Management Team

Mary Kelly joined StrataTech Education Group in 2010 as the Chief Operating Officer. She was promoted to President of the organization a few months later and in 2011, Ms. Kelly was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer. Mary Kelly has over twenty years’ experience in the postsecondary industry, with a blend of experience in both the for-profit (Bryant & Stratton Business College and Lincoln Educational Services) and non-profit (New School University and Hudson Valley Community College) education sectors. She also served as the Chief Academic Officer for the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay. Before joining StrataTech Education Group, she was a Group Vice President for Lincoln Educational Services. Ms. Kelly started at Lincoln Education Services in 2004 as an Executive Director of a newly acquired college (Southwestern College, TriCounty Campus). In the next three years, she and her staff took that school from about 100 students to 1,000. She was promoted to a Regional Executive Director in 2007 and within three months, was promoted to a Group Vice President. As Group Vice President, Mary oversaw nine schools in four states with revenues of 90+ million. Ms. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master of Arts in English Education, and a Master of Science in Educational Policy and Administration from the University at Albany.

Alison Zajacek was appointed Chief Financial Officer in October 2011. She served as Vice President of Finance from August 2010 to October 2011 and as Corporate Controller from November 2009 to August 2010. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Zajacek was with the financial consulting firm of Resources Global Professionals. Ms. Zajacek began her career in public accounting at Deloitte & Touche LLP. She is a graduate of John Carroll University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A) in Accounting. Ms. Zajacek is a Certified Public Accountant.

Brandon Milligan joined StrataTech Education Group in March 2014 as the Academic Dean of the Tulsa Welding School Jacksonville, FL campus. He was promoted to the Campus President in October of 2014. A year later in October of 2015 he was promoted to the Regional Campus President for the Tulsa Welding School Jacksonville, FL and Tulsa, OK campuses. Mr. Milligan was promoted to the Chief Operating Officer February 2017. He has been in the postsecondary industry for 16 years serving in roles such as Instructor, Department Chair, Education Supervisor, and Academic Dean to name a few. Under the leadership of Mr. Milligan the Jacksonville, FL campus experienced record breaking population, retention, placement, revenue, and EBITDA growth. Mr. Milligan holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis in Management and Strategy from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Management and Security from Lincoln College of Technology. Mr. Milligan also volunteers as a Team Leader for the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

Jim Nicol was appointed Vice President of Information Technology in January 2012. He held the title of Corporate Director of Information Technology from March 2010 through December 2011. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Nicol was Vice President of Information Technology for both IIA College and Universal Technical Institute. He has been in Information Technology for over 20 years, 16 of which have been with for-profit education companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Arizona State University.

Dylan Marsh joined StrataTech Education Group in 2013 as the Senior Director of Marketing. He was promoted to Vice President of Marketing in 2015. Mr. Marsh has over 10 years of marketing experience, many of those in postsecondary education. Prior to joining the StrataTech team, Mr. Marsh has held various marketing roles at other education providers Apollo College, Western Career College and Carrington College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Arizona State University as well as an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Kelly Gomez was recently promoted to Vice President of Human Resources. Ms. Gomez has been in the Human Resources field since 1996, all in various levels of education.  She began her career in HR at Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose, California.   In 2002, Ms. Gomez moved to Arizona and was employed in Human Resources for the next 8 years at Mesa Public Schools.   In December 2011, she was hired by Diversified Human Resources to work as a HR Consultant for StrataTech Education Group.  After providing consulting services for a year and a half, Ms. Gomez was hired on as part of the StrataTech team to oversee all aspects of the Human Resources department.   She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a concentration in Human Resources along with her PHR Certification.

John Palumbo joined StrataTech in March of 2014 bringing 16 years of private post-secondary education experience along with 13 additional years of sales and sales management experience. Mr. Palumbo started his admissions career in 2001 with Universal Technical Institute eventually becoming Director of Admissions, Regional Director and Vice President of Campus Admissions until September of 2007. His experience also includes four years at Anthem Education in various campus, regional and corporate admissions roles both before and after their acquisition by Florida Career College. Mr. Palumbo was Director of Admissions at The Refrigeration School before being promoted to Vice President of Campus Admissions in February 2017. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix in 2005.

Melanie Zuverink oversees all aspects of financial assistance to current and prospective students within StrataTech’s portfolio of schools, including: Tulsa Welding School, Tulsa Welding School Jacksonville, Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center in Houston, and The Refrigeration School in Phoenix. Before being promoted to vice president of financial aid, Zuverink was hired in 2014 as director of financial aid for StrataTech Education Group before being promoted to national director of financial aid. Zuverink began her decade-long career as a financial aid advisor at Anthem College in 2007. At Anthem College, she traveled to 23 campuses to help collect delinquent payments, train new advisors and directors, and fill in as a director when needed. From there, she was recruited by North Central University to counsel graduate students on program costs. Zuverink received her B.S. in Business and Administration from Anthem College in Phoenix, and is currently earning her M.S. in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University.