Conversant competitors

Over 20 years of transformational media, education, publishing and technology leadership. Ashley is Chief Operating Officer at Cambium Learning Group. Prior to joining Cambium in 2020, Ashley served as Chief Operating Officer, Co-President and Chief Marketing Officer at GreaterGood, a cause commerce, digital publisher and registered fundraiser for nonprofit programs in education, healthcare, conservation and animal rescue. Previously, Ashley served as Chief Content Officer for Capstone, a leading publisher of children's books, media, audio, digital solutions and services, literacy programs, and K-12 professional development resources for classrooms, school libraries and home. Before that, Ashley served as CEO, President and Publisher at Trudy Corporation, later Palm Publishing, responsible for the group's family of global children's imprints and media businesses. She has spent over 20 years in media, technology, publishing and retail for global consumers, education and nonprofits working in North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, the UK and South America.Ashley began her career as an elementary school classroom teacher and collegiate coach, igniting her passion for social impact. Since then, she has devoted her career to closing the opportunity gap and creating great outcomes in education through the power of social enterprise and innovation. She serves on the government affairs council of the SIIA and before that as as chair of the board of directors and executive committee member for the SIIA's Education Division and co-chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She is the co-founder and former co-president of the Fairfield University MFA Alumni Association and is the author of Now What? The Creative Writer’s Guide to Success After the MFA. Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Michigan and teaching certifications K- 5 and 6 - 8. She also holds a Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from Fairfield University with concentrations in fiction and screenwriting and certificates in media strategy from Harvard Business School; in executive function in the classroom from the Harvard Graduate School of Education; and in design thinking instruction from Ideo U.

John Lynch has over 20 years of management experience in the software and information industry and is highly respected in the field of education technology. He was the founding CEO of bigchalk.com where he created an education network serving 40,000 schools. He later was president and CEO of the Pearson Technology Group. Most recently, he was on the executive board of Wolters Kluwer, a global leader in professional information services. He holds a bachelor of arts from Boston University.

Vivek Shah is CEO of J2 Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: JCOM), a leading Internet information and services company. Previously, he served as CEO of Ziff Davis, which J2 acquired in 2012. Prior to joining J2, Vivek led the purchase of Ziff Davis in 2010 in partnership with a private equity firm. From 1995 to 2009, Vivek held various management positions at Time, Inc., including Group President, Digital and President of Fortune and Money magazines. Vivek has been named Online Publisher of the Year by MIN, Innovator of the Year by BtoB’s Media Business and inducted into MIN's Digital Hall of Fame. He was also named to Crain’s Forty under 40 list. Vivek has a B.A. in political science from Tufts University.

Stefan Willimann is a respected leader who inspires people and drives change. An innovator in the marketing and advertising industry for over 25 years, he believes that culture drives both people and profit. Stefan has always been on the leading edge of multi channel marketing technology and client strategies, as demonstrated when he served as the principle partner of BMS, Inc. during the expansion of broadband across the US, and in 2010 when he successfully launched the online news network, NewsSimply, Corp. As Vice President, Strategic Sales and Marketing at CBS Broadcasting, he enabled exposure to a team of thought leaders and the ability to create unique marketing strategies and campaigns across all on and offline platforms and properties. As the Chief Executive of SIGMA Marketing Insights, a privately held data-driven marketing technology and analytics firm, he acquired in 2015, Stefan has successfully developed a customer solutions-focused organization, and leads the development of mi-Link - SIGMA's flagship marketing automation insights technology platform. Inspired and driven by the customer experience, Stefan consistently challenges his team to successfully articulate the value proposition SIGMA delivers to its clients. In addition to his focus at SIGMA, Stefan is a member of many industry social networks as well as Co-Chairman of the Board for Stepping Stones, a family services organization and volunteer/supporter of the Vineyard Conservation Society.

Kevin Michielsen is a Chief Executive Officer at LRN and President:Legal Media Division at ALM Media and is based in Greater New York City Area. He has worked as Chief Operating Officer at ALM Media, Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, and Chief Executive Officer at Watermark. Kevin works or has worked as CEO at Taskstream. He studied at University of Michigan between 1995 and 1997, Escuela Bella Vista between 1975 and 1982, and Bentley University between 1987 and 1992.