Steve Roden, Chief Executive Officer
Steve brings two decades of experience in the learning business to LearnSomething. Most recently, he has led the company in the development of “Prepare to Serve™,” a product knowledge and solutions selling application for the retail marketplace. Steve is responsible for increasing the revenues at LearnSomething by over 100% in the past 2 years, including a fifth round of growth funding and capitalization.
Prior to joining LearnSomething, Steve spent 3 years as a partner, managing Arthur Andersen’s world-wide, eLearning consulting practice. His earlier professional experience included launching two successful start-up companies, a successful technology incubation company which he sold to Rupert Murdoch’s Newscorp, and Comsell Training, Inc., one of the highest rated learning technology companies for customer satisfaction, which he successfully sold to another publicly traded firm. Steve holds a B.S. and an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from Florida State University.
Rick Fuelling, Chief Operating Officer
A graduate of the University of Kentucky in Business Administration, Rick is a seasoned business professional with more than 20 years of consulting and sales management experience. Rick's background includes extensive experience in the Pharmaceutical and Health Care Industry, including business development, mergers and acquisitions, technology planning, and financial business analysis. Rick served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Coastal Physician Group. He has a strong and successful background in technology and software start-ups, building sales and marketing organizations, and revitalizing corporations through turn-around strategies.
Rick has worked in both public and private sector corporations and has successfully owned several consulting businesses and a community pharmacy business. Representing LearnSomething in our industries, Rick is an Associate Member of the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) and a member of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Pharmacy Conference Planning Committee, the National Council of Prescription Drug Plans (NCPDP), the American Pharmacist Association (APhA), and the National Pharmacy Technician Association (NPTA).
Dennis Thorp, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Product Development
Dennis has over 20 years of experience developing, producing, and deploying eLearning training products for major training and development organizations, winning numerous national and international awards for best multimedia products during this time. One of his products was called the “...most inspired piece of instructional software ever produced...” by a prestigious magazine reviewer.
Dennis has directed many large and small product development teams including staffs of over 140 (Florida State University, Center for Instructional Development) and 120 (Viacom/Paramount Pictures, Computer Curriculum Corporation) with annual budgets over $10 million. His teams have developed training products for such organizations as GE, Proctor & Gamble, EDS, Kmart, Texas and Michigan Pharmacy Associations, Houghton Mifflin Publishers, and many others.Dennis holds a Ph.D. in Education from Florida State University, M.Ed. in Education from Oregon State University, and a B.S. degree in Business from the University of North Dakota.
Dave Hecker, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer
Dave’s experience includes 20+ years in designing, developing and managing IT projects. Proficient in more than 19 software languages or programs, Dave has developed programs for Microsoft Windows 2000, NT, 98, 95, 3.1 DOS; and the Apple Macintosh System 7. He has experience in Computer Telephony, PBX Systems, and TCP/IP Networking (hardware and software); AIX, UNIX, S/390 UNIX Services, Apple Macintosh OS8 and beyond. He is a Certified Lotus Professional-Principal Notes Application Developer and has certifications in Project Management, Data Modeling, and Relational Data Design.
Brian Vann, Vice President - Corporate Sales
A graduate in Finance at the University of Florida, Brian has more than 12 years of consulting, sales and training experience. He is responsible for providing leadership and direction to the corporate sales team, managing key client relationships and strategic initiatives. He has successfully helped over 80 drug store and supermarket chains implement an eLearning strategy. One of Brian’s key client relationships is Wegmans Food Markets, where he consulted on the pharmacy department’s e-learning strategy. Other clients include Ahold USA, Delhaize America, H-E-B Foods, The Kroger Company and Sears Holding Corporation.
Prior to working at LearnSomething, Brian worked with Media1st, an e-learning company specializing in video-based learning programs. While at Media1st he was responsible for establishing an eLearning initiative within GE Power Systems, the second largest division of General Electric.
Sandy Calhoun, Vice President, Product Development
Sandy has over 25 years of experience in administrative, operational, production, and project management with public- and private-sector organizations. She has managed, designed, developed, and produced technical, training, educational, and public information materials in print, audiovisual, and interactive formats in multiple media, including Internet-based materials.
Prior to joining LearnSomething, Sandy served as the Associate Director of Florida State University’s Office for Distributed and Distance Learning, where she was responsible for operational oversight of the development and maintenance of the University’s numerous online degree-earning programs in fields ranging from undergraduate Computer Science and Information Studies to graduate programs in Education and Business.
Robert Burroughs, Vice President, Business Development
Robert has extensive experience helping senior executives of large public and private organizations define, measure, and improve their ability to execute key organizational initiatives. Having designed and implemented studies involving dozens of large organizations and hundreds of thousands of leaders and employees, Robert is uniquely qualified to understand the challenges senior executives face in translating strategic intent into executed reality. He has facilitated work at every stage and level of the change management process, from working with senior executives and managers to define and communicate key initiatives to measuring capability across all levels of an organization and working with managers and employees to implement changes required to improve organizational effectiveness.
Robert has worked with many of the nation's largest and most successful organizations, both public and private, including the Department of Defense, the United States Navy, the United State Marine Corps, Raytheon, Lexus, Toyota, Ford Motor Company, HP, McKinsey & Company, King Pharmaceuticals, J Walter Thompson, Merrill Lynch, and US Trust. At LearnSomething, Robert will primarily manage and support the company's association division.