Brian L. Carpenter, PhD, CFE
What Do I Do for a Living?
I never quite 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 is that?” (or sometimes, “What is a charter school?”)
Now, if I’m on an airplane and I’m tired, I just yawn, apologize, and say, “It can get pretty technical, 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 turn away, hoping that the other person will let me get some shuteye.
If I’m not too tired to talk, I throw out a more complete answer that risks putting the other person to sleep. I get it. Normal people don’t geek out over such things as board governance training, but I do. I also have credentials and experience in fraud risk management (including fraud investigations and strengthening internal controls), 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.
So, if what I do for a living is what your school needs, welcome. Let’s talk.
Why I Think of Myself as a Force Multiplier Instead of as “Consultant”
In my seven years of Marine Corps active duty, beginning in 1977—four of which were spent in Military Intelligence (and yes, I’ve heard the jokes)—one concept above all others deeply shaped my views on mission accomplishment: the exponential value of force multipliers. In the military, a force multiplier is a specific capability or advantage that amplifies a team’s impact so that it functions with the effectiveness of a unit several times its size. Reliable intel is one such force multiplier.
In the complex, highly regulated world of charter schools, the ultimate force multiplier is information—specifically, the right information at the right time. Unfortunately, there is so much fluff out there, it’s almost impossible for Boards and School Executives to distinguish between noise and signal. When that happens, the effectiveness of both suffers, often to the detriment of the school itself, to the point where many schools just go under. One year they are operating, and the next year they’re not. After 21 years in the charter sector, I’m convinced that the key to avoiding this downward spiral is learning how to manage and govern risk proactively.
I bring this strategic, intel-driven mindset to my work. Boards don't need another consultant telling them to “avoid micromanaging,” and Executives don't need a lecture on “working in partnership.” What Board Members and Executives actually want are concrete solutions to the complex, messy risks common to charter schools.
So, my goal with clients is straightforward: to be their force multiplier by equipping them with the insights they need to continue accomplishing their mission. By combining five decades of real-world grit going back to my boot camp days, investigative expertise, school leadership, and specialized qualifications that I obtained outside the field of education, I don't just hand you a standard consultant’s report. I deliver the force multiplier solutions you need to lead with absolute clarity.
Select 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” (4th 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.”
