Flat World Knowledge - Our Team

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

Christopher Etesse — CEO

Christopher Etesse is the chief executive officer of Flat World Knowledge. With more than 15 years experience in higher education and technology, Chris has held leadership roles at some of the most innovative organizations serving the education market.

Before joining Flat World, Chris served as CTO and senior vice president at Blackboard Student Services (formerly Presidium Inc.). He was responsible for technology strategy, and managed the Strategic Accounts group, which provided a wide range of services, from learning management system (LMS) support to online program management, to some of the largest and most innovative institutions in higher education.

Chris was among the first employees of Blackboard Inc., the leading provider of software solutions to the education industry. During his eight-year tenure, he helped architect some of Blackboard’s most successful web-based products, and drive the company’s growth by leading large product development, consulting and client service teams.

From 2007-2009, Chris was CEO of Kadoo Inc., a software start-up that aggregated and integrated popular web applications, social networks, and content management platforms. Previously, he was vice president of Monster Government Solutions, where he was responsible for $9M in annual revenue and the development of three product lines.

Chris has helped draft a number of open software standards in higher education and served on the technical advisory board of the IMS Global Learning Consortium. He has also served as a member representative to the Internet2 and Shibboleth initiatives to promote technology innovation and collaboration to improve research and higher education.

He holds a master’s degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in American History from the University of Kentucky.

Contact Info:
cetesse@flatworldknowledge.com

On Twitter: @cetesse

Daniel Brandt — VP, Technology

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 High-Quality Textbooks.

Contact Info:
dlink@flatworldknowledge.com

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

Keith Avery — Director of Technology

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.

Lisa Fodor — Customer Service Manager

Lisa brings years of customer service experience to FWK. She loves music from most genres, especially performed live and preferably by someone who has practiced a lot! Her Godparents were members of Jimmy Dorsey’s band in the 60’s; she sang and he played the saxophone. So cool! Her secret wish? To be able to sing exceptionally well. Our wish? To have the first Singing Support team (eh-hem). Customers call and every answer is provided to the tune of your favorite song.

Liz Weir — Director of Account Mangement

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 Director of Account Management working to develop process and tools to better manage and communicate with our adopters. When not working, Liz loves to cook and feels strongly about using fresh herbs over dried (don't even think about using dried oregano), paint, exercise and spend time with her 3 children, Anna, Henry and Timothy, and her husband, Tim.

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.

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.

Michelle O'Brien — Director of Community

If we don't connect faculty and start conversations, we're not doing right by our customers.

With a love for the inner workings of social, SEO, blogs, and community, as well as a huge desire to lower student textbook costs and give faculty greater access to content, Michelle couldn't be happier being a "Flat Worlder."

Michelle is based in Boston, where she's a Sox fan and a let's-not train-for-it-but-run-the-race-anyways runner. She is torn between Go Irish and Roll Tide! She spends any spare time with her husband and three daughters. Before joining Flat World, she held sales and marketing positions at Irwin/McGraw-Hill, Yahoo! Inc., and Pearson Education.

Contact Info:
mobrien@flatworldknowledge.com

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!

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

Stephanie Brauer — Interactive Art/UX Director

Stephanie has extensive history in the design and development of both promotional and editorial internet content, focusing on user experience. In her spare time, she likes to travel, spin, and soak up the sun with a book in hand (digital, of course!)

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

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.