Management Team
Craig DeLuca, Founding Board Chair
Craig is the Co-founder of The Arno Group, LLC, a business consulting and M&A advisory firm focused on growth strategies, mergers & acquisitions, complex problem solving and organization development. Craig was the Co-founder and CEO of Schoolsuccess.net, an online-learning company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Schoolsuccess.net develops software for parents and teachers. Schoolsuccess.net was acquired in June 2001 by Pearson, PLC. Prior to founding Schoolsuccess.net, Craig was President and CEO of Executive Perspectives (EP), a software company specializing in computer-based simulation models, serving Fortune 500 clients including Intrawest, GAP, Verizon, Microsoft, IBM, Ford, Xerox., Chase. EP was acquired in 1998 by Provant. Before EP, Craig was a strategy consultant with Gemini Consulting, a premier strategy-consulting firm serving the largest global enterprises worldwide. At Gemini, Craig developed business and marketing strategies for a broad range of clients in telecommunications, manufacturing and technology.
Craig earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Wharton. Craig has served on many corporate and non-profit Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards including, Executive Perspectives, Inc., Technology Strategies, Inc., Intercon Systems, Inc., Intervision, Inc., SecureHealth, Inc., Jumpstart for Young Children and Stowe Performing Arts, Flynn Center for The Performing Arts. Craig's community service includes Stowe Planning Commission Chairman, The Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont, State of Vermont Public Oversight Commission.
Aparna Katre, Chief Executive Officer
aparna.katre@globalchallengeaward.org
Aparna has over 24 years of experience in business and academia. She joined the Global Challenge Award in Nov 2008 with the objective of dedicating the rest of her professional career to Philanthropy.
Prior to this she was with a US based Global Technology Consulting firm, Kanbay Incorporated, later on acquired by a $10B Global Consulting firm, Capgemini International. During her tenure in the Global Technology Consulting domain, she held several leadership positions. As a member of the Executive Team at Kanbay Incorporated, Aparna was instrumental to developing and implementing company Vision, Mission and Strategies. Over a 13 year period she had direct responsibility in the areas of Solution Innovation and Sales, Quality Management, Knowledge Management, Program Management and Client Delivery Management. She held the positions of Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Process Officer, Practice and Business Unit Head. These roles were Global and had cross border responsibilities where several of her direct reports were senior industry experts and worked from different countries - US, Europe, India and Australia. She was responsible for building the "One-Team" Global Delivery Model for Strategic Financial Services Clients in Europe.
Aparna's career started with software development for manufacturing industry, followed by academia in an entrepreneurial environment. While she was teaching graduate level Computer Science courses in India, she was instrumental in generating revenue through software development and finding new ways to reduce cost of operations.
david.gibson@globalchallengeaward.org
David is Research Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Vermont. His research and publications in over 30 articles and book chapters includes work on complex systems analysis, modeling of educational systems and the use of technology to personalize education for the success of all students. His book "Games and Simulations in Online Learning" explores new forms of teaching. He invented "SimSchool," a classroom simulator that provides teachers and future teachers an opportunity to practice differentiating instruction. He is Founder and President of CURVESHIFT, a partner corporation in the work of the Global Challenge, where he concentrates on vision and project development, strategic planning, evaluation, professional network building, national partners, and telecommunications in learning. His web-based application "eFolio" is used to provide online mentoring and electronic portfolios of evidence of meeting standards. He is also project contact for the National Center for Culturally Responsive Systems and the National Institute for Urban School Improvement.
David is experienced in linking with partners and coordinating efforts in professional development of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and educational technology. He helps plan and conduct planning processes with groups, and helps people articulate their goals and make plans for action. He has extensive experience in managing technology development and using dissemination strategies through national educational networks. He holds a doctorate in education from the University of Vermont. His recent community service includes memberships on boards and committees for arts, education and community development, including the Stowe Performing Arts, The Stowe Education Fund, and the Vermont Institutes
Susan Hull Grasso, Director of STEM Curriculum Development
susan.grasso@globalchallengeaward.org
Susan is an environmental engineer and mother of four who is enthusiastically applying her diverse experiences in the environmental field to the promotion of innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education opportunities for young people, specifically the development of STEM curriculum for The Global Challenge program. As an environmental consultant for over ten years, she has experience in environmental impact assessments, site investigations, remediation technology evaluations and environmental modeling. In addition, Susan has been an environmental modeler for NOAA, an instructor of environmental engineering at the University of Connecticut, a member of the Natural Resources Commission in Tolland, Connecticut and an active volunteer in public and private schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. Susan received undergraduate degrees in Civil Engineering and in Environmental Sciences Engineering, both summa cum laude, from the University of Michigan, from which she also received an M.S.E. in Environmental Engineering.
Kendra Sowers, Director of Student Advising
kendra.sowers@globalchallengeaward.org
Kendra brings a broad range of skills to Global Challenge from over 15 years experience as an educator, coach, technical writer, trainer and project manager. As a fully credentialed life coach and owner of her own business, she has had the pleasure of coaching and mentoring young adults through their high school and college pursuits. Kendra has also worked as a project manager and information systems trainer for the Superfund program at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Office of Safety and Health (OSHA) in Washington, DC. Kendra has been the featured speaker at organizations such as the Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children, the Vermont School Age Care Network, and the Professional Women's Business Association. She has also been an active volunteer in the public schools and early education centers in Pennsylvania and Vermont. Kendra has an M.S. in Information Management from Marymount University, a B.A. in Political Science from Bates College, and a certification in empowerment coaching from the Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching. Kendra has lived and traveled abroad extensively and currently lives with her husband and 3 children in Burlington, Vermont.
