eCornell Leadership
eCornell's greatest resource is its people. With strong and experienced leadership and world-renowned content authors that are experts in their fields, our multi-talented staff creates top, online programs that reap results. Our team of seasoned professionals understands how to combine both learning and technology to deliver state-of-the-art professional education programs. Chief Executive Officer VP, Human Resources and Administration VP, Product Development and Marketing VP, Enterprise Marketing VP, Sales VP, Learning Solutions VP, Financial Management AVP, Learning Technology Chief Executive Officer
In an age of abundant information, many problems remain unsolved and we feel overwhelmed by information overload. I am always looking for new ways of connecting people through learning, and providing real educational opportunities, so we all become problem solvers. Chris Proulx is the Chief Executive Officer of eCornell. He was appointed CEO in October, 2004 after serving six months as Chief Operating Officer and two years as Director of Program Management. As CEO, Mr. Proulx is responsible for setting the strategic direction of eCornell, identifying growth potential in online education for eCornell, and collaborating with the senior leadership of the University and its faculty to strengthen and seek creative opportunities for our partnership. Previously, as Director of Program Management, Mr. Proulx was responsible for identifying potential new products, and working directly with the faculty and administration of the Schools and Colleges of Cornell University to produce and deliver our online programs. In addition, he directed eCornell's project teams in their working relationship with the faculty to ensure that our programs deliver on the promise of the Cornell faculty's content. Prior to joining eCornell he founded his own consulting practice, The Open Road, which specialized in strategic consulting, product development, interface design, and rapid prototyping of web-based learning and performance support systems. He worked with a diverse set of global organizations with end-users on four continents. Also, as Director of Projects for Knowledge Impact of Wayland, Massachusetts, he managed the development of new tools enabling Fortune 500 companies to deliver online learning and performance support in the areas of information systems training, business process improvement, and cultural and organizational change. Mr. Proulx has managed large global training projects for organizations in diverse industries such as Citibank, TravelersGroup, Xerox, Marriott Corporation, and Goldman Sachs. Mr. Proulx presents at many education and corporate learning industry events, is a member of the American Society for Training and Development, and is active in both community and environmental issues which includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Finger Lakes Land Trust. Mr. Proulx's background is in the hospitality industry where he was an operations manager and training resource for Discovery Zone, Inc. and ARAMARK Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University. Vice President, Human Resources and Administration
Ms. Updike joined eCornell after 32 years at Cornell University, where she held several diverse and highly responsible management positions. These included Assistant Director of Cornell Dining (a multi-million dollar operation with a primary focus on customer service, financial accountability and collaborative management), and Senior Administrator in the Office of the Senior Vice President. Here, she was instrumental in developing and implementing the University's Academic Leadership Series Forum and managed many university-wide strategic initiatives. As Senior Administrator for Academic Programs and University-wide Projects, she coordinated academic program reviews, Dean and faculty searches, the organizational review of the Biological Sciences, the task force on the Social Sciences, and the Provost's Committee on the development of an undergraduate Business program. Vice President, Product Development and Marketing
The eCornell Management Team
Chris Proulx
Maureen Updike
Ross Pearo
Will Hipwell
Tom Abogabal
David Shoemaker, Ph.D
Cheri Kruse, CPA
Alan McCarty
Profiles
Mr. Pearo is responsible for setting the strategic direction for and implementation of eCornell's product development and direct-to-consumer marketing and sales functions.
His primary product development responsibilities include working with Cornell University colleges and faculty to identify new content areas for course development; identifying new opportunities to create new client-facing products leveraging Cornell University content and intellectual property; and identifying new and innovative business models to designed to accomplish the programmatic goals of Cornell University's diverse colleges and units. He is also responsible for leading eCornell's direct-to-consumer marketing and sales operations including online and traditional marketing programs, inside sales, and vendor management. Mr. Pearo also has responsibility for managing the strategic and day-to-day relationships with Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, ILR School, Johnson School, and College of Engineering.
Prior to joining eCornell in 2003, Mr. Pearo was Manager of Interactive Marketing for Continental Airlines in Houston, Texas. At Continental he was responsible for all of Continental's outbound email marketing programs and was the marketing manager for the continental.com website. Mr. Pearo has also held positions in marketing and business development for Ashford.com, a leading online retailer of jewelry and luxury items, and the Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada.
Mr. Pearo earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and a Master of Business Administration degree from Rice University in Houston, Texas.
Vice President, Enterprise Marketing
I'm a matchmaker. I identify potential customers and show them why eCornell might be a good match for the business problems they are trying to solve. By providing the right information at the right time, I make it easier for potential customers and eCornell to open up a dialogue, explore if and how we might be a good fit together, and hopefully make a connection that will turn into a long-lasting relationship.
As eCornell’s vice president of enterprise marketing, Mr. Hipwell is responsible for eCornell’s worldwide branding, overall positioning and the promotion of its products and services. He oversees all aspects of the company’s business-to-business marketing efforts, including online and offline direct marketing programs, customer relationship management initiatives, advertising, product launches and public relations. Mr. Hipwell also manages eCornell’s third-party partner management programs that support reseller channels both domestically and internationally.
Prior to joining eCornell, Mr. Hipwell held various senior management positions within the e-learning and performance management technology industries. Most recently he was the head of marketing and product management for a leading provider of learning management software where he was instrumental in growing revenue 40-fold in less than 10 years and won more than 60 awards for the company’s growth, product developments and business results generated for clients.
Will holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics & Mass Communication from York University in Toronto, Ontario (1994) and a Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa (1995).
Call me the eCornell Evangelist. Times have changed, are changing, and will continue to change drastically. We are living in a “flat” world where technology and communication has dramatically changed the way we live our lives and learn. Obstacles such as geography, opportunity, scale or "time" are no longer a barrier or excuse. Technology and education are the future, it is the now, and it will enable today and tomorrow's organizations to compete for talent, retain and develop their employees and thrive in an uncertain future. Education is also the catalyst and change-agent for making the world a better place. The world is a fountain of knowledge and experience, we should all be able to share and drink from it.
Mr. Abogabal brings 10+ years of experience in the training & consulting industries. He joined eCornell in March 2003 with extensive expertise in sales & business development in the public and private sector working with Fortune 500 Companies. As one of eCornell's first business development team members, he helped cultivate eCornell's corporate learning and talent management partnership in the Professional Services, Pharmaceutical, FInancial Services, Aerospace & Defense and Hospitality sector to rapidly grow eCornell's customer base to encompass industry leaders across the world. Prior to joining eCornell, Mr. Abogabal held various business development and customer relationship management positions with one of the world's leading financial services firms and the professional services sector.
Mr. Abogabal participates at many education and corporate learning industry events, is a member of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and ASTDNY Chapter.
Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Rutgers College, Rutgers University (1997) and fluent in Arabic. Tom also practices what he preaches and earned his Certificate in Supervisory Skills from Cornell University in 2004.
Distance-learning technologies give us the potential to realize the compelling goal of making educational opportunities available to all who seek it. I love the challenge of combining cutting-edge tools and technologies with evidence-based pedagogy to craft effective, engaging, online learning experiences that facilitate communication, collaboration, and the construction of knowledge.
As eCornell's vice president of learning solutions, David Shoemaker provides intellectual leadership in the definition of authentic, engaging, pedagogically sound online learning experiences to serve a variety of audiences and their executive-education and professional- development needs. He collaborates with eCornell's learning designers and other members of the course-development team to ensure the pedagogic integrity of Cornell University curricula in its translation from the classroom to the online environment and works with eCornell's corporate clients to craft learning solutions to meet their training and development needs. He is also responsible for evolving eCornell's learning model to incorporate the latest advances in learning theory, technologies, and tools.
Dr. Shoemaker is a frequent presenter at conferences both in the U.S. and abroad. Most recently, he presented at Learning 2006 in Orlando, Florida; at e-Learn 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii, at e-Learning DevCon 2006 in Salt Lake City, Utah; at the CLO Spring 2006 Symposium; and at the 44th EUHOFA International World Congress in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. In addition, Dr. Shoemaker has published articles about e-learning in several professional journals including CEO Today, Learning Circuits, and e-Learning News.
Dr. Shoemaker received his Ph.D. in Dramatic Art from the University of California, Berkeley.
Vice President, Financial Management
As eCornell's vice president of financial management, Cheri Kruse provides financial oversight and analyses, develops and recommends financial policies and strategies to assure the company’s continued financial strength and oversees all accounting system controls and standards as well as contract administration ensuring accuracy and efficiency of financial operations. She is directly responsible for the review and issuance of the monthly and annual financial and statistical reports and the company’s budget and forecasting process. Before joining eCornell, Ms. Kruse has held various management positions in public accounting, real estate and hospitality fields. Ms. Kruse was the Consulting Department Supervisor with Sciarabba Walker & Co. in Ithaca, NY where she provided business consulting with a focus on new start-ups, performed financial statement audits and prepared corporate tax returns. She also held various management positions with Bristol Hotels and Resorts including Internal Auditor, Controller, Director of Rooms and Director of Operations in Texas and Nebraska. Ms. Kruse holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting and a Master of Science in Accounting from Oklahoma State University. She is a Certified Public Accountant in New York and Texas. Assistant Vice President, Learning Technology I enjoy watching new technologies evolve and envisioning how eCornell can take advantage of them. I believe we're headed toward an exciting future where an online learning experience can meet or exceed that of the traditional campus. Mr. McCarty joined the eCornell Management Team in 2008 as Assistant Vice President, Learning Technology. His responsibilities include the oversight of daily technology operations, application development, and overall learning technology strategy. His membership on the Management Team allows eCornell to turn ideas into reality through the use of rapid-prototyping and accelerated system design. After initially joining eCornell in 2001, Mr. McCarty left to work for Sungard Availability Services, but returned in 2006 to lead eCornell's technology initiatives. Prior to joining eCornell, Mr. McCarty held positions in system and network administration, network design and project management at various institutions of higher education. 
