Pamela Tate, President and CEO
email: ptate@cael.org

Joining CAEL in 1987, Pam has become nationally and internationally recognized for her work in facilitating workforce education and training programs among educational institutions, business, labor and government and for her efforts in assisting colleges and universities to develop systems of Prior Learning Assessment and quality assurance in adult learning programs.

In 1996, Pam was acknowledged for a career devoted to expanding lifelong educational opportunities for adults with the Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa, conferred by SUNY Empire State College, Saratoga Springs, New York. As a presenter, she is regularly sought out for her vision and insights into adult learning and workforce development and their vital relationship to the future of the economy. Born in Davenport, Iowa, Pam grew up in East Moline, Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign with masters degrees in both English and journalism. She completed her doctoral coursework at the Annenberg School of Communications, University of Pennsylvania.

Karen Steinberg, Executive Vice President
email: ksteinberg@cael.org

Karen joined CAEL as Executive Vice President in 2002. She is responsible for the internal operational units of the organization, including Finance and Administration, IT, Human Resources, Learner Services, CAEL’s national conference and membership. Karen also assists the President with sales, fundraising, and external and Board relations.

Prior to joining CAEL, Karen was the Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, United States Open University (USOU). From 1985 through 1999, she was with the University and Community College System of Nevada, serving as Senior Deputy to the Chancellor and performing a variety of managing and planning functions.

Karen has served as a member of the Board of Trustees, ACT, as a member of the National Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC), and as the higher education representative to the Nevada State Occupational and Coordinating Committee. Born in Oakland, California, and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she attended California State University at Chico and received a B.A. in English. She received a master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of Nevada, Reno.

John Zappa, Senior Vice President for Learner Services
email: jzappa@cael.org

As Senior Vice President for Learner Services, John oversees sales and delivery of Learner Services for corporate clients, including the management of cost effective, high quality Tuition Assistance programs and related value-added services including career coaching and educational advising. Prior to his current position, John served CAEL in the acting role of Vice President of Business Development.

With over twenty years experience in the commercial sector, John has been involved in marketing, product management and operations in technology companies across multiple industries. He most recently was Managing Director of Aceda, a business consulting firm specializing in the creation of growth strategies in a variety of industries. At Aceda, John acted as an extension of the management team of several companies, serving in numerous executive management roles.

John began his career at IBM, where he served as a Manufacturing Engineer and later as a Sales Engineer. He received his Bachelor’s of Science Degree with University Honors in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon and his MBA from Dartmouth College.

Jo Winger de Róndon, Vice President
email: jwdr@cael.org

In 1991, Jo joined CAEL as the Regional Director for CAEL’s Denver office. Currently, she holds the position of Vice President for the organization. For the last thirteen years, she has provided leadership and oversight in managing CAEL’s original learner services contract with Qwest and the Communications Workers of America. This work has expanded to include additional contracts with other clients including Dex and AT&T Broadband. Jo also maintains visibility for CAEL with leaders in higher education throughout several western states.

In 1998, under Jo’s leadership, CAEL established a new line of work, Strategic Online Alliances. She is currently leading the work with the following industries: telecommunications, electric, and nuclear utilities. Through a collaborative effort, led by CAEL, each of these industries has created online degree programs and training offerings designed to offset the upcoming workforce gap.

Prior to CAEL, Jo served as Associate Dean of Continuing Education and Economic Development at Red Rocks Community College and was the Executive Director of Business and Industry at Arapahoe Community College.

Jo has been actively involved with the American Society for Training and Development, the National Council for Community Services and Continuing Education, and the National Society for Performance and Instruction. She held leadership roles with local non-profits. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and a master's degree from the University of Denver.

Phyllis Snyder, Vice President
email: psnyder@cael.org

Phyllis has directed CAEL’s Philadelphia regional office since 1993, served as Regional Vice President since 2000, and now holds the position of Vice President for the organization. She leads the CAEL Consulting Practice as well as CAEL’s healthcare initiatives. She has been responsible for the design and implementation of the DOL funded Nursing Career Lattice program in five sites throughout the country.

Phyllis has worked with workforce development staff to develop many CAEL consulting products, including Educational Strategy Sessions, Workforce 2.0 tools and the Supervisor Circles. She has also served on the CAEL team that consulted with the MassJobs Council to design and implement the One-Stop Career Center System in Massachusetts.

Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Smith College, a master's degree in Teaching from Harvard University and a master's degree in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania.

Lynn Schroeder, Regional Vice President of Business & Development
email: lschroeder@cael.org

Since July 2003, Lynn has worked as Regional Vice President, Business Development, Norwalk, CT. Lynn relocated to help expand CAEL’s business development efforts on the east coast, but is still responsible for national sales, especially for Learner Services. She previously held the position of Vice President, Business Development in Chicago.
From November 1997 through April 1999, Lynn directed first the Knoxville, Tennessee and then the Amarillo, Texas Transition Resource Centers for the CAEL/Levi Strauss Dislocated Worker project. She then served as the field-based project director for all Levi project resource centers, finally relocating to Chicago in June 1999 to assume national management of the Levi project. In 2000, she assumed responsibility for directing the national sales, marketing, and communications efforts of CAEL. Prior to her tenure as a full-time employee, Lynn served in numerous consulting capacities to CAEL, including several years as editor/designer of the CAEL Forum & News and many of CAEL’s publications.

Lynn has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, sales and business consulting across the country, including: Marketing Director, Harper & Row (Boston and New York); Director of Direct Marketing, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (New York and San Diego); Communications and Public Affairs Director, Asheville Chamber of Commerce (North Carolina). For six years, she owned and managed both a publishing and marketing consulting firm in Boston and North Carolina. She graduated from the State University of New York and is currently enrolled in an M.B.A. program with Cardean University.

Diana Bamford-Rees, Associate Vice President
email: dbamford-rees@cael.org

As Associate Vice President in CAEL’s Philadelphia office, Diana’s responsibilities include project management of the CAEL/DOL Nursing Career Lattice Demonstration Project, the Verizon FutureLink program, and the JP Morgan Chase transition project. She also leads CAEL’s Assocation Services, including the annual CAEL International Conference, Prior Learning Assessment training, and Membership Services.

Since the founding of CAEL in 1974, Diana has held numerous positions in the organization, including Managing Editor of The CAEL News, Director of Training for Workforce Development, and Director of Conferences and Training. Prior to her position as Associate Vice President, Diana worked – for almost five years – as CAEL’s representative in South Africa at JET Education Services, a South African NGO, where she provided technical assistance for the design and implementation of a comprehensive workforce development model for South African workers.

Diana has extensive experience with the design and delivery of training for prior learning assessors and education advisors and for the management of these networks. She has been instrumental in policy development and implementation of comprehensive learning systems for both employed and retrenched workers in the USA and in South Africa.

Gabi Kupfer, Associate Vice President and Director, Office of the President
email: gkupfer@cael.org

Gabi joined CAEL in July 2000 as the Director of the President’s Office. Gabi manages the President’s Office, and oversees several signature CAEL projects, including the WorkforceChicago2.0 Initiative. Before joining CAEL, she was the Communications Manager for the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women. She has an extensive background in philanthropy, having worked at both the Ford Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Gabi holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Knox College and a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law.

Amy Sherman, Associate Vice President for Policy and Strategic Alliances
email: asherman@cael.org

As Associate Vice President for Policy and Strategic Alliances, Amy engages in policy research and analysis, coalition-building, advocacy, and technical assistance to state and federal policy leaders to increase access to and improve the delivery of adult learning. She is leading CAEL's initiative to advance Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs), which are employer-matched educational accounts to finance lifelong learning for working adults.

Prior to joining CAEL, Amy was Executive Director of the Manufacturing Workforce Development Project (MWDP), a project of the Chicago Federation of Labor funded by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. The MWDP built an consortium of influential business and labor leaders, educational providers, non-profits executives, and public officials to identify the gaps in the current workforce development system and developed a well-received report with recommendations on how to improve the workforce system.

Amy earned her law degree from Northwestern University School of Law, and went on to serve as a dean of students. She practiced in the area of employment law.

Judy Wertheim, Vice President for Higher Education Services
email: jwertheim@cael.org

Dr. Judith Wertheim, who has most recently been Interim Dean of the university-wide School of Continuing Studies at Indiana University, is Vice President for Higher Education Services and oversees CAEL’s work in prior learning assessment, Adult Learning Focused Institutions and other CAEL consulting and training activities with colleges and universities.