From Tennis to Trust: How The Jane Group Began

It all started with a game of tennis (and a really hot cup of coffee).

If you ask me how The Jane Group started, I should have some grand business plan story—some tale of ambition, vision, and carefully laid-out strategy. But here’s the truth: there was no business plan. Just me, sitting in an oversized chair, fielding school crisis calls, and realizing—this is what I’m meant to do.

I wasn’t new to high-stakes situations. I had spent years navigating global PR crises, crafting messages that could turn the tide of public opinion. But independent schools? That was a different world. And yet, the work felt natural. Schools needed someone who could think fast, stay calm under pressure, and—most importantly—help them navigate their worst days with confidence and care.

Still, none of it would have happened without a game of tennis and one unforgettable man: Pat Bassett.

A chance meeting at the tennis club

Back in the early ‘90s, my husband Jim and I were raising our family in Hinsdale, Illinois, while I worked for McDonald's Global Headquarters. One day at our tennis club, I met Barbara Bassett, who had just moved to town with her husband, Pat. We clicked immediately—partly because we both loved tennis, and partly because Barb had the good sense to ask, “Hey, does your husband play too?”

That question started a friendship between the four of us—me, Jim, Barb, and Pat. At the time, Pat had left boarding schools and was the new President of ISACS (Independent Schools of the Central States), overseeing schools across the Midwest. What I didn’t know then was that this funny, brilliant guy I met on the court would soon change the course of my entire career—and that I'd get a front-row seat to one of the most inspiring leaders in education.

From hot coffee to hot messes: Pat’s big idea

Pat was intrigued by my experience at McDonald’s—specifically, the infamous hot coffee lawsuit. (Yes, that case.) I had spent years managing corporate crises, and Pat saw something in how I navigated chaos with empathy, clarity, and a little bit of grace under pressure. He thought my background might be useful in helping schools through their toughest moments.

One day, while in the carpool line picking up children, Pat’s office was right by the door, and out he came. Pat knocked on my window and motioned for me to roll it down. “I’ve got a problem with one of my member schools,” he said. “Can you help?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Of course!”

That one school turned into another, and then another. Before long, Pat was referring schools in crisis to me regularly. And not just any schools—schools that needed a calm, experienced voice when the stakes were high. Soon we realized: this wasn’t a side project anymore. This was a calling. This was The Jane Group.

When Pat became president of NAIS, he took the national and international stage—and, characteristically, brought me with him. He kept inviting me into cases, recommending me to school leaders, and championing my work in rooms full of people who trusted him deeply. He always introduced me, with a twinkle in his eye, as “the hot coffee lady.” He got a kick out of that.

To know Pat was to admire him. He had that rare combination of gravitas and humility, insight and humor.—Jane Hulbert

A rare leader, a generous spirit

He could fill a ballroom with his presence—literally and figuratively. He’d have a room full of educators laughing one minute, crying the next, and leaving inspired by the meaningful work they were doing.

Pat was not only a great leader, but he developed great leaders—including Donna Orem, former president of NAIS, and Debra P. Wilson, its current president, and scores of other leaders in the independent school world.

But the thing people loved most? He never took himself too seriously. He was gracious. Kind. He believed in others—quietly and profoundly. He certainly believed in me, even when I wasn’t sure what I was doing in this new world of independent schools. That kind of belief changes everything.

The role of Jim and a growing team

As The Jane Group grew, so did the need for reinforcements. My husband Jim—who had built a career as a successful labor and employment attorney—joined the firm as CEO in 2008. His legal expertise and sharp analytical mind added another layer to what we could offer schools, and, let’s be honest, he’s pretty great at calming people down.

Over the years, our team expanded, bringing in brilliant colleagues like Kim Newsome, who joined in 2020 after nearly two decades in school leadership and Dr. Tekakwitha M. Pernambuco-Wise, a highly regarded head of school and executive coach. The work became more complex as social media, DEI challenges, and evolving school dynamics created new crises to navigate.

 

25 years later: a legacy of trust

Fast forward to today: The Jane Group is celebrating 25 years. We’ve worked with hundreds perhaps thousands of schools, helping them navigate everything from PR crises to leadership challenges. The team has grown, the cases have evolved, and the world has changed—but one thing remains the same: our work begins and ends with trust and relationships. 

I’ve carried Pat’s belief in me forward, and I do the same for every person I work with. When a crisis hits, schools don’t just need a plan—they need someone who can look them in the eye and say, You’re going to get through this. We can do this together.

So here’s to 25 years. To the people who have trusted us. To the schools that invited us in during their most vulnerable moments.

And most of all—to Pat Bassett, whose vision, heart, and humanity helped shape this work from the very beginning.

We are forever grateful to Pat and Barbara, and to all of our clients whom we’ve met over the years that have become friends. And to think…it all started with a game of tennis.