HIL CONSULTANTS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Human Resources Consultant
• Senior Human Resources Consultant

Brenda Jones, human resources consultant, has 40 years' experience in education, including serving as a Teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal, Director of Personnel, and Associate and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. She is the former President of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators and also served in that role for the Personnel Administrators of NC. She is the co-author of two education books and was an educational advisor to the NC State Board of Education.

Job Titles:

• Durham Interim Superintendent

Job Titles:

• State Director of Pupil Transportation With the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
• Transportation Consultant

Derek Graham served 21 years as state director of pupil transportation with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Beginning his career with the Institute for Transportation Research and Education, he worked for 33 years with computer routing, software support and all aspects of the pupil transportation program in North Carolina including information systems, funding formulas, as well as vehicle specifications, purchasing, maintenance, inspection and disposal. He was involved in numerous school bus safety initiatives. Graham is a former board member and president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services. He is assisting HIL Consultants with transportation reviews/studies.

Job Titles:

• Consultant
• Retired Public School Teacher and Administrator

Dr. Denise Morton is a retired public school teacher and administrator with over 38 years of experience teaching and leading in the public schools. She holds an undergraduate degree from East Carolina University in Special Education, masters' degrees in both Special Education and School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNC-G), as well as a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UNC-G. Along with her special education teaching experience, Dr. Morton has provided leadership at the Central Office level in the Alamance County Schools and Alamance-Burlington School System as an observer evaluator, Director of Exceptional Children's Programs, Director of Secondary and Career-Technical Education and at her retirement held the position of Chief Academic Officer for Orange County Schools. She has also served as a clinical assistant professor at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at Elon University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill(UNC-CH). She has served on numerous boards throughout her career as a member of the North Carolina Association of Supervision of Curriculum Development, UNC-CH education advisory board, Elon University advisory board, Durham Tech's advisory board, the Association of Retarded Citizens, the United Way of Alamance, the Hill Center, Alamance Eldercare member and Board chair and UNC-G's public school advisory board.

Job Titles:

• Senior Human Resources Consultant
• Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Communications for Cabarrus County Schools

Dr. Glenda Jones has recently joined HIL Consultants as a Senior Consultant for Human Resources. She joins Brenda Jones, also a veteran HR official, in advising school districts regarding this critical area. Dr. Jones most recently served as the assistant superintendent of human resources and communications for Cabarrus County Schools (CCS). Glenda Jones most recently served as the assistant superintendent of human resources and communications for Cabarrus County Schools (CCS). In this role, she served as senior personnel administrator for the 8th largest school district in North Carolina with approximately 4,000 employees and 43 schools. Jones served as primary personnel investigator, employee conflict mediator, and facilitated professional development. Prior to joining CCS in 2014, Jones served in Lee County as the assistant superintendent of human resources, public information officer, building administrator, and teacher. She completed her undergraduate degree at Black Hills State University in South Dakota. She earned a master's degree at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke and completed post graduate studies at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. She is a past president of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA), North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development (NCASLD),and the Personnel Administrators of North Carolina (PANC). Jones also served on the North Carolina Superintendent's Task Force for Teacher Recruitment, Retention, and Credentialing and was appointed by the North Carolina Senate in 2017 to serve on the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC).

Job Titles:

• Durham Interim Superintendent

Job Titles:

• Partner

Frank R. Lopes, Jr. (Ricky), CPA, is a Partner with HIL Consultants. He specializes in public school finance management. Lopes retired in mid-2015 from his position as Associate Superintendent for Business Operations for Cumberland County Schools. He has over 30 years of experience in public school finance administration, and has demonstrated an ability to maximize the use of all revenue sources for the benefit of the school system.

Job Titles:

• Partner

H. Hank Hurd, MBA, CPA is a founding partner of HIL Consultants. By providing quality revenue-enhancing strategies, and expense reduction methodologies, Mr. Hurd has developed an optimization model for school districts to help them save millions of dollars. Hank Hurd's knowledge and considerable experience earned him the appointment as the Interim Superintendent for Durham Public Schools in 2009. With over 30 years of experience as a school administrator, Mr. Hurd served as the Durham Public School's Chief Operating Officer where he was responsible for overseeing finance, human resource services, operational services, security, as well as information technology for the district. Prior to joining Durham Public Schools, he served as the Associate State Superintendent for Financial and Business Services and Chief Financial Officer at the N.C. Department of Public Instruction for three years. While at the Department of Public Instruction, he supervised a budget of $6 billion and a staff of 142. He also served four years as the financial consultant for the N.C. Principal's Executive Program, a program of the University Of North Carolina. While there, he taught school resource management to hundreds of school principals, assistant principals and future superintendents across the State. His considerable experience also includes serving for 23 years as the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services for Harnett County Schools. Awards Multi-year Recipient of the Award for Financial Excellence in Reporting from the American Association of School Business Officials Recipient of the Award for Financial Achievement in Reporting from the Governmental Finance Officers Association North Carolina State Treasurer's Governmental Accounting/Financial Management Award on two occasions Four time recipient of the Public Schools of North Carolina Recognition of Achievement Award. Honored as a 2009 Top CFO by Business Leader Magazine

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Budget Manager / Accountant for Hickory NC Public Schools

CPA Kathy H. Isenhour was named a Partner in HIL Consultants following a 28-year career as a school business official and most recently, Associate Superintendent for a city school district. During this career, Kathy earned top awards in school finance including the Association of School Business Officials International Distinguished Professional Eagle Award. In addition to school finance, as Associate Superintendent this CPA also was responsible for maintenance, food service, purchasing, capital improvements, long-range planning, and transportation so she is well-versed in school operations. Kathy Isenhour began her career as budget manager/accountant for Hickory NC Public Schools in 1983. She later was named Finance Officer and Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance before assuming the broader role of Associate Superintendent in 2006, a role she filled until her retirement in 2011. Among her honors are being named Certified School Business Administrator by the NC State Board of Education, Lou R. Thompson School Business Official Service Award presented by the NC Association of School Business Officials (NCASBO), and Outstanding School Business Official by the Southeastern School Business Officials group. Each year from 1990 to 2010, Kathy and her staff were recognized by the NC State Board of Education for Achievement in Financial Management. She also was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Financial Achievement in Reporting, 1989-2010 and the Association of School Business Officials International Award for Financial Excellence in Reporting for the same time period. Kathy served as President of NCASBO in 1995-96. She also was the NC Director for the Southeastern Association of School Business Officials and was a board member of the NC Association of School Administrators. Kathy has shared her expertise at local, state and national conferences.

Job Titles:

• Consultant
• Education Writer and Director of Communications

Kay Williams is a long-time education writer and director of communications for local school districts and for the NC Department of Public Instruction. She was director of Public Affairs for Durham Public Schools, one of the 10 largest districts in NC. She and her team developed state and national award-winning communications efforts. Most recently, she was communications director for an assessments and education product provider for schools and districts nationwide. She won the Barry Gaskins Leadership Award from the NC School Public Relations Association and has presented on communications at state and national conferences.

Job Titles:

• Senior Consultant

Minnie Forte-Brown is nationally recognized for public school advocacy and for board of education leadership. President of the NC School Boards Association, officers of the National School Boards Association and the Council of Urban Boards of Education, university professor, and other management roles are included on her extensive resume. Forte-Brown was elected to the Durham Public Schools Board of Education in 2004 and served as a member and in vice-chair and chairperson positions until 2020. She taught at NC Central University during her career. Her statewide experience includes an appointment to the NC Council of the Status of Women and the NC Gang Advisory Task Force. She is a co-founder of the East Durham Children's Initiative.

Job Titles:

• Leader

Ricky Lopes has been the featured discussion leader for various classes and has made presentations to groups including the General Assembly, school board members, central office administrators, principals and teachers. He has also taught classes for the North Carolina ASBO Finance Academy and Methodist for District Leaders and Boards of University. Awards Multi-year Recipient of the Award For Financial Excellence in Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International Recipient of the Award for Financial Achievement in Reporting from the Governmental Finance Officers Association Recipient of the Public Schools of North Carolina Recognition of Achievement Award Honored with the Lou Thompson Award from NCASBO

Job Titles:

• Consultant
• Chief Human Resource Officer

Proven. Practical. Efficient. That describes how HIL Consultants operates and why superintendents and other district leaders rely on our expertise. From mentoring new district team members to studying employee salaries, Hank Hurd, Kathy Isenhour, and Ricky Lopes have tackled challenges in small to large districts. We offer proven results with practical recommendations for the most efficient operations of your district. Tracy Sigmon most recently served as the Chief Human Resource Officer of a city school district. Sigmon has over 30 years in public education serving in various central services capacities. In 1996, Sigmon was promoted to the Chief HR position. She assists HIL Consultants in the human resources area. Her areas of expertise include salary administration, federal and state employment laws and regulations, employee investigations, and employee relations. Sigmon is a member of the NCASA and is a past officer of the Personnel Association of North Carolina (PANC) having served as treasurer and member of the PANC executive board. Sigmon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gardner-Webb University. Prior to her public school career, Sigmon worked two years in Panama for the Federal Government.