Before coming onboard at Charter School Capital, Mary Dillon spent many years in commercial and industrial real estate in her home country of Ireland and the United States. Mary combines her academic background in accounting and business management and her many years in real estate in her current Portfolio Asset Manager position at CSC.

Growing up, Mary wanted to be a teacher. In Ireland, a high grade in advanced Gaelic is a strict requirement for educators. Mary was fluent in German, French, and English but wasn’t drawn to Gaelic. Her Gaelic became a barrier to becoming a teacher.

In college, Mary chose to pursue Accounting and Finance, eventually earning both a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a master’s degree in Finance.

After graduating, she decided she did not want to be an Accountant. Instead, she chose to work in real estate. She got a job with one of the biggest real estate companies in Dublin. And for the last twenty years, her career continued to focus on commercial and industrial real estate.

In Mary’s view, it was the right choice. She loved how relationship-driven her work was and how it allowed her to use her analytical skills to help clients. For over a decade, Mary worked in real estate brokering, acquisitions, dispositions. During the recession in 2009, she transitioned to the Asset Management side, where her accounting background allowed her to shine.

In 2009, Mary’s family faced a significant life change. Her husband had to relocate to the United States for work, and the whole family made the move.

Mary got a real estate license in the U.S., which was not easy. She had to learn new procedures and approaches, along with memorizing new laws. However, Mary found herself working with institutional clients who owned property worldwide, such as CBRE. And in this context, she brought a welcomed global perspective to her work.

In 2016, Mary found herself at another crossroads. She was working long hours with two kids in school and a husband whose work demanded a lot of travel. Mary was ready for a change.

A recruiter brought her an opportunity at Charter School Capital, and she thought, “I don’t know anything about charter schools! But you know what, I’ve moved my whole family across the ocean when I didn’t know one person in America. I learned to drive on the other side of the road and all the ins and outs of real estate in America. I can learn this.”

Two months later, she started working at Charter School Capital, and four years on, she still finds joy and fulfillment in her work.

“What I love about Charter School Capital is that your ideas are all welcomed, that your ideas are heard. That you can suggest a new way of doing things and it will be received. I’ve been in big companies where this is the one way to do it, the one way it’s always been. I love that you can suggest better ways, more efficient ways to do things, and your voice is heard.”

Mary echoes many other employees in talking about the things that make CSC so unique. The diverse viewpoints and personalities in the company, the way everyone rolls up their sleeves to get things done. The way work is recognized.

“One of the key things I value the most is that there is a mission behind everything we do. I’m not clocking in to make rich people more affluent, and I’m clocking in to make schools more successful. Ultimately, we help create good learning environments for over 1.5 million students.”

As a portfolio asset manager, Mary oversees the company’s facilities – the real estate. She manages the tenant relationships, and it’s her job to ensure the tenants are happy, rents are paid, and that the buildings are well maintained.

It’s part of Mary’s job to have honest, candid conversations with the school leaders. If a school is struggling with enrollment, that means the school may get in trouble down the line. Before they get behind on their rent, it’s up to Mary to get them the help they may need to correct course and improve the situation.

As schools coped with the pandemic in the past few months, Mary has found relationships have gotten stronger. She formed close bonds with her clients as human beings. While on the one hand, the COVID-19 crisis has kept us all isolated (Mary used to visit schools a lot – she hasn’t seen schools physically in eighteen months). On the other hand, she talks on Zoom with her clients all the time. As schools experienced hardships, many have reached out to Mary, asking, “What do we do now?” It has been rewarding to be able to help.

In working with educators, Mary finds that most are amazing idealists, have a compassionate side, and know so much about education. In terms of business knowledge, there’s a range.

Some school leaders bring business acumen, and some are less knowledgeable about the consequences of a burst pipe or about deadlines to pay taxes. And in almost every case, they tend to be intensely focused on their educational goals and the day-to-day of school management, and it’s harder to get them to focus on logistical aspects of their school building. And this is an area where Mary feels the partnership with Charter School Capital leads to success. By keeping our focus on the school’s financial sustainability, we help safeguard their mission.

“In our organization, we have experts in school management, we have finance experts, and we have strong expertise in real estate. I have a strong background in asset management, and I understand this unique niche. I’m also a mom with two teenagers in school. I can tell you that we, as a company, take the time to understand the schools. And we put schools first.”

A Los Angeles native, Tommy is passionate about family, authenticity, and analytics. He graduated from Boston University, where he focused his Bachelor of Business Administration on Marketing and Marketing Management.

After graduation, Tommy started as an intern at a family-run real estate firm. Now, nearly a decade later, Tommy leads the facilities acquisition team here at Charter School Capital (CSC). Tommy lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their two-year-old daughter. In his team spotlight, he reflects on his field and his journey with CSC.

Tommy’s Beginnings

Tommy is one of five children and a first-generation American from Argentinean parents.

After graduating from Boston University, Tommy worked in real estate firms in New York for several years. Then, a job offer brought him to California. It was a good move for his career and brought him closer to his family.

After a couple of years, Tommy and his wife decided to move to Portland. He continued to work in real estate until a recruiter reached out to him. The recruiter told him about a real-estate related position, but in the education space. Tommy was intrigued.

The conversation with the recruiter piqued Tommy’s curiosity and led to an interview with Jamie Bradley (Director of Facilities & Financial Risk at CSC). Tommy fell in love with the notion of combining his expertise in real estate with a real opportunity to make a positive impact in the charter school movement.

Joining Our Team

One of the many things Tommy enjoys about CSC is how we contribute to bridging gaps in education by supporting schools financially. Charter schools help many students achieve a solid education, and CSC helps these schools thrive.

Tommy’s role within the company focuses on facilities, which are then leased back to schools. CSC acts as a landlord, a partner, and a champion for charter schools. Once schools begin working with CSC, our team continues to find resources geared at helping the schools succeed.

Tommy finds his work invigorating. He credits to the fact that he gets to work on complex challenges with people who are passionate about finding solutions, people who are genuinely interested in their organization’s mission, and people who care about the impact of their work.

In terms of work/life balance, Tommy believes it’s possible to take time for yourself and be productive. And in his field, keeping his mind sharp and his vision fresh is a necessity. Tommy loves working with numbers and doing creative problem-solving with those numbers.

Tommy is an ardent believer in following one’s passions, whether professionally or personally. He believes that making decisions with his passion in mind led to many of his most fulfilling journeys. His advice, “Go and find what your passions are and follow them.”

Thinking about the nation’s youth, Tommy would like young people to have access to, Tommy volunteers “Career Building.” This would be a mix of personal finance and workplace skillsets. How to manage your funds, invest, how to save, and ultimately think about your future. Combined with how to sell yourself in an interview, while staying humble, and building your resume.

Looking at our world today, Tommy would like to see less arrogance, more curiosity, and more open minds to our society’s inequities.

Focusing on the Future

Tommy would like to see people be more willing to be vulnerable and open themselves up to conversations that may be uncomfortable. These conversations lead to growth and help develop a well-rounded perspective.

In terms of Charter School Capital, Tommy wants it to continue to help the organization scale up, especially in facilities. He’s passionate about continuing to make the school-onboarding process as accessible as possible so that charter schools can get assistance in a swift, fluid manner.

Tommy would like to see charter schools have more access to strong partners, including school leaders, investors, and champions such as Charter School Capital. He’d like to see more schools learn and leverage best practices that lead them to full sustainability.

Jen is a California native, nomad at heart, animal lover, and motorcyclist. Before being part of the Charter School Capital team, she spent a decade in the Non-Profit sector where she had the opportunity to travel internationally to connect with students and community partners.

As our Certified Salesforce Administrator, she is dedicated to streamlining productivity, strengthening culture, and empowering others to grow and lead. Now living in Portland, she continually improves her skills and fights for equity in the educational sphere.

How did you Meet Charter School Capital?

I was in California, looking to move to a place that would accept my German Shepherd and four cats. Seriously, it was almost impossible until I found spaces in Portland. I contacted my friend, hoping she’d want to move in with me, and there we were, two ladies and six pets moving into a house.

Looking for a job, I found Charter School Capital on LinkedIn and spent hours on its website, making sure it was the right fit. An ethical place, a good transition from the non-profit sector, and supported education. The following morning, I got the call from John Caughie (IT Manager). Since working here, I’ve entirely expanded and have been challenged daily with new learning curves and fun, exciting work.

How would you describe Charter School Capital and your position?

Charter School Capital provides charter schools with resources and services to grow.  As an Organizational Systems Analyst, my job is to make doing that internal work more accessible on the processing and data front.

What’s something about you that might be surprising?

After university, I volunteered at my old high school to mentor sophomores on college planning. While the school prompted students to pick majors based on interest tests, I encouraged them to research LinkedIn for industries or job descriptions they thought compelling. I pushed them to think of the importance of a supportive network, be unafraid of looking into vocational or alternative education, and ask questions. Those conversations and connections made me realize my love for mentorship, and I hope to continue that.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Growing up, I was faced with living in a rough neighborhood on welfare with a disabled mom and no child support. My biggest goal growing up was to get my driver’s license and be financially independent, so I could experience freedom, have some security, and help support my mom. There wasn’t any specific aspiration, just a state of being.

What brings you joy?

A sense of wonder of the world. I can’t imagine a day without learning something new, taking in new pieces of information, or even just enjoying the wonders of life.

When did you learn about this line of work? What called you to it?

An immense joy I get from working in support of education is the long-term impact it has on the students and the broader community served. Being a database administrator in a platform with a robust knowledge-share community has prepared me to best provide for others’ needs in an efficient way.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

The things I love most in life: riding my motorcycle, my pets, nature, and travel.

What piece of advice would you give recent graduates?

As folks grow, take time to reflect on what you like and don’t like; then figure out why. Communicate what your needs are and be the best version of yourself. Overall, being self-aware, a strong communicator, and living with an intent to create social unity are the tools that will propel you forward.

Over the years, what wisdom have you learned?

Be Bold. Seek Truth. Explore.

From your position, how do you impact charter schools?

By providing strong technical solutions that ease processing or informational needs of Charter Schools collaborating with us. I do this by collecting CSC Client Portal User feedback, which enables us to see what features our constituents would best benefit from and what isn’t intuitive about our current platform. A good chunk of my role is optimizing CSC’s availability to data, which drives analysis that benefits our active clients and allows us to report to the movement on trends we may see that assist school administrators or parents in making informed decisions.

If you could create a new class subject, what would it be?

I have two. The first is Historiography; understanding history’s history is essential in comprehending the breadth of human interaction and motivation. Showing the connection of human life across cultures and time.

The second would be Adulting. Focusing on the best practices for personal finance, renting vs. buying, skill acquisition, taxes, investing, and the importance of building relationships. Stuff you’d figure out along the way but condensed in a consumable amount.

In your view, what does the world need more of? Less of?

We need more critical thinkers … and cats.
We need less people operating out of fear of judgment or change.

What do you hope to see for the Future of Charter Schools?

More harmony across the education sector in accepting Charter Schools for the disruptors they are; hopefully, that growth would then influence all curriculum and administrative practices.

What do you hope to see for the Future of Charter School Capital?

First, I hope we continue to work closely with partners by checking in with them, making sure they are heard, and finding solutions that best fit their needs. Second, I hope we maintain our spirit of innovation, going above and beyond expectations, and continuing to thrive.

Brian is a father, athlete, and Pacific Northwest Native. Throughout his life, he’s played kickball, soccer, ran for relay teams, and has climbed Mt. St. Helens four times! Always being drawn to the teamwork and community-building aspects of the game. After becoming a father and seeking the best education for his daughter, Brian’s interest in charter schools grew.
After beginning his public accounting career, Brian joined the Charter School Capital team and has been recording debits and credits for the past four and a half years and has never looked back.

How did you Meet CSC?

I previously worked in higher education institutions before hearing of the opportunity at Charter School Capital. I felt that the position provided an exciting option to work directly with schools at the forefront of improving our public education system. When I met with the team, they were down-to-earth, driven to provide best-in-class products and services, and dedicated in their pursuit of excellence. I knew that I would be challenged from day one and was excited about what I could bring to the team.

How would you describe Charter School Capital and your position?

I work on a team that provides financial services and products to the charter school system, bringing together investors and members of the charter school movement.

What’s something about you that might be surprising?

I’ve been riding my bike to work for the past 16 years. It started when I was tired of sitting in traffic and thought I’d try to ride to work for one week. As it turned out, I enjoyed it and have been riding ever since.

When did you learn about this line of work? What called you to it?

My parents were both in public education, so I heard about charter schools growing up. When the time came for my daughter to go to school, we had the option of enrolling her in a local public school or a charter school closely aligned with her learning style. We chose the charter path; like many parents, we were trying to find the best education for her, and we were very happy with our decision.

Over the years, what wisdom have you learned?

You are capable of much more than you realize, keep going!

What brings you joy?

I love learning new things, meeting new people, and building connections. As an accountant, part of my job is having insight into the behind the scenes of how a company operates. I find joy in being able to put pieces together, learning from others, and offering a helping hand.

What piece of advice would you give to recent graduates?

People are eager to help and offer resources to you. Don’t be afraid to reach out and connect with people who are in the industry. If you are willing to work hard, listen, and keep learning, you will make connections to help you achieve your goals.

From your position how do you impact charters?

We cultivate relationships with investors and schools to work together to help school leaders achieve their goals.

If you could create a New Class Subject, what would it be?

An outdoor, experience-based course that shows appreciation for team building, leadership, and the outdoors. A course that takes you out of your comfort zone and encourages you to adapt and overcome challenges as a team, something similar to what Outward Bound is doing.

In your view, what does the world need more of? Less of?

More education and compassion, less division.

What do you hope to see for the Future of Charter Schools?

My hope is that charter schools become an accepted part of the educational system and less politicized. As a parent, the education of my child, and all students is incredibly important. We should be investing more time and effort into these programs.

What do you hope to see for the Future of CSC?

My hope is that Charter School Capital continues to find innovative solutions to the challenges facing our education system.

Michelle is a California native who loves all things surrounding community, family, and the diversity that makes us unique. Born and raised in San Diego, she brings the sunshine anywhere she goes. Throughout her career timeline, she has managed to combine creativity and finance.

After almost seven years in banking, she wanted to develop a new skill set. Then, she discovered Charter School Capital, where she was able to work with communities and financial planning. Growing up with teachers in her family, she knew she wanted to give back to the educators that raised her someday. Now, after working with dozens of school leaders, community members, educators, and students, she has fulfilled that promise and continues to shine a light on accessible education.

How did you meet Charter School Capital?

After college, I made a huge change and decided to move from San Diego to Portland. In college, I started a small fashion business where I had my personal banker help me tremendously. I grew to admire them and pursued banking for six and a half years. In banking, I loved developing relationships with clients, connecting folks to resources, and the problem solving aspect of it.

After some time, I knew I wanted to create a larger impact through banking, so I started job hunting. On LinkedIn, I found Charter School Capital and scored an interview. For me, it was the perfect mix of finance, supporting education, and creating long lasting relationships.

How would you describe CSC and your position?

Charter School Capital is a national company that works with charter schools to meet their goals, problem solve through rough patches, and provide financial support.

As a senior account manager, I’ve been able to travel and work with charters and communities all across the United States for the past four years. Meeting numerous school leaders, educators, and students has allowed me to bridge connections, opportunities, and ultimately work firsthand with folks.

What brings you joy?

I love it when people are connected. Having people united in a grander scheme, whether for the magic of Disneyland, getting together to watch a Padres game, or connecting people to build community. The power of human connection is incredible to me.

When did you learn about this line of work? What called you to it?

Growing up, I had many teachers in my family, so I thought I was going to be a teacher for a long time. When I fell into business and finance, I knew the two had to come together at some point. Luckily, I fell into a job that had the perfect mix of both education and finance.

What has kept me here is making and building relationships with our clients and schools. I can meet these visionary leaders who work hard for their communities; whether it’s a school leader or back-office providers, there are so many people who are working to make a difference in the world. It’s their passion and stories that tend to drive me.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Initially, I wanted to be a teacher, but then I discovered my love for fashion. My maiden name is Parsons, so I thought, “Hey, I should go to Parson’s School of Design in New York and have a fashion empire, this is going to be great!” Then I thought I should go to business school if I want to own my own business. So I pursued a degree in finance at the University of San Diego, where I found there was a lot of creativity in finance.

Over the years, what wisdom have you learned?

Life will take you in all types of directions. By staying true to yourself, you will grow and shape into the person you were meant to become.

From your position, how do you impact charter schools?

As Senior Account Manager, I’ve had the chance to travel, explore, and meet numerous clients, schools, and students firsthand. We provide schools with financial resources, but we often make the most significant impact by being a source for knowledge, expertise, or another perspective in the room. When I meet with schools, I tend to be a soundboard and on-site problem solver to work through any difficulty they face.

One of my favorite parts is when I go to my schools that I work with and see the students. I think, “This is what we’re doing. This is why it all matters.” Those students get to experience a quality education surrounded by leaders who are motivated and inspiring.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

I’m grateful for the aspects of life, my husband, my family, the sunshine, the ability to go for a walk, living back home in California, and having a life that genuinely brings me joy.

What’s something about you that might be surprising?

I know three languages! Spanish, French, and English. I’m very passionate about being tri-lingual, traveling, and learning about different cultures. I had the chance to live and study in Paris for a short time; that experience helped shape who I am today.

If you could create a new class subject, what would it be?

“The Practical Basics of Life” where we would take a hands-on approach to the basics of personal finance, credit, and investing. Especially for those who are not pursuing a finance career, these necessary skills could help you throughout your life.

What piece of advice would you give to recent graduates?

Don’t give up! Sometimes your career path will take a turn, but do not let that discourage you. With hard work, authenticity, and kindness, people will be there to help you accomplish your goals.

In your view, what does the world need more of? Less of?

More compassion and understanding.

Less divisiveness.

 What do you hope to see for the Future of Charter Schools?

I hope charter schools become less politicized and seen as models for accessible education. We get to a place where public and charter schools can learn from each other and potentially support another, highlighting each other’s strengths.

What do you hope to see for the Future of CSC?

Expanding, both in proximity and relationships. Having a school partner in every state within the US would be a dream. Ensuring charter schools all across the US were being supported. We would be able to interact with a more extensive array of community members. That would drive our mission home, for me.

Claire is a California native with a love for nature, yoga, and the UK Royal Family.

Previously practicing corporate law, she found herself wanting to move to a field that was not only intrinsically motivating but focused on education. Over a decade ago, what started as a spontaneous weekend trip to Portland turned into a love affair with the city, and she stayed.

With her two cats, husband, and a novel in the works, she reflects on continually learning and fighting the good fight.

How did you Meet Charter School Capital?

After several years of working professionally in the corporate law field, I wanted to diverge from the pathway many of my peers took. A path of law school, sleepless nights, and working more than full-time at giant law firms. I really found myself feeling burned out and was looking for a fresh start.

After a quick visit to Portland, I decided to stay, soul search, and go back for my Masters. A few years later, after “beefing up” my resume and talking to recruiters, Ryann Johnson (Sr. Director of Underwriting) contacted me through LinkedIn. The Charter School Capital interview process was wonderful. I was delightfully surprised by my team’s thoughtfulness, consideration, and drive, which ultimately led to me rejecting multiple other offers as I went through the CSC interview process. I’ve now been part of the CSC Underwriting team for just over a year.

What keeps me going is our mission – that we care deeply about creating better educational opportunities. The way CSC is continually positively impacting the world of education makes me excited to go to work every morning.

How would you describe CSC and your position?

I’m a gatekeeper for the schools we want to support. CSC seriously wants good education models to survive and thrive because we care about the students. My team has the responsibility of vetting the schools that come to us for support. It is also my job to support and guide educators as they navigate the nuts and bolts of their corporate tasks and responsibilities, thus freeing them up to focus on educating their students. I love that we take such a holistic approach to the way we support our schools.

What’s something about you that might be surprising?

I love mythology and seeking the authentic self. Michael Mead states, “Each of us are born with this unique gift inside of ourselves.” He calls it “our genius,” and it’s the idea that each of us has this unique gift inside ourselves. The elders and the parents of a community have a responsibility to find that unique gift in each child and nurture it. That relates to creating a world of education where kids have all these great tools and can express their individual, authentic self under the elders’ guidance in their communities.

What brings you joy?

When I see the incredible power of the human spirit in action. Like when I see moms on the front-line of protests, defending children, or folks standing together in solidarity for a just cause. CSC is a place that encourages the power of the spirit and that their employees embrace our passions. I have the privilege of working somewhere that is at the forefront of the work to be compassionate in business and be emotionally tuned to the actions that we take.
I love being a part of an organization that cares and is actively supporting the charter movement for future generations. It makes me hopeful and passionate, especially during times of hardship.

When did you learn about this line of work? What called you to it?

My parents were educators and activists. I don’t remember a time when my parents weren’t having conversations about our education system. A big reason my parents picked my hometown of Sebastopol was that (at the time), the public schools in the town were consistently ranked number one in the State of California. I always knew our public-school system wasn’t perfect and that I was privileged to have the opportunities I got. As I grew older, I knew I didn’t want to be a teacher, but I did want to impact schools in some way. As I learned more about charter schools, I began to see a potential solution to some of the problems in the public school system, my parents would talk about.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer – I’ve written and journaled my whole life. Right now, I have a fantasy novel in the works, based on mythology.

From your position, how do you impact charter schools?

As an underwriter, it is my job to look for the problems in schools when we take them under our wing. My team helps set up a plan for the school so we can set up resources for the schools in the best way.

If you could create a new class subject, What would it be?

Albert Einstein said, “The intuitive mind is the sacred gift, and the rational mind is the faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” I would like to see coursework that encourages students to cultivate their intuition and inner wisdom – to listen to that little voice inside that always knows the truth.

In your view, what does the world need more of? Less of?

More women running things. Across all countries, cultures, and groups, you consistently see evidence that the more women you have running things, the more you have a diversity of thought, community-centric thinking, and equal representation.

Less patriarchy will lead to more balance.

What do you hope to see for the Future of Charter Schools?

I hope that Charter Schools continue to evolve as places where educational models can be reinvented and reimagined, where people are experimenting with new teaching methods, and making resources more available to larger populations.

What do you hope to see for the Future of CSC?

I hope to see the mission to expand and continue to grow. The idea that our company could even become large enough to impact schools and education globally is exciting.

By branching out, we can express diversity, encourage authentic self-expression, and look at our children as part of a global community. I get excited when we get to help schools with unique and diverse missions. For example, one school I work with is a Hindi and English language immersion school. Schools like that encourage rich conversations around community and education because they are involved in the global conversation.