Idyllwild Arts Academy Selects Connor Associates For Compensation/Benefits Study
Connor Associates' President Mike Connor is pleased to announce that Idyllwild Arts Academy (CA) selected Connor Associates for a Compensation and Benefits Study. Idyllwild was ranked in 2022-23 as among the top 2 best private high schools for the arts in America.
Leading the effort is Connor Associates’ Strategic Partner for Finance, Operations, and Search Services Thom Greenlaw, Deb Tyrell, HR Consultant and Carolyn Stiles, Director of Special Projects.
Thom observes that, “As inflation, CPI, and concerns about the economy have all of us concerned, it’s no surprise Connor Associates has been seeing many requests from schools for compensation and benefits studies coming our way. Schools are naturally concerned about how these factors will affect their ability to recruit and retain faculty and staff. “
Thom has served for over twenty-five years in varying senior roles in independent schools including President of Independent Schools Compensation Corporation (ISCC) from 2012-2021. He was most prominently the Special Assistant for Strategic Initiatives at Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N) from 2017-18 and Assistant Head for Operations/CFO at BB&N from 2001-2013. Thom also served as COO and Assistant Head for Strategic Initiatives at the Ethel Walker School and Business Manager of the Dana Hall School.
Deb has been a strategic partner in the Human Resources consulting field for over 25 years. Deb served as the Human Resources Director for BB&N for over 14 years and was recently a member of the Senior Leadership Team at New England Law | Boston. Deb is currently consulting with Kingsley Montessori School (KMS) in Boston's Back Bay.
In addition to special projects work with Connor Associates and working with Thom Greenlaw on Leadership Search services, Carolyn has supported the admissions, development, marketing, and communications offices at independent schools during leadership transitions, produced collateral materials for capital campaigns, and edited written and video material for websites.
“It had been 10 years since we had done a compensation/benefit study. Connor Associates stood out by virtue of its combination of depth and experience as well as having real breadth in the field. It didn’t feel like anything would surprise them – they’ve seen a lot. At the same time, we needed deep expertise that relates to boarding schools. Connor Associates came highly recommended.”
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Idyllwild Arts Academy is a private boarding high school for the arts and was founded as a respite for creators to come together from around the world. The vision of its founders in 1946 was that this creative collective would promote intercultural understanding and peace while re-envisioning the artist’s responsibility to society.
There are two world renowned programs provided at the school: The Idyllwild Arts Academy, a pre-professional training in the arts and a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum to a diverse student body of gifted young artists from all over the world, and The Idyllwild Arts Summer Program, which provides arts instruction and experiences of the highest caliber to a diverse student population of all ages and abilities.
Graduates of Idyllwild Arts excel in every professional arts discipline, including Broadway theatre, primetime television, classical and jazz music, motion pictures, graphic design, dance, and more.
Connor Associates stakes its value on its experience with providing comprehensive services, including ensuring proof of ROI through Image Audits (reputational asset and risk management), Alumni and Alumni Parent Surveys, Enrollment Feasibility Studies which identify qualified appropriate prospects at rooftop level, Five-year enrollment Forecasts, Location Studies, Business Office Evaluations and Plans (pricing sensitivity, tuition analysis, benchmarking, reliable revenue streams, and capital management), Strategic Marketing Plans based on research, and onsite training and coaching to get everyone in your school and your trustees supporting enrollment, retention, and philanthropy.
Our newest offering, Administrative Leadership Search, is a very creative, fast, and effective approach to finding, training, and keeping the best people on your leadership team--and it’s surprisingly different and a better value than you may get from job boards or other search firms. Find out more here.
