EMBER EDUCATION - Key Persons


Adam Lefaive

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Information Systems
Adam Lefaive is the VP of Information Systems at Ember Education. He is responsible for planning, coordinating and supervising services related to all areas of the College's technology needs. This includes systems engineering, software application architecture, and data management design. As the architect of Ember Ed's Information Technology ecosystem, he is responsible for the systems design and implementation, environment plans, protection, and data integration architecture. Adam is a cloud-first advocate that helped propel San Joaquin Valley College's (SJVC) underlying infrastructure into modern cloud-based technologies. He employs creative problem-solving skills and a commitment to improve business operations and systems' security through technology initiatives. He specializes in Business Intelligence/Business Analytics, MS SQL Server, MS SharePoint, ASP.Net and Languages (C#, TSQL), and is a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). Adam currently holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Alana Schrock

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Human Resources
Alana Schrock is the Vice President of Human Resources for Ember Education. She is responsible for leading the Human Resources strategies and practices across the enterprise. Alana joined the organization after 13 years with Adtalem Global Education where she provided human resources leadership to Carrington College, DeVry University and Becker Professional Education. She developed solutions to enhance colleague engagement and performance while driving large-scale organizational change.

Alyssa Perry

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Community Partnerships
Alyssa Perry is the Vice President of Community Partnerships at Ember Education, a division of San Joaquin Valley College, Inc. (SJVCi). She is responsible for directing government initiatives that connect SJVCi communities with elected officials on the local, state and federal level. She also focuses on building educational partnerships with employers in the local markets that serve SJVCi colleges. As part of this role, she is responsible for guiding program directives and improving employment outcomes in order to better assist local businesses and grow their communities. As one of the founding family members of San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) that began in 1977, Alyssa is dedicated to helping students achieve success through education. Her father Mike Perry, along with his brother Mark Perry, supported her grandparents Robert and Shirley Perry in their dream to bring higher education and skills-based education to their Visalia, California, community. Alyssa has continued this tradition while serving in various positions from student services to academic support, as well as Campus President at SJVC Atascadero, SJVC Santa Maria and SJVC Modesto. As Campus President she focused on improving the health of each campus through census growth and building strong leadership teams. As the Vice President of Community Partnerships, Alyssa will make a positive impact in the college communities through increased campus engagement. She will continue providing opportunities for local officials to connect with students, staff and faculty so they can hear about the students' experiences and learn more about how SJVCi is working to improve their communities. Alyssa earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of San Diego and a Master of Business Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology. As a mother and native of California's Central Valley, Alyssa enjoys spending time improving her physical and mental health while learning more about personal development.

Angela Heinz

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Growth and Development
Angela Heinz is the VP of Growth and Development for Ember Education. She is responsible for leading the creation and implementation of strategic expansion opportunities for both Carrington College and San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC). Angela previously served as Director of Growth and Development for SJVC, where she led the strategic research and planning efforts for the creation, migration and addition of Business, Medical and Technology programs, as well as new campus locations. Her role as a Student Advisor for the Online Division evolved into representing Student Services and Graduate and Career Services, which provided her with a broad perspective of the College's operations and services. Angela holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling and Student Services, with an emphasis in higher education, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development from California State University, Fresno.

Anthony Romo

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Enrollment and Graduate Services
As VP of Enrollment and Graduates Services at San Joaquin Valley College, Anthony Romo oversees the strategies and operations for several student-focused departments including Admissions, Financial Aid, Institutional Partnerships, Training and Workforce Development, and Career Services. Anthony provides ongoing direction and support to campus leaders whose responsibility it is to guide students through the enrollment process. That support continues through students' preparation to enter the workforce with job search assistance and referrals to potential employers. His previous areas of influence include responsibility for the Career Services Department, where he was instrumental in training and workforce development, institutional partnerships and talent acquisition. He helped design, improve that department's performance, and integrate staffing concepts toward enhanced student support and positive education and career outcomes. Anthony holds a Master of Arts degree in Human Resources Management from National University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton.

Donna Loraine - President

Job Titles:
  • President
Donna Loraine, Ph.D., serves as President of Carrington College. Prior to joining Carrington, Donna held several positions throughout DeVry University including Chief Academic Officer and Provost, Group and Regional Vice President of Operations. Donna also served as President of DeVry University's Atlanta, Georgia area campuses, Dean of Instruction at the Dallas campus and the Dean of Academic Affairs at DeVry's Kansas City campus. She has taught at the University of Texas at Dallas and Troy State University in Europe as well. In addition to her academic experience, Donna served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years, holding the titles of Chief of Tactical Operations and Senior Director for several radar and aircraft control units in Germany. In these roles, she was responsible for providing support for European aircraft defense exercises during wartime simulations and conducting North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercises to test program effectiveness. She also has seven years private-sector industry experience, working in defense industry management. Donna holds Doctorate and Master's degrees in Public Administration from the University of Colorado, a Master of Science degree in Management from Troy State University in Alabama, and a Bachelor's degree in Economics/Business Administration from Park University in Missouri.

Elmo Frazer

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Carrington College Senior Leadership Team
  • Vice President of Operations
Elmo has more than 20 years of higher education, legal, and executive-level management experience. He has spent the last 15 years as an executive in the higher education field. Currently he serves as the Regional Vice President of Operations, Central Region for Carrington College. Elmo also has extensive consulting experience. He has consulted on matters related to higher education in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. His specialization includes higher education internal audit and regulatory compliance, career placement, new program implementation, innovative approaches to student retention, leveraged institutional operations, enrollment management and transforming academic programs, among others. Elmo holds a degree in Political Science and Law from the University of The West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Cave Hill Barbados. He also has a Master's in Education degree from Northeastern University, Boston, MA.

Ginger Silverman

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Marketing Communications
As VP of Marketing Communications, Ginger provides Ember Education entities a wealth of expertise in results-driven marketing and advertising strategies. Ginger's direction impacts brand marketing, interest generation, public relations, campus initiatives, and consumer education and communication. She is responsible for implementing, tracking and measuring marketing actions geared toward growth, clear messaging and positive professional standing for the colleges Ember serves. Ginger brings a depth of knowledge to her position in the areas of digital marketing strategies and optimization, social media marketing, corporate communications, brand expertise and business expansion. She manages marketing campaigns from inception and plan to launch and measurement. She designs strategy with a clear ear to market need, toward shared success. Ginger's current affiliations include Adjunct Professor, Business, Brandman University; Board of Advisors, Wilkinson College School of Humanities Ginger was awarded a Master of Fine Arts (terminal) degree, Antioch University; a Bachelor of Arts degree (Summa cum Laude), Chapman University; Wharton Business School - Finance for Nonfinancial Managers.

Harlan Lindholm

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities
Harlan Lindholm brings more than 20 years of experience with a financial and analytical background along with negotiation skills and a management acumen that complements Ember Ed's vision of property and building expansion. Harlan is the front-person from site identification and evaluation, through space allocation and design and lease negotiation and finalization, to build/expansion designs, development and deadlines. He manages all current properties and their upkeep and upgrade needs, supervising construction on new and existing properties and budgeting for ongoing and new projects. He also manages adherence to building code requirements. Harlan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a California Licensed Real Estate Broker.

Joseph Holt - COO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Operating Officer
  • Member of the Board of Governors for Carrington College
As COO for Ember Education, Joseph Holt provides executive leadership, strategic planning and organizational development for San Joaquin Valley College and Carrington College, entities of San Joaquin Valley College, Inc. He ensures that Ember Ed, as a service provider, effectively meets the institutional needs of both colleges. Joseph directs the Vice Presidents of four vital areas of operation: Human Resources, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, Marketing Communications and Growth and Development to unified and far-reaching effect. Additionally, he works closely with the two college Presidents, providing leadership, coordination and support for the migration of best practices across colleges. With San Joaquin Valley College since 2001, Joseph brings a host of education, marketing and administrative experience to his broad sphere of influence. He also carries a strong sense of institutional mission and a commitment to staff and faculty teamwork toward student support and success. Joseph serves an ideal that cultivates talent and develops effective systems that deliver the highest outcomes for students, graduates and employers. His professional focus is to ensure strong ideas find fertile ground in which to thrive. Joseph earned his Master's degree in Organizational Studies at Fresno Pacific University and his Bachelor's degree in Communications at California State University, Bakersfield. Joseph is a member of the Board of Governors for Carrington College. He serves as an institutional representative on the Advisory Board for the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education, and on the Federal Regulatory Committee of the Career Education Colleges and Universities' national association.

Kevin Robinson

Job Titles:
  • Senior Vice President of Financial Aid
Kevin Robinson is the Senior Vice President of Financial Aid at Ember Education. He previously anchored San Joaquin Valley College's Financial Aid department until he migrated to Ember Education where he continues to hold that key position. He holds a wealth of information and knowledge about federal and state regulations and policies that include Title IV regulations, Federal Register and other applicable laws that govern educational institutions' financial aid programs. Kevin is responsible for planning, organizing, developing and coordinating student financial aid protocols that are adopted and demonstrated on all campuses. He dictates compliance with regulations and provides an accurate demonstration of company policies and procedures regarding student financial aid. He is Ember Education's liaison with the U.S. Department of Education, and makes certain that any corrective action is timely and effectively implemented for any audits or program reviews. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as a Secondary Teaching credential from California State University, Fresno.

Lea Marshall

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Carrington College Senior Leadership Team
  • Associate Vice President of Administration at Carrington College
  • Associate Vice President, Administration
Lea Marshall is the Associate Vice President of Administration at Carrington College where she provides leadership and direction for Human Resources, IT Network Administration, Purchasing, Facilities and Real Estate. She provides oversight for the strategic advancement of these departments and contributes to the ongoing operational decisions that direct the College toward achievement of its mission and strategic master plan. Lea has more than 31 years of experience in Human Resources and has served in Higher Education for more than 22 years. Prior to joining Carrington College, Lea served as Regional Vice President of Human Resources supporting College Campuses across the United States and in Canada. Lea increased her knowledge and skills in College Operations through a former dual role she held as Vice President of Campus Operations and Human Resources. Lea continued to expand her operational knowledge through career development opportunities by serving in interim roles such as Campus President and Regional Director of Operations. Lea earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and holds her SPHR and SHRM-SCP Human Resources Certifications.

Lynne Hare

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Finance
Lynne Hare joined Ember Education in November 2019 as the Vice President of Finance. Lynne provides leadership and coordination of the Accounting/Finance team professionals to develop and implement accounting policy, practice, and shared services for the Ember Education institutions. She is responsible for ensuring systems and reporting are accurate, efficient, and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and governmental regulations. She collaborates closely with senior management, accounting, and operational teams across the enterprise to facilitate all elements of the financial system. Lynne comes to Ember Education after serving over 20 years in public accounting and 10 years in private industry accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting from California State University, Fresno. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and is a State of California Licensed Real Estate Agent.

Mark Perry - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Co - Owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors for San Joaquin Valley College, Inc
Mark Perry is co-owner and Chairman of the Board of Directors for San Joaquin Valley College, Inc., which governs Ember Education, San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) and Carrington College. He has the responsibility of conducting corporate meetings that shape college operations, reporting and growth. As one of the founding family members of SJVC that began in 1977, Mark (with his brother Mike Perry) supported parents Robert and Shirley Perry's dream to bring higher education and training to their small Visalia, Calif., community. The brothers took ownership of SJVC in 1995 and expanded the original vision to include 15 campuses in Central, Northern and Southern California that provide 20-plus career-focused programs to their communities. Prior to his retirement in 2015, Mark's influence, honed by instrumental positions he held in Admissions, Marketing, corporate representation and - for over 20-years - President of the College, was felt in every facet of decision-making and operation. He has represented both SJVC and the community service ideals his parents instilled in their sons through a spirit of giving. His philanthropy, support and leadership have helped to shape communities and provide opportunities to its populations. Mark's history of community service includes Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, Member of the Board; Visalia Breakfast Rotary; member of Rotary District 5230, Youth Exchange Committee; Visalia Education and Training Council. He also served on the Advisory Board of the Sequoia Council Boy Scouts of America and received the Good Scouter of the Year award.

Michael Como

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Carrington College Senior Leadership Team
  • Vice President of Operations
  • Regional Vice President of Operations at Carrington College
Michael Como is a Regional Vice President of Operations at Carrington College and is responsible for driving operational performance and regional development for the College. Michael joined Carrington College in 2012 serving as an Executive Director for the Reno, NV campus. He was later appointed to the Mesa campus in Arizona to serve as the Academic Dean. In 2015 he became the Executive Director where he oversaw the operations, long-term strategic initiatives, and overall academic performance for the campus. In 2018 he was selected to serve as the Dean of Academic Operations and in 2020 as the Regional V.P. of Operations for the South Region. Prior to joining Carrington College Michael spent more than 10 years working in higher education. He also spent five years working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a national organization which provides voluntary after-school programs. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Non-Profit Management from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration in General Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Mike Abril - Chief Legal Officer

Job Titles:
  • Chief Legal Officer
Mike Abril is the Chief Legal Officer for Ember Education and the Corporate Secretary for San Joaquin Valley College, Inc. His title and responsibilities transfer to Ember Education from San Joaquin Valley College where he has served as Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs since 2012. As Chief Legal Officer, Mike supervises the Ember Education legal department, which comprises corporate counsel, paralegals, a contract manager and legal technicians. As Corporate Secretary for San Joaquin Valley College, Inc., Mike is responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for safeguarding the implementation of the Board of Directors' decisions. Mike brings more than 25 years of private practice to Ember Education that includes years with national law firms. He combines his legal acumen with 10 years of teaching as an adjunct instructor for non-profit and for-profit post-secondary institutions. He previously served as Co-Chair of the Agribusiness Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California. He is a member of California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS), Career Education Colleges and Universities, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the American Bar Association, the California State Bar, and serves as Secretary for the Kern County Bar Association In-House section. Mike was awarded a Juris Doctor at University of Southern California where he earned his Master's in Business Administration. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Davis.

Mike Perry - CEO, President

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • President
As CEO/President of Ember Education, a division of San Joaquin Valley College, Inc., Mike Perry oversees the operation, growth and accountability of all educational entities operating under San Joaquin Valley College, Inc. His mission is to provide the highest outcomes for students and graduates on all San Joaquin Valley College and Carrington College campuses Ember Ed serves. As co-owner/CEO and member of San Joaquin Valley College, Inc.'s Board of Directors, Mike directs the college teams toward continued success. A member of the founding family of San Joaquin Valley College, Mike has made private college education his life's work. His parents Robert and Shirley Perry started San Joaquin Valley College in 1977, and Mike and his brother Mark held the most menial jobs to further their family's vision of career training for their small community. The brothers assumed ownership and full operation of the College and its many campuses in 1995. Mark Perry has since retired from college operations. Giving back to his community through personal involvement and financial support is a life-long philosophy and practice for Mike. He has been an active Rotarian since 2005, serving most recently as Vice President. He has served his professional community as a Board Member and Chairman of the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) and is a member of the Board of Governors for both San Joaquin Valley College and Carrington College. Mike was a 2010 recipient of CAPPS Hall of Fame STAR Award, which honors sector leaders who are absolute in their dedication to education and students. In his hometown, participation as a member and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Visalia Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in his expression of community support. Mike was the honored recipient of the Visalia Junior Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year award.

Mitch Charles - President

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Carrington College Senior Leadership Team
  • President
Mitch Charles is the President of Carrington College. Mitch has held Enrollment, Marketing and Operational leadership positions over the last 11 years, and has a proven record of driving strong outcomes and high colleague engagement. He has helped lead widespread organizational change in the area of campus and online operations. Prior to Carrington College Mitch held senior leadership roles with DeVry University. Mitch holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from California Polytechnic State University Pomona, as well as a Master's degree in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Nick Gomez - President

Job Titles:
  • Member of the San Joaquin Valley College Senior Leadership Team
  • President
Nick Gomez is the President of San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) where he previously served 13 years in pivotal roles such as Chief Operating Officer, Assistant Vice President and Campus Director. As President, Nick leads SJVC with a team of senior managers. He balances his extensive operations background with leadership abilities to implement strategic long and short-term goals for the College. His focus on financial sustainability assures stable growth while his commitment to strong community relations deepens roots for a shared future. In addition, Nick served as General Manager for U.S. operations at a global manufacturing company in the telecom and automotive industry while traveling internationally and working within a variety of culturally diverse settings. Nick holds a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) with concentrations in Leadership and Managing Organizational Change from Pepperdine University. He studied at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, with a focus on Emerging Business Opportunities. His education and training from the Kaplan and Norton Palladium Group on building a Strategy Focused Organization (SFO) earned him the Balanced Scorecard Certification.

Patricia Hruby

Job Titles:
  • Member of the San Joaquin Valley College Senior Leadership Team
  • Vice President of Operations
  • Vice President of Operations at San Joaquin Valley College
Patricia Hruby is the Vice President of Operations at San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC). She previously held an accomplished 20-year career as a Director of Advertising in the newspaper industry. Patricia first joined SJVC more than 10 years ago as an Enrollment Services Director in Fresno, California. After building and managing a team of dedicated advisors, she transitioned to the role of inaugural Campus Director in Delano. She later served as the Campus President in Bakersfield, followed by Campus President in Fresno. She was later named the Vice President of Operations where she is currently responsible for oversight of SJVC's northern California campuses. Patricia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio.

Ralph Ortiz

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Purchasing
Ralph Ortiz is the Vice President of Purchasing for Ember Education. He is responsible for materials and supplies acquisition, distribution and management, as well as providing training and supervision to support the operational needs of all College facilities and departments. He provides purchasing and distribution support for every campus, department and office. Ralph exercises control over centralized purchasing and distribution, providing adherence to policy and procedure manuals he authored, and is responsible for the department-wide use of applications that outline budgetary analysis and forecast control of supply purchases and service. Ralph's 40-plus years of experience has helped Ember Education improve buying practices to save millions of dollars and increase the overall purchasing power. Ralph has tenured experience and training in Facilities Operations, Inventory/Fixed Asset Control/Supply Chain Management, Project Management-Capital Infrastructure, Transportation Management, Capacity Planning, Space Utilization, Safety and Security, Shipping and Receiving, Warehouse Distribution and Domestic and Offshore Manufacturing.

Ravinder Dayal

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Carrington College Senior Leadership Team
  • Provost / Vice President of Academic Affairs
  • Vice President of Academic Affairs at Carrington College
Ravinder Dayal is the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Carrington College, where she brings 20 years of educational leadership experience to ensure high-quality academic programs, selection and development of faculty, and the advancement of student success. Prior to Carrington, Ravinder served in various leadership roles at DeVry University (DVU). She began her career as Assistant Professor for the Business Information Systems program at the DVU Columbus campus. In 2012, she was promoted to National Dean of Academic Operations and then to Associate Provost in 2015. She has distinguished herself in bringing innovative synergies across modalities, resulting in improvements to student success and academic support services. Ravinder holds a Master of Arts degree from the Ohio State University, a Bachelor of Education degree in Business Education from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance and Urban Land Economics from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. In addition, she is a Six-Sigma trained yellow belt in managing processes and process improvements.

Rebecca Marrs-Elgharib

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Carrington College Senior Leadership Team
  • Vice President of Enrollment and Graduate Services at Carrington College
Rebecca Marrs-Elgharib is the Vice President of Enrollment and Graduate Services at Carrington College. She provides leadership for the Enrollment Services, Financial Services, and Career Services departments where she is responsible for creating alignment throughout the student life cycle. Rebecca has more than 17 years of higher education leadership experience with a strong background in student services. Rebecca successfully directed the Career Services team at Carrington College to transform the services model, enhancing the student experience and improving placement outcomes during her time as Director of Graduate Services. Prior to Carrington College, she has held roles of Director of Career Services, Director of Admissions, and Associate Dean of Career Services. Rebecca has volunteered as a Team Leader for the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and completed the Harvard Manage Mentor Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and a Master's in Education from American InterContinental University. She is a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) and enjoys traveling around the world having visited more than 50 countries.

Robert Dominguez - Chief Legal Officer

Job Titles:
  • Corporate Counsel
Robert Dominguez serves as the Corporate Counsel at Ember Education. His primary area of responsibility is providing legal advice to San Joaquin Valley College and Carrington College on matters involving employment law, Title IX, subpoena compliance, and general litigation. Robert has litigated in state and federal courts as well as state and federal administrative agencies. Robert was born and raised in the Inland Empire area of southern California and has been a licensed attorney in California since 2004. He was the first in his immediate family to attend a four-year university, graduating from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and then Cornell Law School in Ithaca, New York. Prior to joining Ember Education, Robert practiced employment law and business litigation at several southern California law firms before taking an in-house counsel position at a nationwide HR services company based in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Robert Hendrickson

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
Robert Hendrickson is the VP of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs at Ember Education. He is responsible for leading, developing and maintaining rigorous systems to ensure compliance with all regulatory standards for Ember Education institutions. Robert has devoted his interest, experience and ambition toward strict preparedness for and adherence to education's highest standards. He began in 2007 as Accreditation Coordinator with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), where he conducted more than 125 site visits of career colleges pursuing renewals and substantive changes. He was also responsible for the presentation of evaluator workshops and new coordinator training. In addition, Robert worked to increase the levels of responsibility for multi-campus vocational education enterprises where he led organizational compliance efforts in the areas of institutional and programmatic accreditation, state licensing for residential and online programs, federal student financial aid compliance, veterans affairs and international student programs. Robert holds a Master of Science degree in International History from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor's degree in History from James Madison University.

Russ Lebo - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Team Member for the Accrediting Commission for Community
Russ Lebo is the Chief Financial Officer for Ember Education and is responsible for managing the income and operational costs through strategic planning and the development of control systems that will preserve company assets and income. Starting with San Joaquin Valley College in 1995, Russ broadened his financial administrator acumen over the years, which bolstered his transition to Ember Education. As a member of the senior management team and Executive Council, Russ oversees staff of several departments including Accounting/Finance and Payroll, Information Systems, Network Operations, Purchasing, Facilities, Benefits Administration and Risk Management. He also serves as Trustee for the company's 401(k)/Profit Sharing Plan. Russ has been a site team member for the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges/Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC/WASC), visiting several California private and community colleges seeking accreditation approval. Russ earned a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Redlands and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Stanislaus. He is a Certified Management Accountant from the Institute of Management Accountants and is Balanced Scorecard Certified with the Palladium Group/Kaplan-Norton.

Scott Hager

Job Titles:
  • Member of the San Joaquin Valley College Senior Leadership Team
  • Vice President of Operations
  • VP of Operations at San Joaquin Valley College
As VP of Operations at San Joaquin Valley College, Scott Hager provides leadership and direction for Human Resources, Network Administration, Accounting, Purchasing and Facilities. He administers oversight for the strategic advancement of these departments and contributes to the ongoing operational decisions that provide direction for the College toward achievement of its mission and strategic master plan. Scott previously served as the College's Director of Contact Center Operations where he deployed a unified hosted PBX solution across 18 locations. He designed several highly successful contact strategies, and conceived and implemented a centralized Quality Assurance process that impacted sales and financial aid departments and increased compliance scores. Scott earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of California, Irvine, The Paul Merage School of Business and his Bachelor of Business Administration, Management Information Systems at Eastern Washington University. He also studied abroad in Shanghai and Beijing, China.

Steve Perry

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities / Ember Education Leadership
Steve Perry has served in escalating levels of leadership at San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) since 1985 including Dean of Education and Campus Director, culminating in his latest position with Ember Education as Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities after retiring in 2017. Steve was the lead person determining property site locations, purchase/lease negotiations, building design, space allocation plans, selection of architects and Gen. Contractors including supervision and deadlines. He managed all properties including their upkeep and upgrade needs, designing/drafting construction plans, provided construction project management of new and existing properties and budgeting for ongoing and new projects with adherence to building code requirements. He is a Licensed Commercial Real Estate Broker. As a member of his local church, Steve serves as Eucharistic Minister and Lector. He has been chairman of the finance council and chairman of the building committee where he provided construction oversight in the building of the largest parish church in North America. His community involvement also includes serving as a Rotarian for more than 20 years and later becoming a member of the Rotary Foundation.

Sumer Avila

Job Titles:
  • Member of the San Joaquin Valley College Senior Leadership Team
  • Provost