President & CEO

What is your role and function at WPS?

As President and CEO of WPS, I have many different responsibilities, and they vary each and every day. No two days at WPS are the same for me, and I love my job for that reason. My most important role is to ensure all departments have the resources they need so that they can succeed. This takes a lot of coordination and allows me to work directly with many different people all over the organization. I’m also the head cheerleader and the culture evangelist. I often like to walk the halls and listen to as many people as possible to ensure they feel happy, engaged, and empowered as part of this company.

How long have you been at WPS?

I was born into WPS. Yes, it’s true, I’ve been part of the company my whole life. Being the third generation of my family to run the company, I didn’t formally start until 1999 when I graduated college. One thing that has changed since I joined the company full time in 1999 is our limitless attitude that allows us to think bigger about the positive impact we can have on our customers and the families they serve.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I grew up on the Westside of Los Angeles (Brentwood/Pacific Palisades/Santa Monica) and have lived in that area for most of my adult life. The only years I spent away from LA were the four years during college when I lived in Berkeley, California (Go, Bears!). I love the beauty and vibe of the Bay Area; however, I quickly moved back to LA to join the family business.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I have attended 11 Grateful Dead concerts, 24 Phish concerts, 18 Allman Brothers Band concerts, and 44 String Cheese Incident concerts.

I have seen every episode of the TV series The West Wing.

I don’t know how to drive a manual-transmission car.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

The biggest obstacle I have overcome in my life was the passing of my father, Ira Manson, six days before my 20th birthday. I was a junior in college and had dreams of working side by side with my father to learn/lead the family business. When he passed, there was a great deal of uncertainty about what my family would do with the business. I was young, had so much to learn, and had lost the greatest mentor anyone could have ever had. It was not an easy path, as there were many long nights of self-doubt and hesitation. But here I am, leading a phenomenal group of people who believe in me, believe in each other, and believe in our mission to help people unlock their potential.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

After I had my first child, I finally realized how important it is to have dedicated helping professionals in the fields of school psychology, speech–language pathology, occupational therapy, neuropsychology, and other allied fields to care for children in need. It’s great to know that they are there, ready and able to assist a family like mine, and help a struggling child. This is very reassuring to me and inspires me to do my part well so that the products WPS contributes to the assessment community make a positive impact in the field.

What is your educational background?

Bachelor of Science, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business. Master of Business Administration, University of California, Los Angeles, Anderson School of Management.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I love the culture of the company. The people I get to work with every day make all the difference. I get excited to come to work and dive into new projects because I know I’m working with people who really care about what we are doing.

What did you use to do before WPS?

Working at WPS is the only job I’ve ever had. Seriously, it is! I was born into the company and worked in the mailroom as a teenager and during summer vacations up until I graduated college when I started working here full time. I sure hope this works out because I’m not prepared to do anything else!

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Chief Operating Officer

What is your role and function at WPS?

Chief Operating Officer. I oversee the publishing operation, which includes research and development, professional training, art, editorial, production, procurement, fulfillment, customer service, and facilities. I am also part of the company’s Leadership Team. My workdays vary quite a bit – some are filled with team meetings on projects and individual meetings with staff members, while on other days I have more time to focus on project work and strategic initiatives for the Leadership Team. I enjoy the variety.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I work with many different teams to publish the new titles and revisions that drive our revenue, to increase efficiency and reduce costs in our business operations, and to nourish a positive work environment. What inspires me is helping to create an organization that attracts talented people and enables them to thrive.

How long have you been at WPS?

I started at WPS in 2000. Since I joined, the company has evolved dramatically in its focus on culture, core values, and the employee experience.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but have lived in California since I was 6 years old (except for one year during college when I lived in England). When I was very young, we lived on an army base in Oklahoma, where I remember looking for prairie dogs, throwing rocks at wasp nests, and jumping into the pool at the Officers’ Club.

What is one personal thing about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I love crossword puzzles and have even created one of my own – it’s on display in a frame right outside my office.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

Four knee surgeries, one torn rotator cuff, and more injuries than I can count. Ouch!

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

I'm a research psychologist, so my professional background is directly related to our work at WPS. I have great admiration for the clinicians who work directly with children and families. I feel that promoting our positive culture and core values is a way that I can put my psychological training to good use.

What is your educational background?

I have a PhD in psychology from UCLA, and a BA in philosophy from UC Berkeley.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

I’m learning to program in R, a statistical computing language.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I enjoy working for a company that feels like a family. I enjoy being a part of our team and our culture. I enjoy contributing to the growth of a thriving organization with a positive, humanistic mission.

What did you used to do before WPS?

Life prior to WPS was mostly about education, with 5 years of college and 8 years of graduate school and postdoctoral fellowship. In between, I worked as an editor for a computer magazine, and then spent 6 months traveling around the world. My wife Liz and I were married in 1997. We have two children, Jacob (born in 1999) and Anna (born in 2004).

Where can we contact you?

My Email
My LinkedIn

Vice President of Accounting and Finance

What is your role and function at WPS?

I oversee the Finance and Accounting department and am responsible for financial statements, budgeting, accounts payable, accounts receivable and all other finance and accounting functions.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I’m an advocate for helping others. Whether you are helping someone in your own department or a different department, we should always be willing to help those around us.

How long have you been at WPS?

I’ve been at WPS since May 2018

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born in Detroit and then moved at the age of nine to Tarpon Springs, Florida (home of the fighting Spongers…really, I’m not kidding). Moved back to Michigan when I was 18 for college and then left the cold for sunny SoCal in my mid-twenties. I will never shovel my car out of a pile of snow again!

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I love to sing, but I’m just too nervous to sing in front of anyone but my kids.

I have a lead-foot and was in all my glory while speeding on the Autobahn several years ago.

I delivered all three of my kids without any pain meds.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

I was fortunate enough to become a manager at a young age, however, most of my staff were twice my age, and they weren’t too welcoming to some “kid” running the department. I learned early on that effective listening, constant communication, compassion and positivity are all leadership qualities that earn loyalty and respect. After a few months we truly began to operate as a team, and I continued to lead and learn from that amazing group of individuals for five years.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

At WPS we change lives. We are creating products that have the power to make a difference in a family’s life. My own children have been assessed by clinicians using our WPS products. I am grateful to work for an organization that recognizes potential and opportunity, and I’m even more grateful to be a part of that process.

What is your educational background?

I have a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. (Go BLUE!) I’m also a licensed CPA in both California and Michigan.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

Being that I’m new to the psychology and test publishing industry, I am learning something new every day about our products and our competitors’ products. I love learning and understanding more about our customers’ wants and needs and how WPS can offer support now and in the future.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

The people of WPS truly set us apart from other organizations. I love being surrounded by others who are positive, caring, compassionate and collaborative. I love that the people of WPS truly believe in our Core Values and strive to make a difference in all they do.

What did you used to do before WPS?

I started my career as a financial auditor with Deloitte, a “Big Four” accounting organization. I then worked as a Controller for Penske Motor Group and later EagleRider before joining WPS in 2018.

Vice President of Enterprise Planning

What is your role and function at WPS?

I am the Vice President of Enterprise Planning. I am responsible for executing our strategic vision through building, implementing, and communicating our Enterprise-wide plan(s) across the organization.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I am an advocate for collaboration, organization, process improvement, productivity, and exceptional execution. I like to get stuff done!

How long have you been at WPS?

I have been at WPS since February 2011.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

Born and raised in Southern California. I grew up in Orange County and continue to live there with my family.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn't know?

1. I am addicted to endorphins...So I run!

2. I love to eat!...So I run!

3. I also love hot Yoga! Namaste!

What's a big obstacle you've had to overcome in your life or career?

My biggest obstacle was public speaking. I used to be extremely shy (I know, hard to believe). At one point in my life, I was shaken anytime I had to speak in front of a large group; now I enjoy it. I learned that facing your fears makes you grow.

What is your personal connection to the WPS mission?

My personal connection is that we are doing something special here. When I go home at night, I know that our work matters. We are doing something that allows parents to have a better understanding of their children, which is priceless.

What is your educational background?

I have a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Chapman University. I also have certifications in project management, including my PMP and CSM.

What is something you are currently studying or learning?

Currently, I am working on another project management certification. I am a student for life.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I enjoy the people the most. The energy in the office is positive and warm. You will not be able to walk through our building without seeing several smiles and hearing a hello or two. It’s a wonderful place to be!

What did you do before WPS?

I have worked for several companies in various industries in project management. I have been a project manager since I was 5 years old when I made my first “to do” list.

Where can we contact you?

My Email
My LinkedIn

Vice President, Research and Development

What is your role and function at WPS?

I share the role of Department Head with Dr. Sheri Stegall. Together, we work with the Project Directors and research staff to develop our assessment products. We also plan strategically for the future of the company and the field of clinical test publishing. In addition to heading the department, I also work on my own projects. I do everything involved in developing a test from an idea to a finished product, including item creation, author collaboration, data collection and analysis, manual writing, and product support.

How long have you been at WPS?

I’ve been at WPS since 2005, and countless things have changed, although the friendly and supportive atmosphere hasn’t.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I’m a Valley Girl (San Fernando Valley, in northern Los Angeles). I went to Santa Barbara for undergraduate and graduate school and said I’d never move back to the Valley. But then I did, and I find it to be a great place to raise my family.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I sometimes have Poison and other ’80s hair bands playing on my computer when I do data analysis. I went skiing in the Austrian Alps many years ago—it was a very mild winter in Europe, so they had to make snow! My personal willpower is weakest when it comes to good fiction. I’ve been known to stay up far too late finishing a book, put off important tasks to read, and even spend a whole weekend doing nothing but reading a new book (yes, I’m talking about you, Harry Potter).

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

I’ve struggled with this question and don’t really have a good answer. I’ve been fortunate in my life and grateful for the path it’s taken. Of course, there have been ups and downs, but no “big obstacle.”

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

I want to help the people who help people. I studied to be in direct service and to be one of those helpers. But then I found that I was better suited to research in test development (and it was better suited for me), so I moved to indirect service. But my passion for helping children and families hasn’t diminished, nor has my commitment to working to improve the lives of young people.

What is your educational background?

PhD in counseling/clinical/school psychology with an emphasis in school psychology from the beautiful UC Santa Barbara.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

Coffee. No, not really (though the free coffee is lovely). My favorite thing about working at WPS is that I work with amazing people. It’s so much fun to work with others who have differing skills and for us all to collaborate by bringing our own talents to the table and creating something incredible.

What did you do before WPS?

I always worked with kids. When I was younger, I babysat, tutored, and worked as a camp counselor. As an adult, I worked as a special education aide, therapist, and assessor. My favorite aspect of being a psychologist was doing assessments—I liked trying to solve the puzzle. Now the puzzle is about putting together the pieces to build the best test for our customers.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Vice President, Research and Development

What is your role and function at WPS?

As a Department Head of WPS R&D, my role includes overseeing the overall functioning of the department, including resource planning, interdepartmental communication, and supervision of project directors. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to share the Department Head responsibilities with Dr. Amber Klein, which has enabled both of us to continue to serve as project directors as well. As a Project Director, I am responsible for all aspects of R&D for new products and revisions, from early development (e.g., discussing an author’s vision, conducting data collection and analysis) through final production. Much of my project work has focused on our autism assessments. As the Director of Professional Training Products, I provide professional oversight for our continuing education activities, such as our live workshops and home-study programs.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

Within the company, I am an advocate for improving interdepartmental communication and for completing work with passion and dedication.

How long have you been at WPS?

Since 2006. During my years here, I have watched us grow from a small family company into a vibrant, forward-thinking company that has remained true to its family values.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Santa Monica, California. From there, I moved to New York to attend college at Cornell University, then moved to Maine for graduate school, and then to North Carolina to complete my clinical internship. I eventually moved back to California to complete a postdoctoral fellowship and stayed in California to work at WPS and start my own family close to where I grew up.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn't know?

I have a small dog named Rusty that I adopted from an animal shelter many years ago. Although he is only 10 pounds, he is brave as can be and has tried to attack a horse to protect his family. He has also survived a rattlesnake bite.

I appeared on the TV show Romper Room (oh, to be seen again through that Magic Mirror!).

I met my husband while volunteering at the Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service in Ithaca, New York.

What is your personal connection to the WPS mission?

As a developmental and clinical psychologist, I’ve always been passionate about the importance of assessment as the fundamental core that leads to improved understanding of oneself and others and to appropriate treatment. I’ve also been passionate about the value of quality training in assessment. My work at WPS has allowed me to pursue both of these passions toward the goal of improving the lives of children and families.

What is your educational background?

BA—Cornell University (honors thesis investigated depression and suicidality amongst international graduate students attending the University)

PhD—University of Maine (program focused in both Clinical and Developmental Psychology)

Clinical Child/Pediatric Intern—University of North Carolina School of Medicine (including rotation as part of an autism assessment team at Chapel Hill TEACCH)

Postdoctoral Fellowship—Casa Pacifica (treatment facility for abused and neglected children and adolescents, and those with severe emotional, social, behavioral, and mental health challenges)

What is something you are currently studying or learning?

I am currently relearning how to view life through the eyes of a child. It is amazing how much joy and wonderment there is in simple things, which is so often overlooked as we grow older. I am so grateful to have a daughter who teaches me something new every day.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I enjoy the great team of coworkers and authors that I get to work with every day, and most of all, I enjoy knowing that the work I am doing contributes to the improvement of the lives of those in need.

What did you do before WPS?

Mostly I was in school learning to be a psychologist and then working as a postdoctoral fellow. I have also worked as a licensed psychologist conducting assessments in a private practice.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Director of Research Operations

What is your role and function at WPS?

As the Director of Research Operations, I essentially make sure things are running smoothly in R&D. Of course, there is no “typical” day, but I oversee our data collection projects and work with all of our Research Assistants, Research Coordinator, and Project Directors to determine each project’s data needs, enroll data collectors, and find appropriate clinical sites. I also work with authors on intervention materials—I like being able to be part of the next-steps process so that clinicians have options for after the assessment is completed.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

Professional development. I think it’s mutually beneficial for both the employee and the organization if employees are able to grow and learn within their current roles and grow into new positions. Having access to regular trainings, workshops, and effective mentoring managers goes a long way and will help us all thrive.

How long have you been at WPS?

I first started at WPS in June 2005 as a Research Assistant but left in 2009 to pursue graduate studies. I later found my way back in 2013. Things have certainly evolved since 2005 (including myself!), but the company culture and enthusiasm for building employee morale are prominent standouts. Happy team = productive organization, right?

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

The first half of my childhood was spent in Southern California. My family then moved to the Dallas/Ft. Worth suburbs. Eager to get back to the SoCal weather and beaches, I moved to Los Angeles after high school and have been here ever since.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

1) During my pre-mom life, I was a little obsessed with finding different places to run stairs; running the Hollywood Bowl stairs on the weekend became one of my favorite pastimes.

2) I own a guitar. Do I play? No. I barely passed my beginner’s guitar class freshman year of college.

3) I was on my high school’s dance team. Football is big in Texas. When your football team isn’t that great, people look forward to the halftime show. Once a Raiderette, always a Raiderette.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

I’ve always planned to enter the helping profession, but my true passion is seeking to empower others. My training, experiences, and work in social work definitely reinforced and secured that drive. Working for an organization that strives to empower clinicians so that they can empower the families and individuals they serve makes me proud and excited.

What is your educational background?

I have a BA in psychology from USC (Fight On!) as well as a master’s in social work and master’s in urban planning from USC (Go Trojans!). Yes, I bleed cardinal and gold. Fun fact: my 2-year-old won’t say “I love you” but tells anyone “Fight On!”

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

By day, I’m currently working to enhance my statistical skills through various trainings for all our many data analyses. And by night, I’m learning to embrace my off-key singing voice to entertain and crack up my 2-year-old daughter.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

The people! We have some pretty great colleagues within the WPS family, but I also love meeting new faces and customers at conferences, engaging with brilliant and talented authors, and working with enthusiastic data collectors.

What did you do before WPS?

In between my WPS years, I went to graduate school for a dual master’s program in social work and urban planning. After that, I was with the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development working with prevention and intervention agencies across the city.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Vice President of Engineering

What is your role and function at WPS?

My average workday consists of attending to the tactical and strategic responsibilities of my role, as well as establishing and developing people, relationships, systems, and solutions.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I am a big advocate of continuous improvement, automation, quality, efficiency, collaboration, and teamwork.

How long have you been at WPS?

I am new at WPS. I started in January 2018.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born in Iran. My family and I moved around quite a bit, and I switched schools during my childhood years in Iran. I moved to New Jersey with my family just prior to the revolution when I was 12 years old. The early years were tough, as I was adjusting to the culture. I gravitated to soccer and computers and focused on sports and schooling until I graduated from college. I met my future wife while visiting California in my early twenties. I fell in love and moved to Glendale, CA, shortly thereafter. We got married and settled down in La Crescenta, CA. We are proud parents of three. I love the weather, the culture, and the climate of SoCal!

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I love soccer, music, cars, and traveling. I used to play the keyboards and imagined I was Ray Manzarek of The Doors on keyboard. I enjoy every type of music, from classical to heavy metal and every genre in between. I used to juggle the soccer ball over 1,000 times (practice, practice, practice). I played club and semi-pro soccer in my younger years. I enjoy traveling and look forward to visiting Armenia one of these years. I love cars and have a collection of model cars at the office.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

There are no obstacles, only curves and bumps on the road. Be positive and the solution will come… keep your eyes on the road and don’t get distracted.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

I know many people with children with special needs. Helping people is very honorable and impactful. I am super excited to be part of a company with such a noble cause.

What is your educational background?

I have a BS in computer and information science from New Jersey Institute of Technology. Go Highlanders!

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

I am always learning. Technology does not stop evolving… the pace is unrelenting. I am learning about AI, Machine Learning, Blockchain, and DevOps implementation.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I love everything about WPS. The mission, culture, people, projects, and challenges excite me to come to work every day.

What did you do before WPS?

I’ve been in leadership roles for the past 10+ years at various organizations. I was a solutions architect and software developer prior to that. I enjoy working with people, learning new things, developing teams and professionals, and solving problems through software solutions. I enjoy working with data.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Vice President of Marketing

What is your role and function at WPS?

I have the honor to lead and work with an incredible team of creative marketing individuals. We develop strategies for delivering useful content, materials, and information to our customers that help them do their jobs better.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I am passionate about serving parents of children with delays or disabilities and finding the resources and help their children need to live full and productive lives. What we create here at WPS allows for practitioners to do just that; our tests and assessments are designed with the needs of clinicians in mind, helping them have confidence in the results they present, often directly to parents.

How long have you been at WPS?

285,769 minutes.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I grew up in San Gabriel, CA. I am a 10th generation Southern Californian. I’ve lived elsewhere, but LA has always been my spot!

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I’ve surfed in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, Hawaii, and Costa Rica. I spent my honeymoon in Turkey. I like cooking without using a recipe and am addicted to collecting plants and gardening.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

One of the biggest challenges, but more importantly blessings in my life, was the birth of my son with Tuberous Sclerosis. What at first seemed like an impossible hurdle to overcome has been the single most impactful occurrence in my life thus far. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

My work is so closely intermeshed with my personal experience and has been so beneficial in understanding my son’s potential that I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to be so fulfilled both personally and professionally.

What is your educational background?

University of Oregon: Go, DUCKS! MBA: CSULB.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

I’m learning how to play cars and action figures all over again. It’s awesome! Marketing is moving so fast, keeping up is a part-time job. I’m always looking for new ways to expand my network and learn something new from other marketing professionals.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

The progressive attitudes about the products and technology and our emphasis on serving others. That and an amazing staff of happy people. Bootcamp and meditation are pretty cool too!

What did you do before WPS?

I’ve worked at advertising agencies, in regional marketing for large restaurant chains helping franchisees, and in product marketing both digital and traditional. I was also a plant nursery assistant and got to water plants all day while working on my tan.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Project Director

What is your role and function at WPS?

As a Project Director, I help lead the development of products from start to finish on the research end - from the development of test items to piloting to standardization and finally, publication.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

Diversity and cultural understanding have always been important issues to me. I want to help ensure that we’re always looking at things through a cultural lens - whether it’s advocating for inclusion and equity initiatives within the company to striving to develop products that are as culturally unbiased as we possibly can.

How long have you been at WPS?

I have been here since 2019.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

Born and raised in Los Angeles!

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn't know?

1. I could eat sushi all day, every day.

2. I have never lived outside of CA. I’m a CA native, through and through!

3. This one always surprises people, but I’m not a coffee drinker. Never have been. It’s amazing the looks I get when people discover this about me!

What's a big obstacle you've had to overcome in your life or career?

Completing graduate school was no walk in the park! It was long and arduous, but I’m grateful for what I learned along the way.

What is your personal connection to the WPS mission?

Having worked with children/families from a variety of backgrounds throughout my professional training, I have seen first-hand the profound impact that psychological testing can have on their life trajectories. It’s important to me that we develop useful and psychometrically-sound instruments to serve these communities.

What is your educational background?

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Berkeley (once a Golden Bear, always a Golden Bear!), and my Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program.

What is something you are currently studying or learning?

Given how long products take to develop and how new I still am in this role, I’m still learning how to be a project director!

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

WPS is full of wonderful people and I enjoy the camaraderie. I love contributing to its important mission by striving to create high-quality tests and seeing how every person at the company adds to this process with their unique skill set.

What did you do before WPS?

My years before WPS largely consisted of schooling and training to become a clinical psychologist.

Where can we contact you?

I can be reached at mdo@wpspublish.com.

Senior Project Director, Research and Development

What is your role and function at WPS?

As a Senior Project Director in the Research & Development Department at WPS, there is always something new to learn. Most of my time is dedicated to building assessments, which includes a range of activities like discussing the initial spark of an idea with authors, developing and refining test content, managing standardization studies, analyzing data, writing manual chapters, and on and on. Additionally, I talk directly with our customers to answer technical questions about published tests. Whether it's a new statistical method, a theory underlying the development of one of our assessments, or collaborating with other departments to make our processes more efficient, I'm always inspired to gain a deeper understanding about our business, our products, and the customers we serve.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

WPS has a unique and genuine company culture based on shared core values. As a former member of the Special Projects Committee, I advocate for employee issues and growing our company culture in a positive direction.

How long have you been at WPS?

I've been with WPS since 2010. During this time, I've seen WPS mature and expand at an incredible pace. New facilities, updated technology, expanding our network of products and customers, WPS is moving onward and upward. It must be all that caffeine from our in-house cafe. :)

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born in Holland but grew up in Oklahoma, where the dirt is red and the people are some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet. I've been lucky enough to travel the world and live all over the United States during my long trek toward a PhD.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn't know?

Former President Bill Clinton and I have both received the same (highly prestigious) award: Most Outstanding Musician at the University of Arkansas band camp. Yeah, I said band camp.

I once slept overnight in an elevator vestibule on the streets of Italy while backpacking through Europe. All of the youth hostels were booked… go figure.

I have a good ear for remembering movie quotes and accents. I do a mean Robin Leach impersonation.

What's a big obstacle you've had to overcome in your life or career?

My career had always been on the academic path with a focus on research and teaching at the college level. Once I had kids, my perspective on life and what makes me happy changed. I wanted more time for my family but didn't want to sacrifice my research standards. I decided to take a huge leap in leaving the academic world and moved my entire family out to LA for this really awesome job at a publishing company called WPS. One of the best decisions I have ever made.

What is your personal connection to the WPS mission?

As a research psychologist, I'm passionate about understanding how the brain develops and what motivates behavior. When something goes awry during development, this understanding becomes vital in helping to make better and more efficient psychological and educational assessment tools.

What is your educational background?

BA in psychology, University of Oklahoma (Go, Sooners!); PhD in cognitive psychology, Temple University (Go, Owls!); postdoc in cognitive development, University of Chicago (Go, nerds!)

What is something you are currently studying or learning?

How to play the fiddle (like the illustrious test developer Dr. Chris Gruber).

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I can honestly say that I love my job. The work is rewarding and feeds my passion for research while also directly having a positive impact on people's lives. But what really makes every day at WPS so much fun is the people; my coworkers rock.

What did you do before WPS?

An assortment of academic odd jobs on the path to becoming a professor, including, but not limited to: trying to get undergraduates to learn that psychology is more than the Oedipus complex; playing hide-and-seek with 3-year-olds to figure out how we learn to use landmarks to remember locations; building elaborate laboratory apparatuses with only $30 worth of materials from Home Depot; logging 10,000 hours in data analysis and manuscript writing with the hope of escaping the journal publication “revise and resubmit” vortex. Ya know, the usual.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Director of Infrastructure, Cyber Security Officer

What is your role and function at WPS?

I manage systems engineering and desktop support staff, which includes hands-on tier 3 support. l am responsible for the planning, design, project management, and implementation of the company’s network, server, and application infrastructure for the main office. I also work very closely with the DevOps Team to design, manage and secure our cloud infrastructure. I also work on the Security & Compliance Team as Security Officer managing GRC and issues, concerns, and policies and procedures relating to HIPAA, FERPA, PCI, CCPA, GDPR and other company-based Cyber Security initiatives. I develop and manage the IT Infrastructure's budget and manage spending throughout the year. I work to develop support strategies and manage support staff and systems to better serve the technical needs of the company.

How long have you been at WPS?

I’ve been with the company for about 10 years. During this time, the company culture has really evolved into an amazing thing. Jeff really shows that he cares about WPS employees and promotes longevity.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. I moved to Los Angeles in 1995. I’m often asked if I miss the snow or the season… and the answer is NO. I don’t miss shoveling my driveway three to four months during the year or scraping ice off my car windows! I love California weather!

What are two personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I have played guitar for about 30 years, everything from hard rock to classical styles. I’ve played live many of those years and recorded in some great studios and continue to play for fun every now and then.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

The biggest obstacle in my life was moving away from my family. It wasn’t such a tough choice when I was 21 years old, but now that I’m older, it is tough being far away from family.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

My nephew passed away when he was just 11 years old and grew up with many disabilities during his short lifetime. I enjoy knowing that my company helps kids that have disabilities, and it makes me feel proud to be a part of that.

What is your educational background?

Some college in Buffalo and many, many technical courses during my career. Technology is always changing, so I am always learning new ways to help WPS use technology to succeed.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I really enjoy the team I work with. They are very passionate about succeeding in their roles, which makes me very proud to work with them. I really enjoy Jeff’s generosity when it comes to having fun, celebrating company success, and always showing his employees they are valuable to the success of WPS.

What did you do before WPS?

My last job before WPS was with The Recording Academy, which everyone else knows as The Grammy’s. It was very exciting to be around music, people who love music, and to be a part of such a big production that is watched by millions.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Director of Rights and Permissions

What is your role and function at WPS?

As Rights & Permissions Director at WPS, it’s my privilege and pleasure to assist WPS customers with what we call “Special Brews,” customized use of our proprietary materials in translation, adaptation, or some other reformatted manner (as distinct from the straightforward purchase and use of material shipped directly from the WPS warehouse).

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I’ve long been passionate about international development for WPS. As a youth, I dreamed of working at the United Nations—making some kind of impact helping humankind to communicate and collaborate together. Although I didn’t make it to the UN, I’ve helped WPS to develop a network of dozens of international publishing partners, and in the process, have worked with scientists and editors from six out of seven continents. In addition to my passion for things international, I’m a cheerleader for open communication loops; for nurturing individuality, creativity, and kindness in the workplace; for crafting and offering agreements that make sense for all parties involved; and for developing policies and practices designed to serve the greater good, in all reasonably possible ways.

How long have you been at WPS?

Incredibly (for me, anyway) I’ve been with WPS since 1986! So many things have changed in that time, it’s hard to pick one. Technology has transformed the mechanics of everyone’s workdays, we’ve moved from the Westside of Los Angeles to its South Bay, and we’ve doubled in workforce. But a huge appreciation of my tenure here is the One Big Thing that hasn’t changed, a tenet to which WPS has remained steadfast and true: we scientifically develop and professionally publish high quality materials that support and enhance the work of helping professionals to the ultimate betterment of the families and communities they serve.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I’m a former Air Force “brat” who moved around a lot as a child (e.g., I had the “new kid” experience in four different schools by the time I’d finished first grade). In 1980, fresh out of the University of California, Davis, I had the good sense to choose Los Angeles as the place to launch my adult life. Like Randy Newman famously sang, “I LOVE LA.”

Three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know:

When I targeted a career in publishing, I chose employment by Ira Manson (the current WPS president’s late father) over working for Larry Flynt; my 1984 wedding in Spain was officiated by an American rabbi who flew in from Greece; and I favor Captain Picard over Captain Kirk.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

The biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome in my life is nothing I want to recount here, except to say that living through it helped me to nurture some of the most rewarding sets of relationships I could hope to imagine.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

My dad grew up in poverty with an emotionally and physically abusive father—yet instead of becoming an abuser himself, he completely broke the generational cycle of violence when he married my mom and raised me and my siblings. In large part because of him, I have a huge appreciation for the courage and discipline it takes for people with disadvantaged childhoods to rise up, to be kind and positively contribute, and to keep striving to thrive. It is profoundly personal and motivating for me to develop a greater understanding of the power of resilience and to support, as I can, the scientists who daily engage in directly helping others to face their own particular challenges.

What is your educational background?

Though I’m a product of the University of California, Davis, I have never let my schooling interfere with my education (thank you, Sam Clemens!) and regard myself as a perpetual student in the school of life.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

I really enjoy learning about various energy medicine practices—including tapping, reflexology, sound healing, Reiki, and others—and look forward to the day when mainstream science catches up to studying and measuring the efficacy of such modalities.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I love my team and my coworkers, and we make great products.

What did you do before WPS?

After arriving in Los Angeles 30+ years ago, I took a spin in the corporate world, earning multiple promotions over a few years while working for a food and wine importer/exporter. That taste of corporate life directly led me to choosing the family-owned, family-run, and family-oriented environment that WPS provides.

Anything else about your background you want to share?

What’s most important to me—more valuable than any certificate, degree, or award—is that each day, after I leave work, I get to return home to a comfortable abode where I’m loved beyond measure by my husband, our daughter, and our menagerie of animals.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

My Twitter

Manager, Rights and Permissions

What is your role and function at WPS?

I am the Rights & Permissions Manager at WPS, and I am responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Rights & Permissions Department.

The best part about working in the Rights & Permissions Department is that each day is different. We routinely work with scholarly researchers, university professors, pharmaceutical companies, and hospitals (just to name a few). The requests that we receive can vary on a daily basis.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I am an advocate for maintaining our great company culture. While there is always room for improvement, WPS has a great culture that I feel each employee champions in his or her own way. Employees continue to collaborate with each other, and we continue to try to build relationships that last (both with each other and with our customers).

How long have you been at WPS?

I have been at WPS since April of 2010, and it’s great to see just how much the company has grown since that time. The growth is reflected by the increased number of employees that work here and by the way each employee embraces and champions our company culture.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I’m from the San Fernando Valley. I grew up in the North Hollywood/Studio City area and stayed local for college (I am a very proud USC Trojan!).

I love Los Angeles. It doesn’t matter what city/country I visit, at some point on the trip, I am ready to come back home to Los Angeles.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I’m generally pretty private, but I do have a few quirks that people find amusing. I don’t like sandwiches, I’ve never seen an entire Indiana Jonesmovie, and one of my favorite shows growing up (amongst many) was Beverly Hills 90210 (the original show).

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

There’s so many places I can go with this question, but I’m going to keep it simple and say that one of my biggest obstacles happened recently. Last December, I participated in the Spartan Race (5+ miles, 25+ obstacles).

I had zero confidence going into the race. However, not only was I able to complete the race (and the obstacles), but I was also able to prove to myself that obstacles can be overcome, no matter how daunting they may seem. “Keep moving” and “Don’t give up” seem very cliché, but in the midst of a challenge, they have proven to be helpful and accurate.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

“Where others see limits, we see potential” is powerful. I feel connected to the work we do at this company. Even though we are not working directly with a child with autism (for example), I know that the work we produce will help the clinician do what he or she needs to do in order to help that child. That’s the connection I make to our mission and to our daily work.

What is your educational background?

Did I mention that I was a proud USC Trojan? Fight on! I received my bachelor’s degree from USC.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

I’m currently in the process of reading First Break All the Rules to further my skills as a manager. I’m looking forward to learning something new and further developing these skills.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I enjoy working with the people that I work with on a daily basis. It is the people at the company that make the culture, and the culture at WPS is pretty good.

What did you do before WPS?

Before WPS, I worked in the music industry. I had a few jobs in the industry; however, the most notable job was being an assistant for Ice Cube and Kelly Clarkson’s music managers. I actually grew up as a fan of Ice Cube, so it was a dream come true to work with him and his team. I also really enjoyed working with Kelly Clarkson and her team (after her American Idol win), and that experience made me an even bigger fan of hers as well.

I eventually transitioned from the world of music management to the world of music publishing. It is here that I worked in the Rights & Permissions Department (first as a licensing specialist and then as a royalty administrator) before I found my way to WPS.

This unique experience certainly helped pave the way to the type of work that I am doing here.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Art Director

What is your role and function at WPS?

As Production Manager, I manage the talented group of designers and copy editors that make up our Art Department. I focus on managing workflow and timelines, streamlining processes, and ensuring a high level of quality and brand consistency across all materials.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I work to foster a creative environment for members of the art team within the larger context of WPS as a whole. My goal is to create space for our designers and copy editors to do their best creative work while also maintaining relationships with our internal WPS clients and ensuring that all work is delivered on time.

How long have you been at WPS?

I joined the team in October of 2016.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I am a Southern California girl all the way—I was born and raised in Koreatown, moved to Thousand Oaks for high school, and attended college at UC San Diego.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

1. I have two chihuahua mixes named Gomez and Tish (short for Morticia).

2. In my spare time, I bake and decorate cakes. My most popular cake is my Mint Chocolate Cake—chocolate cake layers with chopped Andes mints, frosted with mint buttercream, and coated in bittersweet ganache.

3. While I was in college, I wrote, directed, and edited a short film that played at the SXSW film festival in 2007.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

Both of my parents passed away before I turned 11. There was a lot of instability in my childhood, and I navigated my young adult years without parental support, so I had to learn to be very independent at an early age.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

I grew up with a close family member with autism, so I understand firsthand the importance of early assessment and intervention.

What is your educational background?

I have a BA in visual arts media from UC San Diego.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

I am always learning new cake decorating techniques and perfecting my current ones!

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

Definitely the culture! It’s wonderful to work at an organization where each individual is recognized for hard work and for contributing to the company’s success as a whole. I am also grateful for every member of the art team and for the great work they do and the creativity and caring attitude they bring to work every day.

What did you do before WPS?

My background is in graphic design. Prior to joining WPS, I worked for about eight years at a regional business publication, first as a production artist and later as the production director.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Senior Marketing Manager

What is your role and function at WPS?

As Marketing Manager, I strategize, plan, and oversee the execution of more than 13 trade shows annually. I coordinate corporate sponsorship contracts to gain visibility within our target audience. I also create content and oversee the design of convention-related marketing materials.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I am an advocate for reaching our market and applying data to future strategies to yield the most impact. I want to know everything about who our market is and what they need. My hope is that WPS can serve them with the highest standard of excellence and that they can serve their clientele with that same excellence.

How long have you been at WPS?

I joined the WPS family in 2016. Since then, I have come to understand the value placed on each and every employee.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I am originally from Ojai, CA, a small town just north of Los Angeles. I grew up participating in Indian American sweat lodges at Ojai’s many retreats since the age of 10. Currently, I reside in Redondo Beach with my husband, Ted, and our daughter, Grace. Together, we enjoy beach volleyball; yoga; whole-foods, plant-based cooking (“Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.” —Hippocrates); wine-tasting; and long walks on the beach. I am so grateful to be back in the beach cities after two years on the East Coast in Virginia where my husband opened a successful health-food restaurant.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I have been skydiving twice and have rapelled down a 600-foot cliff into raging waters.

For nearly four months, I traveled to 13 different countries in Europe alone.

I got busted by every teacher throughout my elementary school for talking too much. Enough said.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

When my 2-month-old daughter’s seven new birthmarks were diagnosed as evidence of neurofibromatosis, I could not have fathomed the road we would travel. Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) causes tumors that can lead to cancer, blindness, hearing loss, learning disabilities, and dysmorphia to grow anywhere in the body. For us, this means Grace undergoes MRIs with sedation every 3 to 6 months to closely follow the tumor growth on her hypothalamus and the two neurofibromas on her optic nerves, which could cause blindness. We have a team of 12 specialist doctors who must stay on top of her health. We must always be vigilant of normal growth and development because any delays could be related to tumor growth. All parents are delighted when their children meet developmental milestones, but for us, it’s a cause to rejoice. Somehow, NF1 has caused us to take nothing for granted. We celebrate the small and normal successes, and it has caused us not to expect our child to be the best, but just to be.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

As a mother of a special needs child, I have come to appreciate the gift of what WPS offers through personal first-hand experience. These assessments—administered by Grace’s neurologist, neuro-ophthalmologist, neuropsychologist, speech–language pathologist, and occupational therapist—have helped to drive intervention plans to assist my daughter’s growth and development. These helping professionals have quantified my concerns and have developed intervention plans to drive forward the development and thriving of my child. I don’t know what could be more important than that to any mother.

What is your educational background?

After receiving my undergraduate degree in psychology from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, I went on to receive my master’s degree in psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

Currently, I am learning the project management software, Project Success.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I enjoy working alongside magnificent people and fueling the mission to assist special needs students and their families by publishing the highest quality assessments. At the end of the day, I know that we have a positive impact on people’s lives. I am living proof of that.

What did you do before WPS?

For nearly a decade, I enjoyed marketing and sales in the field of luxury interior design. I worked on residential and commercial projects with many celebrity clientele. After the birth of my daughter, I shifted gears, entering the world of education consulting for Pearson Education and several others.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Vice President of Sales

What is your role and function at WPS?

As Director of Sales, I oversee the Sales Department which consists of Assessment Consultants and Inside Sales Support personnel. As a team our roles are to support customers with any questions they may have regarding their assessment purchasing decisions. This can range from providing in person or webinar trainings and demonstrations to school districts, to sending sample forms, to presenting at conventions or to having discussions about the pros and cons of various measures as well as working with purchasing / procurement departments on large orders, vendor registrations and bids / RFP’s.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

My aim is to ensure that we put our customers at the front of all our business decisions, ensuring our product offerings to them are the best, our communications with them are the best, and the service we offer them is the best. Without our customers where would we be?

How long have you been at WPS?

I joined WPS October 2012 and in the assessment publishing industry for over 20 years.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born in the UK and lived there until my move to California to work for WPS. My husband has family in LA, so we had been vacationing here since we met in 1995. After our first visit to LA, it was both of our dream to live here, and every time I flew into LAX, I felt like I had come home. I'm so glad that it now is!

Three personal things about you people probably wouldn't know:

Despite being from the UK where no one has heard of ice hockey, I LOVE it and am a huge Anaheim Ducks fan, I love ‘80s music (my misspent teenage years!), and I have a master’s in forensic psychology and crime.

What's a big obstacle you've had to overcome in your life or career?

Completing my master’s whilst working full-time and being a taxi, cook, cleaner, nurturer, and mother to my little girl who was 9 when I graduated with my MSc.

What is your personal connection to the WPS mission?

My husband’s cousin has autism, and so does my friend’s daughter. My best friend also has a severely disabled child who has a rare genetic disorder, so I see the challenges parents face every day. If WPS can help even slightly to ease this burden with resources for both appropriate diagnosis and useful intervention, we have done a good job.

What is your educational background?

BSc in psychology and MSc in forensic psychology and crime

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

It's great to come to work and see everyone with a smile on their faces and great team spirit. Having all members of staff under one roof makes the collaboration needed on projects so much easier. Having worked for a large corporation previously where that wasn’t possible, this, I think, enables the family feeling that is present at WPS.

What did you do before WPS?

After completing my BSc, I worked for a few months as a caregiver in a nursing home to get by whilst I searched for work relevant to my degree. This was a very humbling experience and made me appreciate that we will all be old one day and likely to face similar health difficulties.

After six months, I started work as a researcher in the National Health Service in the UK, firstly studying the effectiveness of trauma centers, then the effectiveness of rehabilitation services, followed by some time at a community rehabilitation service where I worked as a part-time researcher and part-time counselor.

I then made a huge career shift to the business world and became a sales consultant for Pearson Assessment where I stayed for 14 years, progressing to the role of Sales and Marketing Director.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Assessment Consultant, Sales

What is your role and function at WPS?

As an Assessment Consultant it is my role to assist customers with any questions they may have regarding their assessment purchasing decisions. This can range from providing in person or webinar trainings and demonstrations to school districts or other assessment environments to sending sample forms, to presenting at conventions or to having discussions about the pros and cons of various measures. I'm also the person to speak to regarding large-order discounts.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

Continued collaboration across departments, so that each tool produced by WPS comprises the excellence and dedication of all the professionals who touch products from concept to shipment to follow-up.

How long have you been at WPS?

Since July of 2015

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born in, and have lived most of my life in, Indiana (with a few years in Colorado and Florida).

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn't know?

I have had some interesting close calls in nature (Grizzley Bear, Mountain Lions, and Sharks) good stories all!
My son and I were robbed in Prague, Czech Republic. Without a translator at the police station, and the American Embassy closed for a holiday period, it was an interesting few days!
While visiting Aruba and trying to find a particular landmark, I took a wrong turn, and looked up to see a sign that said “DANGER, LIVE FIRING RANGE”!

What's a big obstacle you've had to overcome in your life or career?

Not an obstacle, an observation. I used to teach a Developmental Psychology course to Undergraduates - the course was favorably referred to as “womb to tomb” by the students since it was a lifespan approach. I learned to notice and appreciate the synchronicity in development (cognitive, social-emotional, physical) - regardless of age.

What is your personal connection to the WPS mission?

The WPS team shares a passion for making a difference in the lives of individuals and their families. It is easily seen in every department, and in every project. I am drawn to the opportunity to associate with genuine, dedicated, and inspired individuals each day.

What is your educational background?

My Ph.D. is in School Psychology, with specializations in Neuropsychology and Developmental Psychology.

What is something you are currently studying or learning?

Tai Chi and Yoga

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

Constant energy, unwavering interest from our CEO, a culture of respect for each role and each person’s contribution.

What did you do before WPS?

Supervision of group homes for children and adults on the Autism Spectrum in Colorado and Indiana, a School Psychologist in 2 states, several years at another publishing company, 10 years in Neuroscience Medical Education with a major pharma company and intermittently an adjunct professor for 3 different universities.

Where can we contact you?

arogers@wpspublish.com

Assessment Consultant, Sales

What is your role and function at WPS?

As an Assessment Consultant, it is my role to assist customers with finding the most effective products to meet their needs. This support can include, but is not limited to, in-person or webinar trainings for school districts, providing sample forms, presenting at conventions, and having discussions about the products. I can help customers find exactly what they need and determine if they qualify for a large-order discount. I am here for the customer.

How long have you been at WPS?

I joined WPS in July of 2015. Having been a school psychologist for 17 years and in education for 19, I felt that I could bring my skills to the role of Assessment Consultant to help other professionals like me.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Baltimore City, Maryland, until I was 13 years old when my family moved to Howard County, Maryland, which is a suburb of Baltimore.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

I am the youngest of five children. I play on a co-ed recreational soccer league. I find great enjoyment when I volunteer for Special Olympics.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

I think one of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome was the loss of my mother at her very young age of 62. I was 32 years old when it happened, but we were very close, and her death was unexpected. Her loss really made me look at life differently, which eventually helped me approach my life and career in a different way. I have learned to take more risks in life because you are never promised tomorrow, and you have to enjoy every moment of every day and treasure the relationships that you’ve built with people.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

I believe that every person in the world has potential and that WPS can help professionals figure out how to unlock that potential in the clients that they are working with. I think part of this can be accomplished through the use of effective assessment tools and resources. As a school psychologist, I worked with many students who have disabilities. My nephew also has severe dyslexia and ended up dropping out of school. It is important that professionals have someone supporting them in seeking out appropriate tools to help children so that they receive an effective and supportive education. WPS is the company to do just that!

What is your educational background?

I have worked in public education for 19 years. Seventeen of those were as a school psychologist. I attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where I received my BA in psychology in 1995. After that, I attended graduate school at Towson University and received my MA and CAS in school psychology in 1998. My internship was completed in the Maryland public school system.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

I love the people and how the company actually operates by its core values.

What did you do before WPS?

I was a school psychologist in Maryland for 17 years. In addition to being a school psychologist, I have been active in my national, state, and local associations. I have served as NASP Delegate for Maryland and on the Board of Directors for the National Association of School Psychologists. I have also served on the Board of the Maryland School Psychologists’ Association as president, legislative chairperson, newsletter editor, program co-chairperson, and several other roles. I was a member of the Legislative Committee for both the Maryland State Education Association and the Howard County Education Association (HCEA). I also served as a member of the board of directors for HCEA and on the negotiations committee. During the 2013/2014 school year, I was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Commission on Special Education Access and Equity as a representative of the Maryland School Psychologists’ Association.

Where can we contact you?

My Email

My LinkedIn

Assessment Consultant, Sales

What is your role and function at WPS?

As an Assessment Consultant, my role is to assist customers with any questions they may have regarding their assessment purchasing decisions. This can range from providing in person or webinar trainings and demonstrations to school districts, to sending sample forms, to presenting at conventions or to having discussions about the pros and cons of various measures. I can help customers find exactly what they need and determine if they qualify for a large-order discount. I am here for the customer.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I advocate to ensure our assessment products meet the needs of current practitioners, regardless of profession. As we develop new assessments, I want the voices of our customers to be heard.

How long have you been at WPS?

I joined the WPS Family in March 2020.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

Born and bred Texan…. I was born in Fort Worth, grew up in Longview, went to college in Nacogdoches and then left the Piney Woods to move to Austin. The Live Music Capital of the World has been home for the last 20+ years.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn't know?

I graduated high school a semester early and finished college a year early.

I had dinner with The Little Couple from the TV show on TLC.

I had dinner with Temple Grandin.

What's a big obstacle you've had to overcome in your life or career?

Losing my Dad to Early Onset Alzheimer’s as I was Daddy’s Little Girl. He was heavily into fitness and healthy eating, and literally training for a marathon when he first became ill. It taught me that life is short and live with no regrets. Alzheimer’s is a very cruel disease.

What is your personal connection to the WPS mission?

As a school psychologist, assessment has always been my passion. I believe there is no such thing as having too many tools in your assessment toolkit. I believe that every person in the world has potential and that WPS can help professionals answer not just what assessment to use, but what interventions can help the examinee.

What is your educational background?

Bachelors degree in Psychology and Sociology

Masters degree in School Psychology

What is something you are currently studying or learning?

Evidence-based interventions and assessment practices

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

Nowhere near the stress level of being an administrator in the public schools! Honestly, joining the company during a global pandemic, while it initially made me wonder if I made the right decision, really showed how much working for WPS is like joining a family (that you love and care about). I did make the right decision!

What did you do before WPS?

Worked for 17 years in the public schools as a school psychologist, including supervising graduate students and leading an excellent team of 25 school psychologists. I have been active in my national and state associations. I have served as NASP Delegate for Texas, Co-Chair of the Assistance to States Committee, and member of the State and National Credentialing Committee. I am also a certified PREPaRE Crisis Intervention trainer (2^nd and 3^rd Editions). I have also served on the Board of the Texas Association of School Psychologists as president, convention chair chairperson, government and professional relations chairperson, membership chairperson, awards and honors chairperson, and graduate student representative.

Where can we contact you?

aarnold@wpspublish.com

424.323.8553

Assessment Consultant, Sales

What is your role and function at WPS?

Customer relations, product knowledge, and training.

How long have you been at WPS?

Six months.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, which is my current home. I have also lived in South Dakota, Texas, and my favorite was living in Laguna Beach, California, when my son was in high school.

What are three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know?

My loves in life: family, being crafty (sewing, cooking, making homemade skin care products), and experiencing new adventures.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

I attended graduate school out of state where I didn’t know a soul while being a single mother… it was tough, but one of the best experiences and adventures of my life. I am grateful!

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

I have been administering the original CASL since 2000, and it has always been my favorite assessment. Now I get to share my excitement and knowledge while training other SLPs with purchasing and administering the new CASL-2.

What is your educational background?

Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders; Cum Laude—Arizona State University; Tempe, Arizona.

Master of Science in Speech–Language Pathology—Lamar University; Beaumont, Texas.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

I am always looking for a new project: a recipe, sewing pattern, or arts and crafts. I recently made huge 4 ft. tall 3-D numbers, Five and zero, and covered them in plush fleece for my parents upcoming 50^th Wedding Anniversary—to use as props for the photo booth.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

The culture at WPS is unlike anything I have ever experienced before; it is fun, warm, friendly, innovative… every single member of our team is a purposeful and meaningful part of this amazing family we call WPS.

What did you do before WPS?

My career as a Speech-Language Pathologist has primarily been in the public school setting (preschool–high school ages) in Arizona and California. I have also supervised a private clinic, worked in home health with children and adults diagnosed with ASD, and have worked in SNFs (that is skilled nursing facilities for those of you not familiar with our SLP acronyms).

Where can we contact you?

My Email

Assessment Consultant

What is your role and function at WPS?

I’m an Assessment Consultant (AC), which allows me to establish and maintain synergistic relationships with direct service providers and, ultimately, children, families, and school communities. I help customers purchase and utilize evaluation and intervention tools that meet the unique needs of the populations they serve.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

Honestly, each of WPS’s core values resonate with me professionally and personally. They were THE driving force behind my decision to join the team, so I am here to embody them as a means of upholding accountability and fulfilling our purpose.

How long have you been at WPS?

I transitioned from being a school-based practitioner in August 2021.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

Whew. This is always a tough question for me to answer succinctly. I am lucky to say that I grew up as an “Army Brat.” From kindergarten to 12th grade, I lived overseas on military bases in our host countries of South Korea, Japan and Germany. Please don’t ask me to pick a favorite because each experience was perfect for the respective phases of my childhood! I moved back “stateside” to attend college and have been a Floridian ever since.

Three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know:

I’m extremely proud of my Korean American heritage. During the pandemic lockdown, I mastered cooking on a charcoal grill (wood chips and all). In addition to my world travels, I’m on a mission to visit every National Park in the U.S.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

Hmm, this is a tough one because I was taught that obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off a goal, and I’m always focused on manifesting and attaining. If I had to pick, however, I would say learning to say no to avoid overcommitting myself and allowing myself to foster an ideal work-life balance.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

I used this word in reference to my role, but feel it fits perfectly again here: SYNGERGY. It’s the increased effectiveness that results when two or more agents produce an outcome that is greater combined than would be if generated by their own individual efforts. Through our collaborative relationships, I believe we can unlock potential among people and systems.

What is your educational background?

I graduated with my B.S. in psychology from Florida State University and a Psy.D. from Nova Southeastern University. I’m a Florida licensed and Nationally Certified School Psychologist.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

I recently adopted a puppy, so I am learning patience and love on an entirely new level.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

The people! WPS invests in it’s workforce and the variables needed to maintain a positive culture. We celebrate, congratulate, and appreciate each other. There’s truly a shared sense of responsibility and commitment to living out the company’s vision and mission. I feel so connected despite working from home and living on the complete opposite side of the country!

What did you used to do before WPS?

I’ve served as an executive board member for the Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP) for over 10 years and am a Past President. I’m an adjunct professor for NSU’s school psychology program. I’ve worked with infants and toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged youth in childcare and community mental health settings. I’ve collected standardization data for psychoeducational assessments. I read for fun, and travel to reconnect with myself.

Where can we contact you?

dberghauser@wpspublish.com

Do you have a Linkedin profile you would like to share?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnaberghauser/

Financial Planning & Analysis Director

What is your role and function at WPS?

I am the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis. My role entails providing leadership with financial analysis and suggestions for operational improvements. I lead the annual budget and pricing projects and I also oversee procurement and inventory. In a nutshell, I focus on the numbers that tell the story of our business.

What issues or needs are you an advocate for inside the company?

I’m an advocate for clean data, clear and concise reporting, and empowering my team to reach their potential while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. With our recent ERP implementation, I got the chance to ensure that all customer and inventory data was as clean as possible prior to go-live. It was a ton of work, but it has been incredibly rewarding to see our hard work pay off in the form of automated and easy-to-read financial reports.

How long have you been at WPS?

I started at WPS in January of 2016, so I’ve been here a little over 6 years. Since then, we’ve nearly doubled our revenue and headcount. The growth has been very exciting to witness. Jeff set a bold vision for our future and it’s been fun to work towards that. I’m proud of how our company has maintained – even strengthened – our company culture over that time period. I truly enjoy working here and collaborating with my hard-working, kind, and funny coworkers.

Where are you from? Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. I lived in the same house until I left for college in Indiana. Since college, my husband and I have lived in Wisconsin, Illinois, Northern California, and finally home in the South Bay, not far from WPS.

Three personal things about you people probably wouldn’t know:

I’m a proud Lithuanian-American, I love watching and playing sports, and I’m the only lefty in our large extended family (this came in handy playing sports growing up). I think my dream job would be to work at ESPN covering college football.

What’s a big obstacle you’ve had to overcome in your life or career?

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a very supportive family growing up (and to this day). They’ve helped me as I’ve encountered obstacles along the way. I would say the toughest thing I’ve had to deal with has been watching a family member struggle with anxiety. It’s hard to know what to say or how to help and it can feel overwhelming and frustrating at times.

What’s your personal connection to the WPS mission?

What drew me to WPS and what keeps me here is that that we help people unlock potential in the communities they serve. It’s rewarding to know that the work we do can change lives. I also think that drawing awareness to mental health and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness is incredibly important and I’m thankful to work at a company that does that.

What is your educational background?

I graduated from the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!) with a bachelor's degree in Finance and Accounting. My 4 years spent in northern Indiana were some of the coldest, yet most fun years of my life.

What’s something you’re currently studying or learning?

I am constantly learning new excel tips and tricks and love to share them with others. Recently, xlookup has been a game-changer.

What do you enjoy most about working at WPS?

What I enjoy most about working at WPS is collaborating with my coworkers. We all have diverse backgrounds and skill sets, yet everyone is welcoming, hardworking, and just a lot of fun to be around.

What did you used to do before WPS?

After college I worked at an investment bank analyzing stocks for 60-70 hours a week. I then transitioned into corporate finance for several different large, public companies. I also was a stay-at-home mom for 6 years, which was, by far, the hardest job of all!

What is your email address?

jsimonetti@wpspublish.com

Jeff Manson

David Herzberg

Niki Jankow

Lisa Bouyer

Amber Klein

John Williams

Sheri Stegall

Katie Jackson

Armen Bedrossian

Matt Solomon

Minh-Chau Do

Kristin Ferrell

Rocco Cretacci

Susan Weinberg

Fred Dinkins

Sally Jones

Laura Wallof

Jensen Ramos

Sharon Maloney

Amanda Wynn

Ann Rogers

Stephanie Roberts

Douglene Jackson

Ashley Arnold

Laura Stevenson

Donna Berghauser

Julie Simonetti