Our Team
GRANT DE ROO
Founder and Principal
As ADV’s founder and principal consultant, Grant designs, executes, and delivers market research solutions for clients. Grant believes in the transformative power of a college education, and has spent his career in higher ed as both a practitioner and consultant.
Before founding ADV, Grant was the research director at a large national agency where he conducted market research for a variety of private and public institutions. Prior to that, Grant was the Associate Director of Admissions at Elon University where he learned how to collect, analyze, and act on data in the recruitment and enrollment process.
Grant’s research experience includes extensive work in audience perception, competitive analysis, program demand, brand messaging, landscape analyses, enrollment modeling, and tuition pricing. He is a frequent presenter at industry conferences and reaches hundreds with his monthly newsletter sharing data-based insights on higher education.
Grant is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Elon University and holds an MBA in Data Analytics.
ANNE MCCORMICK
Project Manager
As project manager, Anne assists with project administration and communication throughout each step of our work. She provides clear and consistent communication between all parties and shepherds engagements through to completion in accordance with project timelines. She is simply a doer and makes things happen.
OUR ANTAGE
ADV
-
Unlike many large firms, we don’t “productize” solutions as if taking an order. At ADV, no two approaches are the same because each solution is designed according to your questions, circumstances, and existing resources.
-
We’ve worked with universities and organizations of all stripes on a variety of issues and challenges. With each engagement, we learn something new that grows our body of knowledge.
-
Addressing complicated challenges requires multifaceted solutions. Our holistic perspective—and diversity of services—allow us to address significant issues in a methodical and comprehensive way.
-
We didn’t choose the social sector by accident — this is our passion. Higher education and non-profits fulfill critical needs in our society. We consider it a privilege to partner with those who provide tremendous value to their constituents and communities.
Our Name
“ADV” is not an acronym, but it does stand for something.
The letters “adv” begin three Latin words that define what we do and how we do it. Latin is rooted deep in the fabric of education. It’s the “academic language” used in school mottos, crests, and seals. Even the very word “education” is derived from educo, Latin for “lead out.”
With our roots and focus in education, it is only fitting that we derive our name from Latin. The three words succinctly summarize what we do at ADV: organizations call on us to apply our minds and provide solutions.
Our Clients
