Lisa Desfosses has deep experience in the school construction, public finance, and economic development arenas, having worked with municipalities, large charter districts and single site operators. Prior to consulting, Lisa spent nine years at Achievement First, ultimately as Deputy CFO and VP of Facilities and Capital Finance, with 34 public schools across three states. While at AF, Lisa was responsible for real estate strategy, acquisitions, construction and renovation, debt and working capital, treasury/cash management, and budgeting — including 50 properties, 1.5 million square feet, $305 million in construction, and $30 million in various debt instruments. Subsequently, Lisa has worked with a number of well-known charter organizations including Aspire Public Schools, DC Preparatory Academy, Brooklyn Prospect Charter Schools, KIPP North Carolina, KIPP Texas Public Schools, as well as several small charter schools, charter support organizations, and lenders. Her work focuses on real estate development, fractional/interim CFO, financial analysis and planning, debt strategy, and supporting capital financing. Lisa is a graduate of Harvard College (BA), Yale School of Management (MBA), and the Broad Residency for Urban Education (MEd). Her company, “i+c Consulting,” is named in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. by reference to his words: “Intelligence plus character: that is the goal of true education.” She lives in New Haven, Connecticut.
