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Meet the LifeRamp Team

Michael Huckaby

Founder & CEO

Michael founded LifeRamp to accelerate the success of young professionals through on-demand life and career coaching. He has spent the last 16 years working with…

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John Beed

Chief Partnership Officer

John Beed is the chief partnership officer for LifeRamp, leading our partnership and business development with employers, universities, and global organizations. A former senior U.S…

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Dr. James Vineburgh

Chief Marketing Officer

James is leading the development and marketing of the coaching platform for LifeRamp. Having worked with various types of organizations, from colleges and universities to financial…

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Kate Buchanan-Jack MCIM, DipM, MA

Strategic Marketing & Communications

Kate Buchanan-Jack is a senior consultant and lecturer in international marketing, with over two decades of leadership experience in marketing and enrollment for the education sector.

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Joseph Kuefler

Chief Product Officer

Joseph Kuefler is a hybrid designer, strategist, and creative who thrives in the spaces where brand, technology, and the human experience collide. He has deep experience in brand, product, and technology.

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Anees Muzzafer Shah

Eonyx Infotech, Engineering Partner

Anees is the co-founder of Eonyx Infotech – the company leading the engineering and technical aspects of LifeRamp. Having worked previously as the COO of Alpha Magnus Studios, Anees helped…

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Claudette Lara

Director of Partner Operations

Claudette is a multilingual operator with over 15 years of experience in talent assessments, higher education programs, and global operations.

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Amy Andrews

Director of Coaching

Amy Andrews is the Director of Coaching for LifeRamp, a seasoned coach, and data analyst with over three decades of leadership experience in the government sector.

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Industry Advisors

Christopher “Chip” Paucek

Co-founder and CEO of 2U, Inc.

2U (Nasdaq: TWOU), is described by Forbes Magazine as the “nation’s leading provider of software for universities” delivering digital higher education at scale. Chip is a leading…

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David Graves

Principal and Partner, Tuscany Strategy Consulting

David currently is Principal and Partner at Tuscany Strategy Consulting, a specialized firm for the education sector encompassing early childhood, K-12, and higher education.

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Don Smithmier

CEO, The Big Know

As an accomplished entrepreneur and innovator, Don has devoted his career to bringing new thinking to old categories. Don Smithmier applies innovation and technology to create a…

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Beatriz Winn

DEI Thought Leadership

Beatriz is an education designer and consultant with expertise in program design, product management, and global operations. Originally from Mexico, Beatriz moved to the U.S…

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Dr. Stephanie Furlough-Morris

Industry Advisor

Stephanie is a multi-sector international finance specialist, accomplished in orchestrating financial strategy, operations and fiscal excellence. She has a decade of senior experience within the global higher education…

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Bill Durden

Bill Durden

President Emeritus, Dickinson College

Bill Durden is President Emeritus of Dickinson College and a Joint Appointment Professor (research) in the School of Education, Johns Hopkins University. He served as th President of the…

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Michael Huckaby

Founder & CEO

Michael founded LifeRamp to accelerate the success of young professionals through on-demand life and career coaching. He has spent the last 16 years working with international higher education and ed-tech companies. He has served in a number of leadership roles, including University President of Glion Institute of Higher Education, CEO for Laureate Hospitality Education, CMO for Shorelight Education, Managing Director of US News Global Education, and Founder of the consulting firm, Tidewater 360°. He began his career in Europe working in a division of Colgate Palmolive where he honed his marketing skills in the fast-moving consumer goods space. After working in the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States with Colgate Palmolive, Michael founded a successful design and import company, The Culture Trading Company. Five years later he was recruited to take an executive role with a Merck-Sanofi company, launching new products in Latin America and Asia. Michael has a thirst for knowledge of the world. This has led him to live in 5 countries while working and traveling to 85. He received his bachelor’s and M.B.A. from the University of Alabama. He now resides in the Washington D.C. region with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs.

John Beed

Chief Partnership Officer

John Beed is the chief partnership officer for LifeRamp, leading our partnership and business development with employers, universities, and global organizations. A former senior U.S. diplomat who created innovative global development, education, and health programs and partnerships across the Americas, Asia, and Africa, John was the USAID mission director in Guatemala, India, and Paraguay, and the U.S. development cooperation counselor in Tokyo, where he strengthened Japan-U.S. global cooperation and mobilized recovery assistance for the country after its devastating 2011 earthquake. He also served on the Faculty of the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. as a leadership instructor and executive coach, working with senior military and civilian officials to develop their strategic leadership skills. John is a former Congressional staff member, and a graduate of Tulane University and lives in Annapolis with his wife, while their three children pursue creative careers and university studies in California and Maryland.

Dr. James Vineburgh

Chief Marketing Officer

James is leading the development and marketing of the coaching platform for LifeRamp. Having worked with various types of organizations, from colleges and universities to financial institutions and nonprofits, James is passionate about market research, data science, digital marketing, and the development of products and partnerships. A widely published scholar and frequent presenter at marketing and technology conferences, James earned a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies from the University of Iowa as well as a B.A. and M.A. from Tufts University in English and Educational Studies. When James isn’t working or writing about himself in the third person, he spends time with his wonderful family and (when they go to bed) plays music professionally.

Kate Buchanan-Jack MCIM, DipM, MA

Strategic Marketing & Communications

Kate Buchanan-Jack is a senior consultant and lecturer in international marketing, with over two decades of leadership experience in marketing and enrollment for the education sector. After starting her career as a teacher of English and French, Kate quickly found her niche in blending digital communications with the power of human connection. Kate led the launch of the very first 100% online global MBA for Glion Institute of Higher Education and as VP of International Marketing, she was responsible for marketing the University of Liverpool Online Programs and the launch of the University of Roehampton London Online. After almost a decade with Laureate Education working across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, Kate left to pursue her own path and set up KBJ Consultancy in 2013. She helps clients create environments for change and leads digital transformation from the inside out. She has worked with many of the leading global players in the education space including Shorelight, Inspired, Cognita and Globeducate. Kate also lectures in brand management and digital marketing communications. She currently lives in Edinburgh, Scotland with her husband and two sons and loves literature and wild swimming, even in the winter!

Joseph Kuefler

Chief Product Officer

Joseph Kuefler is a hybrid designer, strategist, and creative who thrives in the spaces where brand, technology, and the human experience collide. He has deep experience in brand, product, and technology. His past clients include some of the world’s most beloved brands. More recently he was head of creative and product, and a founding leadership team member, at a venture-backed wellness technology company, shepherding it from concept, through series A funding, to scale. He is also a celebrated, globally-published author and illustrator of children’s books.

ANEES MUZZAFER SHAH

Eonyx Infotech, Engineering Partner

Anees is the co-founder of Eonyx Infotech – the company leading the engineering and technical aspects of LifeRamp. Having worked previously as the COO of Alpha Magnus Studios, Anees helped bring both new and long-established businesses into an online world. Anees is passionate about technology and software and applies his love of all things technical to bring sparks of ideas into blazing life. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from India’s National Institute of Technology. When Anees isn’t writing code or thinking about algorithms, he has his charcoal pencil slanted against a delicate canvas – trying to bring his vivid and colorful imagination into a world of black and white.

Claudette Lara

Director of Parter Operations

Claudette is a multilingual operator with over 15 years of experience in talent assessments, higher education programs, and global operations. Born and raised in Honduras, Claudette worked in the management of online courses for Laureate Education in Honduras before relocating to the U.S. and continuing to work for Laureate in Baltimore. It was while working as a project manager for Laureate Professional Assessment that she discovered her passion for talent assessments. She has since managed hundreds of assessment projects for hiring, employee development, talent management, high potential identification, and coaching.

She believes that everyone can benefit from having a coach, which is why she supports the operations to ensure LifeRamp coaching engagements run smoothly.

Claudette is an MBA graduate of the University of Liverpool. She has completed certifications in Hogan Assessments, TALENTx7 Assessment, Saville Wave and Swift Assessments, and she was trained as an Advanced User for the SHL’s OPQ Assessment. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, their toddler son, and their easygoing Schnauzer dog.

Amy Andrews

Director of Coaching

Amy Andrews is the Director of Coaching for LifeRamp, a seasoned coach, and data analyst with over three decades of leadership experience in the government sector. Amy started her career as a computer programmer when girls who code were not in vogue. She learned how to navigate out of her comfort zone, innovate with her colleagues, and developed some awesome products. She rose to the ranks of senior technical leader and was often working with, mentoring, and informally coaching others who were working to find their way in tough situations. Knowing that coaching was impactful to all employees, not just those in the senior ranks, she formalized her training as a coach and received her ICF certification. Amy uses the unique combination of her technical expertise, innovation, and coaching to guide individuals on a path that works for them. She uses these same skills to bring great coaches to clients bolstering the goals of LifeRamp’s partners. Amy is a wife, mother, friend, and colleague who loves to golf and boat. She works to keep all her passions in balance and to share time with all those who bring her energy and love.

Christopher “Chip” Paucek

Co-founder and CEO of 2U, Inc.

2U (Nasdaq: TWOU), is described by Forbes Magazine as the “nation’s leading provider of software for universities” delivering digital higher education at scale. Chip is a leading voice and speaker on entrepreneurship and the global education and technology landscape. He has been involved in education ventures since the early 1990s. Prior to 2U, Paucek served as CEO of Smarterville, Inc., the parent company of Hooked on Phonics. Paucek began his entrepreneurial career in 1993 when he co-founded his first company, Cerebellum Corporation, which produced the award-winning educational television program and video series Standard Deviants. He led Cerebellum as Co-Chief Executive Officer until 2003. In 2004, Paucek took a break from the business world to serve as Deputy Campaign Manager for the successful re-election of United States Senator Barbara Mikulski. He holds a B.A. from George Washington University and an M.B.A. from the 2U-powered program at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.

David Graves

Principal and Partner, Tuscany Strategy Consulting

David currently is Principal and Partner at Tuscany Strategy Consulting, a specialized firm for the education sector encompassing early childhood, K-12, and higher education. He has worked over 20 years in senior education management roles, and previously 10 years for consumer products companies in marketing and brand management positions. David has extensive experience working internationally in senior marketing and general management positions where he managed international K-12 schools in the U.S., as well as living in Europe for a decade with P&L responsibility for higher education institutions and programs in the U.S., Europe, and Middle East, China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Australasia. David holds a BS in Journalism from the Medill School and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, both from Northwestern University. David lives with his family near Annapolis, Maryland.

Don Smithmier

CEO The Big Know

As an accomplished entrepreneur and innovator, Don has devoted his career to bringing new thinking to old categories. Don Smithmier applies innovation and technology to create a healthier, better-educated, and more financially secure society. Don joined West Monroe in 2019 in its acquisition of GoKart Labs, a digital product studio specializing in the invention, design, development, and growth of digital consumer experiences that he co-founded in 2009. As co-founder and CEO, he led the organization’s growth, while also working alongside clients to co-invent, design, build, and evolve digital products, experiences, and platforms by focusing on humans first. Previously, Don spent 14 years in executive roles with Capella Education Company, helping the organization grow from 8 employees and fewer than 100 students into a publicly-traded $400 million online academic institution serving more than 40,000 students and employing more than 1,100 people. He is also the founder and executive chairman of The Big Know, which creates branded health education programs for industry leaders; and chief executive officer and founder of Rumble LLC, a boutique music house that specializes in composition and sound design for advertising, television, film, and new media. Don earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. Don resides with his family in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Beatriz Winn

DEI Thought Leadership

Beatriz is an education designer and consultant with expertise in program design, product management, and global operations. Originally from Mexico, Beatriz moved to the U.S. to pursue her graduate education dreams. With over 20 years of professional experience, she has dedicated her career to building educational and training opportunities to better equip individuals for the jobs of the future. Beatriz is a first-generation college graduate. She graduated with Honors from Ibero University in Mexico and holds a Master of Public Administration from New York University, an MBA from the University of Maryland, and has pursued certificates in diverse areas.

Throughout her career, Beatriz has led projects and supported organizations in the education, non-profit, and cybersecurity industries including Cybrary, the University of Maryland, Laureate Education, Porter Novelli, the World Bank, the International Youth Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and Cisco Systems. Her passion for coaching, mentorship, problem-solving, and creating opportunities for others led her to launch initiatives and advise startups in Ed-Tech and retail.

Most recently, Beatriz co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of MindMatch, an online tutoring platform. As CEO, Beatriz built a diverse team of teachers and oversaw all aspects of the business including funding, marketing, sales, finance, product development, information technology, and student success. Her passion to support Latina and African American female students to advance their careers led her to co-sponsor and advise the creation of the Women Empower Institute within the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.

Beatriz believes in the transformational power of coaching and education and currently serves as a board member of the nonprofit Latina Professionals, whose mission is to help women reach their full potential, empowering them with the knowledge and resources that open doors of opportunity and equality for all.

Dr. Stephanie Furlough-Morris

Industry Advisor

Stephanie is a multi-sector international finance specialist, accomplished in orchestrating financial strategy, operations and fiscal excellence. She has a decade of senior experience within the global higher education market and has excelled in planning, leadership and advisory roles for large corporations and mid-range companies. For Laureate Hospitality & Culinary Institutions, Stephanie was VP of Financial Planning & Analysis, leading a global team at the £230m company to raise profit margins by 20% within two years. Since 2016, she has been based in Switzerland at Sommet Education as their Chief Financial Officer and a key member of the Executive Team. Sommet is a £200m international education group in the hospitality management and culinary arts sector. Stephanie has supported the CEO in business development and acquisitions, as well as strategic planning, to deliver consistent margin growth over the last four years.
Bill Durden

Bill Durden

President Emeritus, Dickinson College

Bill Durden is President Emeritus of Dickinson College and a Joint Appointment Professor (research) in the School of Education, Johns Hopkins University. He served as the President of the International University Alliance (IUA), Chief Global Engagement Officer at Shorelight Education, and as Chair of the Advisory Board for International Exchange of Scholars (The Faculty Fulbright Program). Dr. Durden has held a wide variety of positions in higher education and business, and published and spoken widely on international education policy, higher education, first-generation college students, international education, the distinctiveness of U.S. higher education and the liberal arts.