Imagine America Foundation Announces New Appointments to Board of Directors

Imagine America Foundation Announces New Appointments to Board of Directors

Washington, D.C. (July 06, 2011) – The Imagine America Foundation (IAF) announces the appointment of two officers to its Board of Directors. The new appointments are Chairman Russell Freeman of Coyne College and Treasurer Christopher M. Cimino of Neutron Interactive. The Foundation also announced the reappointment of Dennis Spisak of McGraw-Hill Career College Division, who will remain Vice-Chairman.

The Imagine America Foundation is career education’s largest provider of scholarships and also its primary research organization. IAF’s board members are responsible for guiding the research- and scholarship-providing arm for the career college sector throughout the coming year.

“Year after year I’m astounded at the level of experience we’re able to access with our board,” said Robert L. Martin, President of IAF. “We have a very strong leadership foundation in place and we couldn’t be more pleased with these appointments. Each of these individuals’ deep professional backgrounds and passionate commitment to career colleges will bring insightful perspectives to our Board.”

Russell Freeman, who is President of Coyne College, has been actively involved in postsecondary education for 23 years. Prior to joining the Foundation board, Freeman served on the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) board of directors from 1995 to 2001 where he served as a member or Chairman of many committees including Litigation, Membership, Awards, Skills 200.

Christopher Cimino is Senior Vice President of Business Development and Industry Relations of Neutron Interactive. He is a 19-year-veteran of the higher education industry, and will bring to the Foundation proven expertise in business development, interactive marketing, publishing, educational finance and technology solutions.

Dennis Spisak is the VP of Sales, National Sales Manager, for the Career College Division of McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Spisak has been a member of IAF’s board since 2006.

The Foundation would like to thank outgoing Chairman Jim Gessner for his leadership and continued support to the Foundation. Gessner is the President of Duluth Business University and has been a member of IAF’s Board since 2005. He has been actively involved in postsecondary education for more than 40 years.

“Our organization continued its substantial growth under Jim’s leadership in the last two years,” Martin said. “He’s been an unbelievable asset to our Foundation in regard to his knowledge of the career education sector and with business in general. He’s spent more than 40 years in this sector, and it was our pleasure to follow his leadership and learn from his example.”

The 2011-2012 Imagine America Foundation Board of Directors are: Chairman, Russell Freeman of Coyne College; Vice-Chairman, Dennis Spisak of McGraw-Hill Career College Division; Treasurer, Christopher M. Cimino of Neutron Interactive; Former-Chairman Jim Gessner of Duluth Business University; Danny Finuf of Brown Mackie Colleges (EDMC); Piper Jameson of Lincoln Group of Schools; Dr. Patricia Kapper of Education Corporation of America; Tracy Kreikemeier of PlattForm Advertising; Jon Liebman of Specs Howard School of Media Arts; Robert L. Martin of Imagine America Foundation; and Keith Zakarin of Duane Morris, LLP.

About the Imagine America FoundationThe Imagine America Foundation (IAF), established in 1982, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships for education, research and training support for the career college sector. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over $50 million in scholarship and award support for graduating high school seniors, adult learners and U.S. military personnel attending career colleges nationwide through its award-winning Imagine America® programs. The Foundation also publishes vital research publications for the higher education sector, honors achievement in career education and offers faculty development training. For more information about the Imagine America Foundation’s programs, please visit www.imagine-america.org.