About the DEC NETWORK®

MISSION, LEADERSHIP, CLIENTS, ASSOCIATIONS

MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY

Connecting Education & Career

We offer a highly personalized, systemized process for client self exploration and discovery. Our goal is to inspire you to learn as much about yourself as possible in order to connect exciting long term education and career goals. The foundation of our consulting style: a positive, organized, team approach with a focus on communication. These characteristics are integrated in all aspects of our advisement to maximize success while reducing the stress sometimes associated with planning.

To help navigate a client’s journey, the DEC Network has carefully designed programs, timelines and related planning materials drawing upon the leadership team’s professional experience and masters’ level training. And, keenly aware of the complexities related to the dynamic environment facing clients today, the DEC NETWORK emphasizes the importance of accurate data access and communication excellence. Clients benefit from the use of state of the art management information systems including an online office and wireless conference center. Materials and systems are updated on a continuous basis.

An energetic, positive attitude underscores all client activities and when relevant, a team approach is essential especially in school and college advising. Parents, counselors, teachers, peers, coaches, and mentors may play a role in the client’s journey, some more than others.

Hundreds of clients have benefited directly from the consulting services of the DEC NETWORK.

 

Deborah B. Davis
College, Graduate and Career

For over 30 years, Debbie Davis has served individuals, families, schools, communities, and corporations in various professional capacities. Debbie’s formal education and business experience has led to numerous leadership positions in both profit and non-profit organizations. A life-long proponent of learning, Debbie formed the DEC NETWORK® as a response to what she saw as the best approach to prepare students young and old for future direction.

Debbie is a graduate of the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions and the IECA Summer Training Institute on Educational Consulting Practices and Principles. She is a Certified Educational Planner, one of only approximately 200 independent educational consultants across the United States as well as a Certified Practitioner of the Myers Briggs Type Instrument, Step I and II for career assessment.

Debbie holds a Bachelors Degree from St. Lawrence University and a Masters in Business Administration/ Concentration in Human Resources from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University. She is a former Management Training Program graduate and Loan Officer with Manufacturers Hanover Trust in NYC.

Debbie previously served on the Executive Boards of the nationally based, Independent Educational Consultants Association and Ridgefield, A Better Chance, an organization committed to educating minority students. She has also served as president of various nonprofits including the National Charity League. A parent of two college graduates, she has lived in Fairfield/Westchester County for over 25 years.

 

John Gray
Junior and Secondary Day/Boarding Schools

For over 25 years, John Gray has worked in education as a teacher, administrator, athletic coach and educational consultant. John holds a Bachelors Degree in Education from the University of Vermont and a Masters Degree in Education/Policy, Planning and Administration from Boston University. Early in his career, John taught social studies and geography in a Boston-area independent day and boarding school. John also coached numerous athletic teams and ran a dormitory with his wife and daughters for seven years. As an administrator,

John has served as a Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Dean of Enrollment and Director of Secondary School Placement, where he has successfully placed students in more than 100 day and boarding schools locally, nationally and internationally. John is known for his strong knowledge of boarding school options for students, as well as his familiarity with admissions personnel.

 

DEC Network Professional Associations

Deborah B. Davis

  • Member, American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP)
  • Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
  • Member, National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC)
  • Past Member, Executive Board of Directors, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
  • Past Vice President, IECA Committees
  • Past Chairman, IECA Business Practices Committee
  • Past Member, IECA Finance Committee
  • Past Member, IECA Education and Training Committee
  • Past Member, New England Association of College Admissions Counseling (NEACAC)
  • Past Member, Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA)
  • Past Executive Board Member, Ridgefield- A Better Chance (RABC)
  • Past President, Board of Directors, National Charity League, Inc/Ridgefield Chapter

John Gray

  • Founding Member of the Junior Boarding School Association (JBSA – 1991)
  • Advisory Board Member of the International Coalition of Boys Schools (1995)
  • Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
  • Member of the Secondary School Admissions Test Board (SSATB), test administrator since 2006.
  • Member of Educational Records Bureau, creators of the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), test administrator since 2006.
  • Past Corporate Member of Tenacre Country Day School in Wellesley, MA since 2011.
CLIENTS AND FAMILIES

Students searching for education or career guidance come to the DEC NETWORK from both public and private schools. As part of Generation Z, these students are focused, active, technically savvy, innovative, global and diverse. They represent a wide range of academic capabilities and talents. Many are focused on traditional college planning while others look at Gap, post graduate (PG), transfer, graduate school, internship, summer enrichment and career opportunities.

For both school and college bound students, the DEC NETWORK believes that parents play a critical role on their student’s planning team. Parents know their children best. Debbie Davis and colleague, John Gray work closely with parents to keep them informed, to coach them on how to maintain a healthy relationship, and to advise them on how they can best support their students in finding the “right fit”.

Adults in transition seeking education or career advisement benefit from The DEC NETWORK’s extensive knowledge on programs, online resources, assessment testing, interview skills, cover letters, resume, dress for success, professional and social media, business plans and more.