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Children from 5-12 build and improve basic skills with the best quality e-learning courseware. |
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Parents and educators have a pre-screened source of articles, research, and related links. |
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People in the business of education contribute their expertise. |
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| Executive Team Bios
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Nick van Dam, Ph.D., Founder and Chairman |
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Nick founded e-Learning for Kids because "one of the most powerful applications of the Internet is the opportunity to deliver high quality courseware – courseware that's designed to enhance the effectiveness of learning for a new generation of children. We have the duty as a society to provide all children around the world with the best learning solutions to be successful in their lives. It is the dream of the people of the e-Learning for Kids Foundation to make this a reality."
Nick is also the Global Chief Learning Officer for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. He is an internationally recognized thought leader in Learning and Human Resources Development and the author of The e-Learning Fieldbook (2004, McGraw Hill). He lives in Hiversum, The Netherlands with his wife and son (born 1997).
Contact: nvandam@e-learningforkids.org |
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Brian Petersen, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer |
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Brian serves on the foundation's executive team helping to shape the overall foundation strategy and to operationalize the executive plans in meeting the goals of the foundation. He oversees three of the foundation's operating areas: the management of projects, recruitment and retention of key stakeholders, and special projects. Brian also promotes the foundation's advocacy to advance global learning and understanding through writing and speaking engagements in both professional and public forums.
Brian is presently the managing partner of inteLogica, Inc. a management consulting firm located in Southern California. He is a graduate of McGill and Concordia Universities located in Montreal, Quebec, where he earned a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Educational Technology. He also volunteers in promoting and assisting schools in the integration of technology into their schools and curriculum. He hails from Mission Viejo, California (USA).
Contact: bpetersen@e-learningforkids.org |
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Vicki Cerda, Director of Communications and Outreach |
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Vicki supports the Communications area with its responsibility to ensure that the right message is delivered across any medium to our varied audiences. Her role includes reaching out to current and prospective partners, sponsors and supporters and conference planning.
In addition to her volunteer work at e-Learning for Kids (and for the American Society of Training and Development), Vicki is a learning and training consultant with over 20 years of experience in planning, designing, developing, implementing and evaluating blended solutions. Prior to this, she was a Training Management Specialist at Florida Power and Light, one of the largest electric utilities in the US. Vicki lives in Miami, Florida (USA), speaks Spanish, and loves art, music, and film among many other interests.
Contact: vcerda@e-learningforkids.org
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Arjen (AJ) van de Voort, Director of Business Operations |
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Arjen is responsible for improving the Foundation's business processes to achieve a more efficient and effective organization. He analyses, formalizes and implements improved business processes for the Foundation's volunteers, sponsors, partners and supporters.
Arjen is currently enjoying a sabbatical year. The last 12 years he worked for SAP in Africa, USA and Europe as Global Account Director for Fortune-100 enterprises in the Oil & Gas and Consumer Products industries. Before that he worked for 8 years for the Baan Corporation in Holland, Germany and South Africa in Business Development. He lives in Jupiter, Florida (USA) with his wife and 3 sons.
Contact: ajvdvoort@e-learningforkids.org
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Michael Williams, Director of Courseware Development |
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Michael serves as the Director of Courseware Development at the foundation and has a background in the academic and electronic publishing arenas, the latter with a focus on e-Learning development. Michael has a Masters Degree in Instructional Design and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Michael uses the e-Learning for Kids course development process to interface with instructional designers, vendors, and quality assurance personnel to produce engaging, high quality courseware offerings.
Michael works for Elsevier, Inc., a world-leading publisher and information provider. He resides in Saint Louis, Missouri and was attracted to e-Learning for Kids as a way to give back. Michael enjoys the opportunity to help children around the world and is proud to be a part of the foundation.
Contact: mwilliams@e-learningforkids.org
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Amy Castillo, Director of Translations |
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Amy coordinates the on-going translations of e-Learning for Kids courses into several languages. She manages the volunteer foreign language translators and recording studio sponsors. Amy was drawn to EFK because "It is such a great initiative that brings fun and engaging content to children all around the world. As a former elementary bilingual teacher for Spanish-speaking children, "I think that these courses are a great resource for children to learn skills in English and in their native language."
Amy is working on a Masters Degree in Instructional Design for Online Learning, and has worked in the field of education for 12 years. Currently, she is a Senior Instructional Designer at Deloitte. She designs and develops internal and external e-learning courses in the areas of financial literacy, accounting and auditing. Amy lives in Detroit, Michigan and loves salsa dancing with her husband and spending time with her infant twins!
Contact: acastillo@e-learningforkids.org
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Michelle Hancock, Director of Quality Assurance |
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Michelle serves as the Director of Quality Assurance. With a Masters Degree in Instructional Design and over ten years of experience in Performance and Learning, she utilizes her design and development expertise to ensure best-of-bread e-learning courses for kids.
Michelle has a background ranging from being a middle school teacher to managing several full-scale OD, HRIS, and software implementations. She is a certified Professional in Human Resources (SHRM) and currently works for Zilliant Corporation. Michelle lives in Austin, TX. with her husband, Bill, and daughter Natassja, where she is very involved in the community and is a member of the Junior League of Austin.
Contact: mhancock@e-learningforkids.org
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| Elaine Grandolfi, Executive Assistant |
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Elaine assists the Team on an administrative basis. She joined e-Learning for Kids when Nick shared his passion with her. She gladly offered to help out in anyway possible. Elaine has a child of her own and is definitely aware of how paramount education is for children. Nick's drive and initiative to help children worldwide inspired her to give back - so she is!
Elaine's background is in Business Administration. She has a college degree and has worked in a support role for the past 25 years (including working with Nick at Deloitte Consulting). She is from Western Canada but now lives in Boston with her husband and son Alex (7 years).
Contact: egrandolfi@e-learningforkids.org
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| Advisory Board Bios |
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Elliot Masie, The MASIE Center |
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Elliot is an internationally recognized futurist, analyst, humorist and researcher on the critical topics of technology, business, learning and workplace productivity. He heads The MASIE Center, a think tank focused on organizational learning, and is an advisor to a wide range of government, education and non-profit groups.
Elliott selected the Foundation as one of two featured nonprofit organizations at Learning 2005. "e-Learning for Kids is one of the most important education projects of the past twenty years. The reason why has a simple answer – the future. We're living in an increasingly complicated and ever-changing world. We must provide the next generation with the best possible tools for learning. e-Learning for Kids is dedicated to the future, making online learning available to children and schools – anywhere and without charge," said Masie. |
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Allison Rossett, Ed. D., San Diego State University |
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Allison Rossett, Ed.D. is the Professor of Educational Technology at San Diego State University. Dr. Rossett is also a consultant in training and technology-based performance, a member of the ASTD International Board of Directors and the HRD Hall of Fame, and the author of several books on e-learning.
A native New Yorker, ping-pong champion in her youth and yo-yo'er in training, Allison has keynoted at conferences and events all over the world. She teaches classes and consults on workforce development, needs assessment and new media learning and performance. |
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David Holcombe, President & CEO of The eLearning Guild |
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David is Co-founder, President & CEO of The eLearning Guild, a global Community of Practice for e-Learning professionals now serving more than 20,600 members. He has been focused on learning and performance improvement for his entire professional career. Over the last 20 years, he has organized more than one hundred events across North America and Europe that have collectively provided tens of thousands of participants with information, ideas, and knowledge to enable them to leverage information technologies to improve education, knowledge, and performance.
What drew David to e-Learning for Kids? "When the kids of today enter the workforce, the use of technology and the ability to be self-directed in learning will be absolute requirements. e-Learning for Kids works to level the playing-field for all kids by making this a reality for all. It's a noble cause by an outstanding organization, and I am thrilled to support it." |
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Dirk Tussing, Learning Executive Exchange |
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As the Executive Director of the Learning Executive Exchange, a consortium of senior Chicago learning leaders, Dirk is committed to promoting greater visibility, influence and professional opportunities among its members and promoting local Thought Leaders by creating a highly visible knowledge sharing environment to increase awareness of progressive learning solutions, share best practices, and facilitate greater collaboration among members. Formerly of Arthur Anderson, Dirk is a current board member and international projects co-chair for the Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield, an advisor on the Strategic Planning Committee at Northwestern Illinois University, and chief architect for a new Learning Leaders CPE Certificate Program at DePaul University.
What attracted Dirk to get involved? As a native of Winnetka, Illinois since 1967, Dirk has personally experienced some of the best educational opportunities available worldwide. Seeing how corporate learning has been using technology to provide equal access to global workforces, Dirk has a keen interest to use Wikinomics strategies by helping others give back and to improve access to education on a massive scale. |
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