Herbert P. Dane
President and Founder
The Dane Group

The Dane Group was founded by Herbert P. Dane in January 2000. Having worked both as a top-level staff development executive and as an independent consultant, Bert Dane has over 28 years of experience in capital campaign leadership, fund raising counsel and organizational development. He possesses an extensive background in fund raising, particularly in the direction of major capital campaigns.

As campaign director, Bert has successfully completed several multi-million dollar campaigns. He has provided strategic management of fund raising programs and has supervised large development staffs. Prior to becoming involved in philanthropic activities, Bert was vice president of commercial lending at Brookline Trust Company. Bert currently serves as a trustee of the USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown.

The Dane Group is founded on the belief that the consulting relationship works best when consultants are equally comfortable as collaborators, leaders, coaches and guides. Our consulting service is tailored to each client's organizational mission and specific needs. We look carefully at the strengths and challenges of an organization and listen thoughtfully to its leaders and constituents. With a total of over 40 years of combined experience as development professionals, trustees and consultants, we bring to our clients the advantage of objective, sensitive insight and a broad range of expertise.

Janette H. Emlen
Vice President
The Dane Group

Jan Emlen has been involved in education in various roles for 30 years. After years of classroom teaching and supervision of Boston student teachers, in 1980 she founded the Bay School in Blue Hill, Maine, an elementary school through grade eight. Her philosophical approach to education is imaginative and broad, promoting intellectual growth, artistic involvement, celebration of traditions, and character development. As founding director, Jan created and provided leadership in all aspects of institutional development, including ongoing fund raising and capital campaign leadership.

Since her work as head of school, Jan has turned her attention towards helping other organizations realize their potential. Her greatest strengths lie in motivational leadership, strategic planning, and capital campaign planning and development. She has helped numerous organizations throughout New England in regards to mission and vision development, fund raising, and board development and training.

Since joining The Dane Group in 2003, Jan has guided clients in focused mission and vision development, optimal campaign management, comprehensive board training, and renewed public relations outreach, and she has conducted many strategic plans and feasibility studies. Jan currently serves as a lifetime trustee of the Bay School.