Behind the Scenes: Advance 2022 Pictures

Mara Anderson, MA

As a national company with international clients, Brakeley Briscoe had conducted some of our work remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic pushed us to an almost completely remote mode. It also eliminated our ability to bring the whole company together for our annual company “Advances”.

We are happy to report that this September, some of us were able to gather in Lakeville, CT, for the first time since 2018. We cherished the opportunity to gather together and continue our twenty-year-old tradition. Our week was chock-full of seminars, home-cooked meals, and fun for all.

Highlights from our Internal Seminars:

Executive Vice President & Managing Director Alden F. Briscoe, MAT, shares data and statistics from the 2022 fiscal year.

Senior Consultant Susan F. Rice discusses the intricacies of Advisory/Resource Boards and their use in fundraising.

Brakeley Briscoe Inc. and Brakeley Search join forces when Consulting Associate Mara Anderson MA (right) and Search Coordinator Chelsea Burr (left) explain structuring surveys and how they can be used for executive searches and fundraising consulting.

Time for fun and games:

From left to right: Executive Chair George Brakeley, Senior Consultant Susan F. Rice, Senior Consultant Tom E. Ryan, and Brakeley Search Managing Director Scott Staub ACFRE roll with laughter during an invigorating presentation.

The time was not all spent on work. Pictured above is a pause from a riveting game of cornhole. From left to right: Brakeley Search Managing Director Scott Staub ACFRE; Executive Vice President & Managing Director Alden F. Briscoe MAT; President & Managing Director Marianne G. Briscoe Ph. D. & ACFRE; and Search Coordinator Chelsea Burr.

Local & Remote Special Guests:

We welcomed specialists who shared with us the challenges of fundraising and executive searches at independent schools and colleges.

Pictured: Sarah Smith (left), Head of Advancement at Indian Mountain School; Mimi Babcock (center), Director of Parent Programs at Salisbury School; and Ellen Sullivan (right), Head of International Fundraising at Phillips Academy Andover.

We also heard (virtually) from Interim President of Christopher Newport University Adelia Thompson, and (in person) from President Carlee Drummer of Colombia-Greene Community College about their perspectives as college presidents. Their perspectives will certainly be useful as we continue our work with current, new, and prospective clients.

Moving into 2023:

All of us at Brakeley Briscoe and Brakeley Search look forward to using our newly acquired knowledge in the next year to best serve you in your fundraising and executive search needs. You can reach out to us via our website, by emailing info@brakeleybriscoe.com, or calling 650.344.8883.