Brian L. Carpenter, PhD, CFE
What Do I Do for a Living?
I never really know how to answer this question. I usually just say something like, “I’m an independent risk management consultant who specializes in the public charter school sector.” This, of course, leads to the obvious question, “What does that involve?”
Now, if I’m on an airplane and I’m tired, I just yawn and say, “It can get pretty complicated, but the short answer is, I help schools solve problems before they turn into headlines.” This usually gets a smile. Then I close my eyes and hope that the other person will let me get some sleep.
If I’m not too tired to talk, I throw out a more complete answer that risks putting the other person to sleep because it includes a lot of technical terms such as board governance training, fraud risk management (including fraud investigations), employee relations (including HR investigations), enterprise risk management (including risk assessments), consultations with attorneys and conflict resolution. In other words, I help schools protect their mission by targeting risk, as my company tagline says. In my “spare time,” I write. (Links below to my books on Amazon.)
So, if the items in the above paragraph are the kinds of things keeping you or your board up at night, you’re in the right place. Welcome. Let’s talk.
Why I Think of My Work as a Force Multiplier Instead of as a “Consulting”
In my seven years in the Marine Corps—four of which were in Military Intelligence (yes, I’ve heard the joke)—one of the things I learned that still greatly impacts my thinking today is the incredible value of a force multiplier. You know, a capability that gives a unit the potential effectiveness of a larger unit. One such force multiplier is information, specifically, the right information at the right time.
I bring this strategic mindset to the work I do with charter schools because I've seen firsthand that most boards don't need another "consultant" to tell them to “avoid micro-managing” or to “stay in their lane,” nor do most chief executives need someone to tell them how to do their job. What people really want are solutions to the kinds of complex obstacles and risk that are common to school governance and management.
With all my clients, my goal is straightforward: it’s to equip them with the information they need to govern and manage with clarity—even if conflict is already brewing. I do this by bringing a unique combination of capabilities gained from five decades of real-world experience and in-depth professional development. My goal isn’t to give you a consultant’s report; it’s to give you force multiplier solutions that enable you to lead with clarity.
Publications
(linked to Amazon)
Charter School Board University: An Introduction to Effective Charter School Governance
The Seven Outs: Strategic Planning for Charter Schools Made Easy
Governing for Greatness: Ten Fundamentals Every Charter School Board Member Needs To Know
Save Your Ship! Systematic Risk Management for Charter Schools
FREE Training Resources Available to Subscribers
If you’d like to receive free training materials that you can use with your board, simply subscribe. After you confirm your email, you can download the PDF pictured to the right titled, “Follow the Money! It’s Not Financial Oversight if the Board Isn’t Looking” (3rd ed.) Then keep an eye on your email because I produce new content periodically.
TEDx Talk
Click the image to watch a 15-minute a TEDx talk I was invited to give by the Charter Schools Institute at Erskine (CIE) in April 2025. It was titled “Advice we give to boards that is almost useful.”
