Sister Ritamary Welsh, OSU (left) and Stacey Picard (right) have formed a Cleveland Heights-based consulting firm called SDG Advisors.

Integrating business principles is essential for Catholic schools to operate successfully today. To guide schools and nonprofits with this integration process, former Beaumont School leaders Sister Ritamary Welsh, OSU and Stacey Picard have launched SDG Advisors LLC, a consulting firm that works primarily with Catholic K-12 schools, to help them strengthen their infrastructure so they can better fulfill their mission.

Based in the historic Rockefeller Building in Cleveland Heights, SDG Advisors provides professional guidance in all areas of administration, including board governance, planning, resource development, financial management and marketing.

The firm is a unique partnership of forward-thinking women with complementary strengths. Serving as co-founders and partners, Sister Ritamary and Ms. Picard have more than 50 years of combined experience in these areas.

Sister Ritamary said, “Catholic schools have long been the most effective source of quality education in our communities. Today, Catholic education is in transition. Demographics are changing, and schools are reorganizing. We are committed to creative, inspired responses to these changes so our children are best served.”

“Catholic schools that have had professional guidance have benefited greatly, but there has been an unmet demand for these services,” Ms. Picard added. With the launch of SDG Advisors, school administrators now have greater access to this kind of expertise.

Anne Unverzagt, Director of The Edward and Betty Sloat Foundation based in Cleveland Heights, said, “This is a phenomenal combination of experience and expertise. They have the complete picture of the educational and business aspects of running a school, plus the faith. They firmly believe in Catholic education and know it can work. They offer an outstanding range of services.”

A resident of Cleveland Heights, Stacey Picard brings more than 15 years of senior level management experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently, she served as the finance director at Beaumont School in Cleveland Heights. She has served on the boards of numerous schools and other organizations throughout the Cleveland Diocese in the areas of strategic planning, fund advisory and board governance. She earned a B.A. from Notre Dame College, an M.B.A. from John Carroll University, and a C.N.M. from Case Western Reserve University.

Sister Ritamary Welsh, OSU of University Heights brings more than 40 years of experience to Catholic education. As president of Beaumont School, Sister Ritamary grew the school’s enrollment, increased annual giving, doubled the size of the endowment, and successfully completed a number of capital fundraising initiatives that resulted from her comprehensive planning with the school’s board. She has served Cleveland Diocesan schools as the superintendent of the urban region and as a teacher and principal at various schools. Sister Ritamary earned a B.S.E. from St. John College of Cleveland and an M.Ed. from the University of Akron. She is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Cleveland.

Peggy Connell, Principal of Beaumont School remarked, "Sr. Ritamary and Stacey view issues and problems from various perspectives. They can walk in someone else’s shoes and think from another’s perspective. They are honest, respectful and mission-driven.”

For more information, visit www.sdgadvisors.org.

Mary Patton is a public relations consultant and a longtime resident of the Heights. She currently lives in University Heights with her husband and daughter.