|
Speaker Bios
 |
Diane Chase, President & CEO of Chase Media
An award winning media, journalism and strategic communications professional with profound expertise in various communication disciplines, most notably crisis communication. Ms. Chase is also an experienced issues and reputation management consultant, media trainer, presenter, and writer. Ms. Chase’s broadcast journalism career includes positions throughout the Carolinas as news director, anchor, and reporter at the top news radio stations. She is the winner of numerous local, state, regional, and national broadcast journalism awards. Ms. Chase served as adjunct professor at UNC-Charlotte, Winthrop University, the University of Bucharest, Romania and Knoxville Business College. Ms. Chase was the founding partner of two media relations consulting firms and has broad experience in helping individuals and companies of all sizes deal with the informational needs of the media and other important stakeholders. Her work for C4CS, LLC has included immediate on-the-scene response to critical situations as well as ongoing strategic communications advice and media and crisis communication training for senior managers. Ms. Chase is immediate past Chair of the International Association of Business Communicators, past Chair of IABC Southern Region and president of IABC Charlotte. She is a long-standing member of the board of the Radio-Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas and the first woman elected President; serving two terms. Specialties: Crisis Communication; Crisis Communication Plans; Crisis Communication Training; Media Relations; Media Training; Executive Coaching; Presentation Skills Coaching; Message Development; Business Writing and Editing
|
 |
Andy Clifton, Director of Philanthropy at Forsyth Country Day School
Andy has served in many roles in education for 20+ years, including 13 years in independent schools. He brings a unique perspective to his current role as Director of Philanthropy at Forsyth Country Day School having worked in corporate client development and management in addition to his educational roles as a Director of Professional Development, teacher, coach and advisor. Andy is not new to NCAIS as he has presented at the annual conference, served as host chair for the 2012 Annual Conference, served on the NCAIS Executive Committee and currently facilitates the monthly advancement cohort Zoom meeting. Andy’s passion is to ensure that schools are cohesive communities that are preparing students for what’s ahead. He enjoys creating innovative strategies to connect members of school communities and the greater community with this mission.
|
 |
Bill Diskin has been Cannon School’s Director of Admission and Financial Aid since 2007. Before coming to Cannon, Bill was the Director of Admission and Marketing at York Country Day School in York, Pennsylvania. He also held various teaching, coaching, and administrative positions at Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh throughout the 1990s. In 2019, Bill received the Andy Noel Award from the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP). The Noel Award “recognizes an AISAP member who has made a notable difference in the lives of colleagues in the admission and enrollment management profession.” Bill and his wife Nicole are parents of four children – all of whom graduated from Cannon School. In his spare time, Bill enjoys reading, listening to music, and fishing.
|
 |
Dr. Carrie Grimes is an Assistant Professor of the Practice in the Leadership, Policy, and Organizations department and also serves as the Director of the Independent School Leadership Online Master's program at Vanderbilt University. She completed her Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations at Vanderbilt, where her research focused on social identity and community within school settings. Carrie's career has been centered in independent school leadership, including roles in administration, teaching, counseling, and institutional advancement in schools and programs in New York, California, and Maryland. Throughout her career, she has focused on community building, imaginative problem solving, and cross-team collaboration across a wide range of stakeholder groups including toddlers through adolescents, parents, adult learners, donors, and alumni. Carrie has a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Applied Psychology from New York University.
|
 |
Phil Higginson is the Associate Head of School for Philanthropy at Ravenscroft School, NC, where he has led multi-million-dollar capital and endowment campaigns. He previously headed development programs at Norwood School, MD, and St. Albans, DC. Since 1987 he has worked as an advancement officer, coach and administrator. Phil has served on the faculty of the ISM Advancement Academy for 11 years.
|
 |
Patton McDowell is a nonprofit expert, author, speaker and coach. He leads a consulting practice that has worked with over 250 organizations, founded after his successful twenty-year career in the nonprofit sector. His leadership experience includes work at Special Olympics International and in North Carolina, and he led fundraising teams for two universities, UNC Wilmington and Queens University of Charlotte. He is a frequently sought-after consultant on nonprofit issues of strategic planning, fundraising, organizational development and staff & board leadership. Patton received a BA from UNC Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar, an MBA from Queens University, and a Doctorate from the University of Southern California. He’s a Certified Fundraising Executive, a Master Trainer for AFP International, host of the weekly podcast Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, and author of the book also titled Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership.
|
 |
Jennifer Sullivan has served as the Director of Advancement at Cape Fear Academy since 2016. Jennifer's 25-year career has been centered in fundraising, constituent relations, and leadership at institutions such as Georgia Tech, NC State University, UNCW, Cape Fear Botanical Garden and the Duke Cancer Institute. She received a Bachelor of Science in Textile and Apparel Management from NC State University, and her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management from UNCW.
|
 |
David Taibl, Director of Business Development at The Enrollment Management Association, has truly “done it all” at independent schools. His nearly two decades’ experience in schools has strengthened his work with – and on behalf of – schools. Dave has worked as dorm parent, coach, English teacher, director of admission, dean of students, and assistant head of school (responsible for enrollment management and fund-raising) at Christchurch School, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, and Stuart Hall, all in Virginia.
He has also used his experience in community-building and education in serving as general manager of an adaptive reuse, commercial real estate development project in Staunton, Virginia. In that role, he oversaw the renovation and marketing to promote and align the company’s objectives with broader community goals for the city’s original high school building. Dave holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Washington College and a M. Ed. in Educational Psychology-Social Foundations from the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education.
|
|
. 
