to think of things from a business
perspective. Our school has benefited from her advice
and presence, and I’m very grateful to her.
I think very highly of the combined team of Stacey and
Sister Ritamary and their commitment to Catholic
education.”
Testimonials Summer 2012
SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Thomas M. Maher,
Ph.D., Chair, St. Benedict Catholic School Board
Thomas M. Maher, Ph.D.
Special Assistant to the
President
Trinity High School
Chairman of the
Board
Marymount Health Care Systems
Cleveland,
Ohio
From the
perspective of a veteran chairperson of several
non-profit boards in Northeast Ohio, I have been
consistently impressed with SDG Advisors’ leadership,
preparation and training throughout the process of
creating St. Benedict Catholic School and forming its
new Board. Thanks to SDG, we begin our first school year
with enthusiasm for our mission and our leadership
ministry.
SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Father Thomas Haren
Pastor
St. Monica Parish
Garfield Heights, Ohio
When we were
looking to begin the process of starting a new school
from our present schools of St. Monica’s and St. Martin
of Tours, we talked to SDG. Both Sr. Ritamary and Stacey
were very helpful in this two year process. They guided
us from the beginning until the end in a very
professional manner. I do not believe that our new
school, St. Benedict Catholic School, would have been a
success without their help. We are indebted to SDG, and
thank them for their expert assistance.
SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Father Lou Miola
Pastor
St.
Martin of Tours Parish
Maple Heights, Ohio
SDG Advisors provided one
of the most cooperative and productive efforts that I
have been involved with personally in helping form a
vision and in the development and execution of a plan
that was educational and pastorally sensitive. The plan
was carried out in a manner that respected the questions
and the concerns of the participants.
The process bridged the
communities and helped them realize the best possible
outcome for sustaining Catholic education and the Gospel
of Jesus in our area.
SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Fr. John D. Betters
Pastor
SS. Robert & William Catholic Parish
Euclid, Ohio
As a parish school
in an inner ring suburb, just completing a parish merger
I reached out to SDG to help us develop a strategic
marketing plan and development plan for our school. I
could not be more pleased with the plan they developed.
The plan and the instructions to implement it were clear
and useful to our particular situation. They truly
listened to all of our stakeholders and created a plan
accordingly. SDG’s commitment to Catholic Schools and
their vision is truly forward thinking and will help
sustain schools for years to come.
SDG Advisors testimonial
from:
Jean Takacs
Major
Initiatives Manager
Epiphany Management Group
Akron, Ohio
I have always been impressed with the
creativity and dedication of SDG Advisors in assisting
schools and parishes plan for the future. They build a
trusting relationship with their clients through their
on-going communication and consistency in following a
specific timeline to accomplish a goal. Sr. Rosemary and
Stacey are a great team! I would recommend them to
anyone looking for assistance in meeting the challenges
of planning a future. It is money well spent.
SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Margaret Mary Lyons
Superintendent
Office of Catechetical Formation and Education
Diocese of Cleveland
The
Office of Catholic Education, now the Office for
Catechetical Formation and Education appreciates the
professional assistance that SDG Advisors provide for
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Cleveland in forming
boards, developing budgets, marketing, and fundraising.
As they state: “Your mission is our mission.” That sums
up the intensity and direct assistance that Stacey
Picard and Sister Ritamary Welsh, OSU have made the
hallmark of their partnership as SDG Advisors. They have
taken the best practices from their own experience and
research and helped many of our schools successfully
progress into the era of boards and marketing.
SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Father Bob Franco
Pastor
St. Peter Parish
North Ridgeville, Ohio
SDG Advisors provided invaluable help in
forming our School Advisory Council. Their expertise and
insights gave our fledgling Advisory Council direction
and vision.
SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Sister Patricia Vovk, SND
Principal
St. Peter School
North Ridgeville, Ohio
Our
Cluster parishes had a goal:
a vibrant Catholic school in
the city of North Ridgeville.
SDG
Advisors came to our aid in this endeavor. Sister
Ritamary Welsh, OSU and Stacey Picard assisted us in the
formation of our current St. Peter School Advisory
Council. Their knowledge of people skills, parish
operations as well as their professional expertise got
us to the point of membership, orientation, and
successful operation of the SAC during the past year.
In practical terms this
means our enrollment continues to grow, our programs
have expanded our strategic plan is coming together and
our financial development is on the way. I recommend SDG
Advisors to every parish that would like to keep and
grow a vibrant, Catholic school!
SDG
Advisors testimonial from:
Brett Chmiel
Director
of Admissions
Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School
Dayton, Ohio
SDG Advisors
played a pivotal role in helping discover what was truly
unique about our school. Stacey and Ritamary took the
time to meet and work with our president, principal,
board members and faculty on separate occasions. They
showed great flexibility when it came to meeting the
needs of our school timeline. SDG put forth a great deal
of effort to understand what our community was like.
Because of this, they were able to develop an in depth
individual strategy that was best for us.
SDG Advisors
testimonial from:
Dan Meixner
President
Chaminade Julienne Catholic
High School
Dayton, Ohio
Chaminade Julienne
Catholic High School engaged SDG Advisors in 2009 to
conduct a market analysis and help us develop a
comprehensive student recruitment strategy. Throughout
the project, Sister Ritamary Welsh and Stacey Picard
sought to deeply understand our school, markets,
potential, and people, using both quantified and
qualified data. Their insights and advice helped us
shape an assertive recruitment strategy, leading to a
30% increase in the number of enrolled students in the
first year of implementation – now matched in our second
year of implementation. We have continued our
relationship following the completion of the initial
report, and we have found their guidance and wisdom to
be essential for the continuing strengthening of our
recruitment program.
SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Tina Wagoner
Communications Coordinator
Chaminade Julienne
Catholic High School
Dayton, Ohio
In creating and composing marketing and outreach materials for
Chaminade Julienne, I have always appreciated SDG's
reinforcement of keeping our message clear and focused.
I can always count on Sr. Ritamary and Stacey providing
us with great feedback in keeping our materials sharp
and to the point. They know us and our community well.
Their perspective of our audience helps us effectively
connect with like-minded families who would be a great
fit for our school community.
SDG Advisors testimonial from:
Lisa Oriti
Assistant Principal
Notre Dame Elementary
School
Chardon, Ohio
The Nielson Claritas list provided Notre Dame Elementary School an
opportunity to market to students in the area, thus
increasing our enrollment.
SDG
Advisors testimonial from:
Brother Ron Luksic, SM
Director of Admissions
Archbishop Moeller High School
Cincinnati, OH
During the 2011-2012 school year we
worked with SDG to do a review of our admissions
program. Both Stacey and Sister Ritamary conducted a
very thorough and professional review. They were able to
adapt their program to meet our needs and gave us a very
comprehensive assessment with recommendations. The
report they gave to our Board and Administrative Team
was excellent and well received. Everyone involved at
our school felt that the consultation was one that
affirmed many of the positive things we were already
doing, and helped us set some goals for continued
improvement.
SDG
Advisors testimonial from:
Bill Hunt
President
Archbishop Moeller High School
Cincinnati, OH
From the very beginning of the process, Stacey and
Sr. Ritamary lent a certain calm and professionalism to
the work ahead. They were excellent with our focus group
constituents, requesting and receiving very specific
feedback. Combined with some institutional survey
results, they were able to synthesize all of the
information into a very presentable and usable document
of findings and recommendations. The final report was
well received by several of our various school
constituencies and I do believe that it will help raise
the awareness of some of the primary factors we need to
consider as we move forward in the overall management of
our enrollment efforts.
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