Our Team

Adele Coelho — Marketing Manager

Adele graduated not too long ago and through her experience as a Database Marketing Analyst at Citi Cards and later on as an Email Marketing Analyst with Register.com, she learnt the ins and outs of online marketing. In her words, she 'hit the jackpot’ when she joined the passionate Flat World family working towards a great cause. A self professed snacker and WWE fan, in her free time, you can always catch Adele with a bag of chips (Tostitos with a hint of lime) in her hand whilst enjoying some wrestling. When she’s not doing that, she likes to perfect her impressions of accents, discuss world politics and play table tennis.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
high quality textbooks for free, family atmosphere and the dogs that come to visit!

Contact Info:
acoelho@flatworldknowledge.com
(914) 740-8072 x7502

Amanda Chin — VP, Marketing

Amanda's career path from Creative Director to Marketing Director brings to Flat World a combined left and right brained approach to driving the business forward. As one of the "newbies" to the publishing industry, her decision to join the Flat World team was largely driven by the appeal of waking up in the morning knowing she was actually doing some good in the world. Amanda is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and received her MBA from Columbia. In her spare time, she is a novice runner, avid reader, aspiring writer, and resident organizer of office pools.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Free textbooks, summer bbqs and picnics by the river.

Contact Info:
achin@flatworldknowledge.com
(914) 740-8072 x7501

Becky Knauer — Project Manager

A New Jersey native (born, raised, and proud of it!), Becky enjoys spending time with family and friends...and, thanks to Flat World Knowledge, sparing college students the cost of ridiculously priced textbooks!

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Having the opportunity to work with some pretty talented and awesome people who are making such a positive impact on the publishing industry!

Contact Info:
bknauer@flatworldknowledge.com

Becky Ruden — Sr. Acquisitions Editor

Becky is passionate about discovering innovative ways to help students learn and finding whip-smart teachers who share this endeavor is what gets her out of bed in the morning – along with a strong cup of coffee.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Being a part of the Publshing 2.0 generation that's adding value instead of valuepacks to Higher Ed.

Contact Info:
bruden@flatworldknowledge.com

Brad Felix — Chief Learning Officer

Brad believes technology holds a unique and powerful ability to transform the learning process, and has spent his career living at that intersection between learning and tech. He's passionate about building great products, managing teams, and teaching about (and with) educational technology. The discovery of the potential of educational tech came early, as he co-designed and developed one of the world's first web-based learning management systems as VP of Technology for eCollege. His love of teaching also took him directly to the classroom for 4-5 years. But the lure of Flat World's message and potential for change was strong, and he's been hooked since 2008.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
The ability to play lots of roles. The door is always open for people to learn, jump in, and help. Flat World is also an equal opportunity dog-friendly environment.

Carole Walters — Director of Communications

Carole comes to Flat World with a diverse communications background, including stints at Lucent Technologies, KPMG and Magic Solutions. What keeps this Hoosier happy is the opportunity to tell stories that matter. Luckily, there’s no shortage at Flat World.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
knowing the best is yet to come!

Contact Info:
cwalters@flatworldknowledge.com

Christopher Mckay — Customer Service Manager

Hailing from Long Island, Chris enjoys movies, traveling and reading. Chris is excited to have joined the Flatworld team and intends to read each FWK textbook cover to cover.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
knowing that I help make textbooks affordable for students

Daniel Brandt — Director Software Engineering

Dan is a native New Yorker and resident of Irvington with his wife and two boys. Dan is a passionate technologist who enjoys sports and Martial Arts in his limited spare time.

Dan has led the development of major websites since 1996. Most recently he designed and developed ESMZone.com a social network for student athletes. Prior to that, Dan led the development and operations for QualityHealth.com’s assorted consumer platforms. Dan spent his earlier career in Financial Services most recently as Director of Emerging Technology at AXA-Financial where he spearheaded the launch of AXA's first major consumer financial website EQAccess and helped establish the Internet Center of Excellence for AXA's global parent company.

Dan received a BA in Economics and a BS in Engineering from Swarthmore College, an MS in Computer Science from Columbia University and an MBA from New York University.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
The people! To a person they are all people you want to work or hang out with.

Contact Info:
dbrandt@flatworldknowledge.com

David Link — Lead Developer

I have always been drawn solving complex technical problems by making them simple to manage. I was eager to join the Flat World Knowledge team in April 2010 to help design and build the Flatworld Knowledge 'Book Server' also called MIYO. MIYO is responsible for customizing and automating production of all of our books in all formats, including PDF, ePub, Mobi and HTML formats. Prior to working at FWK I did similar work at mypublisher.com, ACNielsen, and at Oracle Corp. In addition to writing computer programs I really like to make sculpture. Minimal Art mostly.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Openness – we use Open Source Software to produce Open Textbooks.

Contact Info:
dlink@flatworldknowledge.com

David Littlehale — VP, Sales

David Littlehale (VP, Sales) supports all sales efforts and team members, with a special emphasis on developing textbook licensing partnerships across all types of colleges and universities, incl. for-profit colleges. Prior to Flat World, David held various sales and marketing roles at McGraw-Hill (and Irwin), the last 15 years as Sales VP for business publishing. A Boston native and proud Maine resident for more than a decade, David, Gayle (and Anna, Sam and Olivia) are a long way from the ocean but happily based in Glen Ellyn, just outside Chicago.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Having fun, seriously! Working with world class authors and helping people learn should be meaningful and fun. And now, especially with the FWK team, it is!

Contact Info:
dlittlehale@flatworldknowledge.com
(630) 240-4447

Eric Frank — Co-Founder and President

Eric was born and raised in Boston, and has lived in Philadelphia and New York. Sometimes, he gets confused and thinks that Pittsburgh is the west coast. He used to have more diverse passions in life, but now, as co-founder of three concurrent startups– two-year old Miya, one-year old Emma, and Flat World Knowledge, also one, his passions have become singularly focused: the pursuit of sleep. It may be a while yet.

Eric brings an 11 year track record of success in higher education publishing. He has held positions in sales, editorial, and marketing at Thomson (now Cengage –so much more 2.0-ish, yes?) and Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. Recently, Eric was Director of Marketing for Prentice Hall Business Publishing, a division with annual sales in the hundreds of millions. There, he managed a team of marketing managers and marketing communications staff, and had overall responsibility for strategy, budget, staffing and execution. Eric’s group had dotted line responsibility for training and supporting over 160 sales representatives.

It must be said that given a choice, Eric much prefers a hug from his co-founder, Mayu, of the non-Flat World ventures. That said, a nice hug from Jeff every once in a while is okay, too.

Jeff Shelstad — Co-Founder and CEO

This whole Flat World thing started in 2006 on a train ride from O'Hare to downtown Chicago. Eric (co-founder) and I were joking about what grade our customers would give us. We agreed maybe a C or D. So I asked Eric "have you ever thought about breaking away and trying to fix this industry?" After 20 years in the space myself, and Eric's 12, we figured we could make a run for it. So four+ years later, here we are. I have enjoyed this space since starting in sales in 1987. I quickly realized my love would be in working with authors and building great new product. So I got my first editorial role in 1991 and ultimately ran product a division of Prentice Hall. I have always had respect for authors as the initial value creator in the industry, and that belief has continued and strengthened with Flat World. In running the company I try to maintain my Midwestern roots. Trust good people. Be honest in your interactions. Let transparency rule. Have some fun. And do great things.

The best part of working for Flat World is...
The team we have assembled. A good mix of industry high performers, and new people who want to disrupt. And of course the grill-outs and volleyball help.

Contact Info:
jeff@flatworldknowledge.com
(845) 825-9501

Jenn Yee — Project Manager

A certified Project Management Professional, Jenn "Ger 'Er Done" Yee is known for moving projects along—precisely and at quite a clip. A bona-fide spin and zumba instructor and Mom to 2 boys, Jenn manages books and ensures that project information moves seamlessly across all 8 formats.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Summer barbecues by the river...and creating affordable textbooks for students!

Karin A. Daubitz — Accounting Manager

Karin was born and raised in Rockland County, and currently settled down in Nyack, NY. Her love for the river towns have kept her here all her life. Always being able to find a good balance of business and the arts close to home.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Sharing in the belief that we have and will continue to make a difference in the industry. Also having the privilege to work with such amazing, genuine and intelligent people.

Contact Info:
kdaubitz@flatworldknowledge.com

Katherine Hepburn — Product Sales Manager

Katherine began her career in higher education publishing 16 years ago as a sales representative for McGraw-Hill. She consistently exceeded her sales goal and realized her true calling was to specialize in the technical disciplines. She moved into the role of an Engineering & Computer Science Sales Specialist for McGraw-Hill. After several successful selling seasons within the Engineering & Computer Science list at McGraw-Hill accepted a position as Marketing Manager for Engineering & Computer Science at John Wiley & Sons, in New York City. After 6 years, a move back to the Midwest and two children, (Lauren & Claire) she went back sales with Pearson Prentice Hall. 3 years later and another child (Evan) later, she has gravitated to Flat World Knowledge as a Product Sales Manager in the traditional college market. Currently awaiting the birth of baby number 4, (due in June) she is selling in the institutional market space. When she is not shuttling kids to soccer practice she is playing tennis, or running.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
I enjoy the people I get to work with and love that we are innovative, fast moving and not looking back!

Contact Info:
khepburn@flatworldknowledge.com
(630) 669-8483

Kathleen Bachmann — Product Sales Manager

Kathleen has spent her career in college publishing, first at McGraw-Hill, then Cengage. She came to Flat World in January of 2009 before the first book was published, and has loved seeing the growth of this innovative, creative company. She lives on the New Hampshire seacoast with her three children, Nick, Maddie and Daniel. In her free time she is passionate about outdoor sports, and enjoys cooking, travel and photography.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
When professors and students thank us for what we are doing..........I can truly say that I love my job!

Contact Info:
kbachmann@flatworldknowledge.com

Katie Damo — Manager, Quality Assurance and IT

Katie is no stranger to start-up companies, having worked 4 different start-ups, including Flat World. She began her career not in publishing, but instead in Network Operations at successful start-up priceline.com, while also achieving her AAS in CIS at Westchester Community College. She went on to become a Manager of a Software Development team at Webloyalty for 8 years. During that time, she also received her BA in MIS at Western Connecticut University. Katie is responsible for all QA at FWK, ensuring that every book and product we release is of the highest standards for our educators and students. Katie's passion is everything IT (except for coding), which makes her role at Flat World exciting and unique. Katie was born and raised in Westchester County, NY, and currently resides in Danbury, CT with her husband Ken, son Kenny, 2 dogs Samantha and Niki and cat Tiger.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Being part of the Flat World revolution! Exciting changes and tremendous growth now and in the future.

Contact Info:
kdamo@flatworldknowledge.com

Keith Avery — Lead Developer

Keith has been involved in internet programming since 1994. He is familiar with many languages and design methodologies. He has worked in various industries including nuclear power and health care. Keith currently lives in Hastings, NY with his wife and two children.

Liz Weir — Sales Specialist

Liz started her career at one of the large textbook publishers, where she made her mark as a successful sales rep. She came over to Flat World as one the first hires in 2008. The joke is that she accepted the job before it was offered to her. Since then, she’s held multiple positions (including sherpa) at Flat World; most recently as a Sales Specialist working in concert with the sales team to produce useful sales tools and break open strategic adoptions. When not working, Liz loves to cook, paint, exercise and spend time with her 3 children, Anna, Henry and Timothy and her husband, Tim. They recently relocated to Seattle from Philadelphia where they spend their free-time trying to find good pizza. So far, it isn’t going so well.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
The job titles- where else could I be a sherpa? Other than Tibet, of course.

Contact Info:
lweir@flatworldknowledge.com
(610) 401-4825

Maria Matsaridis — Client Services Representative

After a few years of being a college nomad, Maria has discovered that while learning never stops being fun, spending money on overpriced textbooks gets old real quick. She has spent over a decade in the service industry, working around everything from food, to electronics, to jewelry. She is excited to finally get the chance to work for a company that encourages saving, rather than spending.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
being able to facilitate world peace…. which is what I assume will happen once everyone has access to a free online textbook.

Melissa Yu — Project Manager

Dubbed by some as the "quiet assassin" (killing deadlines only, of course!), Melissa is happy to be on the Flat World team, working hard with talented authors and FWK team members to produce great books and to contribute to the FWK mission. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading, thinking and tomatoes.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Meeting and collaborating with talented and smart people.

Michael Boezi — VP, Content

The publishing industry is struggling right now, and with good reason. Old business models impede the flow of ideas. If those ideas are about educating, informing, or creating a lasting positive effect, why would you try to stop it?

It's time for Publishing to get it right, and that's why Michael came to Flat World in early 2009. The formula is pretty simple, actually. Solve your customer's issues, not your own. If you make their life better, they will make your life better. The Status Quo jeers at such idealism, but Michael says that it's not idealism if it's actually happening.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Our authors. None of this happens without great authors.

Contact Info:
michael@flatworldknowledge.com
@michaelboezi

Pam Hersperger — Director of Product Development

Pam comes to FWK with all the professional chops of the 'Old World' plus the drive to upend the industry and free the textbook. She’s got a 20-year track record of success, in roles ranging from editorial to sales to marketing, including Sales Director at Cengage Learning and Executive Marketing Manager and Director of Product Development at Pearson Education. Pam is the Director of Product Development group at Flat World Knowledge, ensuring that our list grows at breakneck speed, while maintaining incredibly high standards for quality. She’s gunning to bring books to market faster and leaner than the “bigs”. And she loves finally being the good guy in the high cost of textbooks conversation! When she isn’t having fun with her FWK colleagues and stable of fantastic authors, she enjoys spending time with her redheaded family (6-year-old Henry, husband John and new retriever Rocket), satisfying her sweet tooth, running (to work off the sweets) and visiting to her home state of Vermont.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Fantastic authors, colleagues and being part of the solution!

Sabrina Burgi — VP, Operations

Sabrina started her career as an international tour guide to feed her passion to travel around the world. Globe trotting (and a detour to business school) landed her a position launching a start-up business in the UK for Reader's Digest over 10 years ago. Sabrina has been in Marketing and (mostly) Operations ever since. Now her travel bug is satisfied by jumping into her kayak or going hiking.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
I love what Flat World does for students and professors. I love who I work with every day and I love what I do. This is the first time I have been able to enjoy myself on all three of these fronts at a company and it makes waking up to go to work everyday easy.

Contact Info:
sburgi@flatworldknowledge.com

Sharon Koch-Schwarzmiller — Director of Marketing

Sharon's career ambitions while studying at the Pennsylvania State University were to be an ESPN news anchor or writer for SNL. Since she is neither impartial, knowledgeable about obscure sporting references, nor blessed with "The Funny," she ended up in College Publishing. She did the sales and (mostly) marketing thing with a few traditional college publishing houses for almost 13 years until she decided that if her work was going to take her away from her husband (Paul - better at obscure sporting references) and her children (Wes and Tessa who have been decidedly blessed with "The Funny"), it had better be meaningful, challenging, market-changing, society-bettering work. She expected to not work for a while. However, Jeff, Eric, and Flat World Knowledge came along…and the rest is history (in the making). Sharon spends time with her family, unabashedly supports all Western-Pennsylvania and Big-Ten sports teams, uses Burt and Peabody videos as a creative outlet for “funny” and gets in the occasional marathon when time permits. She doesn’t think much about SNL or ESPN anymore. They don’t hold a candle to FWK.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Every person who works at Flat World really cares, and (strangely enough) has a superstar look-alike.

Contact Info:
sharon@flatworldknowledge.com

Tricia Russ — Outside Sales

Tricia, an Ohio native, transitioned from the software licensing industry to publishing in the late 90’s. She is excited to bring her lifelong passion for education and her love of solution selling to the FWK team.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
...watching faculty and students share mutual excitement over a textbook!

Contact Info:
truss@flatworldknowledge.com
419.467.8702

Vanessa Gennarelli — Editor, Content and Community

Part efficiency Czar, part content strategist, all moxie, VMG loves thinking through the features of projects and finding novel, lightweight solutions. She reports from Boston, studies Technology, Innovation and Education at Harvard, coworks at WorkBar, and learns with Peer 2 Peer University.

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Taking risks to develop low-cost, high quality content.

Contact Info:
vanessa@flatworldknowledge.com
@mozzadrella

Virginia Guariglia — Marketing Manager

After working in trade publishing and teaching, Virginia had the brilliant idea to merge the two and work in educational publishing! After several years, she heard that FWK was producing a great product that she wished was around when she was teaching!

The best part of working at Flat World is...
Being a part of the solution!

Contact Info:
vguariglia@flatworldknowledge.com

Flat World Knowledge’s Mascots

Niki Damo - The best part of working for Flat World is...coming to work with my mommy and eating everyone's garbage especially after lunch!

Alta - Employee Psychologist - Alta has spent his career honing his ball chasing skills, and recently has expanded to sticks. His life ambition is to play goalie for a professional soccer team. Alta hereby forgives all who may confuse his gender. The best part of working for Flat World is...the willing ball throwers. People here are also kinda smart and stuff.

We are privileged to be able to work closely with world class business experts. Our advisors provide us with active, in-depth consulting in their respective areas of expertise.

Dr. Jeffry Timmons - Lead Advisor

Jeff truly practiced what he preached and taught. His common sense advice was exactly what two new entrepreneurs needed. We grew considerably from Jeff’s mentoring and advice. Plus, he was just the nicest guy one could ever have met.

Unfortunately, Jeff passed away suddenly on April 8, 2008 at his winter home in Bray’s Island, SC. But as long as Flat World Knowledge is a company, we will benefit immensely from his 14 months of common sense advice and insight. His impact on us was tremendous and will continue. We miss him terribly.

Dr. Timmons was Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College. Inc. magazine called him “The Johnny Appleseed of Entrepreneurship Education”. He served as a charter board member of the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. He was the creator of and dean of faculty emeritus for the Kauffman Fellows Program. Dr. Timmons authored several books including the leading textbook New Venture Creation, 8th ed. (2009), with Stephen Spinelli. He also co-authored Business Plans That Work (2004) and How to Raise Capital: Techniques and Strategies for Financing and Valuing Your Small Business (2005) with Stephen Spinelli and Andrew Zacharakis.

For nearly forty years Jeff had been immersed in the world of entrepreneurship as an investor, director or advisor in private companies and investment funds including Cellular One in Boston, New Hampshire and Maine; the Boston Communications Group; BCI Advisors, Inc.; Spectrum Equity Investors; Internet Securities, Inc.; Chase Capital Partners; and others.

Dr. Keith Hampson

Dr. Keith Hampson spends most of his time thinking and talking about how technology can be used to dramatically increase the value of higher education to students. He entered higher education as a university faculty member, where he lectured and wrote about media and consumer culture. For reasons that are still not clear, he gave up the scholar's life to go into university management. As Director, Digital Education Strategies at Ryerson University Keith built a large online operation, sharing six national awards with his team. He now consults for a variety of colleges, universities and other organizations in digital higher education; helping them invest their time and money as effectively as possible.

Keith's online group and blog, Higher Education Management Group - with over 10,000 members - highlights some of the industry's best ideas and most innovative people. He speaks regularly at conferences across North America on issues in digital higher education, including organizational design, productivity, and digital content strategies.

A graduate of the University of Queensland (Australia), Keith lives in Toronto with his wife and two daughters, where he spends the winter complaining about the cold.

Jonathan Newcomb – Business Strategy

Jonathan Newcomb serves as a senior advisor to Coady Diemar Partners. From the spring of 2002 through 2004, Mr. Newcomb was a principal in the New York private equity firm Leeds Weld.

From 1994 to 2002, Mr. Newcomb held the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Simon & Schuster. He also served as a member of Viacom's Executive Committee. From 1991, Mr. Newcomb held the office of President and Chief Operating Officer of Simon & Schuster.

Simon & Schuster became one of the world's largest publisher of books; instructional, training, and professional reference materials; with the acquisition of MacMillan in 1994. Under Mr. Newcomb's leadership, Simon & Schuster successfully identified, completed, and integrated numerous acquisitions throughout the 1990's. Simon & Schuster had offices in over 20 countries and its major business units included Prentice Hall, Silver Burdett, Scribners, The Free Press, The New York Institute of Finance, and Computer Curriculum Corp.

In 1999, the educational, reference, and professional businesses were sold for $4.7 billion.

Prior to joining Simon & Schuster in 1989, Mr. Newcomb was President of The McGraw-Hill Financial Information Company, which included the businesses of Standard & Poor's and Data Resources. Prior to that, he ran various units of Standard & Poor's. Mr. Newcomb began his career at Dun and Bradstreet.

Mr. Newcomb is a graduate of Dartmouth College and The Columbia Business School. He was a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army and is a decorated Vietnam veteran. In addition to advising Flat World Knowledge, he serves on the boards of Journal Communications (NYSE), The BNA Corporation, United Business Media (LSE) and The Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation. Mr. Newcomb has two grown sons and lives with his wife in Manhattan.