About the Presenters

Hugh Jebson, Head of School, St. John's Episcopal Day School

Amy Gay, Executive Director of Admission & Enrollment, Episcopal School of Jacksonville 

Barbara Egan, Chief Strategist & Head, StoryScape

With over three decades of experience across both large agencies and boutique firms, Barbara has collaborated with an array of clients spanning various industries. Before dedicating the last ten years to education marketing, her most fulfilling role had been working with mission-driven organizations, serving as Global Director of Marketing for 1% for the Planet, a non-profit founded by Patagonia. Aligning what’s personal with professional purpose set the stage for where she is today. As a proud Loomis Chaffee and Rumsey Hall alumna, Barbara's career has come full circle—branding over 50 independent schools (and some higher ed) from coast to coast with her distinctive expertise forged in the very institutions that shaped her.

Ben Thrash, Head of School, Barrie School

Ben is the Head of School at Barrie School located outside of Washington, DC. He is a constructivist teacher, learning leader, and progressive educational thinker with nearly 30 years of experience working in US public, charter, and independent schools and diverse, international schools in Europe. After teaching elementary, middle and high school students in New England, San Francisco, and Warsaw, Poland, he has spent the last 17 years in senior leadership roles at Whitby School (a preK-8 Montessori, IB World School outside of NYC), at Waynflete School (a progressive community-based school in Portland, ME), and as Deputy Head at the International School of Helsinki (a three program IB school in Finland). Ben began as Head of Barrie School in July 2024.

Ben’s leadership premise is simple - invest in the strengths of individuals, prioritize relational work, and lead schools toward mission-driven learning impacts. Over time, he has developed expertise in leading schools that center relationships, curiosity, agency, and hands-on experience and in the process, has trained school leaders, led re-accreditation teams, and presented leadership strategy with AAIE, NEASC, CEESA, ECIS and the IBO. His deep commitment to the field of progressive education informs his work and connects him to the work of other forward-thinking educators. He graduated pre-medicine from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds two Masters degrees in education: an MAT from Brown University in teaching secondary science and a Masters in Educational Administration from Michigan State University.

Olaf Jorgenson, Head of School, Almaden Country Day School

Dana Nelson-Isaacs, Founder & President, DNI Consulting

Dana Nelson-Isaacs is an independent school enrollment strategist with more than 25 years of experience helping schools understand, communicate, and sustain their value to families. After 15 years in enrollment and marketing roles and over a decade as a consultant, she is known for her thoughtful insight, steady presence, and candid, collaborative style.

Dana is an expert in using data to drive strategy, translating demographic, psychographic, and experience-based insights into clear enrollment priorities, market positioning, and decision-making. She helps school leaders see their enrollment landscape accurately: who they serve, how they are understood, and what drives family choice.

A trusted thought partner to enrollment and senior leadership teams, Dana supports clarity of focus, institutional alignment, and community health. She is a frequent speaker and facilitator at regional and national conferences.

Dana holds a BA in Psychology and an MS in Counseling Psychology and lives in Northern California with her family.

Susanne Carpenter, Founder & Principal, Carpenter Leadership Consulting

Susanne Carpenter is on a mission to help leaders and leadership teams unlock their full potential, elevate their performance, and lead with impact. As the principal and founder of Carpenter Leadership Consulting, she brings years of leadership experience to her executive coaching and consulting work where she focuses on building high-performing and strategy-focused teams. Drawing on her own journey as a leader, Susanne fosters confidence and effectiveness in others, enabling them to achieve meaningful success.

Prior to founding her firm, Susanne served as the Assistant Head of School at Walnut Hill School for the Arts and held leadership roles at Nashoba Brooks School and Worcester Academy. Her professional background provides a rich foundation for her work, empowering leaders to navigate complexity and inspire organizational growth. 

Susanne holds a Bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College and is a graduate of Westover School. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation, a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, and a Certified Team Coach. She serves as the Treasurer for the Board of Trustees of Westover School. 

Susanne lives in the Boston area with her family.