Education Business Plan Development
Our experience in the education sector spans the following areas:
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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.
Akira Hirai - Managing Director
With 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, management, business planning, financial analysis, software engineering, operations, and decision analysis, Akira has the breadth and depth of experience needed to quickly understand entrepreneurs' businesses and craft the most suitable solutions.
Before founding Cayenne Consulting in early 2001, Akira started two Internet companies in Silicon Valley. Previously, Akira held various management positions in New York at Salomon Brothers, most recently as Vice President in Fixed Income Derivatives Trading, focusing on new business development and risk management. He has also worked as a senior financial risk management consultant to the financial services industry; software engineer; advertising sales manager for the popular Let's Go travel guide series; general manager of an advertising and graphic design agency; and engineering intern at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.
Akira is a regular guest speaker on the topics of business planning, financial forecasting, and capital formation at the Phoenix chapter of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's FastTrac entrepreneur training program and at various programs affiliated with Arizona State University (ASU). He also mentors companies preparing to present before the Arizona Angels and the Arizona Venture Capital Conference (AVCC). Akira has also served on the Board of Directors for ITASA (Information Technology Association of Southern Arizona). He was named Entrepreneur of the Week in October 2000 by vCapital.com.
Akira earned his BA in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University.
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 15 years of experience in developing, analyzing, evaluating and executing business models, from an investment as well as an operational perspective.
George worked on Wall Street for a total of eight years, analyzing investment opportunities and positioning them with institutional investors. As a research analyst for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, he covered the media & entertainment sector. While at DLJ, George played a central role in more than two dozen public offerings and M&A transactions worth a total of over $3 billion. As product manager for Thomas Weisel Partners, George oversaw all aspects of the equity research department's daily product 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 companies. At online music retailer CDNOW, he formulated a strategy and business model for selling digital downloads. Most recently, George was director of business development for Clique Communications, a provider of Web-based video communication technologies. At Clique, he was responsible for developing commercial applications for the technologies, finding new business opportunities and forging strategic partnerships.
George serves as a Mentor for the Eugene M. Lang Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia University. He earned his BA from Cornell University and his MBA 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."
- 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.
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.
