Thanks for joining us in Chicago
Explore solutions for access, affordability, and achievement
Executive Leadership Symposium
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Join us this September for our Executive Leadership Symposium.
Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, Chicago, IL
Thank you for joining us in Chicago for a two-day event geared toward academic executives. We hope you had the opportunity to gain insights and strategies to solve the issues of access, affordability, and achievement — the most critical and compelling matters that institutions face today.
Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, Chicago, IL
Agenda
This agenda is subject to change leading up to the conference.
Please check back for possible additional details.
Speakers
Check back soon for updates and speaker biographies.
Rick Beyer - Keynote Speaker
Managing Principal
AGB Institutional Strategies
Mr. Rick Beyer has a unique combination of experience in higher education and business. As the managing principal of AGB Institutional Strategies, he focuses on higher education trends, challenges, and the development of new models for colleges and universities.
Beyer is a former president of Wheeling Jesuit University and a trustee emeritus at Olivet College, as well as a technology CEO and senior operating executive of a $1 billion public company. He has been a trustee and committee chair at multiple colleges and universities, including having served on the AGB Board of Directors.
He served for a three-year special project as president at Wheeling Jesuit University. During his presidency, he organized the community to develop a strategic master plan for the institution. This process included gaining broad-based support from many constituents, including unanimous endorsement from the faculty. At a time when the institution was challenged with enrollment, fundraising, and overall strategy, his presidency included record-setting enrollment, expanded student services, and the doubling of alumni giving participation.
Beyer has more than twenty years of senior executive operating experience at companies such as Trimble Navigation, TracerNET, Rockwell Collins, and QUALCOMM.
Mark Boozell
Government Policy Advisor
Dykema
Prior to joining Dykema, Mark Boozell served the State of Illinois for over two decades in a variety of leadership roles in both the Executive and Legislative branches of government, including Chief of Staff to Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. He also served as the Chief Operating Officer of the State of Illinois developing, implementing and communicating administration policy, as well as overseeing the state's $35 billion budget and 65,000 employees.
After his government service, he joined a Fortune 500 Company to lead a division of managing general underwriting groups responsible for over $100 million in gross written premium.
He has led the drafting and passage of landmark legislation dealing with education funding reform, law enforcement enhancement, property tax equity, insurance regulation, and transportation infrastructure.
Brian Buckley
AVP, Digital Delivery & Analytics
Pearson
Brian Buckley is Associate Vice President for Digital Delivery & Analytics. As part of Pearson's Strategic Partnerships team, he works closely with institutional and instructional leaders to help them leverage data to inform course design and courseware implementation, and to identify and intervene with at-risk students to increase engagement, success, retention, and goal attainment.
Pep Carrera
Chief Operating Officer
VitalSource
Pep Carrera is Chief Operating Officer of VitalSource, the leading digital learning materials platform. Prior to moving into this role in early 2016, Pep led all technology for Ingram Content Group, from robotics to digital distribution platforms serving publishers, libraries, booksellers and educators worldwide.
Prior to joining Ingram, Pep served as CTO, consultant, or head of technology at SaaS and fortune 500 companies.
Pep earned a bachelor's degree in MIS from Florida International University and a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University, Commerce.
Greg Fenton
CEO and Co-founder
RedShelf
Greg Fenton, CEO and Co-founder of RedShelf, is on a mission to drive digital course materials on college campuses through software solutions built with affordability and enhanced student experiences front of mind. Greg has presented on the Inclusive Access model and other growing trends in digital, best practices for the industry, and participated on numerous panels involving conversations around course materials alongside other industry leaders. Fenton's ambition to reduce the costs of course materials and improve the digital experience for all students has lead to RedShelf's rapid growth and partnerships with over 575 campus bookstores.
Jessica Garcia
VP for Strategic Partnerships
Pearson
Jessica Garcia has been with Pearson for 14 years in a variety of positions, and she has over 20 years of experience in education. Her most current position, as VP for Strategic Partnerships, allows her an opportunity to partner with educational institutions around strategic initiatives. Working with executive level college administrators, Garcia and her team craft, design and implement solutions that solve tomorrow’s problems today. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa.
Michael Gogliotti
Director of Academic Programs & Partnerships
Follett
Michael Gogliotti is Director of Academic Programs & Partnerships for Follett Higher Education. He leads product, sales, and implementation efforts for Follett’s innovative solutions to affordability and student success in higher education. As Follett’s institution partners have become increasingly focused on leveraging technology and new models, Follett’s Academic Programs team has delivered innovative solutions that strengthen relationships, drive student success, and shape the higher education market.
Sean M. Keefer
Regional Director of Public Affairs
Pearson North America
Sean M. Keefer serves as Regional Director of Public Affairs for Pearson North America, the global leader in learning. In that role, he oversees public affairs and government relations for the Midwest and Central US region. Prior to that role, he served as deputy chief of staff of Executive Branch Agencies in the Office of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. He has had an extensive background in state government under Governors Pence and Daniels, having formerly served as legislative director in the Pence administration, commissioner with the Indiana Department of Labor, chief of staff at the Indiana State Department of Health, deputy secretary of state and chief of staff in the Indiana Secretary of State office and deputy commissioner at the Indiana Department of Labor. Previously, he was director of government relations at American College of Sports Medicine and a public affairs consultant at Bose Public Affairs. He currently serves as a member of the education/workforce policy committees in the Indiana and Minnesota Chambers of Commerce. Keefer earned a bachelor's degree in political economics from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich., and a master's degree in West European studies from Indiana University. He is fluent in Spanish. He has received the Sagamore of the Wabash and chosen in the 40 under 40 award through the Indianapolis Business Journal. He volunteers his time at St. Louis de Montfort School, and on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club, City of Fishers (Economic Development Commission) and Conner Prairie.
Chuck Melley
Vice President, U.S. Government Relations
Pearson
Leading a team of legislative and communications professionals, consultants and lobbyists, Melley oversees government relations for Pearson North America. Melley’s team also manages corporate and industry strategic alliances.
Prior to coming to Pearson, Melley was Executive Director of Government and External Relations, overseeing international, federal and state-level government and media relations for ETS.
Before joining ETS in 2001, Melley was a presidential appointee at the United States Department of Commerce, serving in the Senior Executive Service as Deputy Director of Public Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce. There, he was the department spokesman responsible for communications strategy, participated in trade and policy missions to Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, and served on White House task groups and commissions. Melley also was Chief of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.
Phil Schuman
Director of Financial Literacy, MoneySmarts Team
Indiana University
Phil Schuman is the Director of Financial Literacy for Indiana University. Originally from Bloomington, Phil graduated from DePauw University in 2006 with a degree in Psychology and from the Kelley School of Business at IU with an MBA in 2011. Prior to working for IU, Phil worked in marketing in Chicago and as a case worker for behaviorally handicapped children in South Bend. Phil is currently training for his first marathon, but still isn’t entirely sure why he’s subjecting himself to a 26.2 mile run, and enjoys spending time at home with his wife, Katie, and dog, Bernie. Phil is an experienced loser, having been a Chicago Cubs fan and IU Football fan his entire life, but still remains incredibly optimistic. He has received two great pieces of money advice over his life. The first came from his wife who said that you should always pay a little more for something that you want to last a long time, otherwise you’ll waste money having to buy something multiple times. The second piece of advice came from his mom and it has been utilized several times: “Do you really need that?” 99% of the time, the answer is a resounding “no.”
Symposium Presentation Archive
Check out presentations and videos from Executive Leadership Symposium in Chicago.
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