The CAIS Commission for School Advancement, in collaboration with the Enrollment Management Association (EMA), invites you to join fellow Admissions professionals for a day of learning and collaboration.

Where: Canterbury School, New Milford, CT
When: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Who: Enrollment & Admissions professionals
How: Register below; $100 per person, CAIS member school or EMA member| $120 non-member school

SCHEDULE
9:00 - 9:30                 Registration & refreshments
9:30 - 10:00               Tour of Canterbury School
10:15 - 10:30              Welcome
10:30 -  11:15              EMA Updates + A Deep Dive into Parents' Perceptions of Value and Affordability, Allison Davis, EMA
11:15 - 12:15                The Golden Triangle of School Revenue Management: Enrollment Management, Philanthropy, and Finance, Ann Snyder, Huron GG&A Consulting
12:15 - 1:15                  Lunch
1:15 - 2:00                   Roundtables, facilitated by CSA

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
EMA Updates + A Deep Dive into Parents' Perceptions of Value and Affordability, Allison Davis, EMA
Join EMA’s Associate Director of Membership & Business Development and Connecticut Schools Membership representative, Allison Davis, for an engaging session featuring the latest membership updates and highlights from EMA’s upcoming special report on parents' perceptions of affordability and perceived value of independent school education. 
This report, informed by feedback from over 900 families who applied for fall 2024 entry, provides valuable insights into parental concerns and values. Enrollment leaders will gain actionable strategies to refine their marketing efforts, enhance outreach, and effectively communicate their school’s value proposition to prospective families. 

The Golden Triangle of School Revenue Management: the Essential Partnership Strategy and Key Tactics for Enrollment Management, Philanthropy, and Finance, Ann Snyder, Huron GG&A Consulting
Join Ann Snyder to look at the “Golden Triangle of School Revenue Management” and its implications for school operations. Advancing your school’s mission is harder than it ever has been. With challenges around affordability, staff turnover, leadership changes, and more external pressures than ever in history, the jobs of Head of School, business officer, advancement professional, and enrollment director have shifted dramatically. The bad news is that we must act: we must evolve to meet the challenges ahead and create truly sustainable schools. The good news is that with subtle shifts in practice, we can move the needle over time. In this session, learn about the ways key leaders can come together with revenue-generating offices to increase overall revenue and think strategically into the future.

Allison Davis is the Associate Director of Membership & Business Development for EMA, and previously served as the Director of Upper School Admission at Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, TN. While at GPS, she advised Upper School students, partnered with the Marketing & Communications team to develop targeted marketing campaigns, and spearheaded the implementation of the school’s first CRM, HubSpot.
In her role at EMA, Allison has traveled extensively across the U.S. and Canada, engaging with independent schools and associations to share insights on national enrollment trends.
Before entering the independent school sector, Allison worked as a Business Analyst for the United States Navy and the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga.
Allison is deeply committed to community service. In 2021, she raised $35,000 for the Chattanooga Kidney Foundation through participating in Dare to Dance, the organization’s largest fundraiser inspired by Dancing with the Stars. She also serves on the board of the Boy Scouts of America Cherokee Area Council and previously served on the board of The University of Tennessee “Chattanooga Chapter” Alumni Association.

Ann Snyder is a Senior Advisor and philanthropy consultant at Huron GG&A Consulting in the Independent Schools Practice Area. Before joining Huron GG&A, Ann was the Senior Director of Engagement at CASE, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, where she served as the industry insider, expert, and thought-leader for schools globally. Ann’s professional speaking and facilitation engagements in addition to CASE have included events for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), National Business Officers Association (NBOA), the Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), Institute of Development Professionals in Education (IDPE), the Association of American Schools in South America (AMISA), and regional associations throughout the United States.

Prior to joining CASE, Ann was Director of External Affairs at Stuart Hall School in Virginia. With nearly 20 years of experience in student and family marketing, advancement, enrollment, financial aid, and external affairs, Ann is a seasoned school leader and industry expert. Working with hundreds of schools over the past decade, Ann has a proven track record of coaching schools to meet ambitious goals. In her time at Stuart Hall, she brought a corporate sensibility and entrepreneurial mindset to increase revenue by nearly 20% in her first three years, further the school’s mission, streamline the school’s external offices, manage and direct international enrollment and fundraising strategy, and develop strategy for the school’s first significant marketing and campaign efforts.

NOTE: This is the second offering as part of the CAIS Advancement Conference. For more information about the Development event, click the link below.

Development: Thursday, April 24, 2025 @ Miss Porter's School || 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM || $70 per person