Who We Are
We’ve learned that success comes from steady planning, clear communication, and adapting to change. By matching stakeholder expectations, using careful analysis, and adjusting solutions based on real feedback, we’ve repeatedly improved efficiency and results.
Kim Johnson
Co-Founder
Kim Johnson is a finance and operations professional with extensive experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Since 2016, she has served as Director of Finance & Operations at St. Elizabeth’s School, an intentionally inclusive K–8 school in Denver, where she leads strategic financial planning, human resources, and operational management in support of the school’s mission. Her leadership has driven major initiatives—from tuition scale restructuring to the school’s relocation in 2021— and she is a trusted resource for the Board, faculty, and families. Kim’s professional background also includes more than a decade as a commercial property manager in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California. Beyond her work at St. Elizabeth’s School, she serves as Chair of the Jefferson County Public Library Board of Trustees, where she has been a trustee for nine years, reflecting her deep commitment to community service and leadership.
Adriana Murphy
Co-Founder
Adriana Murphy is an accomplished educational leader, organizational strategist, and co-founder of Summit and Shore Advisors. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, she helps schools and mission-driven organizations navigate complexity, lead through change, and build resilient cultures. Drawing on her experience as a Head of School, Adriana combines strategic insight with a deeply human approach to leadership—helping organizations strengthen teams, align systems with mission, and make difficult decisions with clarity and purpose.
A respected voice in independent education, Adriana serves as a trustee for the National Association of Independent Schools, is a faculty member for the NAIS Aspiring Heads Institute, and is recognized for her expertise in hiring, compensation, governance, and organizational change.
Our Story
Summit & Shore Advisors began with a simple realization: organizations often become exceptionally good at planning for growth, but far fewer are prepared for moments of profound transition.
Through our experiences in leadership, we witnessed organizations and communities carrying enormous responsibility while trying to protect people, maintain trust, preserve mission, and make difficult decisions under significant pressure.
We saw leaders trying to answer questions that often had no playbook.
How do we move forward responsibly?
How do we preserve what matters most?
How do we care for people while navigating change?
We started Summit & Shore because we believe organizations deserve support during those moments.
We believe difficult decisions can still be thoughtful decisions.
We believe transitions can be led with compassion and integrity.
And we believe leadership matters most when the path forward is uncertain.
We can help.
Gain perspective
When you're deep in day-to-day work, it can be difficult to see what is emerging ahead. We help organizations identify opportunities and risks before they become defining moments. Summit and Shore Advisors helps leaders navigate those moments with strategy, humanity, and confidence.
Make better decisions
Leaders are constantly balancing competing priorities and changing realities. We help bring clarity to complexity so decisions become more focused, actionable, and easier to make—freeing leaders to spend less time untangling challenges and more time investing in the people and relationships that drive lasting success.
Move forward with purpose
Transitions can become turning points. We help organizations strengthen what matters most and build thoughtful pathways toward the future. That includes thoughtful records custodianship and doing right by the people you serve—protecting trust, preserving what matters, and ensuring decisions reflect both responsibility and purpose.