• Home
• Test Takers
• Client Services
• Test Center Solutions

About Pearson VUE

Meet the Executive Team

Our executive team possesses nearly 200 years of combined experience implementing and operating computerized testing programs. We have implemented many global testing programs, the majority of which were transitions from other test delivery providers. We have developed an impeccable reputation for our commitment to quality and provide the highest level of service to our clients, their test takers, and our test center partners.

Pearson VUE is committed to being the industry leader in electronic testing, as evidenced by the track record of our experienced personnel, the investment in our infrastructure, and the continued advancement of our technology. Please take a few moments to meet our executive team.

• Robert Whelan
  President and Chief Executive Officer

  Over the course of an impressive 30-year career, Bob Whelan has made significant contributions to Pearson VUE and the entire testing industry. As the company’s president and chief executive officer, Bob has overall management responsibility for the Pearson VUE electronic testing business. Through successful communication of a clear vision and a team-based collaborative approach, he has seen the company grow to become the global leader in computer-based assessments. In recognition of these efforts, Bob received the 2011 ATP Award for Professional Contributions and Service to Testing from the Association of Test Publishers. Today, Pearson VUE delivers millions of exams in more than 400 owned-and-operated Pearson Professional Centers and a network of more than 4,500 Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers around the world.

• Betty Bergstrom, PhD
  Vice President, Testing Services

  Betty leads the company’s Global Content Development, Psychometric Services and Test Publishing teams. Testing Services staff supports client programs for job analysis, virtual and in-person question development, building and publishing computer-based tests (CBT), and statistical analysis of questions and tests.

  An expert researcher in computer-based and adaptive testing, innovative item types, item response theory and large scale item banking, Betty is the author of numerous articles related to computer-based testing. She is a member of the American Educational Research Association and National Council on Measurement in Education and served on the Association of Test Publishers Board of Directors from 2007–2010. Betty has an MS and PhD from the University of Chicago in Measurement, Evaluation and Statistical Analysis.

• Stephanie Dille
  Vice President, Marketing

  Stephanie is a top-performing marketing professional with more than 20 years of progressively challenging positions in sales and marketing within the testing industry. Key areas of expertise include writing and executing integrated marketing plans to grow testing programs, launching new business initiatives, managing a marquee product line, and creating an effective proposal process to serve a growing business. Skilled at identifying and effectively implementing revenue-generating marketing opportunities for both the company and its clients, Stephanie is a notably enthusiastic, highly motivated team player with strong interpersonal and leadership skills. She manages a team of seasoned marketing professionals, as well as the proposal and publications teams at Pearson VUE. Stephanie received a BA from the University of Minnesota and has an MBA in Marketing from the University of St. Thomas.

• Gary Gates, PhD
  Senior Vice President, Global Business

  An international business expert, Gary is responsible for leading Pearson VUE’s strategic efforts outside North America. In this vital role, he works to incubate and grow Pearson VUE international opportunities by establishing partnerships, recommending acquisitions and collaborating with established Pearson businesses located in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, South Africa, India, China, Japan, Korea and Australia.

  Gary’s considerable experience launching international enterprises include development, commercialization, and internationalization of innovative technology which transformed how governments and other constituents source traffic information. He has also negotiated and established joint ventures and has won new business on a global scale. Prior to joining Pearson VUE, he held senior management positions with British Nuclear Fuels Plc and British Energy. Gary received his Ph.D. from the University of Liverpool and graduated with honors from the University of York with a B.S. in Theoretical Physics.

• Bridget Herd
  Vice President, Program Management

  Bridget is a results-oriented individual with more than 15 years of success in all aspects of product management, including marketing, development, launch, and event planning. As vice president of Program Management for Pearson VUE, Bridget assesses organizational and personnel strengths to identify new opportunities for growth and development. Her focus is to assure that the service expectations of all professional services clients are met or exceeded. Bridget oversees the professional services program management team, a key Pearson VUE client liaison group whose individual program managers serve as the client’s primary contact with Pearson VUE. She has an added focus of bringing ongoing process improvement and quality assurance to Pearson VUE’s growing business.

  Bridget has more than 14 years of experience in education and assessments, including nine years with Pearson. She possesses an MBA from St. Thomas University and a BA from the University of Wisconsin.

• Corey Hoesley
  Vice President, Global Operations

  Corey is responsible for all of the operations which support Pearson VUE’s business functionality. In addition to his position on the company’s Senior Executive Team, he provides daily and strategic leadership for Pearson VUE Global Operations, including the Pearson owned-and-operated channel, Security, Customer Service, Technical Support Desk, Network Operations and Information Systems, Quality Control, Data Integrity and Fulfillment. Corey has proven himself to be an effective leader of multiple operational departments having been involved in computer-based testing since its inception at Pearson VUE more than a decade ago. This industry expertise, combined with many years of operational management, provides a unique skill set for Pearson VUE clients. Corey has a BS in Mass Communications from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.

• Michael Hussey
  Vice President, Business Development

  Michael manages three key areas within Pearson VUE. As leader of new business ventures, he oversees UExcel credit-by-examination and mindhub^®, the company’s online storefront that provides our sponsor’s learning and test preparation materials as well as test vouchers to certification and licensure candidates. Michael also directs the company’s Partnership in Innovation Program and is the executive sponsor for Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) accounts.

  Since joining Pearson in 1988, Michael has implemented technology-based solutions in K–12 schools, school districts and state Departments of Education where he focused on sales leadership, business development, and general management. As an executive, his responsibilities have included business development, due diligence, acquisition/integration leadership, and sales leadership in the Pearson’s Assessment & Information Group. Michael holds a BS degree in Mathematics from Indiana University, Bloomington.

• Doug Kennedy
  Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

  Doug directs strategic planning, implementation, management and control of all Pearson VUE financial activities. In addition to leading global teams of finance and accounting professionals, he manages merger and acquisition efforts, the test center real estate portfolio, the legal department and serves on the company’s senior leadership team. Doug also supports the GEDTS and Credential Management business units. He has more than 25 years of financial leadership experience.

  Before joining Pearson VUE, he served as division controller at supercomputer manufacturer Cray Research, held roles of increasing responsibility in financial planning, marketing, and sales analysis at Northwest Airlines and was involved in financial planning for Fingerhut Companies. Doug holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and an MBA in Finance from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Business.

• Karen Ketchmark
  Senior Vice President, Human Resources

  In leading Pearson VUE’s human resources efforts, Karen is responsible for long- and short-term strategy, talent acquisition, leadership development, compensation and HR support activities. As a member of the company’s Senior Executive Team, she works to align Pearson VUE’s management of human capital with its high-growth strategic objectives. In addition to human resources, her professional experience includes operations, client services and delivery implementation. Karen holds a BA in Human Resources Management from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota and an MBA from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

• Ron Lancaster
  Vice President, Technology

  Ron Lancaster has 15 years of experience in software development. As vice president of Technology, he manages software teams that provide a full suite of services including test development and data management designed to provide a fair, equal and comprehensive measurement of candidates’ performance. Ron is an experienced leader, an accomplished software developer and a consistent advocate for improvement and innovation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, as well as a Master of Science in Software Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

• Suzana Lopes
  Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Pearson VUE, Europe, Middle East, Africa

  Ms. Lopes leads the Sales and Marketing Division for Europe, Middle East & Africa. She has over 15 years of Sales and Marketing experience within large organizations such as Oracle and Docent Corporation. Suzana has extensive experience working in E-Learning and Education areas. She holds a Computer Science Degree from UNA University in Brazil and has completed graduate courses in International Business from New York University.

• Steve Nordberg
  Senior Vice President, Products and Services Chief Technology Officer

  With 30 years of experience in the computer industry, Steve has a broad background in technology, management, sales, marketing and finance. His distinctive experience includes sales and marketing management for a growing, technology-based services business and as a successful independent management consultant. Steve served 14 years as a manager and executive with a Fortune 200 computer company and five years as a systems engineer and manager.

  Steve is the co-founder of the original VUE business, encompassing all aspects of innovative training services. He led technology development and strategic sales for VUE and helped grow the business until it culminated in its sale to National Computer Systems in April 1997. As the company’s senior vice president of products and services and its chief technologist, Steve leads the technological evolution of Pearson VUE systems.

• Arthur Valentine
  General Manager, Regulatory Services; Senior Vice President, Programs

  A member of the Pearson VUE Senior Executive Team, Art Valentine leads the North American program groups at Pearson VUE. In this role, he is responsible for the delivery of all client and candidate services and overall client satisfaction. Art directly oversees the professional certification, information technology and state regulatory account management teams. In addition, he has overall business responsibility for Pearson VUE’s state regulatory business, encompassing state licensure, examination and continuing education offerings.

  Prior to joining Pearson VUE, Art served as a principal at Perot Systems/Solutions Consulting, where he was a founding member of the enterprise technology consulting firm providing Enterprise Resource Planning solutions for manufacturing and retail companies. He has also held positions with Accenture and Verticalnet, where he provided technical consultative services to leading technology and consumer organizations.

• Donald Wagner
  Senior Vice President, Business Development

  Don Wagner, a pioneer in the computer-based testing industry and key leader at Pearson VUE, has been a driving force behind Pearson VUE’s success. As senior vice president of Business Development, he is responsible for strategic planning, market and business development activities serving the professional licensure and certification, information technology (IT), military, human resource, academic and regulatory markets. He is also responsible for Pearson VUE’s Partnership in Innovation initiative and the sales efforts to recruit and manage third-party test centers.

  With more than 20 years of broad technical experience helping clients implement computer-based testing solutions and build successful testing programs, Don is an active supporter of industry organizations and initiatives that promote the benefits of computer-based assessment to clients and candidates. Don holds a BS degree in Businesses Administration, Information Systems and Management from the University of Cincinnati.

• Bill West
  Vice President, Business Development

As vice president, Business Development, Bill leads the Pearson VUE team responsible for new business, account management and client satisfaction in the professional licensure, certification, academic and federal government markets. He also oversees the team responsible for government and military testing channel initiatives.

A 17-year veteran in the testing industry, Bill has served in several capacities at Pearson VUE including customer service, program management and business development where he succeeded in launching and managing several of the company’s most important customer programs. An active contributor to industry associations and committees, he most recently served as conference chair of the ATP Innovations in Testing annual conference. Bill holds a BA from St. Olaf College and an MBA from Augsburg College in Minnesota.

• Barbara Wilson
  Vice President, Enterprise Project Management Office

Barbara has over 30 years of project management and information technology experience in the technology and services industries. She provides process, consistency and governance expertise to successfully guide strategic initiatives and investments for the organization. Barbara has held significant leadership and consultancy positions with global organizations and has brought this expertise into the organization by implementing project management disciplines at Pearson VUE globally. In addition to project management, Barbara is responsible for the pre-sales processes that define product and service solutions for our clients. Barbara studied Business Administration at Eastern Michigan University and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix.

• Julie Wineberg
  Vice President, Test Center Operations

  A founding employee of Pearson VUE and a member of the Pearson VUE Senior Leadership Team, Julie has 22 years of experience in the test delivery industry and more than 27 years of operational management experience. As vice president of Test Center Services, she directly oversees and manages all Pearson VUE test centers. In this role, Julie is responsible for the successful implementation and maintenance of all Pearson VUE client programs in all test centers worldwide. This includes the management of operations teams in Pearson Professional Centers (PPC)/Pearson VUE test center services, capacity management and international test center management.

  Julie is one of the inventors of Pearson VUE’s patented test center design, patent no. US D472,397 S. She has served as a past chair and vice chair of The Council for Secure Testing (CST) and co-founded a new security initiative under The Association of Test Publishers (ATP).

• Anthony Zara, PhD
  Vice President, Global Credentialing Solutions

  Tony provides strategic direction and leadership to the Testing Services team at Pearson VUE to provide client-focused service solutions for high-stakes testing programs. He is also responsible for the company’s Global Credentialing Solutions business, meeting customers’ needs arising from the expansion of their programs to markets outside of the U.S. Formerly, he served as senior director of testing and research services at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and was responsible for launching computerized adaptive testing (CAT) for the national nurse licensure exam program. He directed NCSBN’s CAT Feasibility Study and has been a speaker in the areas of test development, psychometrics and computerized testing research for more than 20 years. Tony holds a PhD in Psychometric Methods from the University of Minnesota.