new program Coming in June 2025
Strategic Allies in the Business of Enrollment
June 13 - 16, 2025
About
An institution’s financial stability requires collaboration across campus, which demands synergy between the admission and business offices. Enrollment leaders and business managers must serve as both stewards of institutional financial sustainability and advocates for student success and retention to achieve operational excellence and strategic growth. This critical school partnership provides an opportunity for dialogue and decision-making around issues large and small: enrollment projections, financial aid, marketing expenditures, tuition and pricing, auxiliary revenue, student retention, campus master planning, and more.
This interactive workshop is designed to bring together admission and business office partners from schools across the country to support them in building their working relationships, generating ideas to enhance institutional growth, and developing work plans to bring back to their schools. While intended for CFOs and Deans of Enrollment, mid-level managers are also welcome to attend with their school counterparts in the business or admission office.
The workshop will run from the evening of Wednesday, June 13, through midday on Friday, June 16, and will include pre-work supported by both EMA and NBOA.
Led by Liz Schmitt and Michael Bergin
Liz Schmitt and Michael Bergin team together to discuss and demonstrate the value of the relationship between enrollment leaders and business managers. With an abundance of leadership experience and a combined 35 years of working in independent schools and other organizations, Liz and Michael are highly respected thought leaders and bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership skill development to this program.
Liz Schmitt
Liz is the Chief Enrollment and Student Affairs Officer at Miss Porter’s School, overseeing enrollment and financial aid, student life, athletics, and health and wellness. She has worked at Porter’s for almost twenty years and previously served as the Director of Admission and the Director of College Counseling. Liz is a member of the Board of Trustees of both the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) and New Canaan Country School (NCCS), and she previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of AISAP.
Prior to joining Porter’s, Liz worked in college admission as an intern at Union College, an assistant director at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and as an admission reader at University of Pennsylvania.
She earned her undergraduate degree from Union College, a Masters in Higher Education Management from University of Pennsylvania, and a Certificate in Positive Psychology from Kripalu.
Michael Bergin
Michael is the Chief Financial and Operating Officer at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut. Michael is a recognized thought leader in independent school finance and operations and has presented at the annual meetings of the National Association of Independent Schools, National Business Officers Association, International Coalition of Girls Schools and The Association of Boarding Schools.
An engaged leader, Michael currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Grace Academy Hartford, Vice President and Treasurer of the Association of Business Officers of Preparatory Schools and is a member of the Board of The Association of Boarding Schools.
He earned his undergraduate degree in Organizational Behavior from La Salle University where he was a member of the Honors Program and the Varsity Basketball team. He earned his MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management from the Kogod School of Business at The American
University.
June 12 - 14, 2024
Migis Lodge
faqs
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The Institute Fee of $2,500 is inclusive of all programming and 3 nights of food and lodging at Migis.
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Arrival & Departure Information
Registration will open at 3pm on Wednesday, June 12 at the Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake. There will be an event prior to our arrival so the resort staff will be busy getting all of our rooms ready that morning. If you do arrive early, that is no problem, as you can enjoy the beautiful property at your leisure and there will be places to store your luggage until your room is ready. The opening session begins promptly at 4pm. The Erdmann Institute will conclude at 12pm on Friday, June 14. Lunch will be provided for all attendees (including box lunches for those that need to leave early).
Traveling to Migis
If flying, the nearest airport is Portland International Jetport (PWM), which is 45 minutes from Migis Lodge. Boston (BOS) and Manchester, NH (MHT) are also within convenient driving distance. To get to Migis Lodge, you can rent a car or take a taxi or Uber/Lyft from the Portland area or Portland International Jetport (PWM). If you want to carpool, we will be sending out an attendee list in May to get everyone connected.
Unfortunately, the Migis Lodge has an event the night before our program begins so no rooms are available on Saturday night. There are however many hotels in the greater Portland area, as well as a Microtel Inn and Suites in Windham, Maine, just minutes from the Migis Lodge.
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There are some private cabins and all Lodge guest rooms are private, however there are cabins with multiple bedrooms that many attendees enjoy sharing, although each with a private bathroom. We try to group people by request or by school, if possible.
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The Erdmann Institute is entirely adult-oriented, and in order for participants to focus on the collaborative nature of Erdmann, both formally and informally, we ask that children not join you during the Insitute. While some attendees may choose to bring a spouse/partner (which are billed separately, including a tax and resort service charge), there are limitations on which events they may be asked to join. Spouses/partners are not part of the formal programming but have full use of your room, the lodge and grounds. If you do bring a spouse/partner, you will need to request this at the time of registration.
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Migis is a cash only facility. If you don’t have cash, you can charge an uncovered expense to your room. You will have two options at check out to cover these expenses, you can pay Migis via check or Erdmann will settle the charges for any incidentals (such as alcohol or gift shop purchases, etc.) at check out with a credit card.
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Registration for the Erdmann Institute is nonrefundable. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to a colleague or defer your registration for one year, paying only the fee difference for the following year's Institute.