School for Startups Radio

November 1, 2024 – Foundation Repair RK Bob Brown and OneGoal Melissa Connelly

RK Bob Brown – Author of Foundation Repair Secrets 
RK Bob Brown is an author, speaker, and the foremost authority on foundation repair diagnosis. With more than 35-years-experience, Bob brings transparency, accountability, and engineering efficacy to an otherwise opaque industry. His Bestselling and award winning book, Foundation Repair Secrets reveals insider secrets to avoid costly repairs. He founded Arizona Foundation Solutions in 1989 and built one of the only foundation repair companies to utilize licensed professional engineers on the front end. He sold his business in 2022 to focus on writing and speaking. He holds four patents, has three pending, and developed a first-of-its-kind software to streamline home foundation investigations. He has been designated a certified Foundation Repair Specialist by NFRA, is LEED Accredited, and is an EPA-approved Radon Measurement and Mitigation Specialist, among other accreditations. In short, Bob Brown knows dirt, which is why people call him the Dirt Whisperer.Melissa Connelly – Chief Executive Officer of OneGoal
Melissa Connelly is the Chief Executive Officer of OneGoal, a national postsecondary access and success organization. Before becoming chief executive officer, Melissa was the organization’s first Chief Program Officer. In this role, she was responsible for executing the programmatic vision to ensure all students have an equitable opportunity to earn a postsecondary degree or credential. As a first-generation college graduate herself, Melissa’s path to and through college was not easy. She started high school in a truancy program, but with the support of caring educators, she went on to obtain three college degrees with a 4.0 GPA. Melissa has spent more than 15 years in education, leveraging her experiences, empathy, and drive to make certain her accomplishments are not an anomaly but the norm for underserved youth. Melissa was named to the 2024 cohort of the Pahara Institute Fellowship. She serves on the board of directors of Reading Partners and the board of trustees at Dominican University and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois-Chicago, and a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Education Administration from Dominican University. She is an alumna of the prestigious Surge Institute Fellowship for emerging leaders of color in education. Even with these accomplishments, Melissa is proudest of her work as a mother to AJ and Addae.

October 31, 2024 – Bank of America Small Biz Update Mark Bennett, Canadian Health Care Entrepreneur Wayne Elliott and Voting Rights

Mark Bennett – President of President of Bank of America Jacksonville
Mark K. Bennett is the newly appointed President of Bank of America Jacksonville, succeeding Greg Smith, who recently announced his retirement. In this role, Bennett connects the bank’s extensive resources across eight business lines to serve companies, families, and individuals throughout northeast Florida. He leads initiatives to strengthen local economic opportunity, support social concerns, and promote teammate health, safety, and engagement. With deep roots in Jacksonville and a strong commitment to community engagement, Bennett has built a notable reputation. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan describes him as embodying the bank’s commitment to stakeholder service, highlighting Bennett’s alignment with the legacy established by his predecessor. Joining Bank of America in 2003, Bennett has held leadership positions, including roles as Central and North Florida Market Executive, North and South Carolina Market Executive, and Senior Treasury Solutions Officer. He currently serves as Southeast Region Executive for Business Banking and heads the national Black and African American Business Owner Initiative. Bennett is highly active in his community, sitting on multiple boards including the Jax Chamber of Commerce, Communities In Schools Advisory Council, Leadership Jacksonville, and the North Florida Association of Financial Professionals. A Florida State University alumnus, Bennett earned degrees in management information systems and finance and later received a master’s in banking from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.Wayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.

October 30, 2024 – (Re)Value Pricing Adam Wallace and Breaking Bias Anu Gupta

Adam Wallace – CEO of Collective Equities and Author of (RE)VALUE: Raise Your Prices and Build Your Legacy
Adam has spent years unlocking pricing power for products and services. After more than a decade as a corporate fixer, joining Fortune 100 leadership teams to capture additional value on multibillion dollar ventures, he now serves as an interim executive and board member for a portfolio of private companies. He continues to develop and implement pricing and operations strategies that reliably increase earnings. And achieves sustainable growth that meets the long term vision of the companies founders. Adam grew up in a two-story log cabin outside of Nashville, built by his 7th generation grandfather prior to Tennessee becoming a State. He now resides with his wife and son in the quaint seaside village of Del Mar California. He’s the co-author of (Re)Value: Raise Your Prices and Build Your Legacy (Business Expert Press; July 22, 2024).Anu Gupta – Founder and CEO of BE MORE and Author of Breaking Bias: Where Stereotypes and Prejudices Come From–and the Science-Backed Method to Unravel Them
Anu Gupta is an educator, lawyer, scientist, and the founder and CEO of BE MORE with Anu, an education technology benefit corporation that trains professionals across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors to advance DEIB and wellness by breaking bias. His work has reached 300+ organizations training more than 80,000 professionals impacting over 30 million lives. Gupta holds a JD from NYU Law, MPhil in Development Studies from Cambridge University, and BA in International Relations and Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies from NYU. As a gay immigrant of color, he came to the work of breaking bias after almost ending his life due to lifelong experiences with racism, homophobia, and Islamophobia. The realization that bias can be unlearned helped lead him out of that dark point and inspired a lifelong mission to build a global movement for social healing based on principles of mindfulness and compassion. A peer-reviewed author, he has written and spoken extensively, including on the TED stage, the Oprah Conversation, Fast Company, Newsweek, and Vogue Business. He is the author of Breaking Bias: Where Stereotypes and Prejudices Come From—and the Science-Backed Method to Unravel Them.

October 28, 2024 – SMB Bankruptcies Soar Colin Campbell and Dr. Andrew Abela

Colin C. Campbell – Serial Founder and Author of Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat.: Serial Entrepreneurs’ Secrets Revealed!
Colin C. Campbell has been a serial entrepreneur for over 30 years and is the author of Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat.: Serial Entrepreneurs’ Secrets Revealed! He has founded and scaled various internet companies that collectively have reached a valuation of almost $1 billion. Having successfully navigated the exits of companies like Tucows Interactive, Internet Direct Canada, Hostopia, GeeksForLess, and .CLUB Domains, Campbell has not only cemented his name as a start-up expert but has also collected an array of accolades – including spots on the Inc. 500 and Inc. 5000 rosters for several years in a row. A sought-after speaker in the world of entrepreneurship, Campbell has spoken at several high-profile universities and events. He also leads Startup Club, with almost one million members continuing to share his experiences as he interviews experts, authors, and serial entrepreneurs. Campbell takes about the new report out that shows startup bankruptcies in the US rose 60% over the past year.Dr. Andrew Abela – Founder of Busch School of Business at CUA and Author of Superhabits: The Universal System for a Successful Life
Dr. Andrew Abela is the founding dean of the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C. His award-winning, widely-cited research on integrity and effectiveness in business has been published in several academic journals and in three books. He speaks to business leaders around the world about cultivating the superhabits of success personally and in their organizations. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Abela was a brand manager at Procter & Gamble, management consultant with McKinsey & Company, and Managing Director at the Corporate Executive Board. Dr. Andrew Abela, founding dean of the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C is publishing his forthcoming book—Super Habits: The Universal System for a Successful Life. Abela has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Daily Caller, The National Review among others.

October 25, 2024 – Reef Builder Gator Halpern and From Doubt to Do Kat O’Sullivan

Gator Halpern – Founder and President at Coral Vita
Gator Halpern is Founder and President at Coral Vita, a winner of the Earthshot Prize Winner, an United Nations Young Champion of the Earth, a Forbes 30 Under 30, and an Echoing Green Fellow. At Coral Vita, we’re building a company to change the fate of our world’s coral reefs. By creating a technology enabled commercial model that can scale reef restoration, we are working to reverse global reef degradation and ensure that communities around the world can continue to benefit from healthy coastal ecosystems. Join us as we help jumpstart a Restoration Economy and build the tools needed to adapt and thrive despite the dire threats of climate destabilization.Kat O’Sullivan – Author of From Doubt to Do: Navigating Your Path to Possibility 
Kat O’Sullivan believes when shift happens, it’s time to make magic happen. Kat is a keynote speaker, podcast host, author, and transition coach. For over 25 years, she has helped individuals and organizations discover new possibilities, even when they feel impossible. She has worked across sectors — corporate, nonprofit, education, and privately owned businesses, providing a roadmap, tools, and support to bring those new possibilities to life. Kat O’Sullivan’s life had an unusual beginning. Being born in a secret city and the resulting secrecy factor in her early life made it challenging to show up authentically until, at 16 she convinced Bob Hope to sponsor her travels with Up With People. It was the catalyst for becoming a lifelong changemaker. In the middle of COVID, Kat and her husband packed up their lives and moved to Mexico. She continues to share her inspiring message as a speaker, podcast host, and an author. Her new book, From Doubt to Do: Navigating Your Pathway to Possibility is for anyone facing a significant transition who has doubts about what else is possible in the next chapter of their life. It’s for anyone who wants to dream big, live boldly, and create a fulfilling life they will love. Kat is passionate about helping people move toward the future just waiting for them to say “Hell, YES!” to new possibilities.

October 24, 2024 – High School Podcaster Arya Solur, Environmental Entrepreneur Wayne Eilliott and Podcast to Fiction Tony D’Urso

Arya Solur – Exponential Edge Podcast Creator and Author of Exponential Edge – Navigating the future with insights from 30 visionaries: A practical guide to shaping your career path
Arya Solur is the Founder and Secretary of Armor-Driving Cybersecurity for Small Businesses. He is the Creator of the Exponential Edge Podcast and published author. He first book is 5 star rated on Amazon!  He is a Musician in the Boston Youth Symphony and a Student Athlete as the Varsity Football Captain. He is a High School Senior.Wayne Elliott – Ship Recycling and Strauss Naturals Advocate
Wayne Elliott has been in the ship recycling business for 40 years. His company can take a 1000-foot-long ship and reduce it to a pile to reusable materials. He has grown into other areas such as battery recycling. He recounts his life-changing experience with SHD, a health supplement he stumbled upon after battling angina and its debilitating symptoms. Struggling with leg cramps, shortness of breath, night sweats, and chest pains, Wayne also grappled with anxiety and a lack of energy, resigning himself to the fate of heart-related issues that plagued his family. However, upon learning about SHD through a friend in Vancouver and being inspired by studies from renowned institutions like Harvard, Wayne decided to give it a try. Astonishingly, within two weeks of taking SHD, he noticed improvements in unexpected ways – his hearing returned, and his respiratory system cleared, leading to a significant boost in energy. Over the course of three months, Wayne transformed into a revitalized version of himself, feeling as energetic as he did decades ago. This transformation propelled him into a new phase of life where he actively engaged with others, becoming a spokesperson for Jim Strauss, the creator of SHD. Wayne’s involvement extended to radio shows and lectures, allowing him to share his incredible journey with thousands of people suffering from various health issues. His enthusiasm and dedication to natural health solutions led him to become a regular guest on radio networks in the USA and Canada, where he continued to spread the word about his positive experiences with SHD and its miraculous effects on individuals dealing with diabetes, heart disease, low energy, and clogged arteries. Wayne’s story highlights the power of painless, safe, and affordable health products, emphasizing the beauty of solutions that genuinely work. His gratitude towards Jim Strauss and the Strauss Heart Drops is profound, as he believes that without this intervention, he might not have been alive today, reinforcing the transformative impact of natural health remedies in the face of life-threatening conditions. Strauss Naturals is sponsoring the show with support for our radio-minute segments. Wayne says very simply that their products saved him. He became an advocate for the company and has been working with them for 29 years.Tony D’Urso – #1 VoiceAmerica Host and Co-Author of Imen of Atlantis: Bitten
Tony D’Urso is the host of The Tony D’Urso show on the VoiceAmerican Influencers channel. This show highlights successful entrepreneurs and humanitarian endeavors as well as the noteworthy career achievements of others. Tony is one of the top podcasters in the country. Tony hosts the #1 show on the VoiceAmerica Network, having achieved over 10 million downloads. He would love to talk about the world of podcasting and the community it provides to both guests and hosts. You can also check out his newest book, Imen of Atlantis: Bitten.

October 23, 2024 – Kenmore CEO Sridhar Solur and Medical Content Christy Pretzinger

Sridhar Solur – CEO of Kenmore
Sri Solur is chief executive officer of brands for Kenmore at Transformco. An industry veteran with 25+ years of experience, Sri has a rich history of success leading high-tech products and businesses. He previously served as CPO and GM at Berkshire Grey, a leader in industrial robotics, and was a member of the leadership team that took the company public. Sri also served as CPO at SharkNinja and was instrumental in bringing the Shark IQ Robot vacuum and NinjaFoodi products to market while also holding a leadership role to take the company public. Sri spent 20 years at Hewlett Packard, serving as founder and CPO of CloudPrint, the company’s wearables and IOT business. In his career, Sri has created products for world-renowned brands, including Hugo Boss, Movado, Ferrari, Juicy Couture, and more. Sri holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from NIT and an MBA from Boston University.Christy Pretzinger – Owner and CEO of WG Content – Medical Long Form Content
Christy Pretzinger transformed the landscape of healthcare content creation and, along the way, transformed what it’s like to work at a growing agency. As the owner and CEO of WG Content, Christy has established an industry-leading company that delivers superior content and strategy to healthcare brands nationwide. How did she do it? She intentionally focused on building the business based on kindness. And that approach has proven to be good for people and the bottom line. Over time, Christy discovered her true calling: to create a workplace that nurtures personal and professional growth — and help other leaders do the same. She’s a popular guest speaker for events and podcasts, always ready to guide audiences on how to grow leaders and build inclusive workplaces. She’s been featured on numerous podcasts, including From Founder to CEO, Her Million Dollar My$tery, Lead Like a Woman and Smart Business Revolution. See for yourself how Christy is reinventing how businesses evaluate effective leadership, how employees can contribute to success and how everyone can win — if you start with kindness.

October 21, 2024 – Most Influential CEO in the Country Jim Mazany and Portal CFO Consulting Manny Skevofilax

Jim Mazany – CEO of Rosa Mexicano, and Operating Partner at Trispan Private Equity Group and President & CEO of Strategic Restaurant Solutions
Jim Mazany is a seasoned restaurant CEO and influential executive in the hospitality industry with over 30 years’ experience in both public and private sectors. Throughout his career has held leadership positions at several highly esteemed restaurant companies, including TGIFridays, Joe’s Crab Shack, and SPB Hospitality. Jim is an award-winning executive in the casual, fast casual and quick service dining earning him the prestigious honor of the 2021 & 2022 Nation’s Restaurant News “Most Influential CEO’s in the Country.” Currently, Jim is an Operating Partner at Trispan private equity group and serves as CEO and Board Member for Yard Bird, Rosa Mexicano and Shell Shack. Prior to Trispan, Jim served as CEO of SPB Hospitality, Jim led the successful acquisition of J. Alexanders (JAX) for $250M, setting the standard for M&A targets in 2022. Under his leadership, the organization significantly improved its performance and now operates over 300 restaurants, as well as 500 national virtual and ghost restaurant concepts, generating over $1B in revenue annually. Prior to SPB Hospitality, Jim successfully worked as Chief Operating Officer for TGI Fridays strengthening the operations platform and successfully integrating over 125 franchise units back into the corporate system. In 2020 under his leadership and during the global pandemic, Fridays emerged as an industry leader in menu optimization, systematic operations, and innovative organizational collaboration. As President and Chief Operating Officer of Joe’s Crab Shack, Jim established himself as a revolutionary force in the industry growing average unit volumes by 50% from $2.3M to $3.3M during the recession in 2008. During his tenure, the organization transformed into a powerhouse of the restaurant industry leading to explosive unit growth and an IPO in 2012 trading under the NASDAQ clicker (IRG). Jim and the Joe’s Crab Shack organization received several critically acclaimed accolades including the “Technomic Consumer Choice Award” in 2014 and the “Golden Chain Operator of the Year” in 2013. His visionary perspective and track record of driving organizational transformation has earned him opportunities to work with top industry professionals as well as led to partnerships with nationally respected organizations including NCR technology, UKG workforce management, Ecolab solutions, Sysco, PFG, and Coca Cola. He has also worked with industry pioneers such as OLO online ordering, Toast software, Crunchtime back office, Daily Pay, Wisely and more. Jim attended the Culinary Institute of America and the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. He is the founder of Strategic Restaurant Solutions, a consulting firm where he creates strategic partnerships to increase enterprise value, stabilize performance, advise, and offers insights on the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry. Jim is an inspirational leader who empowers others to make their mark on the industry. He accredits his successful career to his unwavering dedication to diversity of thought, embracing exceptional people and holding steadfast to his personal and organizational core values. Throughout his career, he has advocated and raised over $10 million for various charitable causes and believes this to be his greatest achievement.Manny Skevofilax – Principal at PORTAL CFO Consulting
Manny Skevofilax is a consultant, speaker, and author that helps business owners maximize profits and overcome growth challenges. An expert in strategic planning, financial statement analysis, business operations, and organizational development, he’s been achieving extraordinary outcomes for his clients since 2003.A Baltimore, Maryland native, Manny earned a Bachelor of Science in Business and a Master of Science in Finance from the Merrick School of Business at The University of Baltimore. Prior to starting his career as a consultant, Manny’s background includes formal bank credit training and service as a Vice President with Comerica Bank, a U.S.-based commercial lending institution. He has corporate lending experience in the U.S. and continental European markets, with specialties in commercial business finance, real estate finance, and large corporate syndicated lending for mergers and acquisitions. Manny grew up in the restaurant business and made a career change to corporate banking at age 29. When he’s not helping business owners, Manny can be found exploring the ancient ruins on the island of Karpathos where his parents were born.

October 18, 2024 – Character Assessment Sean Vassilaros and Taxes on Tips Andrew Wilford

Sean Vassilaros – CEO of KANNY – Character Assessment for Hiring – Jim’s Favorite
Sean Vassilaros is an accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist dedicated to leveraging technology for positive societal impact. At the core of his work is a commitment to character and family, where integrity plays a central role in every pursuit. As the CEO of KANNY, he is leading the charge in transforming hiring practices through peer-driven character assessment. KANNY utilizes advanced technology to gather and verify feedback from previous and current colleagues, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate’s character while respecting the privacy of both parties. This approach fills a critical gap in talent acquisition, providing both job-seekers and recruiters with a vital tool to build high-achieving teams grounded in integrity and trust because a person’s character plays such a pivotal role in business today. Sean’s entrepreneurial journey began at 21 when he co-founded his first company during the dotcom era. Two years later, he sold the company and joined a prestigious Los Angeles agency to hone his skills in the travel, entertainment, and healthcare industries. His career continued with notable IT and communications consulting roles before becoming Chief Operating Officer at Ignite Health (now part of Syneos Health). In 2012, Sean co-founded THREAD, a company focused on decentralized clinical trials. Under his leadership, THREAD revolutionized healthcare research, collaborating with brands like Apple, Procter & Gamble, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as academic institutions such as Johns Hopkins and Duke University. Today, Sean remains an owner and board observer at THREAD, maintaining ties to its continued success. Sean also serves on the Board of Directors for Spectrum Science, a healthcare agency focused on health and science communication. As an Adjunct Professor at Lehigh University, he mentors engineering students and leads international projects through the Creative Inquiry program. Philanthropy is central to Sean’s life. He founded the Hailey Mayz Foundation in honor of his daughter, providing therapy to thousands of special needs children for over a decade. He serves as Chairman of the Board, guiding its strategic vision. Sean also chairs the board of OUR Rescue (formerly Operation Underground Railroad), the organization featured in the 2023 film The Sound of Freedom. He led the organization as interim CEO during a critical year, inspiring meaningful global change through his leadership.Andrew Wilford – Director of the Interstate Commerce Initiative and a Senior Policy Analyst at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation
Andrew Wilford is the Director of the Interstate Commerce Initiative and a Senior Policy Analyst at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, where he writes research reports and authors op-eds in various outlets. A columnist for RealClearMarkets and the Daily Caller, Andrew has also been published in Forbes, USA Today, and Investor’s Business Daily, The Bulwark and National Review, as well as numerous other outlets. Andrew has also written frequently for The Hill, the Washington Examiner, and the American Spectator. Wilford graduated from American University with a B.A. in Political Science. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) provides crucial, impactful research and analysis showing Americans how taxes, government spending, and regulations affect them. With our unique combination of policy expertise, outreach know-how, and true non-partisanship, we strive to be the number one federal and state source for sound fiscal policymaking.

October 16, 2024 – Y-Brush Benjamin Cohen, Junior Achievement Ed Grocholski and Elise Awwad

Benjamin Cohen – Co-founder and CEO of Y-Brush
Benjamin Cohen is co-founder and CEO of Y-Brush, a French start-up with a “whole mouth” sonic toothbrush that is disrupting the oral care category. Y-Brush was created to simplify the act of brushing your teeth while also making it more efficient: instead of brushing your teeth one by one, why not brush them all at once? Benjamin drew on his expertise in entrepreneurship and medical devices to launch Y-Brush. He quickly teamed up with a doctorate of science – Christophe CADOT, co-founder and CTO – for the technical development of the product. Supported financially from the outset by various players such as bpiFrance and its French Tech grant, the initial project was aimed at caregivers in medical-social establishments (assisted living, hospitals, etc.), enabling them to brush the teeth of elderly and disabled patients. Shortly thereafter the team launched their direct to consumer product, which sold very quickly in more than 70 countries. Today Y-Brush has more than 100K+ happy users, a full product suite, and they’ve just launched a major expansion into the US, while strengthening the position across Europe.Ed Grocholski – Chief Marketing Officer of Junior Achievement USA
Ed rejoined Junior Achievement USA’s National Office in September 2012 after spending more than a decade in Washington, D.C., in a variety of strategic communications and marketing roles. Most recently, Ed was a partner in the Lindberg Group LLC in Washington, D.C. He was responsible for business development, management and strategic communications planning and implementation for the firm’s clients. In this role he developed social media and media relations strategies for the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Program and developed digital assets for the Council on Foundations’ Public-Philanthropic Partnerships. He developed and implemented marketing and public relations programs for a variety of organizations including the National Association of Workforce Boards, the U.S. Department of Labor, Columbia University, and the National Academy Foundation. As vice president of Public Education for Ogilvy Public Relations, he developed several marketing and public relations programs for nationwide initiatives including National Job Shadow Day and the U.S. Department of Education NAEP Nation’s Report Card. At Ogilvy he managed a group responsible for $2 million in annual billings. Early in his career, Ed served as Junior Achievement’s director of Public Relations and Development. He has remained an active supporter of JA and worked to develop JA’s media strategy.Elise Awwad – President and CEO of DeVry University
Elise Awwad is president and CEO of DeVry University and considered one of the most innovative leaders in higher education. Known for breaking down barriers and leading cultural transformations, Awwad is passionate about the role education plays in supporting the career advancement of all learner populations. At DeVry, Awwad is committed to fulfilling the University’s Mission, vision and values with internal and external stakeholders, as well as supporting and enhancing the institution’s academic mission and overall operations. As president and CEO, Awwad drives DeVry’s innovation, academic integrity, and student success by helping DeVry’s current and future students realize their career ambitions through in-demand degree programs; enabling employers to bring their strategies to life through partnerships that meet their needs for in-demand skills; and helping society meet the urgent need to reskill the workforce that is being reshaped by technology and automation. Building upon the existing strengths of the University, Awwad advances DeVry as a high-quality institution providing career-oriented education, with unique, inclusive and innovative degrees and non-degree programs that integrate technology, business, science and the arts. Previously, Awwad was DeVry’s Chief Operating Officer and redefined student support with a focus on academic success that extends to intensive career preparedness, lifelong professional development, and integration of the student’s whole person.  She has re-envisioned how technology and process excellence can support and extend the work of top-flight faculty and advisors, earning wide recognition from industry observers.  Through her leadership, DeVry has consistently improved key measures of student success while reducing the real-dollar cost of education through multi-year tuition freeze and substantial investments in grants and scholarships. Since joining DeVry as an admissions advisor in 2004, Awwad’s leadership has spanned multiple departments, experiencing first-hand what students need, enabling her to become DeVry’s first female President and CEO in 2023. Inspired by the students’ stories, she has committed her career to developing personalized journeys that ensure their education leads to graduation and success beyond. Her belief that diversity and inclusiveness is an essential part of productivity, creativity, and innovation drove her desire to support and build a diverse network of women scholars. In 2019, Awwad founded DeVry’s first women’s affinity and business resource group, EDGE (Empowerment, Diversity, Growth, and Excellence), which promotes the enhanced career experience and advancement of women in leadership roles within the University and broader community. EDGE was recognized in 2023 as a Top 25 ERG in the Diversity Impact Awards. In 2021, Awwad sponsored the establishment of DeVry’s Women+Tech Scholars program, helping to close the opportunity gap for women in this field and equipping them with the skills and networking connections needed to pursue careers in technology related fields. Awwad is a founding member of Chief, a private network designed specifically for women in leadership roles from rising level VPs to CEOs. Chief has a network of 5,000+ of the most influential senior leaders in the U.S. representing over 2,500 companies working to cross-pollinate power across industries and effect change from the top-down. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum, an invitation-only global membership organization of more than 7,500 diverse and accomplished women from 33 nations on six continents. The International Women’s Forum is committed to advancing women’s leadership and championing equity and equality across careers, cultures and continents. Awwad is also a board member and student journey chair for Zollege, a family of schools in healthcare fields, is on the GetSet Learning Board of Advisors and is a member of League of Women Voters. Awwad has a bachelor’s degree in business, concentrating on small business management and entrepreneurship from Southern Illinois University. She also earned an MBA from DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management, an Executive MBA from the University of Notre Dame, and a certificate in public policy from the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia.