Proven · Practical · Efficient
School finance veterans, on your side of the table.
Hank Hurd, Kathy Isenhour, and Ricky Lopes — three CPAs with decades in district leadership — help superintendents, finance officers, and boards across the Southeast make every public dollar count.
Our experts
Nine consultants. Nine district careers.
Every one of our experts has held a school-district leadership position. When they advise your team, they're speaking from your chair — not about it.
Minnie Forte-BrownSenior Consultant
Brenda JonesSenior Human Resources Consultant
Dr. Denise MortonConsultant
Kay WilliamsConsultant
Derek GrahamTransportation Consultant
Tracy SigmonConsultantSchool finance, human resources, operations, transportation, and child nutrition — one roster, eager to help your schools maximize the funds that reach classrooms.
Meet all our expertsServices
Ten ways to strengthen your district's operations.
From a full fiscal wellness check-up to a single salary study — every engagement is scoped to your district and led by people who've done the job themselves.
Financial Management
With HIL’s Fiscal Wellness Check-Up, veteran school, finance, and operations officials study how financial and human resources are used in your district
02Leadership Mentoring
Effective leaders are continuously learning from others how to inspire staff, work with constituents, and make difficult decisions. HIL has experienced leaders on our team who can provide the mentorship that makes a good leader great.
03Salary Studies
HIL conducts studies of certified and classified employee compensation completed by veteran education administrators who understand the challenges districts face.
04Systems Modernization
Human resource (HR) and financial business systems are in dire need of modernization. When these systems are interconnected, there are more resources to support students and propel districts forward academically. School Business Systems Modernization (SBSM) is close to reality in North Carolina. The state will provide a separate allotment specifically for management fees and assistance in the process. Are your finance and HR departments ready for the change?
05Finance Officer Support
HIL provides on-site support for finance officers and staff.
06Human Resources Support
The largest share of a school district’s budget is tied up in personnel costs
07Child Nutrition Review
HIL can review the operations of your child nutrition area and examine position allotments by school and food inventories to ensure that every dollar is spent wisely.
08Transportation Review
HIL offers transportation services reviews to provide an independent analysis of transportation operations and budgets.
09Finance Training
HIL offers training to ensure key personnel understand the complex system that makes up North Carolina’s school finance arena
10Exceptional Children Review
The exceptional children’s program is complex and often requires an infusion of local dollars that districts can’t afford. HIL can help your district’s EC program be more effective and efficient with our review.
References
“When CMS decided to conduct a compensation study for our staff, we turned to HIL for their expertise. They bring a unique background to their work with local districts since the partners and their consultants have all worked in school district leadership positions. Their experience resulted in a study that was exactly what we needed to update and strengthen selected compensation scales for our staff. I highly recommend their work.”
“The professionals at HIL are knowledgeable, friendly, and responsive. They helped our team gain a clear understanding—not only of our financial position, but also of education finance and budgeting as a whole. Their partnership has been pivotal in building our team’s confidence as we move forward.”
News
News from HIL.
Feb 16, 2026Making Every Dollar Count at NCSBO 2026
Lopes Presents at 2025 NCASBO Conference
Partner Ricky Lopes presented a session at the NCASBO Conference in February 2025.
Feb 14, 2024HIL Presents at NCASBO 2024 Conference
HIL Consultants presented a session at the conference of the NC Association of School Business Officials on February 6. The topic was "A Look at Classified Salary Schedules and Implementation."
Jan 20, 2022Nationally-Recognized Transportation Expert Assists HIL Clients
The former president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services is assisting HIL Consultants with transportation operations studies and reviews. Derek Graham served 21 years as state director of pupil transportation with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
All newsTell us what your district is up against.
A salary study, a fiscal check-up, a systems decision — we'll match you with the consultant who has already solved it. Anything you share is kept in the strictest confidence.