Advancement & Admissions Conference

In her role as VP & Chief Philanthropy Officer, Michelle Schneider puts her decades of fundraising leadership to work for a mission that matters greatly to her: helping to tangibly improve the lives and well-being of our community members.

A long-time leader in fundraising, Schneider has dedicated her work to taking critical community fixtures — UNC-Greensboro, Habitat for Humanity, United Way and now Cone Health — to a new level. As a consultant, she helped transform the philanthropic work of organizations like the YMCA, Greensboro Science Center, Meredith College, Holy Trinity Church and others. 

She joined Cone Health in 2017 and often takes time to round on patients and to engage in systemwide initiatives; this helps her to see, comprehensively and first-hand, the needs of the organization along with the impact of giving.

Schneider earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in public administration from UNC-Greensboro. She earned the Charter Advisory in Philanthropy (CAP®) in 2020. Schneider is a member of Women to Women, the Greensboro Society of Financial Services Professionals, and serves on the shift_ed and Guilford Education Alliance Boards of Directors.  She is a 2025 Triad Business Journal Outstanding Women in Business Honoree. 

Michelle and her husband Bill have two adult sons, Wil and Dennis, and two dogs, Mogul and Luna. They’ve lived in Lindley Park in Greensboro for 30 years.  She loves to spend her down time in the NC mountains and enjoys attending live music concerts.

Best-selling, award-winning author and former Oscar Mayer Wienermobile driver, after a two-decade career in education that included teaching, coaching, and leading across all grade levels, Bradley James Davies founded Falkor, a leadership and life consultancy dedicated to helping clients lead better, live better, and love better.

As an ICF-certified leadership coach trained at Georgetown University, Davies’ approach helps leaders expand their self-awareness, leverage their strengths, improve their listening skills, prioritize their wellness, and optimize life both at work and at home.  

A strategic listening expert and dedicated leadership wellness practitioner, Davies speaks and facilitates workshops on “Next Level Listening,” “Next Level Leadership,” and “Next Level Wellness.” 

Davies’ first book, School Leadership from A to Z: How to Lead Well Without Losing Your Way, is about the ups, downs, and all-arounds of school life and leadership. 

Born and raised in Minnesota, Davies calls Crested Butte, Colorado and Madrid, Spain home.

As founder of AdvancementEDU, Chris Dudley leverages over two decades of experience in higher education leadership, major gift fundraising, marketing, sponsorship sales, business development, and operations to provide high-level advice and strategy for heads of school, college presidents, and chief development officers.

AdvancementEDU partners with independent schools, colleges, and universities to generate revenue for transformational impact. Our clients are guaranteed a relationship built on integrity, excellence and accountability.

Chris served in senior leadership at High Point University in High Point, NC, during a time of unprecedented growth and transformation. For ten years, as Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff, he led operational areas, including: security, transportation, food services, maintenance, janitorial, landscaping, construction, events, and community relations, among others. For eight years, he served as Senior Vice President for Development, leading a team that raised $450 million.