President & Staff

 

Robert L. Martin
President, Imagine America Foundation
202.336.6758
bobm@imagine-america.org

Robert L. Martin was appointed President of the Imagine America Foundation in March 2006. The Foundation, which is the preeminent scholarship provider and research-funding organization for the career education sector, came under his direction in 1999 when it was then known as the Career Training Foundation. As the Foundation began to increase its operations and responsibilities, Mr. Martin earned eventual appointment to President.

Through Mr. Martin's leadership, the non-profit organization has become its own influential organization in the career college realm. Once the in-house research body under the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU), the Foundation has considerably expanded its member schools and charitable donors and has established its own identity as an independent organization. Today, the Foundation supports more than 550 career college members across the United States and Puerto Rico. The Foundation, through financial support from the 21st Century Workforce Fund, has initiated research studies focused on the impact of career colleges, their role in meeting the nation’s current skilled-worker shortage and other broad public policy issues facing the higher education sector. The Foundation has also provided more than $50 million in scholarship and award support for graduating high school seniors, adult learners and U.S. military veterans attending career colleges nationwide.

Before joining the Foundation, Mr. Martin was an independent consultant serving both public- and private-sector clients. He assisted with government relations, marketing and business development service initiatives for national trade associations, major textbook publishers, educational software developers, computer hardware manufacturers and Internet service providers.

Prior to his consulting work, Mr. Martin attained senior positions at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and as the Vice President/Executive Director of the Center for Workforce Preparation. His involvement led the Chamber to create the Center and develop a national outreach program that now serves the more than 3,000 state and local chambers of commerce nationwide. Mr. Martin also worked extensively with senior-level officials at the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services, as well as the White House and other leading business/trade associations. He directed all research and public policy activities in these areas.

In addition, Mr. Martin was selected to serve on the personal staff of Congressman Robert W. Daniel of Virginia. He also spent five years in state government: three working for the governor's office in the State of Indiana directing state manpower programs and two as a senior staff associate at the National Governors Association in Washington.

Mr. Martin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Business Administration from Central Michigan University and a Master's of Public Administration from Indiana University.

Milt Girdner
Chief Financial Officer
(202) 336-6806
miltg@imagine-america.org

Milt Girdner joined the Imagine America Foundation and Career College Association in January 2004 as the Chief Financial Officer for both organizations.

Prior to coming to IAF/CCA, Milt served as Vice President, Finance and Administration for the Footwear Industries of America for sixteen years.  He has also held senior financial positions at the Association of School Business Officials International, National Glass Association and National Grocers Association.

Milt holds a B.S. Degree in Accounting from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.  Originally from Portland Oregon, Milt now lives in Herndon, Virginia, with his wife Linda.   

Torian Brown
Director of Operations
(202) 336-6917
torianb@imagine-america.org

Torian Brown, the Foundation's Director of Operations, has more than eight years of experience in the career college sector. She currently manages the Foundation's scholarship web site and its three major scholarship programs: Imagine America for high school seniors, the Military Award Program (MAP) and the Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP) for adult learners.

Previously, Torian served as the Foundation's senior scholarship coordinator, and prior to that, she worked at the offices of the Career College Association in Washington, D.C., in their accounting and finance department. Torian holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Trinity University in Washington, D.C. and is currently pursuing her MBA.

Jenny Faubert
Director of Communications
920.430.1085
jennyf@imagine-america.org

Jenny Faubert serves as the Foundation's Director of Communications. Jenny oversees the Foundation’s website, marketing, events and publications, including the annual Fact Book, Student's Guide, the Inside Imagine America online newsletter and various research studies. Jenny also coordinates the Foundation's special award programs such as Imagine America Promise, the LDRSHIP Award and the Gail Benjamin Fellowship.

Previously, Jenny served as a production assistant on the National Geographic Society's web site. While there, Jenny did research, collected data, and wrote captions for the photo of the day. Additionally, she managed the education guide page, which was updated weekly. Jenny has also worked as an editorial assistant on Voyageur magazine and as a researcher for a National Science Foundation Grant.

Jenny holds a B.A. in Urban and Regional Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Carol Housman
Accounting Manager
202.336.6707
carolh@imagine-america.org

Carol Housman is the accounting manager for the Foundation. She is primarily responsible for preparing financial reports, invoices and payments. Carol has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Maryland with a concentration in Accounting. She has more than fifteen years of financial experience in the non-profit sector, including three years as the financial manger with ACICS. Her most recent position prior to joining the Foundation was as a senior accountant in the Outsourcing Department of a Washington D.C. public accounting firm.

Patricia Gallagher (Patty)
Executive Assistant to the President
202.336.6726
pattyg@imagine-america.org

Patty is the executive assistant to the Director of the Foundation. She is essential in organizing the President’s schedule and travel, collaborating with the staff on coordinating and planning of events and projects, updating and managing the President’s mail and phone inquiries, preparing materials for board and committee meetings, and seeing to the everyday administrative duties for the President of the Foundation.

Patty comes from 14 years of experience as an assistant to the Pro where she managed events and activities for a Country Club in Rockville, Maryland.

Patty is the mother of three grown sons and lives in Rockville with her husband.

Andrea W. Spisak
Director of Strategic Development
314.378.2958
andreas@imagine-america.org

Andrea focuses on the development of the Imagine America Foundation scholarship award programs. Andrea is the contact for career colleges that are interested in participating with the Foundation to offer the Imagine America high school scholarship, Military Award Program (MAP) and Adult Skills Education Program (ASAP).

Andrea has extensive experience with the career college sector. Before joining the Imagine America Foundation, she worked for four years as a Regional Sales Manager for Student Resource Services, LLC. In her role she worked with career schools by implementing student retention services and offering resource assistance and training for both the faculty and students. Andrea graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Cheri Rudd
Client Services Representative
314.304.1179
cherir@imagine-america.org

Cheri’s primary responsibility is to retain and strengthen superior relationships with participating career colleges of the Imagine America High School Program, Military Award Program (MAP) and Adult Skills Education Program (ASEP).

Cheri has extensive experience in customer relations. Before joining the Imagine America Foundation, Cheri worked in sales and customer service for several companies.