EDMENTUM - Key Persons
Amanda Kocon - Chief Strategy Officer
As Chief Strategy Officer, Amanda works to bring Edmentum's long-term vision to life by connecting strategy to execution and ensuring that our goals for growth and impact are aligned to the current and future needs of our education partners and the students we serve. She has extensive experience setting strategy, growing and diversifying revenue across markets, and leading complex change.
Amanda most recently served as Chief Strategy Officer at The New Teachers Project (TNTP) and has also previously held senior leadership positions at JP Morgan Chase, including Chief Operations Officer of Global Futures and Options.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Managing Partner, Emerson Collective & Former U.S. Secretary of Education
Chuck brings over 25 years of diverse experience spanning education and technology to lead our customer success team. He began his career in industries like hardware and ecommerce before joining Apex Learning in 2000. While at Apex, Chuck held key leadership roles across each customer-facing function, including sales, marketing, virtual schools, and most notably, services. Chuck's customer-centric approach to services combined with his operational background established Apex as an industry leader in customer success, loyalty, and advocacy.
Chuck lives outside Seattle with his wife and two children. He is a life-long soccer fan, enjoys staying active outdoors, and enjoys cooking.
Chuck's Why: "I fell into education by chance and quickly realized I was never going to leave. The impact we have on a child or a group of children is so incredibly powerful and rewarding, but those feelings also come with a moral and civic responsibility to do even more. So, I do what I do because I know it makes a difference in the lives of many, but also because there's so much more work to be done. I'm more committed today than ever."
Job Titles:
- CEO & President, Alliance for Excellent Education
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Advocacy and External Affairs
Debi began her career in classrooms and districts across Florida, culminating as the Area Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction and Director of Secondary Language Arts for Orange County. Like many Edmentors, Debi left public education, but didn't stray far from her true passion. Debi took on key leadership roles in prominent education companies like Scholastic, Cambium, HMH, School Specialty, and IXL - most recently serving as the SVP of National Customer Advocacy & Client Success at Achieve3000.
Debi's Why: I have always known, since the day that I was 5 years old and "teaching" my younger brother and kids from around the neighborhood, at my Raggedy Ann Blackboard, that I was meant to be a teacher. I was meant to help others discover their individual learning styles, unique abilities, and personal grit to build a pathway that was about their own growth. I was meant to have impact and build a culture of learning before I even understood what that truly meant. My why is that my heart is deeply connected to the mission of customer advocacy, internal and external team connectedness, and the power of culture that empowers organizations to partner with customers truly, deeply in a way that builds incredible impact for all. Edmentum embodies that impact and the power of culture and promise, and I am thrilled to have found the right home.
Job Titles:
- Advisor, Vistria & Former Superintendent
Job Titles:
- CEO, Acceleration Academies
Job Titles:
- President & Executive Director, LearnLaunch
Jakki is responsible for advising the company on a wide range of legal and business issues to include governance, contracts, intellectual property, and employment matters. Prior to joining Edmentum, Jakki worked at Stride, Inc. (formerly known as K12) for nearly 15 years in progressively escalating legal roles. She graduated from Catholic University's, Columbus School of Law in Washington, DC with a JD, Cum Laude and holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from George Mason University. Jakki resides in Virginia with her husband, sons and dog. In addition to family time, she enjoys jokes, puzzles, music and relic hunting.
Jakki's Why: At a young age, the importance of a good education was instilled in me by my parents and elders. I took that to heart and worked hard in school. I ultimately came to appreciate two critical trends. One, a great teacher can make a huge impact in a student's life and two, learning styles, strengths and weaknesses vary widely among students. Where one student excels another may struggle and vice versa. I am happy to work at a company that elevates educators and uses technology and other tools to move beyond the one-size-fits-all approach to learning.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President
Jamie Candee leads Edmentum's strategic vision and long-term growth as President, CEO, and Board Director. Since re-joining Edmentum in 2017, Jamie has continuously focused on putting educators at the forefront of Edmentum programs and services, all of which are designed to identify and support unique learning styles while improving student outcomes. Providing educators with flexible digital curriculum and assessments for learning allows them to personalize instruction and create equitable learning opportunities for all students.
Over the past five years, Jamie has received numerous awards including the 2022 POW! (Power of Women) Award from ASU+GSV, which recognizes influential female leaders providing equal access to the future through education; the 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year Heartland Award by Ernst & Young, and one of EdTech Digest's Top 100 Influencers in EdTech in 2018. Additionally, Jamie has participated in highly selective leadership programs such as Pahara Fellowship, a one-year, cohort-based program for exceptional leaders in education and equity, which focuses on collective efforts to dramatically improve public education, especially those serving low-income children and communities.
In all her work, Jamie continues to live by the credo of doing well by doing good. She founded Edmentum's We Can Learn foundation in 2017, committed to making a meaningful impact in education, through philanthropic giving and service that supports equitable and innovative learning opportunities. Jamie also is fiercely committed to supporting dynamic organizations, and serves on numerous boards, including America Succeeds, The Learning Tree International, and Education Staffing Solutions. Additionally, Jamie serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Visitation School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
Jamie is considered a thought leader on topics such as women in leadership, innovation in education, modern technology, private equity, and education policy. She has spoken at numerous conferences including ASU+GSV and AASA, Ed Tech weeks in NY and MN, Ed Tech focused investor conferences across the country, and has been quoted in variety of national and industry publications such as Forbes, The New York Times, Today, The74 and Ed Tech Magazine. Jamie holds a Master of Business Administration from Bethel University and a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Wisconsin.
"I love that I can wake up every day and be around people who share my commitment to teaching and learning. Edmentum is committed to personalizing learning for every student we serve, as well as supporting teachers in their mission to support every student. We will not stop pursuing our goal to ensure every student in this country can learn and be successful."
Jamie Candee leads Edmentum's strategic vision and long-term growth as President, CEO, and Board Director. She has served as CEO of Edmentum since 2017, and has extensive experience in education technology, private equity, and policy. Edmentum is a global education leader, delivering research-based digital curriculum, assessments for learning, and quality educational consulting. With over 60 years of experience, Edmentum is both a pioneer in online teaching and learning solutions and is continually committed to making it easier for educators to individualize learning for every student.
As CEO, Jamie is focused on ensuring that Edmentum programs and services empower teachers with the digital curriculum and assessments for learning they need to personalize instruction and create equitable learning opportunities for all students. Her vision is to ensure Edmentum programs are aligned to every teacher's instructional strategies and demonstrate evidence of growth and learning. Leading with an educator first approach, Jamie ensures that teachers and students are always top-of-mind - from development through implementation of their Edmentum programs.
Jamie lives by the credo of doing well by doing good. In 2018, Jamie founded Edmentum's We Can Learn foundation. We Can Learn is committed to making a meaningful impact in education through philanthropic giving and service, that supports equitable and innovative learning opportunities. Since its inception, We Can Learn has supported the development of a school in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, partnered with multiple local and national organizations, and provided support to over 10,000 children.
Jamie is an active member of her community, providing mentorship, speaking, and leading through a variety of volunteer opportunities and board memberships. Jamie has spoken or been quoted on leadership, education, technology, finance, and professional development in The New York Times, Forbes, Today, ASU+GSV, and AASA. Jamie is on the Board of Trustees for Visitation School, and she sits on the board of directors for Project Success and Learning Tree International. Additionally, Jamie has been recognized by various industry-leading organizations for her leadership including the Minnesota Business Magazine, Ernst & Young, The Software Report, and EdTech Digest. Jamie holds a Master of Business Administration from Bethel University and a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Wisconsin.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chief Executive Officer at Hope Chicago
Job Titles:
- SVP Global Sales
- Technology Executive
Jill is an accomplished technology executive with 30 years of experience leading global sales, account management, customer success, marketing, and business development teams. She began her career in software and technology, working at leading dev ops, media, and financial services organizations until she pivoted to education and EdTech in 2010. In her words, "I realized that what I was doing every day could have a greater impact, more societal value." Since that moment, Jill has led sales organizations at NWEA, Turnitin, Schoology, and most recently Apex Learning. She has extensive experience in both the U.S. and international markets. She is passionate about creating strong teams in mission-driven organizations and bringing technology solutions to educational institutions that make a difference in the outcomes for students and the work of educators.
Jill lives in Portland, Oregon, and makes the most of all the Pacific Northwest has to offer - excellent access to outdoor adventures, great food, and great community. She's a soccer fan and season ticket holder of the Portland Timbers. Depending on the time of year, you'll find her hiking the amazing trails in the Columbia Gorge and the Cascades with her dog Scout or embarking on ski adventures with her family in search of great powder.
Jill's inspiration comes from a fundamental belief that the application of technology can make a tremendous impact in the lives and trajectories of both students and educators. As the daughter of a lifelong educator who was a teacher, principal and administrator, Jill grew up with the importance of education as a deeply held value, and a belief in education as the great equalizer. That inspiration extends to working alongside amazing people who share the same mission of using technology to do good and make a difference.
Kevin joined Edmentum in early 2022 as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing 25 years of experience driving innovation and impact with marketing teams across a diverse mix of technology companies, non-profit organizations and marketing agencies. He previously spent four years leading the marketing function at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), a global provider of leadership development and executive education solutions for many of the world's largest brands.
Prior to CCL, Kevin spent nearly a decade working in marketing agencies, most recently as Chief Strategy Officer for Pace Communications, the largest independent content marketing agency in North America. While living in the Pacific Northwest, Kevin held marketing leadership roles at several software startups, a non-profit learning community, and in the Windows, Developer, and Online Services marketing groups at Microsoft.
Kevin earned a Bachelors of Science in History and Business Administration from the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) and an MBA from the University of Washington. Originally from Northern California, Kevin lives in North Carolina with his wife and three daughters.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chief Executive Officer at Flinn Scientific
As Chief Financial Officer, Mike Trimarchi is responsible for leading Edmentum's global finance, accounting, and legal teams, as well as designing and implementing financial strategies that support Edmentum's short- and long-term growth objectives.
Mike most recently served as CFO at CommerceHub, a provider of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions to a leading commerce network of retailers and brands, which processed $50 billion of merchandise through its platform. He previously held finance executive roles with Vistaprint and AngioDynamics.
Mike has experience scaling companies, ranging from $80 million to $1 billion in revenue and improving business efficiency and performance. He has led organizations through numerous phases of growth and corporate structures, including taking companies public and private. Mike is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Albany.
Based in Saratoga, NY, Mike enjoys spending time with his three children, leaving divots on the golf course, and watching any and all sports.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Partner at the Vistria Group
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Managing Director at BlackRock
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Managing Director, CEO and Director of NMFC
Ryan Hagedorn is the Chief Operating Officer for Edmentum. As someone who has spent his career in both education and technology, he strives to create change through innovation. Understanding the transformative power of education, Ryan remains a life-long learner while constantly seeking out ways to reach new audiences and inspire others through bold new approaches to learning. In his current role, Ryan oversees operations in terms of day-to-day as well as big-picture planning and development. Through his dedication and guidance, he helps to drive the company forward by building strong relationships and exceeding the expectations of all stakeholders.
Prior to his position as COO, Ryan held multiple leadership positions with Edmentum. His journey within the organization began as a marketing lead where he helped to develop a clear voice for the company while carving out innovative strategies to reach new markets. From here, he continued on to bring his love of learning to a wide audience as VP of Sales for both the Higher Education sector and the K-Adult division. His time with Edmentum has been a constant reflection of his passion, his character, and his drive to not only reach heights of personal success but to elevate the field for others. It is this drive and his dedication to expanding learning opportunities that have been the hallmarks of his career.
Before joining the Edmentum team, Ryan worked for nearly a decade in marketing and business development. This experience included multiple roles that dealt directly with advancing technologies and incorporating evolving strategies to optimize growth. Since his youth, Ryan was always interested in learning. He also realized from a young age that learning opportunities were lacking and often too narrow in their focus. His interest in technology allowed him to see an opportunity, and he has embraced technological innovation throughout his career. This led him to push forward with exciting projects like the launch of Edmentum's virtual academy significantly expanding the brand's reach.
Ryan has a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Hofstra University and sits on the board for Reflection Sciences and EdNorth. These endeavors reflect Ryan's passion for both technology and entrepreneurship. At the core, however, Ryan's work is motivated by his love of education and his enthusiasm for the opportunities Edmentum offers to empower educators to better adapt to their student's needs and help to shape the world of tomorrow.
Job Titles:
- Certified Executive Coach
- Product Council Chairman and Naviance Founder
Smith is a certified Executive Coach and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University, a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Davenport University, Advanced Strategic Diversity Practitioner Certification from Cornell University, and designation as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. She has been honored with induction into both Who's Who in Black Detroit and Who's Who in Black Columbus, is the recipient of the 2022 Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media) Mentor Maven Award and was recently named 2022 HR Impact Awardee by Columbus Business First.
Job Titles:
- Soutor CEO, ParentPowered
Bio
For over 25 years Todd has led the development of educational technology products for the nation's leading publishers and is proud to have impacted the lives of millions of students. As Chief Product Officer, Todd drives product strategy for Edmentum, ensuring our solutions meet the needs of the educators and students we serve.
Prior to Edmentum, Todd served as Chief Product Officer for Apex Learning and has held senior leadership positions with McGraw Hill Education, Redbird Advanced Learning, and Six Red Marbles. Todd holds a Master's degree in Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy & Astrophysics from Villanova University.
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Board Member, Cognita Schools