Our Team
Butler Consulting combines the depth of experience and level of administrative support befitting a large firm with the focus and personalization that are hallmarks of a small shop. Every client is served directly by the firm’s principals, Jo and Zach, who are also the frontline recruiters for every opportunity. This vertical integration ensures the best possible matchmaking because the consultants most familiar with the school are also the ones handling the candidate outreach and research. For most assignments, Jo and Zach are joined by a small administrative support team that assists with business operations, communications, and candidate logistics.
Jo Butler
Founder & Principal
Jo is a seasoned search consultant and coach with more than a decade of experience supporting independent schools and their leaders. Jo has served as an executive coach for executives at some of the most prominent schools in the country. An Indiana native, she received her bachelor’s degree from the Kelley School of Business at IU and went on to earn an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. Jo has done graduate coursework in organizational dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania and completed the executive coaching certification program at Teachers College – Columbia University. She has written and presented widely on the topics of school leadership and talent management.
Zachary White
Principal
An expert in research and communications, Zach used his extensive knowledge of independent schools, client needs, and candidate networks to play a supporting role in more than 175 searches during his 10 years as a Senior Search Consultant at the storied firm of Wickenden Associates. Zach’s operational expertise and attention to detail ensure that the myriad details of every search are handled smoothly and professionally. Before moving to independent school consulting, Zach was an admission officer at The University of Chicago and the Yale School of Management. He continues to work as a coach for M.B.A. applicants, extending his skills in the areas of resume review, career strategy, talent identification, and interview technique. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Zach studied philosophy as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago and holds a master’s degree in architecture history and theory from Yale University.
Rebecca Achtenberg
Consultant
Rebecca has been a close collaborator of Jo and Zach since 2017. She has contributed to nearly two dozen Head of School and senior administrative searches, assisting with communications, candidate outreach, and client services. She is involved in researching schools, drafting key documents on behalf of clients, sourcing prospective candidates, assessing applicants’ credentials, and cultivating our network of contacts through database management, advertising, and social media. Additionally, Rebecca has led multiple consulting projects for independent schools, including a comprehensive audit of the college counseling program at a major international school. Rebecca earned a B.A. in Comparative Literature and a B.M. in Vocal Performance through the double degree program at the Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music. She subsequently graduated with a master’s in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.