Our People
We are proud to have a team of highly respected professionals who, throughout their careers, have continually challenged themselves to excel and inspire the same drive in others. Our unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement forms the foundation of our firm’s success, guaranteeing that our clients receive unparalleled service and support.
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Cary S. Groth
Founder & C.E.O.
Cary founded The PICTOR Group in 2014 with a vision to create a consulting firm based on a unique and innovative leadership model. Her goal was to offer a fresh approach to the challenges facing intercollegiate athletics, with a focus on strategic guidance and customized solutions that deliver lasting impact. Before starting The PICTOR Group, Cary served as Director of Athletics at two NCAA FBS institutions.
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Sandy Hatfield-Clubb
President
Sandy joined The PICTOR Group in 2017, bringing with her 28 years of expertise in intercollegiate athletics administration. In addition to her work with The PICTOR Group, Sandy consults for The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and is a certified Talent Optimization Specialist with Humanlytics.
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Carolyn Schlie Femovich
Vice President
Carolyn joined The PICTOR Group in 2016 following a distinguished 16-year tenure as Executive Director of the Patriot League. With over 40 years of experience in athletics administration, Carolyn is a highly respected leader in the field, having held top positions at both the campus and conference levels.
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Dr. M. Dianne Murphy
Vice President
Dianne joined The PICTOR Group in 2016. During her 11-year tenure as Director of Athletics at Columbia University, Dianne led the department to one of its most successful eras. A renowned expert in strategic planning, fundraising, and leadership development, she is an experienced executive coach and mentor to athletics administrators and coaches.
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Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree
Consultant
iwickermccree@thepictorgroup.com
Ingrid joined The PICTOR Group in 2022, bringing over 30 years of leadership experience in higher education and athletics. In 2008, she made history as the first female Athletics Director at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where she became one of the longest-tenured leaders in the university’s history.
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Teena Murray
Consultant, High Performance Project
Teena joined The PICTOR Group in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in collegiate, professional, and international sports. Most recently, she held front office roles with the NBA's Sacramento Kings and the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. Prior to that, Teena served as the Director of Performance at the University of Louisville, where she pioneered a high-performance model that integrated medical care, performance, well-being, player development, and coaching.
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Tanya Vogel
Consultant
Tanya joined The PICTOR Group in 2024, leveraging her extensive experience in athletics administration, strategic planning, and leadership development to support intercollegiate athletics programs nationwide. With over 30 years of experience in athletics administration, Tanya most recently served as Director of Athletics and Recreation at George Washington University.
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Laura Scott
Laura joined The PICTOR Group in 2019 as the Director of Business Operations, overseeing the financial and business operations of the firm. With over 25 years of experience in higher education, the majority of which has been in intercollegiate athletics, Laura brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Her extensive background ensures the smooth and efficient management of The PICTOR Group’s operations.
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Angie Allen
Angie joined The PICTOR Group in 2020 as the Director of Strategic Initiatives & Communication. In her role, she supports the team with report writing, information collection, and the execution of special projects, including event planning for client cultivation and managing the firm’s online presence. Additionally, Angie oversees the fellowship program she once participated in, mentoring and guiding the next generation of professionals in the field.
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Hope Bender
Hope joined The PICTOR Group in 2023 as the Director of Digital Relations and Client Engagement. In her role, she manages and creates content for the firm’s social media platforms, helping to cultivate a strong online presence. Hope also works closely with the consultants, assisting with individual clients and projects to ensure seamless communication and engagement. Her expertise in digital relations plays a crucial role in enhancing the firm’s visibility and strengthening client relationships.
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Riley Gallagher
Riley joined The PICTOR Group in 2023 as the Director of Data Research and Analytics. In this role, he is responsible for assisting with data collection, organization, and analysis to support the firm’s strategic initiatives. Riley also contributes to contract language and structure, collaborating with consultants to provide data-driven insights that enhance their work with individual clients and projects. His expertise in data research and analytics is instrumental in ensuring that The PICTOR Group delivers well-informed, impactful solutions.
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Gabrielle Painter
Gabby joined The PICTOR Group in November 2024 as Director of Legal Research & Writing. She is currently a J.D. candidate at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, focusing on sports law. Gabby earned her bachelor’s degree from Franklin & Marshall College, where she writes for the Sports Law Blog and is a member of the Professional Basketball Negotiation Team. She brings experience in Division III athletic compliance and corporate partnerships with an MLS team, and serves as a summer associate in labor and employment law.
Our Specialists
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Limin Liu
International Specialist
Limin Liu is founder and CEO of High Mountain Education Associates. A two time-Olympian from China (1996; 2000) and Silver Medalist in Swimming (Butterfly, 1996), Liu also won 18 world championships. She is among the first female athletes from China to complete her university education in the U.S., where she also won three NCAA championships. She is an innovator in global communication and cultural exchange, and continues pioneering work in international sports business, and international sports education for professionals and student athletes.
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John Robinson
National Governing Board Specialist
John Robinson joined The PICTOR Group in January 2021 as the specialist for the Collegiate and NCAA Development Project for USA Gymnastics. He is deeply engaged in the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics landscape, bringing a wealth of experience at various levels. John serves on the College Gymnastics Association Executive Committee, where he has been a key contributor to restructuring the organization. He also serves on the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Sustainability Committee, focusing on developing economic models and sustainable concepts.
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Gabe Feldman
Legal Specialist
Gabe Feldman is the Sher Garner Professor of Sports Law, the Paul and Abram B. Barron Professor of Law, Director of the Tulane Sports Law Program, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Tulane Center for Sport, and Tulane University’s Associate Provost for NCAA Compliance. A leading authority in the rapidly evolving field of sports law, Feldman has extensive experience representing various sports organizations during his time in private practice and continues to serve as a consultant for numerous clients in the sports industry.
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Gary Brown
Creative Design & Editorial Specialist
Gary collaborates closely with The PICTOR Group, contributing his expertise in creative design and editorial content. Affiliated with the NCAA since 1992, Gary has served as managing editor of NCAA News and Champion Magazine. In 2013, he transitioned to an NCAA governance contractor role, focusing primarily on promoting Division II through its strategic planning process. Gary has applied his creative talents and editorial expertise to assist NCAA Division I and II athletics programs, as well as athletic conferences, in developing public-facing documents and marketing materials.
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Linda Bruno
Executive Search Specialist
Linda Bruno joins the Pictor Group as a placement specialist after a career of over 40 years in intercollegiate athletics. Bruno's path started at her alma mater, Iona, in the athletics department, and after working at Yale as an associate AD, joined the staff as an associate commissioner of the Big East Conference. Bruno then served as the commissioner of the Atlantic 10 Conference from 1996-2010, before founding Bruno Sports Enterprise while serving as the commissioner of the Skyline Conference (DIII). Bruno was a member of numerous NCAA committees, and conducted many searches while under Bruno Sports Enterprises.
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Lauren Ashman
Rules Compliance & Academic Services
Lauren is an athletics administrator with over 20 years of experience at the Division I level, specializing in rules compliance, academic support, and internal operations.Most recently, Lauren served as Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator at the University of Memphis, a member of the American Athletic Conference. Lauren was highly involved in the conference governance structure, serving a two-year term as Chair of the Senior Woman Administrators and representing the group in the league’s search for a new Commissioner in 2024. Additionally, Lauren was an active member of the Athletic Directors Executive Committee, the Championships Subcommittee, and served as liaison to the Women’s Basketball and Women’s Soccer Coaches.