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About Pearson VUE

Meet the Executive Team

Our executive team possesses nearly 200 years of combined experience implementing and operating computerized testing programs. We have implemented many global testing programs, the majority of which were transitions from other test delivery providers. We have developed an impeccable reputation for our commitment to quality and provide the highest level of service to our clients, their test takers, and our test center partners.

Pearson VUE is committed to being the industry leader in electronic testing, as evidenced by the track record of our experienced personnel, the investment in our infrastructure, and the continued advancement of our technology. Please take a few moments to meet our executive team.

• Robert Whelan
  President and Chief Executive Officer

  Over the course of an impressive 33-year career, Bob Whelan has made significant contributions to Pearson VUE and the entire testing industry. As the company’s president and chief executive officer, Bob has overall management responsibility for the Pearson VUE electronic testing business. Through successful communication of a clear vision and a team-based collaborative approach, he has seen the company grow to become the global leader in computer-based assessments. In recognition of these efforts, Bob received the 2011 ATP Award for Professional Contributions and Service to Testing from the Association of Test Publishers. Today, Pearson VUE delivers millions of exams in more than 400 company-owned-operated Pearson Professional Centers and a network of approximately 4,100 Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers around the world. Bob earned a BA in Finance and Economics from the University of Alabama.

• Betty Bergstrom, PhD
  Vice President, Testing Services

  Betty Bergstrom leads the psychometric services team and the senior research scientist team at Pearson VUE. These teams are responsible for utilizing measurement theory, statistical methodology, and data analysis to provide psychometrically sound examinations for client programs. They conduct applied research to improve client processes.

  Betty has research expertise in the areas of computer-based and adaptive testing, innovative item types, item response theory, and large-scale item banking. She is the author of numerous articles related to computer-based testing. She is a member of the American Educational Research Association and National Council on Measurement in Education and served on the Association of Test Publishers board of directors from 2007–2010. Betty holds a MS and PhD from the University of Chicago in Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistical Analysis.

• Stephanie Dille
  Vice President, Global Marketing

  Stephanie Dille is a top-performing marketing professional with more than 20 years of progressively challenging positions in sales and marketing in the testing industry. Her key areas of expertise include writing and executing integrated marketing plans to grow testing programs, launching new business initiatives, managing a marquee product line, and creating an effective proposal process to serve a growing business. Skilled at identifying and effectively implementing revenue-generating marketing opportunities for both the company and its clients, Stephanie is a notably enthusiastic, highly motivated team player with strong interpersonal and leadership skills. She manages a team of seasoned marketing professionals and leads the proposal and publications teams at Pearson VUE. Stephanie received a BA from the University of Minnesota and has an MBA in Marketing from the University of St. Thomas.

• Gary Gates, PhD
  Senior Vice President, Global Business

  An international business expert, Gary Gates is responsible for leading Pearson VUE’s strategic efforts outside North America. In this vital role, he works to incubate and grow Pearson VUE international opportunities by establishing partnerships, recommending acquisitions, and collaborating with established Pearson businesses located in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, South Africa, India, China, Japan, Korea, and Australia.

  Gary’s considerable experience launching international enterprises includes development, commercialization, and internationalization of innovative technology which transformed how governments and other constituents source traffic information. He has also negotiated and established joint ventures and has won new business on a global scale. Prior to joining Pearson VUE, he held senior management positions with British Nuclear Fuels Plc and British Energy. Gary received his PhD in Inelastic Scattering in Gas-Surface Dynamics from the University of Liverpool and graduated with honors from the University of York with a BS in Theoretical Physics.

• Bridget Herd
  Vice President, Program Management

  Bridget Herd is a results-oriented professional with more than 19 years of success in all aspects of product management, including marketing, development, launch, and event planning. As vice president of program management for Pearson VUE, Bridget assesses organizational and personnel strengths to identify new opportunities for growth and development. Her focus is to make certain that the service expectations of all professional services clients are met or exceeded. Bridget also oversees the professional services program management team, a key client liaison group whose individual program managers serve as the client’s primary contact with Pearson VUE. She has an added focus of bringing ongoing process improvement and quality assurance to Pearson VUE’s growing business.

  Bridget has more than 16 years of experience in the education and assessment fields, including 12 years with Pearson. She holds an MBA from St. Thomas University and a BA from the University of Wisconsin.

• Corey Hoesley
  Vice President, Global Operations

  Corey Hoesley is responsible for all the operations that support Pearson VUE’s business functionality. In addition to his position on the company’s senior executive team, he provides daily and strategic leadership for Pearson VUE global operations, including the Pearson-owned and -operated testing channel, security, customer service, technical support desk, network operations, information systems, quality control, data integrity, and fulfillment. Corey has proven himself to be an effective leader of multiple operational departments in his tenure. His 16 years of operational management experience and testing and assessment business experience offer a unique combination to Pearson VUE clients. Corey has a BS in Mass Communications from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

• Michael Hussey
  Vice President, Business Development

  As vice president of business development, Michael Hussey is responsible for business development initiatives in the state assessment, professional certification, and information technology markets. With more than 24 years of experience in sales and leadership roles, he has a proven track record of achieving results and generating growth by developing high-functioning teams and implementing effective business strategies.

  During his tenure with Pearson businesses, Michael has contributed to many successes, including revenue growth in the state assessment business by 240 percent in three years; development of a sales team in the K-12 assessment business; expansion of a proposal development organization to capture over 50 percent market share in the large-scale state assessment business; and creation of a new presence for Pearson in high-stakes IT certification preparation through mindhub™. He holds a BS in Mathematics from Indiana University.

• Doug Kennedy
  Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

  Doug Kennedy directs strategic planning, implementation, management, and control of all Pearson VUE financial activities. In addition to leading global teams of finance and accounting professionals, he manages merger and acquisition efforts, the test center real estate portfolio, and the legal department. He also serves on the company’s senior leadership team and supports the GED Testing Services® and Pearson Credential Management business units. He has more than 25 years of financial leadership experience.

  Before joining Pearson VUE, Doug served as division controller at supercomputer manufacturer Cray Research, held roles of increasing responsibility in financial planning, marketing, and sales analysis at Northwest Airlines, and was involved in financial planning for Fingerhut Companies. Doug holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and an MBA in Finance from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Business.

• Karen Ketchmark
  Senior Vice President, Human Resources

  In leading Pearson VUE’s human resources efforts, Karen is responsible for long- and short-term strategy, talent acquisition, leadership development, compensation and HR support activities. As a member of the company’s Senior Executive Team, she works to align Pearson VUE’s management of human capital with its high-growth strategic objectives. In addition to human resources, her professional experience includes operations, client services and delivery implementation. Karen holds a BA in Human Resources Management from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota and an MBA from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

• Ron Lancaster
  Vice President, Technology

  Ron Lancaster has 15 years of experience in software development. As vice president of technology, he manages software teams that provide a full suite of services—including test development and data management—designed to provide a fair, equal, and comprehensive measurement of candidates’ performance. Ron is an experienced leader, an accomplished software developer, and a consistent advocate for improvement and innovation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, as well as a MS in Software Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

• Raymond Murray
  Vice President, Information Technology and Human Resources Development Business Development

  Ray Murray leads the significant growth, advancement and innovation of Pearson VUE’s global IT and human resources development business segments. He also manages Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center (PVTC) channel sales. Unique to this role is setting and managing the global IT strategy, which primarily drives the PVTC channel sales strategy all over the world. His commitment to quality management principles allows him to strategically plan for new opportunities and support existing clients in high pressure, international and cross-functional businesses. A proven leader, Ray is fluent in English, French and Arabic.

  Ray holds a BA in Literature from College Birazarane in Morocco and is pursuing an MBA in International Business from Griffith University in Australia.

• Steve Nordberg
  Chief Technologist and Senior Vice President, Products and Services

  With 40 years of experience in the computer industry, Steve Nordberg has a broad background in technology, management, sales, marketing and finance. His distinctive experience includes three years as a sales and marketing executive for a growing, technology-based services business, four years as a successful independent management consultant, 14 years as a manager and executive with a Fortune 200 computer company, and five years as a systems engineer and manager.

  Steve is the co-founder of the original VUE business, encompassing all aspects of innovative training services. He led technology development and strategic sales for VUE and helped grow the business until it culminated in its sale to National Computer Systems in April 1997. As the company’s senior vice president of products and services and its chief technologist, he leads the technological evolution of Pearson VUE systems. Steve holds a MS in Mathematics from New York University and graduated with distinction from University of Minnesota’s Institute of Technology with a BS in Mathematics.

• E. Clarke Porter
  Vice President and General Manager, Pearson Credential Management

  E. Clarke Porter has been a major driving force in the computer-based testing industry since its inception. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, he has served in such varied roles as co-founder, chief executive officer, and president for several high-volume testing and certification companies. He also developed the first commercial computerized testing technology at Control Data Corporation. Through key partnerships with information technology (IT) industry players such as Novell and others, Clarke did seminal work building the IT certification concept, business model, and infrastructure, which encompassed all aspects of the value chain including skills development, assessment, and high-stakes testing. He is currently responsible for executing Pearson VUE’s strategy as it pertains to enterprise credential management and verification services. Clarke holds a MS in Education (with coursework in measurement and computer science) from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Towson University.

• Arthur Valentine
  Senior Vice President, Professional Services

  As senior vice president, Professional Services, Art Valentine oversees Pearson VUE’s global testing services, credential management and marketing teams as well as North American program management. In this role, he is responsible for ensuring that all client deliverables are met and client satisfaction exceeds expectations. Testing services including content development, examination publication and psychometric services are also under his leadership as are value-added services that help clients increase testing volume and brand equity through effective marketing programs.

  Art has more than 25 years of experience in leadership positions and is a member of Pearson VUE’s senior executive team, responsible for driving Pearson VUE business strategy and increasing shareholder value. Before joining Pearson VUE in 2003, he served as a principal at Perot Systems, a firm that provided enterprise resource planning solutions for manufacturing and retail companies. He has also held positions with Accenture and Verticalnet, where he provided technical consultative services to leading technology and consumer organizations. Art holds a BS in Mathematical Sciences from the University of North Carolina where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Highest Honors.

• Donald Wagner
  Senior Vice President, Business Development

  Don Wagner, a pioneer in the computer-based testing industry and key leader at Pearson VUE, has been a driving force behind Pearson VUE’s success. As senior vice president of business development, he is responsible for strategic planning, market, and business development activities serving the professional licensure and certification, information technology, military, human resource, academic, and regulatory markets. He is also responsible for Pearson VUE’s Partnership in Innovation initiative and the sales efforts to recruit and manage third-party test centers.

  Don has more than 20 years of broad technical experience helping clients implement computer-based testing solutions and build successful testing programs. He is an active supporter of industry organizations and initiatives that promote the benefits of computer-based assessment to clients and candidates. Don holds a BS degree in Businesses Administration, Information Systems, and Management from the University of Cincinnati.

• Bill West
  Vice President, Professional Business Development

  As vice president of professional business development, Bill West leads the team responsible for new business, account management, and client satisfaction in the professional licensure, certification, academic, and federal government markets. He also oversees the team responsible for government and military testing channel initiatives.

  An 18-year veteran of the testing industry, Bill has served in several capacities at Pearson VUE, including customer service, program management, and business development. In these roles, he succeeded in launching and managing several of the company’s most important customer programs. An active contributor to industry associations and committees, he most recently served as conference chair of the ATP Innovations in Testing annual conference. Bill holds a BA from St. Olaf College and an MBA from Augsburg College in Minnesota.

• Barbara Wilson
  Vice President, Enterprise Project Management Office

  Barbara has over 30 years of project management and information technology experience in the technology and services industries. She provides process, consistency and governance expertise to successfully guide strategic initiatives and investments for the organization. Barbara has held significant leadership and consultancy positions with global organizations and has brought this expertise into the organization by implementing project management disciplines at Pearson VUE globally. In addition to project management, Barbara is responsible for the pre-sales processes that define product and service solutions for our clients. Barbara studied Business Administration at Eastern Michigan University and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix.

• Julie Wineberg
  Vice President, Global Candidate Services

  A founding employee of Pearson VUE and a member of the Pearson VUE senior leadership team, Julie Wineberg has 22 years of experience in the test delivery industry and 19 years of operational management experience. As vice president of test center operations, she directly oversees and manages all Pearson VUE test centers. In this role, Julie is responsible for the successful implementation and maintenance of all Pearson VUE client programs in all test centers worldwide, through the management of operations teams including the Pearson Professional Center and Pearson VUE test center services, capacity management, and international test center management.

  Julie is one of the inventors of Pearson VUE’s patented test center design, patent no. US D472,397 S. She has served as a past chair and vice chair of The Council for Secure Testing (CST) and co-founded a new security initiative under The Association of Test Publishers (ATP).

• Anthony Zara, PhD
  Vice President, Global Credentialing Solutions

  Tony Zara provides strategic direction and leadership to the testing services team at Pearson VUE to provide client-focused service solutions for high-stakes testing programs. He is also responsible for the company’s global credentialing solutions business, meeting customers’ needs arising from the expansion of their programs to markets outside of the United States. Tony formerly served as senior director of testing and research services at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN®) and was responsible for launching computerized adaptive testing (CAT) for the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX®) program. He directed NCSBN’s CAT feasibility study and has been a speaker in the areas of test development, psychometrics, and computerized testing research for 25 years. Tony holds a PhD in Psychometric Methods from the University of Minnesota.