Penelope (Penny) Varnava, MBA, LEED® AP, RA-EU, is a seasoned and innovative professional with 32 years of comprehensive experience in operations, facilities planning, design, construction, and ongoing management. Her expertise lies in forming and managing multidisciplinary teams and cultivating relationships within complex organizational structures in both the public and private sectors.
In the non-profit and public sector, Penny founded PVH-Advisors, LLC in 2012, providing consulting
services for K-12 schools in operations, finance, governance, ADA-compliance, design, construction, and maintenance. She also oversees charter school applications for the US Department of Education and State Charter School Authorizers and consults with school districts on facility construction and renovations. Previously, she served as the ad hoc RE Director of LEARN Charter School Network and as the Facilities/Auxiliary Services Director at Harry S Truman College.
In the private sector, Penny's experience includes roles at LaSalle Partners, where she managed Bank of America's Chicagoland and regional portfolio, and as the in-house Occupancy Strategy AVP at the First National Bank of Chicago. She also led a team at the KIPP Foundation, managing the real estate program for over 50 charter school facilities nationwide.
Penny holds an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership from National-Louis University, an MBA from Loyola University Chicago, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture from the National Technical University of Athens and a Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures from the Institute Francais d'Athènes. Fluent in English, Greek, and French, she brings a unique blend of skills and cultural understanding to her work.