FACTS ED - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager ( SIS )
Job Titles:
- Manager of Academic Operations
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager
Brett has nearly eight years experience at FACTS providing service to both schools and their families. Originally from Hastings, Nebraska and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he started at FACTS within our Payer and Applicant Services team helping answer questions for families completing their financial aid applications. After spending 5 years on our Account Management team, Brett relocated to Boston to provide more of an on-site presence for our schools in New England.
Job Titles:
- Manager - Title Account Managers
Brian began his career at FACTS in 2007 helping schools manage tuition and financial aid assessment, ensuring that the educational goals of the school as well as their students were met. Brian is a firm believer in the value of education and making sure every student and teacher has the tools they need to be successful, which he brings to his current role with FACTS Ed. He looks forward to working with new schools across the country.
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Educational Partnerships
Originally from Mexico City, Carlos grew up attending faith-based schools and has worked closely with private and faith-based schools since 2014. He has worked with organizations like ACE Scholarships, the Daniels Fund, and the Archdiocese of Denver in development, marketing, outreach, and recruiting, helping support private school students with financial scholarships to continue their education beyond high school. He is passionate about bringing this experience to serve students and schools through FACTS Ed.
After being raised in Northern California, Carol moved to San Diego for college and decided to make it her home. She has been working with private K-12 schools since 2007 and enjoys providing customized solutions to help streamline school administrators' workloads. She understands the importance technology has in the school market and loves learning about each school's unique goals and objectives while building relationships with customers. In her spare time, Carol enjoys doing anything outside - especially running and cycling. She also enjoys spending time with her dog, Ursa, and her nieces and nephews.
Job Titles:
- Director of K - 12 Client Experience
Chris Gahan has spent the past 25 years consulting private and faith-based K-12 schools on best practices and leveraging technology to improve and enhance the education they provide students and their families. From an office in Columbus, NE, Chris serves schools in IL, IA, KS, MO, SD, ND, MT, WY as well as NE with solutions for Student Information Management, Tuition and Billing, and Financial Aid. When he's not working, you're likely to find him spending time with his family or enjoying the great outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager ( SIS )
Dan Hughes has over 20 years of experience working in the K-12 education marketplace. Dan has spent the majority of his career in the tuition management industry assisting private and faith-based schools, dioceses and numerous independent school associations across the country. Dan makes his home in the Boston, Massachusetts area with his wife and three children.
Job Titles:
- Chief Technology Officer, Nelnet Business Services
Job Titles:
- President, Nelnet Business Services
Job Titles:
- Manager - Teacher Coaching
Donna Moss spent 34 years as a public school teacher, private school principal, and national
Patrick Haggarty's education career began as a classroom teacher and continued until his professional experience included teaching K - 8, high school, and graduate school students. While refining his teaching skill set, he continued to pursue advanced education, earning both his masters and doctoral degrees.
Prior to his current role, Dr. Haggarty was a high school principal, a K-12 school system president, superintendent of the Catholic Dioceses of Montana, and superintendent of the Archdiocese of Seattle, where he provided guidance to 74 schools and represented 22,000 students throughout Western Washington. He is a firm believer in the importance of a values-based education for children and families, as well as building relationships to broaden the circle of influence for private school success.
Job Titles:
- Director of Academic Coaching for FACTS Education Solutions
- Director of Coaching and Academic Services
Dr. Susan Abelein is the Director of Academic Coaching for FACTS Education Solutions and researched and designed the FACTS Ed Coaching Model. She also oversees the academic program for our FACTS Ed Title I Instructional Services program and manages the Academic Services Team. She has served as a teacher, principal, diocesan administrator, and consultant in parochial and private Catholic education for over twenty years, including as the Associate Superintendent for Leadership, Innovation, and Growth for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Department of Catholic Schools, Director of the ADLA Dual Language Immersion Network and Director of Leadership Formation, Associate Superintendent for Leadership and Recruitment for the Archdiocese of New York, President and Principal at St. Aloysius in New York, Principal at Verbum Dei in Los Angeles, and Principal of St. Paul of the Cross in La Mirada, California. She also serves as a Senior Consultant with Catapult Learning. Dr. Abelein earned her Ph.D. in Education Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Southern California, a M.Ed. in Leadership from the University of Portland, and a B.A. in English with Secondary Education from the State University of New York at Geneseo. She also holds New York State permanent certification in English/Secondary Level and School Admin/Supervision and has taught numerous graduate courses at Marian University, Loyola Marymount University, Fordham University, St. John's University, and the University of Notre Dame.
Job Titles:
- Director of K - 12 Technical Sales
Eldren Echternkamp came to FACTS from being an educator and has been a part of the FACTS family for over 20 years. He leads a team dedicated to providing technical demonstrations that highlight all the benefits of FACTS various systems to aid institutions with financial stability and manage student information. Eldren is a native of Nebraska and resides outside of Lincoln with his wife and three kids.
Elizabeth has worked with Nelnet since 2005 and provides financial operations analysis to support school accounts and contracts. With a background in accounting and finance and extensive experience supporting the financial operations of FACTS Education and its related companies, Elizabeth ensures efficiency in financial operations and contractual reporting requirements. With the resources to support schools, she believes we can truly make a difference in the lives of children.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer, Nelnet Business Services
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager
Hailee Sahs has seven years of experience working with FACTS schools and their families. She is excited to use her years of experience and product knowledge to provide support and education solutions to schools in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she has called Lincoln home for the last 15 years and raises two young boys. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and doing anything outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Educational Quality
Heather began her career as an elementary school teacher in an urban district specializing in literacy education, and quickly became involved in literacy testing, data analysis and instructional literacy coaching at a K-8 school. She has managed professional development programs, provided ongoing coaching and training to teachers, and provided oversight of instructional programs, including education quality management for districts and schools across the US. She is currently responsible for overseeing the quality of FACTS Ed Title I instructional services, providing training and curriculum support to Title I teachers and administrators. Heather earned her Master of Science in Education from Pace University and her Bachelor of Arts in Child Developmental/Social Psychology and Humanistic Studies from McGill University.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager
Heather Pierce has been with FACTS for 17 years working on the Account Management and Implementation teams. She is excited to bring her experience and system knowledge to provide support to schools in the Mid-Atlantic region. Heather has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. She enjoys spending time with her 2 children, attending their sporting events and traveling. Heather serves schools in the Mid-Atlantic region, including DC, MD, VA and DE.
Jaclyn has over a decade of experience in B2B/edtech marketing and is passionate about technology and innovation. A frequent speaker at K-12 industry events, she loves sharing what helps schools thrive, covering topics such as admissions, finance, marketing, the customer experience, and school sustainability. She lives and works in Baltimore and enjoys reading, cycling, and going on adventures with her daughter.
Jana serves schools in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. She received her Bachelors of Business Administration from Georgia State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Jana has over 20-years of experience consulting with schools, non-profits and businesses in the areas of sales, customer service and accounting. Jana brings a unique perspective in solving the tough challenges facing our schools today.
Jeff provides services to schools in the NYC Metro area, encompassing New Jersey and Long Island. With nearly 15 years of experience in education, including leadership positions in building administration, Jeff possesses a profound understanding of the obstacles confronted by schools and recognizes the crucial role technology plays in our educational institutions. Jeff and his wife Elizabeth reside in Northern New Jersey with their three boys. He enjoys traveling and cherishing moments with his family.
Job Titles:
- Lead - Senior Vice President of Educational Partnerships
As a former 20-year non-public school administrator, Jeremy joined FACTS to continue helping schools navigate the complex world of federal programs. He knows first-hand how busy and complex administrators' roles are and enjoys opening the world of federal programs to non-public schools across the country, while lightening their workloads through partnerships with FACTS. In his role, Jeremy especially enjoys traveling to meet with school leaders and see all the great things happening in the exciting world of non-public education.
Job Titles:
- Director of K - 12 Product
Jeremy has more than 10 years of edtech experience with FACTS and is responsible for the strategic direction of the company's K-12 product suite, including the financial management and SIS solutions. Jeremy serves a key role on the FACTS leadership team, helping drive business growth, execute market research, and lead cross-functional projects. He lives in Fort Worth with his four children and plays tennis every chance he gets.
Job Titles:
- Chief Marketing Officer, Nelnet Business Services
Job Titles:
- Professional Development Partnership Representative
After graduating from Towson University, Kat began her career in the classroom, educating elementary and special ed students. She taught in a Maryland public school for 5 years before transitioning to a career in business development, combining her passions for education and business development. In her current role, she loves bringing her background in education and sales to help students and schools across the nation meet their goals.
Job Titles:
- Regional Director, Eastern US
Kate has spent the last 18 years, including ten years with FACTS, working in the education technology industry assisting independent and faith-based schools. She leads a team committed to serving K-12 schools by leveraging technology to meet their needs. Kate is a native of the Boston area and resides on the south shore with her two children.
Job Titles:
- Manager - Federal Programs
Kathy comes to FACTS ED after serving in Catholic education for 40 years, as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. She earned her bachelor's degree at Elmhurst College, her master's at Butler University, and has also studied at Indiana University. A lifelong learner, Kathy has been a speaker at many national educational conferences and enjoys working with teachers and school leaders from across the country - making her a perfect fit for her current role with FACTS Ed.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager
Kelby has relocated to Chicago to provide an onsite presence for schools in the Wisconsin and Illinois area. Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska and a graduate of the University of Nebraska, she has prepared for this role after successfully serving schools as a FACTS Account Manager. She is excited to bring her product knowledge to school administrators to help streamline processes and provide solutions that focus on the unique needs of each school.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager
Lauren Sustaire has six years of experience guiding schools through their implementation and transition to FACTS. She utilizes her system knowledge and implementation expertise to help support schools in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Lauren is a Communications graduate from The University of Texas- Arlington and greatly enjoys getting to know current and future clients. She lives in Central Texas with her husband and daughter on their tiny farm, a perpetual work-in-progress, spending her free time making art and enjoying time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager
Linda Thomas has spent the last 15 years working in the tuition management industry assisting independent and faith-based schools in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas. Home for Linda is in New Jersey with her husband and two children. Linda attended a faith-based school so she recognizes the value of that education. Her youngest son continues in that tradition and has recently graduated from a faith-based university.
Job Titles:
- Internal Operations Manager
- Manager - Title I Operations
As Internal Operations Manager, Marc provides oversight and leadership for all FACT Education Solutions Title programs. He has over 30 years of experience working with schools in the private and public sectors and has worked with educators throughout the country to develop successful school intervention and professional development programs. Marc's passion and commitment to education starts with his family, which includes teachers, counselors, principals, and administrators. Marc earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from Rowan University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Educational Partnerships
Mark joined Nelnet in 1988, serving K-12 and higher ed schools in both sales and operational capacities. He joined FACTS Ed in 2020 and began focusing on operational efficiencies to help K-12 non-public schools with federally funded services. Mark has a long history of providing strong servant leadership, focused on providing consistent high quality customer service to clients, while also creating a friendly work environment. He is focused on process driven results that help to eliminate barriers in creating a customer focused experience.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, International Sales
Mark Wile leads FACTS International's business channel to globalize the brand's products and services. In pursuing this goal, he advocates the positive impact Nelnet International's cast of FACTS services can have on today's global schools. These transforming technologies revive and modernize learning communities, enabling K-12 institutions toward vitality and long-term sustainability. An outcropping of best practices elevates real time engagement between the learner and parent, accelerating growth in all facets of the school community. As a previous school director, Mark's quest for better administrative tools initially led him to FACTS. He exhibits a passion for education, and a burning desire to assist schools toward best practice results. This path includes guiding schools toward the adoption of state-of-the-art management tools as they innovate for the future. He leads a talented team who in turn manage a host of channel partners in many countries where the FACTS products can be delivered to schools at the local level. Mark specializes in Educational Leadership; Institutional Development; Communication; Visioning; Strategic Planning; and Business Development. He has education/leadership degrees from Burman University Alberta, and University of Massachusetts Boston, and doctoral leadership studies at Shenandoah University Virginia.
Job Titles:
- Regional Vice President for the Southeast
Marvey Ayers currently serves as the Regional Vice President for the Southeast and has been working in the education industry for over 20 years. She graduated from Clemson University with her bachelor's degree and received her master's degree from the University of Miami. She has experience working with public, private, and parochial schools and is passionate about education, always looking for innovative ways to support leaders, teachers, and students.
For nearly a decade, Matt McLean has worked with independent and faith-based schools, bringing this experience to enrollment processes, financial aid assessment, tuition collection, and student information systems. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife, and his young son and daughter. Matt is a lifelong Vikings fan, although he sometimes avoids bringing that up while he serves schools in Wisconsin and Chicago.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager
Mikaela has 14 years of experience working with FACTS Schools and their families. She is excited to use her years of experience and product knowledge to provide support and education solutions to schools in California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. While she graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Finance degree, she currently resides in the Denver metro, and enjoys spending her free time with family and friends.
Mike has worked with private and faith-based schools for over 10 years, helping them design and implement systems that increase flexibility and convenience for families. With over 30 years of sales experience in a variety of roles, Mike is passionate about meeting school needs and helping them develop financial solutions. If your school or organization is located in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana or Kentucky and you have not had a chance to speak with Mike over the past year, please take him up on his invitation to meet or contact him directly. He resides in the suburbs of Detroit with his wife and many pets.
Job Titles:
- Regional Director, Western US
With 25 years of experience with FACTS, Mike understands the challenge of balancing school affordability with the need to provide parents value for their tuition investment. He leads a team of professionals focused on serving schools. Mike and his family live in the Minneapolis area.
Job Titles:
- Chief Information Officer, Nelnet Business Services
Mike Ziemski brings a life-long background of marketing, development, institutional advancement and classroom/university teaching experience to the FACTS team. Having worked at the Diocesan level for nine years before joining FACTS, he has helped to successfully guide schools from fundraising to advancement mindsets, and from subsidized tuition to Need-Based Aid/Cost-Based Tuition models. Mike works with schools in Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Job Titles:
- Lead Regional Vice President
Start at Fact Ed 2023, I'm passionate about sales and marketing who love education. With 12 years of experience as an educational consultant and a genuine interest in transforming education. I'm here ready to help you develop a professional development plan that will help take your school to the next level.
Job Titles:
- Director - NYC Business Operations
Miriam Friedman began her education career as an early childhood teacher. Soon, she transitioned to teaching high school, and found her calling in teaching math. Miriam's commitment to ensuring that all her students receive high quality math instruction and lead her to finding creative and effective solutions even for students who find math difficult. Miriam also served as a high school principal, where she successfully raised the academic standard. Currently, Miriam is the Director of the FACTS Title I Program in NYC. In this role, she efficiently manages various programs, providing guidance to school leaders on making the most of federal funds. Beyond her managerial tasks, Miriam consistently advocates for schools, voicing their needs to the Department of Education. Miriam holds a Bachelor of Science in Math Education and Technology from Empire State College and a Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership from Adelphi University.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager
Murphy has worked with FACTS for the past three years in implementation, account management, and as an implementation team leader. He has extensive experience working with our entire product suite and has a passion for helping schools improve their processes and get the most out of their partnership with FACTS. He is married to a teacher in a private faith-based school and enjoys spending time with her and their two children. Murphy serves our partner schools in parts of upstate New York and eastern Pennsylvania.
Nancy Mendes grew up attending faith-based schools and brings 13 years of education experience to FACTS working in the areas of recruiting, admissions, enrollment management, and financial aid. She has worked with various organizations and schools across the nation providing education solutions that were flexible and tailored to the needs of her clients. She has a keen understanding of both the business and student side of the education industry and has helped many students achieve their educational dreams. Nancy is originally from the New York City area and currently lives in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. She holds a BS degree from the Florida Metropolitan University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. She looks forward to bringing her knowledge and experience to FACTS and the Florida region.
Natalie grew up attending private schools and has over 20 years of experience, beginning with her career as a classroom teacher and program administrator. She brings 15 years of education consulting and technology sales experience to FACTS. As a former educator and seasoned consultant, Natalie truly understands the needs of her schools. Natalie is originally from New York and lives in Maryland, just outside of Washington DC, with her two children who attend FACTS schools. She holds a Master's in Elementary Education and has worked with hundreds of schools across the Mid-Atlantic region. Natalie is passionate about offering customized and efficient solutions to schools and school communities. When she is not working, you will find her at gymnastics practice or outdoors at a baseball tournament. Natalie services schools in the Mid-Atlantic region, including DC, MD, VA and DE.
Job Titles:
- Director of School Partnerships
Patricia Lacognata is lifetime educator dedicated to providing every child the tools needed to succeed. Here at FACTS, she uses that passion to work with schools, districts, and educators to use federal and state funding to support students and teachers in their educational journeys. She is committed to ensuring that all our non-public partners receive the equitable funding they deserve.
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Educational Partnerships
Roger lives in the Los Angeles, California area and serves schools there and in Hawaii. Roger enjoys working closely with the administrative staff at schools and finding ways to help them excel at their jobs and promote a strong image to the community they serve.
Sarah started with FACTS over 8 ½ years ago and has served school clients in many roles including account manager, implementation specialist, and higher ed project manager before moving to the FACTS Education Solutions team as an account manager. Sarah has a strong passion for helping all children succeed and grow to their fullest potential. She comes from a family of teachers so she loves supporting education and understands how important a teacher's role is in shaping future generations.
Tausha has over a decade of experience serving FACTS schools, beginning her career at FACTS in K-12 account management and implementation. She has worked with schools across the New England area as part of the New Business Development team for the past 5 years and is passionate about continuing to bring customized and efficient solutions to schools and their families.
Job Titles:
- Director of Professional Learning and Development
Tiffany started her career in the classroom, working with middle school students and students with special needs. She transitioned from teaching to designing and customizing on-demand learning for the K-12 and corporate markets. She has dedicated her time to elevating the learning of students, teachers, and professionals alike, through her work with educational publishing and video production. Before joining the FACTS Education Solutions' team, Tiffany was Director of Operations and Content in Arizona, aligning technology and video with effective and engaging learning products. Her desire to engineer and deliver impactful solutions to all learners is matched only by her passion for people.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer, Nelnet Business Services
Job Titles:
- Regional Director, Central US
Tony began his career with FACTS in 2007. For 13 years, he worked in the field to provide solutions to improve the efficiencies of business offices. Now, he leads a team to not only accomplish that same goal, but extends product offerings to include a full suite of services that involves all departments. Tony resides in Chattanooga, TN with his wife and daughter. He has four grown sons.
Job Titles:
- Customer Relationship Manager
Trenton comes to FACTS with over 20 years of experience, serving schools in the areas of financial management, recruiting, financial aid, and enrollment management. This background has given Trenton a unique perspective in solving the tough challenges facing our schools today. Outside of work, Trenton and his wife, Amanda, are busy raising three energetic boys. He loves to travel with his family, watch sports, coach his children in sport-related activities, and cheer on his alma mater - Texas Tech University. Trenton serves schools in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Operations
- Vice President of Braxton School of Puerto Rico
Wigberto currently serves as the Vice President of Braxton School of Puerto Rico, joining the school in 1996 and gaining valuable industry experience that he brings to his role as Director of Business Operations at FACTS Ed. A certified public accountant, he understands the financial challenges schools face and is passionate about ensuring that all students have the resources they need to get an exceptional education.