About Girard Advisory Group
“The most valuable thing an advisor can offer is clarity.”
Girard Advisory Group was founded on a simple premise: that organizations perform better when their leaders are clear, aligned, and capable — and that getting there requires more than good intentions.
We bring a practitioner's perspective to every engagement. Our principal has spent decades working inside and alongside organizations — as a leader, advisor, and facilitator — and brings that experience to bear in service of our clients.
Our approach is direct, rigorous, and deeply relational. We ask hard questions, listen carefully, and tell the truth — even when it's uncomfortable. We believe that real change requires honest diagnosis, and that the most valuable thing an advisor can offer is clarity.
We work with a small number of clients at any given time, by design. This allows us to bring full attention and genuine commitment to every engagement.
John P. Girard
Thirty years in multi-campus higher education — from Academic Advisor to Campus President to national brand and implementation leadership — spent almost entirely inside career and proprietary colleges, not advising them from the outside.
National Director of Implementation & Brand Management
BeOnAir Network of Media Schools
2026 – Present
- Leading enterprise-wide implementation and brand management across BeOnAir's 7-campus network, partnering with executive leadership on strategic projects, technology deployments, program launches, and brand consistency system-wide.
National Director of Marketing & Digital Media Brand Management
BeOnAir Network of Media Schools
May 2019 – Jul 2026
- Grew new student starts nationally from 805 to 1,539 annually (+91.2%) over five years across 7 campuses.
- Drove national lead generation from 11,760 to 37,344 annual leads (+217.6%) while reducing total marketing spend 19.6% — cutting blended cost-per-lead from $216 to $55 (–74.7%) and cost-per-start from $3,159 to $1,329 (–57.9%).
- Managed 79 digital properties (social, review, and analytics platforms) across a 4-school, 7-campus network, driving 163,523 combined social followers.
- Earned institutional recognition including Illinois Media School's #1 Media Trade School ranking (USA Today/Statista, 2025), ACCSC School of Distinction Award (2022–2023), and Colorado Media School's Best of Mile High "Best Specialty School" (4th consecutive year, 2026).
- Served as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to enterprise-wide strategic and operational decisions beyond the marketing function.
Campus Director, then Regional Campus Director for Ohio
BeOnAir Network of Media Schools
Oct 2016 – Jun 2019
- Took over an underperforming campus and restored it to profitability within one year, while significantly improving student retention and graduation rates — earning back-to-back Campus of the Year honors in 2017 and 2018.
- Promoted to Regional Campus Director in 2017, expanding accountability to multi-campus operations across Ohio while continuing to lead the Cleveland campus.
- Served as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to organization-wide strategic and operational decisions.
Campus President
Stautzenberger College – Brecksville
Feb 2012 – Oct 2016
- Served as chief executive of a career-focused higher education campus, with full P&L accountability across admissions, financial aid, academics, student services, career services, facilities, and compliance.
- Restored the campus to profitability within one year and exceeded financial and enrollment targets for three consecutive years.
- Grew enrollment from 227 to 402 students over tenure.
- Led the institution through a successful accreditation self-study and site review, and spearheaded new academic programs aligned with workforce demand.
Campus Director, Cleveland Downtown Campus
Bryant & Stratton College
May 2009 – Jan 2012
- Grew campus enrollment from 601 to 1,079 students (+47.8%) between 2009 and 2011 — a period when most for-profit institutions saw enrollment decline — while managing $8M+ in annual tuition revenue.
- Directed the campus's 2010 relocation to Midtown Cleveland and developed the OPOTA Law Enforcement Training Academy to support 90/10 revenue diversification.
Earlier Roles — Academic & Student Affairs Leadership
Bryant & Stratton College
1997 – 2009
- Dean of Academic Administration (2008–2009) · Dean of Student Services (2004–2008) · Associate Dean of Instruction (2002–2004) · IT Program Chair (1999–2002) · Academic Advisor (1997–1999)
- Progressed through academic and student-affairs leadership roles, culminating as chief academic officer for the Albany campus. Built a relationship-management model later adapted as "Caring+" at the Cleveland Downtown campus.
Led 14+ re-accreditation cycles, including 11 no-finding site visits and 6 ACCSC Campus of Distinction awards
Exceeded revenue projections nearly every year across all three institutions
Master's degree, Teacher Education, University at Albany, SUNY
Board Member, Ohio-Michigan Association of Career Colleges and Schools
Ready to explore whether we might be a fit?