Leadership

Kevin Brueggeman has twenty years executive leadership experience as a President and CEO serving clients, team members, and stakeholders in the assessment, technology, and education industries. In addition to Scantron, he has held such leadership positions at other name-brand organizations like Educational Testing Service, Pearson, Sylvan Prometric, and Harcourt.  He has led companies with 100 to more than 1,000 team members and with dozens to more than 10,000 clients under a variety of ownership structures, including private equity, joint-venture, and corporate divisions.

He has extensive experience in business mergers and acquisitions, business turn-arounds, and leading organizational growth while improving customer satisfaction, team member engagement, and enterprise value. Kevin also has a long track record of attracting outstanding leadership talent and developing high-performing management teams.

Professional Highlights:

• Twenty years of leadership as a President, CEO
• Deep experience in educational assessment, certification & licensure testing, educational technology, managed technology services, and global markets.
• Completed the Minnesota Executive Program at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
• Long track record of attracting key leadership talent and developing high-performing management teams.

 LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/kevinbrueggeman/

Nikki Eatchel has more than 25 years of experience in the assessment industry.  She has spent the majority of her career focused in the areas of assessment development and psychometrics and has served in executive leadership positions for these areas in a number of global assessment organizations. In her positions, she has worked in various testing segments, including education, certification and licensure, and pre-employment testing. She has also served as an assessment and business consultant for various national and international organizations. In her current role, Nikki leads all development and operational aspects of Assessment Solutions, including assessment development and psychometrics, assessment technology, professional services, and operations.

Her responsibilities have spanned the full spectrum of assessment activities, including assessment design, assessment development, item bank design and management, item development, test publishing and administration, scoring, reporting and analytics. She has been personally responsible for large-scale assessment development for global programs as well as state-wide clients — working in some capacity with all 50 states within the U.S. She has added to her well-rounded approach to the assessment industry by serving in leadership positions in product management, software development, program management, client support, and business development. She has also worked in the arena of employment litigation support, preparing assessment testimony for teams representing both the prosecution and the defense.

Professional Highlights:

• Global expert in the development, administration, and analysis of both large-scale and small-scale assessments
• More than 25 years of experience working in the certification and licensure, pre-employment, higher education, and k-12 assessment markets
• Leads a variety of teams in professional services (e.g., program management, customer support, documentation, and training), software development, and product management to fully support overall assessment programs
• Has presented more than 60 papers and presentations at such conferences as ATP, E-ATP, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the International Personnel Management Association (IPMA), and the Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR)

Associations and Affiliations:

• Board Executive, Association of Test Publishers, 2014-2019
• Chair of the Board, Association of Test Publishes, 2017
• Chair of Security Committee, Association of Test Publishers (ATP) Committee in 2011-2014
• Committee Member, Operational Best Practices, ATP & CCSSO, 2011

Email: Nikki.Eatchel@scantron.com

Twitter: @nikkieatchel

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nikki-eatchel-8b14513/

Shaun Nugent is an accomplished finance leader with extensive experience managing hyper-growth, middle-market businesses in a variety of industries and organizational structures.  He has more than 25 years of experience in senior executive leadership and has led accounting, finance, M&A, IT, digital transformation, and business process re-engineering at numerous, successful firms.

Prior to joining Scantron in July 2020, Shaun served as the CEO and CFO of several major private and public companies, including Sun Country Airlines, Life Time Fitness, AllOver Media, and Champps Entertainment.  His most recent role was as Chief Financial Officer of Vireo Health International, a publicly held, specialty pharma company.

Professional Highlights:

• Raised and deployed more than $1B of capital through public and private equity, senior and subordinated debt and creative asset leases.
• Built and led two site-based brand rollouts from local to national footprint with more than 40 profitable units.
• Led the turnaround of a bankrupt regional airline with one old aircraft and no revenue into a profitable international commercial carrier with over a dozen 737-800 aircraft generating more than $350M in annual revenue.
• Managed teams from ten to several thousand in hyper-growth environments that resulted in revenue, margin, and EBITDA gain and increased shareholder value.
• Planned, managed, and executed three business sales that generated 4x to 20x returns on initial investment.
• Named ‘CFO of the Year’ in 2014 by Twin Cities Business in recognition of his many accomplishments.

Non-Profit Board Affiliations:

• Twin Cities Film Festival – Advisory Board Member (2015 – present)
• Common Hope – Executive Board Member (2009-2018)

Cathy Pickoski has more than 25 years of experience leading high performing sales and marketing teams in environments of rapid growth and change.  She began her career at MCI Telecommunications establishing herself in progressive leadership roles within the Consumer, Commercial and Public Sector Markets, which culminated in leading the Field Segment Marketing team for Western Global Accounts with annual revenues in excess of $800M.  She then moved to Qwest Communications running the North Texas/Oklahoma Region and growing revenues more than 400% during her tenure. In late 2005, she joined Plato Learning to lead sales teams in the K12, post-secondary and channel markets as the organization transformed to a Software-as-a-Service business. During this period, her teams exceeded annual revenue goals and secured key contracts at the state level along with securing multiple contracts at the district and post-secondary level.

At Scantron, Cathy leads domestic and international teams for all lines of business across the product portfolio, focusing on enhancing the customer experience and driving her teams toward areas of long-term opportunity and growth.

Professional Highlights:

• More than 25 years of success in transforming sales and marketing organizations.
• Extensive experience in the technology and assessment market segments
• Expertise in global market development and operations

Email: Cathy.Pickoski@scantron.com

Twitter: @CathyPickoski

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cathy-pickoski-84a68ba/

Jay Whitchurch is an experienced leader with more than 20 years in executive leadership roles. Jay brings expertise in general management, growth, product innovation, digital transformation, operational excellence, partnerships, and acquisitions. Leveraging his 15 years in the Assessment industry, he is currently responsible for driving Scantron Assessment Solutions’ overall business performance, strategy, and operations.

Prior to Scantron, Jay led organizations and served in other senior executive roles in the Assessment and Education industries, including: Pearson’s Educational Assessment business as the Senior Vice President, Products/Services, and with Harcourt Assessment as the Senior Vice President/Chief Information Officer. He was also CEO and founder of campus2careers, an innovative education technology company focused on college and career readiness. After driving substantial growth for the business and winning various awards, campus2careers was acquired in January 2013. Before his work in the Assessment industry, Jay was a senior leader with Booz & Company as part of a successful career in advising C-level clients on key strategic growth initiatives.

Professional Highlights:

• More than 20 years in executive leadership roles
• 15 years of leadership experience in the Assessment industry helping organizations transform and grow
• Strong expertise in general management, growth, product innovation, digital transformation, operational excellence, partnerships, and acquisitions
• Successfully launched, grew, and sold an Education Tech company

Association and Affiliations:

• Assessment Solutions Group Advisor (2010–present)
• Board member – CTB McGraw Hill’s Innovation Board (2011–2013)
• Board member – Edfolio (2013–2015)
• Advisor – Subject Matter (2013–2015)
• Member – Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Ed Tech Committee (2011–2015)
• Board member – Get Your Learn On (2010–2013)
• Board member – Moolah U (2009–2013)
• Board Chairman – Circular Energy (2009–2015)
• Advisor – Missionwell (2007–2008)

Email: Jay.Whitchurch@scantron.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jaywhitchurch/

Jim DePuydt has been a leader in technology and product management for more than 20 years. During this time, he has led the development and implementation of next-generation imaging scanners and software, optical and magnetic storage media, and established an advanced technology development laboratory for data storage and consumer electronics. As a product manager, he was responsible for the long-term growth of several, multi-million-dollar projects and has led the strategic vision of commercial data storage products. Jim’s experience includes R&D, manufacturing, marketing, product line management and intellectual property development.

Most recently, Jim was the Director of Hardware and Software Development for Scantron Data Solutions where he led the development of the i700c, i1500c, and i1900 scanners, as well as ScanTools^® Prisma software. Prior to joining Scantron, Jim was a technical and business consultant to 3M’s Electronics and Energy Business Group Laboratory leading the company’s strategic vision to electromagnetic interference control materials. He has also served as Imation Corps.’ acting CTO and Executive Director of the company’s data storage products laboratory

Professional Highlights:

• More than 20 years of experience in technology and product management.
• Listed as an inventor on more than 20 U.S. patents.
• Published more than 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to the book, “Understanding Computers: Today and Tomorrow.”
• Winner of the international Lord Rank Prize in optoelectronics for his work on visible laser diodes.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree Mathematics, University of Minnesota
• Bachelor’s Degree Physics, University of Minnesota
• PhD Condensed Matter Physics, University of Minnesota

Email: Jim.DePuydt@scantron.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimdepuydt

With more than 22 year of experience in Payroll and Human Resources, Tracey Ellis leads all HR related activities for Scantron—overseeing HR needs for Assessment Solutions, Technology Solutions and Scanners and Forms. She began her HR career at Weyerhaeuser in Payroll and General Accounting then moved to ConAgra where she held several HR roles, including Payroll Supervisor for the Food Ingredients Division.  Eventually, Tracey joined Scantron where she has held progressive leadership roles during her 14 year tenure, specializing in employee relations. She has also developed significant experience with acquisitions and employee integration.

Tracey is certified in Human Resources through both the Human Resources Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resources Management.

Professional Highlights:

• Certified in Human Resources through both the Human Resources Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resources Management
• More than 22 years of experience working in Payroll and Human Resources as both a generalist and a specialist
• Super-user during major software conversions at three companies

Associations and Affiliations:

• PHR
• SHRM-CP
• Member of Society of Human Resources Management
• Member of Human Resources Association of the Midlands

Email: Tracey.Ellis@scantron.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tracey-ellis-hr

For the last 29 years, Brian Janning has held various management roles in the field service and support operations field.  Leveraging seven years of prior manufacturing experience as a quality engineer, Brian has directly managed depot repair operations, technical support operations, technical training, and a nationwide field service organization. These teams supported a wide variety of products and services while serving a diverse customer base in many vertical markets.

Leading all operations at a national service organization, Brian has driven advancements in technology and process improvements creating cost savings and competitive advantages for his organization. His experience includes major involvement in multiple acquisitions, large-scale projects for national customers, technical sales support, systems and process conversions, along with profit and loss responsibilities.

Professional Highlights:

• Direct operational management of
  • Depot Repair and Logistics Operations
  • Help Desk and Technical Support Teams
  • Technical Training Programs
  • National Field Service organization
• More than 29 years of experience in the support of a wide variety of products and services in IT environments for a diverse customer base
• Demonstrated leadership in national IT service and solutions organization

Email: Brian.Janning@Scantron.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brian-janning-a567a122

Vern Kathol has more than 35 years of leadership experience in the information technology space including expertise in the areas of Technical Support Operations, Depot Repair Operations, Purchasing, Inventory and Logistics Operations, and IT Governance.  The breadth of his experience has also allowed him to play key roles in M&A activity within the Scantron Technology Solutions brand.  As Vice President of Hardware and Managed Print Services, his responsibilities include the development of growth vision and strategy, the execution of that strategy via organic service development, the creation of strategic alliances and the support of acquisition strategy.

His development of strategic alliances has driven growth in Hardware Maintenance, Managed IT and Manage Print Services lines of business. Vern has also established Scantron Technology Solutions as a key producer for a number of strategic alliance partners. In conjunction with the organic development of services, his IT Governance responsibilities produced supporting systems which earned him and his team the company’s prestigious Pillar of Excellence Award for Innovation.

Professional Highlights:

• More than 35 years of experience in the information technology industry
• Skilled in the development of growth vision and the execution of strategy to achieve results and long term cultural evolution
• Successful integration of acquisitions in support of geographic expansion strategy
• Organic development of market-leading Managed IT and Managed Print product lines
• Development of top-producing strategic alliances with major OEMs

Email:  Vern.Kathol@scantron.com

LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/in/vern-kathol-69241414/

Kim Larsen has more than 28 years of experience and first-hand knowledge working in the SMB Marketplace. She has been responsible for the sales, purchasing and deployment of more than $150 million of IT infrastructure, including: IT Managed Services, Network Design and Implementation. Kim also brings a wealth of financial management expertise, business partnership acquisitions, financial reporting and budgetary oversight to Scantron.

Kim provides leadership and financial guidance for the continued development of an innovative, robust and secure Information Technology environment. During her time at WRK Systems, her guidance strategy on realignment of the Managed Services Support model helped grow the organization by 210% in three years. Additionally, during her realignment of support strategies, she was also able to grow gross profit margin on services by 15% during the same three year window.

Professional Highlights:

• Proven ability to implement Managed Services Support models and strategies to substantially grow business
• More than 28 years of experience working in the SMB market with extensive experience relating to IT Managed Services
• Expertise in financial management, business partnership acquisitions, financial reporting, and budgetary oversight.

Associations and Affiliations:

• Omaha Chamber of Commerce
• Trust X Alliance

Email: Kim.Larsen@scantron.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kim-larsen-1bb0b58a/

Tim Luukkonen has more than 15 years of experience driving communication and marketing initiatives for organizations ranging from privately held corporations to state universities. He has an extensive background leading teams in corporate communication, team member engagement, brand positioning, change management, and strategic planning. In his current role, Tim works with senior leadership to provide effective and efficient marketing support for each line of business. He also continues to lead all strategic communication initiatives across the enterprise.

Tim began his career in the Army, first working in military intelligence as a linguist, before eventually transitioning to Public Affairs. Following his military service, he worked as the managing editor for a San Antonio-based magazine where his primary role involved content management, marketing, and brand evolution. In 2011, he began work for the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he led marketing and communication strategies for the College of Engineering before being promoted and leading marketing and communication efforts for the Office of the Vice President of Research. By 2015, he joined Vericast (formerly Harland Clarke Holdings) as a director, where he has worked on a variety of projects including Scantron’s brand evolution, business continuity plan, employee value proposition, video strategies, and corporate communication.

Professional Highlights:

• More than 15 years of experience leading communication programs that actively drive change
• Success developing brand evolution and positioning initiatives
• Expertise in employee engagement strategies
• Extensive experience with communication metrics and data

Email: Tim.Luukkonen@scantron.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-luukkonen/

With more than 20 years of experience in the technology space and over 10 years of leadership experience, Justin Taylor leads the Information Technology and Compliance teams for Scantron.  In this role, he is responsible for Scantron’s IT Infrastructure, information security, and internal business systems to ensure they meet the needs of Assessment Solutions, Technology Solutions, and the Scantron enterprise. As Compliance Officer, Justin works with senior leadership to develop compliance and risk management programs for the organization.

Justin began his IT career at Pearson as a Systems Engineer.  He has spent the vast majority of his career in technical and leadership roles within Assessment Technology organizations.  Since joining the Scantron team in 2008, Justin has held several progressively responsible leadership roles all focused within the technology area.

Most recently, Justin was the Director of IT Infrastructure where he led the technology transformation and process excellence efforts for the company which have resulted in consistently exceeding availability targets and system performance objectives for customer-facing, Software-as-a-Service applications as well as back-office, internal business systems.

Professional Highlights:

• More than 20 years of combined experience in hands-on engineering and leadership roles
• Process and technology innovation leadership experience
• Proven track record in technical team building, talent acquisition, and retention
• Experienced in M&A activity pre- and post-process, including team and system integrations
• Extensive Information Security audit experience

Email: Justin.Taylor@scantron.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justintaylor79