What Clients Say

Cayenne thoroughly researched the issues at hand and provided us with a high quality, visually appealing package.

Walter Allen, Partner
Vested Capital
(Advisor to Major E-Learning Initiative)
Los Angeles & New York

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Education Business Plan Development

Our experience in the education sector spans the following areas:

    
  • Private, For-Profit Educational Institutions
  • Non-Profit Educational Institutions
  • Continuing Education Services
  • Learning Management Systems
  • E-Learning Technology Platforms
  • E-Tutoring Services

Education Industry Consultants

Our consultants with prior experience in the education market include:

  Tom Dykstra, MBA, CFPIM - Principal Consultant

Tom has over thirty years of business experience in strategy development, software design, engineering management, sales, marketing, channel creation, consulting, business modeling, decision analysis, capital acquisition, and new venture start-ups.

He is the co-founder of two ERP software companies: Effective Management Systems (ERP for discrete manufacturers) and EMS Solutions (ERP for automatic merchandising companies). Effective Management Systems appeared on the Inc 500 twice (28 and 37), acquired venture funding, and was taken public.

Before founding Effective Management Systems, he was with the Data Systems Division of AO Smith Corporation, a Fortune 500 diversified manufacturer. He was responsible for all financial and HR systems used by the corporation and the service bureau customers. He also founded the firm's small business computer line of business and the IT consulting practice.

He currently serves on the board of directors of Synergex International, a software firm.

As an adjunct faculty member at Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University, he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in strategy, supply chain / operations management, project management, information systems, statistics, business modeling, and decision analysis.

Tom has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA in Mathematics from Hope College. He is also a Certified Fellow of the American Production and Inventory Control Society.

  Richard Hasenpflug, MBA - Principal Consultant

Richard has been bringing Fortune 100 expertise to startups and small to mid-sized businesses since 1985. He is both a consultant and serial entrepreneur and has participated in several startup teams either as CEO or CFO. After an extensive career in Silicon Valley, he relocated to Arizona in 2008.

Richard has worked with clients spanning a variety of industries, both domestically and overseas, including healthcare, high-tech market research, international trade, multinational operations & marketing, offshoring, publishing, semiconductor equipment, supply-chain management, and telecommunications.

Richard's focus internationally has been on building strong multi-national teams and bringing the lessons learned in Silicon Valley to other industries and countries. He was active in Russia during the 1990s, working with privatized state-owned companies and supporting local startups and multinational joint ventures. He also led the creation of a worldwide trading network focused primarily in Europe.

Prior to 1985, Richard held a variety of management, development, finance and marketing positions in international and high-tech companies. Based in Singapore, he was Director of Finance and Corporate Credit for Monsanto Corporation's Asian operations for several years, establishing corporate risk levels throughout the region and actively working with and supporting customers. Richard has served as an officer and/or director of several industry associations and non-profit organizations. He was named Los Altan of the Year in 2002 for his many years of work in support of local education, worldwide AIDS education, and international understanding.

Richard earned an MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, a BA in History from The Ohio State University, and graduated from the Marketing Management Executive Program at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business.

  Malcolm McLelland, Ph.D. - Principal Consultant

Malcolm has over 24 years' experience in financial modeling and econometric analysis gained in public accounting, commercial lending, and academic institutions. He has been engaged in such matters by firms in the manufacturing, processing, technology, real estate, and financial services industries, as well as by financial institutions and their regulatory agencies. His financial models have been used in financial planning and performance measurement, development of corporate governance and management control systems, merger and acquisition analysis and structuring, negotiating private debt and equity placements, capital (re)structuring and reorganization, business valuation, and commercial damages litigation consulting.

Malcolm's academic research focuses on how accounting information is used in equity markets, how managers make optimal financial reporting decisions, and how professional labor markets in accounting, finance, and information systems work. His research has been published in Review of Accounting & Finance and Managerial Finance, and he has written a number of monographs and articles included in professional publications and periodicals. Malcolm has taught a wide range of courses including financial accounting and analysis, managerial accounting and decision-making, corporate governance, asset pricing theory and business valuation at Michigan State University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Purdue University, and most recently at Indiana University.

Malcolm was graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in 1981, and from Michigan State University with a Ph.D. in 1999.

  George Papaioannou, MBA - Principal Consultant

George Papaioannou has two decades of experience in developing, analyzing, evaluating and executing upon business models, from an investment as well as an operational perspective. He is one of Cayenne's resident experts on business valuation.

George spent the bulk of his career on Wall Street, valuing equity securities and positioning investment opportunities with institutional investors. As a research analyst for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, he covered the media & entertainment sector. George also played a central role in media & entertainment public offerings and M&A transactions while at DLJ. As product manager for Thomas Weisel Partners, George oversaw all aspects of the equity research department's daily output. He collaborated with the firm's research analysts to develop thematic investment ideas and position them with appropriate investors. George was a member of TWP's Research Review Committee, which reviewed and approved stock rating changes. As a management consultant for IBM Global Services, George specialized in the development and execution of Internet strategies for Global 2000 media & entertainment companies. At online music retailer CDNOW, he formulated a strategy and business model for selling digital downloads.

George serves as a Mentor for the Eugene M. Lang Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia University. He holds a BA in History from Cornell University and an MBA in Finance and Media Management from Columbia Business School.

Education Industry Experience

Specific examples of our experience in various education-related fields, either as consultants, entrepreneurs, or employees in the industry, include the following:

  • University Distance Education Project: Developed a business plan and financial forecast for a nationally recognized university system seeking to expand its operations to international markets by offering accredited undergraduate and graduate educational programs through a distance education platform. "Cayenne Consulting approached the engagement as if it was their business," said the university's Executive Vice President of Administration and Business. "We were delighted with the business model and impressed with the thoroughness of their research. The final product was as polished and professional as any I have ever seen."
  • Business School in Vietnam: At the request of the Ministry of Science & Technology, developed initial business and financial plans for an online MBA program in Vietnam.
  • E-Learning Technology & Services: Developed a financial forecast for a provider of immersive learning simulations and e-learning programs for academic and business education. Since its founding in 2003, the company's primary focus has been on providing customized e-learning solutions for clients. The company is currently developing standardized solutions that can be productized and marketed to a broad range of clients.
  • Professional Knowledge Marketplace: Developed a business plan, financial forecast, and investor presentation for an online professional knowledge marketplace. The platform enables knowledge seekers to access solutions to highly specific professional challenges among the broadest possible selection of experts on any given topic. The company has secured seed financing and other resources from a major state-funded technology venture incubator, and is in the process of securing financing from angel and venture investors.
  • Online Continuing Education Platform: Developed a business plan and financial forecast for a professional development / continuing education e-learning system designed to serve the needs of a national organization with millions of members. "Cayenne thoroughly researched the issues at hand and provided us with a high quality, visually appealing package," said Walter Allen, a Partner at Vested Capital, an advisor to the client.
  • Parental/Child Goal Management Technology: Developed a business plan, financial forecast, and investor presentation for an online service designed to help parents and children work together to monitor and manage academic and fitness goals.
  • E-Learning & E-Tutoring Service: Developed a financial forecast for studyloft.com, a provider of 24/7 online tutoring services, with state-of-the-art eLearning technology and a team of professionally trained and experienced eTutors. "Cayenne Consulting's financial model made a complex situation tractable. We are using it both for planning and investment purposes," said Bikram Roy, CEO.
  • eLearning Startup: Served as Director of Marketing and Sales for an e-Learning startup.
  • Faculty Experience: Adjunct faculty member at Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in strategy, supply chain / operations management, project management, information systems, statistics, business modeling, and decision analysis.
  • Faculty Experience: Faculty member at Michigan State University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Purdue University, and Indiana University, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in financial accounting and analysis, managerial accounting and decision-making, corporate governance, asset pricing theory and business valuation.
  • Faculty Experience: Adjunct faculty member at Babson College, teaching undergraduate courses in management and entrepreneurship.
  • Administration Experience: Set policy, approved budgets, set goals, and performed management evaluations for a large, high-quality K-12 school system as a school board member.
  • Public School Financial Planning & Analysis: Wrote a series of financial plans and analysis for the Los Altos School District in Northern California. Plans were credited with helping the district avoid financial disaster. The financial analysis was incorporated into the District’s annual public reports, which subsequently won numerous awards.
  • School Safety: Developed the marketing plan for Code Red Training Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in preparing school districts to deal with armed intruders and other emergency situations. Helped write two successful federal grants that totaled $1.2 million.
  • School Safety: Developed a proposal for the Department of Justice to develop an e-learning system for training School Resource Officers, both sworn police officers and private security guards.
  • Business School in Vietnam: At the request of the Ministry of Science & Technology, developed initial business and financial plans for an online MBA program in Vietnam.
  • Public School Financial Planning & Analysis: Wrote a series of financial plans and analysis for the Los Altos School District in Northern California. Plans were credited with helping the district avoid financial disaster. The financial analysis was incorporated into the District’s annual public reports, which subsequently won numerous awards.
  • School Safety: Developed the marketing plan for Code Red Training Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in preparing school districts to deal with armed intruders and other emergency situations. Helped write two successful federal grants that totaled $1.2 million.
  • School Safety: Developed a proposal for the Department of Justice to develop an e-learning system for training School Resource Officers, both sworn police officers and private security guards.

Note: Some of the activities noted on these pages may reflect experience gained by a consultant prior to his or her association with Cayenne Consulting LLC. Cayenne Consulting does not offer any services that require licensing or registration with the NASD or other federal or state authorities.


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