Let the transformation begin.
Change is inevitable. Make sure you or your organization changes in the right direction. See below how I altered the course of two military academies to become highly successful, life altering institutions for young men and women. In my new soon to be released book titled, “Executive Courage – Sometimes You have to Walk Point”, I describe other recoveries and turnarounds, which I lead or supported in a career spanning almost 50 years.
Riverside military academy
Riverside is a college military preparatory boarding school in Gainesville, GA. When I arrived as the new president in 2009, the Academy had faced 6 consecutive years of declining enrollment – losing more than $8MM in the previous 17 month period. There existed debt totaling $82MM and a rapidly declining endowment of $52MM. The next 6 years encompassed a dramatic turnaround wherein virtually every bed was filled and revenue increased from $9.9MM in 2008 to $19.1MM in 2015. Significant changes in policies, processes, procedures, and a strengthened staff and faculty characterized the period. Additionally, we raised millions of dollars from alumni, parents, and friends of the Academy. Riverside is now viewed as one of the most prestigious military preparatory schools in the country with its cadets receiving $5-6MM in scholarships annually, many to the four service academies and other ROTC scholarship granting universities.
marion military institute
Marion was a private, independent college preparatory school and two-year college in Marion, AL when I arrived as president in 2004. The school’s endowment was depleted down to approximately $800K and debt exceeded $3MM. The school was losing more than $1M per year and with no funds to repair the campus, there existed 35 years of deferred maintenance costing millions of dollars. The 117 year old historic academy was on its last leg so to speak. The alumni were in the process of suing the Academy. Within 3 years of my arrival, I wrote the legislation for the state of Alabama to acquire the Academy and make it a public two-year military college ensuring its longevity. Moreover, we quickly resolved the lawsuit, filled the barracks with cadets, made significant progress on the renovation of the campus, shored up the staff and faculty, and raised millions of dollars from alumni and other donors ensuring the continuation of the college’s proud heritage.