About

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT

Jay Pennie

My Background

During my recent tenure as president of Studio Incamminati, School for Contemporary Realist Art, I led a major transition from a small atelier to a well-respected accredited institution. I helped write a five-year strategic plan which resulted in many positive outcomes: grew donor base from six to 500; received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, making it the first school of its kind in the U.S. to receive such credentials; successfully petitioned U.S. Homeland Security to enable the school to issue F-1 visas required for international students to study, the first school of its kind to do so; successfully lobbied for licensure from the Pennsylvania Department of Education required for participation in Federal Aid programs; attained eligibility for participation in Federal Student Aid programs administered through the U.S. Department of Education. These strategic achievements enabled the school to increase enrollment, better serve the needs of its students, improve operational standards, and increase long-term financial sustainability.  

I formed several community partnerships which yielded positive outcomes: implemented a partnership with a private K-12 academy in New Jersey that brings the school’s college-level art program to their high school students; implemented a program with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania that joins artists and medical professionals to help children with craniofacial conditions; started a partnership with Project HOME to provide art classes to individuals recovering from homelessness, raising self-esteem and building critical thinking skills. These partnerships also yielded work and connections for the school’s graduates, increased community engagement, diversified program offerings, and expanded marketing and funding opportunities.

Prior to my tenure as president of the art school, I served seven years as a museum director at The Academy of Natural Sciences, one of the top 10 cultural attractions in the Philadelphia area.  In this position, I was responsible for leading a diverse staff of 50 that included education programs, guest services, membership, sales, retail, and food services. I was able to build audiences, develop external partnerships, engage trustees in museum activities, coordinate program and marketing plans, and create revenue growth through earned and contributed income. 

During my tenure as museum director, through strategic planning, I was able to achieve the following positive outcomes: greatly enhanced front line staff service levels by establishing a formalized customer service training program; improved museum finances by $1 million; increased attendance by 30,000 and revenue by $624,000 through increased participation in education programs, successful grant funding, targeted marketing, and re-focusing existing programs or adding new ones; established a formal partnership with The School District of Philadelphia resulting in additional grant funding for education programs serving students and teachers in six under-performing schools.