​Mac Insight Group is a higher education consulting firm dedicated to guiding institutions through transformational strategy. We partner with colleges and universities navigating complex challenges, delivering not only clear, objective insights but also disciplined, measurable outcomes.
Founded by seasoned leaders in enrollment, finance, and operations, Mac Insight Group blends deep technical expertise, rapid execution, and a people-first mindset that builds trust and drives meaningful results.
About Us
Who We Are
Jen McMahon
Managing Partner and Founder
Strengths Finder: Empathy | Competition | Achiever | Activator | Communication
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With over two decades of hands-on experience in higher education, Jen McMahon is a bold, big-hearted leader who stands at the intersection of strategy, operational excellence, and student advocacy. As Managing Partner and Founder of Mac Insight Group, she is driven by a mission to help colleges and universities operate more effectively, ensuring they become not only more efficient but also truly student-centered places where access, affordability, and connection guide every decision.
Jen’s expertise spans the full student journey, from the moment a student first expresses interest, through the intricacies of financial aid, to ensuring affordability via strategic student account management. Her unmatched skill set includes enrollment strategy, financial aid optimization, student financial services, and operational transformation across undergraduate, graduate, and online admissions. She’s equally comfortable guiding a campus through FAFSA complexities, redesigning financial systems, or helping institutions uncover millions in underutilized aid.
What truly sets Jen apart is her ability to lead with both data and intuition. She’s known for pairing strategic insight with practical action, seeing the big picture while pulling the right levers to achieve transformational outcomes. Her superpower lies in identifying and removing barriers created by outdated processes and uncovering hidden financial resources that often generate a significant return on investment for institutions.
Jen’s leadership style is characterized by infectious enthusiasm and a people-first mindset. Whether launching a one-stop center, designing econometric models, or rallying cross-campus teams toward student-centered solutions, she inspires those around her to move forward with clarity and purpose.
Before founding Mac Insight Group, Jen served as a vice president at Ruffalo Noel Levitz, where she crafted enrollment and financial strategies tailored to diverse institutional needs. Her earlier roles at Palm Beach Atlantic University, Greenville University, and Belhaven University solidified her reputation as a change agent who leads with confidence and care.
Beyond her professional achievements, Jen brings the same passion and competitive spirit to her personal life. She’s a fierce competitor at game night, a dedicated pickleball player, and loves sharing foodie adventures with her husband, Mac. Above all, she finds her greatest joy in cheering on her four teenagers, showing up with the same energy and commitment she brings to her work.
Jen holds a Master of Science in Management Practice and a Bachelor of Science from Greenville University.
Mary Kreta
Managing Partner and Founder
Strengths Finder: Relator | Strategic | Achiever | Competition | Activator
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With broad executive experience and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Mary Kreta is a transformational leader who thrives in complex and challenging situations. As Managing Partner and Founder of Mac Insight Group, she is committed to helping colleges and universities overcome operational hurdles and become thriving institutions that shape a better world.
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Mary’s career is defined by taking the courageous path and succeeding where others hesitate. She has repeatedly led institutions through significant transitions and obstacles, pairing big-picture strategic thinking with disciplined execution on the ground. As Vice President of Enrollment Management and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Montana, Mary reversed a decade-long enrollment decline, increasing the incoming class by 47% and growing net tuition revenue for those classes by nearly 88%. During her tenure at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, she achieved enrollment growth despite daunting financial and operational headwinds, including the university system’s declaration of financial exigency and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Mary’s expertise spans enrollment management, marketing and communications, student success, strategic planning and organizational development. She brings a relentless drive to help institutions unlock their potential, build stronger cultures, and create lasting value. Whether leading complex changes, designing cross-functional solutions, or coaching teams to exceed expectations, Mary approaches her work with equal parts precision and empathy. Her unique gift lies in lifting the weight of responsibility, enabling others to achieve more than they believed possible, and together delivering transformational results.
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Outside her professional life, Mary seeks out moments of delight and authentic connection. Based in Missoula, Montana, she devotes herself to her children and their varied interests that keep them all on the go, while aiming to carve out a few quiet moments each day on her deck with her husband, surrounded by trees and a cup of tea.
Before founding Mac Insight Group, Mary held senior leadership roles in higher education and served as an organizational effectiveness consultant. She holds a Master of Arts in English from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
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Lucas Coutinho
Director of Operations
Strengths Finder: Connectedness | Belief | Positivity | Developer | Empathy
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With a global perspective and a steadfast commitment to excellence, Lucas Coutinho serves as Director of Operations at Mac Insight Group, where he ensures the firm’s internal operations run seamlessly in support of its mission to help institutions thrive. A multilingual communicator fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, Lucas combines disciplined execution with a deep dedication to service and partnership.
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Lucas’s journey to higher education consulting is rooted in a decade-long professional soccer career that shaped his leadership style, adaptability, and unwavering team-first mindset. On and off the field, he built a reputation for integrity, resilience, and the ability to perform under pressure, qualities he now brings to Mac Insight Group.
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What distinguishes Lucas is his rare blend of humility, excellence, and a natural talent for building trust. His relationship with Mac Insight Group began long before his official role, forged through years of shared purpose, mutual respect, and follow-through. As Director of Operations, he channels these connections into fostering strong partnerships, ensuring clients and colleagues alike receive consistent support, clear communication, and the tools they need to succeed.
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Outside of his professional life, Lucas remains driven by faith, curiosity and connection, continuously seeking new ways to grow and contribute, both personally and professionally. He lives for meaningful moments with his family, friends, and his dog, Rocky. A lifelong lover of soccer, Lucas's passion for the game goes far beyond the field. He finds peace in nature and feels most at home on a beach in the summertime. He also has a deep appreciation for good music and great food, always savoring the simple joys that bring people together.