Deborah Nugent

Experience

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  Software Spectrum, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSPE)

  Jan 1992 - Jan 1998

  Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, Corporate Secretary

  An $800M, publicly traded global PC software reseller and technology services provider with over 1,600 employees in North America, Western Europe and Asia/Pacific. Managed the financial, treasury, human resources, and investor relations functions. Key Accomplishments:• Successfully completed the second public offering, raising over $30M in equity.• Expanded operations globally into Canada, Europe and Asia/Pacific through acquisitions and start-up activities.• Negotiated a $90M credit facility to finance the acquisition of a $400M division of Egghead, Inc. Completed due diligence work related to the acquisition and successfully integrated the operations of the combined companies.• Expanded and developed management personnel, staffing and systems to support rapid growth in sales from $160M to $800M from 1992 to 1997, a 38% CAGR.Prior Experience as: CFO, Mothers Against Drunk Driving; CFO, USF&G Capital Investors, Inc., a subsidiary of USF&G Corporation, which oversaw creation and operations of publicly-traded real estate limited partnerships; CEO, The Tower Group, Inc., and Director of Financial and Tax Reporting, Triland International, Inc., real estate development companies with operations in the U.S. and Canada. Began professional career with Grant Thornton (Tax Manager) and PwC (Tax Manager and Audit Supervisor). Show less

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  South Central Mortgage, Inc.

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2001

  Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer

  A sub-prime residential mortgage lender with offices in major Texas markets. Managed the daily operations of this $60M sub-prime mortgage lender and supervised the marketing, residential construction and financial personnel. Responsible for residential loan origination, funding, closing, servicing, and brokerage as well as all banking and financing activities (including credit facility negotiations). Oversaw communications with investors and broker/dealers.

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  Best Associates

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2013

  A privately owned merchant banking institution which provides capital to growth-oriented businesses, initiates start-ups, makes acquisitions in targeted industry segments, and provides ongoing oversight and investor relations for its portfolio companies.Chief Financial OfficerResponsible for financial reporting, bank relations, investor relations and operational business units. Served on Board of Directors and as a CFO/Executive leader embedded in the portfolio companies. Led search and recruitment efforts for executive leaders for portfolio companies.Portfolio Companies Assignments:Chief Financial Officer, Whitney International University System, Miami, FL Latin American network of 9 universities/colleges in 7 countries with over 150,000 students and revenue of +$350M.Managed finance, treasury and investor relations. Developed transfer pricing strategies to maximize after tax cash flow from local operating business units. Oversaw due diligence, price negotiations and integration for acquisitions of educational institutions in Latin America. Key Accomplishments:• Partnered with Business Development Leader to negotiate and close $165M debt/equity financing facility.• Successfully integrated acquired institutions (formerly family owned and operated) in 4 Latin American countries.• Worked with in-country leaders to implement a strong growth strategy, resulting in +20% annual increases in enrollment and revenue driven by the successful launch of distanced learning. • Implemented Foreign Corruption Practices Act manual and Sarbanes-Oxley global program.Chief Operating Officer, Academic Partnerships, LLC, Dallas, TX Leading service provider to universities around the world in the development and marketing of online degree programs.Oversaw all operational business units including call center, information technology, customer integration, facilities, and purchasing to support marketing and recruiting on behalf of state universities. Show less Portfolio Company Assignments (continued):Chief Financial Officer, Domestic For-Profit Colleges: American College of Education, Inc., Chicago, ILAn online college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission offering master’s degrees, doctoral degrees and teaching certification. New England College of Business and Finance, Boston, MAA 100 year old for-profit accredited college with a primary focus on delivering online business degree programs. Sold in 2012 for $21M, a 600% increase in enterprise value since its 2005 purchase.Key Accomplishments:• Developed retail and B2B pricing strategies and growth models, increasing enrollment exponentially.• Improved financial metrics of accredited schools to ensure eligibility and continuing compliance with Federal Student Loan Program (Title 4) requirements.• Represented boards and shareholders in re-accreditation meetings with visiting teams of HLC and NEASC.Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations, Voyager Expanded Learning, Dallas, TX A leading provider of results-driven reading and math programs sold to school districts throughout the U.S.Responsible for all financial reporting including Sarbanes Oxley compliance. Managed sales operations, purchasing, manufacturing, distribution and information technology. Key member of the team responsible for selling Voyager to ProQuest Company (NYSE: PQE) for $360M in 2005, resulting in 55% IRR to investors. Key Accomplishments:• Upgraded distribution center facilities, staffing, technology and processes to assure the highest level of performance resulting in <1% returns, low obsolescence at 1.5% of sales; and accurate perpetual inventory with <.1% adjustment at year-end.• Negotiated favorable contracts with outside vendors including printers and shippers, cutting costs and improving EBITDA margins to over 46%. Show less

  • Chief Financial Officer

    Jan 2001 - Jan 2013

  • Chief Financial Officer (Continued)

    Jan 2001 - Jan 2013
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  Corporate Boards

  Jan 2007 - now

  Member Board of Directors

  FOR PROFIT BOARD EXPERIENCE American College of Education, Indianapolis, IN (2019 - present)Academic Partnerships, LLC, Dallas, TX (2010-2019)Former Chair of Audit CommitteeHigher Ed Holdings, LLC, Dallas, TX (2007-2014)Former holdco of American College of Education, Inc.WIU Services Ltd, a Bermudian limited liability company (2008-2013)Served on Board of this tax-advantaged, holding company, which owned controlling interests in all of Whitney’s universities and colleges in 7 LatAm countries.Whitney Colombia SAS, a Colombian corporation (2008-2013)Served on Board of this operating entity that performed all non-academic functions for two accredited universities in Colombia with over 35,000 students.ASBEC – Sociedade Baiana de Educação e Cultura, S.A ., a Brazilian corp. (2011- 2013)Served on Board of this operating company, which is the mantenadora of Centro Universitario Jorge Amado, with +20,000 students in the Bahia region of Brazil.Distech S.A., an Argentinean corporation (2011-2013)Served as Board Chairperson for this operating entity that performs all non-academic functions for Universidad Siglo 21, the fastest growing private university in Argentina with +30,000 students.New England College of Business and Finance, Boston, MA (2007-2012)Provided oversight of the external audit function and served on Board Committees tasked with reviewing/updating the College’s mission and conducting the President’s performance/compensation review. Met with representatives of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and Massachusetts Dept. of Ed., during all re-accreditation reviews.NOT FOR PROFIT BOARD EXPERIENCE Scrum Alliance, Inc., Denver, Colorado (2017-2020)Undermain Theatre, Dallas, Texas (2015-present)Board PresidentPreviously served on:Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce: Finance CommitteeDallas Theater Center: Board of Directors and Finance Committee Dallas Women’s Foundation; KERA – Channel 13; The 500, Inc. Show less

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  Academic Partnerships LLC

  Jan 2010 - Dec 2019

  Board Member and Chair of Audit Committee

  Leading service provider to universities around the world in the development and marketing of their online degree programs. Transitioned from an executive role embedded in a portfolio company of R. Best Associates to strategic business and financial consultant in July 2013. Continued to serve on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee Chair from 2011 to 2019, when the Company was sold.

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  Scrum Alliance

  Feb 2017 - Dec 2020

  Secretary Board Of Directors and Comp Committee Chair

  Served on the Board of Directors of Scrum Alliance, Inc., the largest not-for-profit professional membership and certification organization in the Agile community. With over 1 million certified practitioners worldwide, Scrum Alliance is committed to transforming the world of work. Formerly served as Vice Chair and member of Audit and Finance Committee.

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  American College of Education

  Oct 2019 - now

  Board Member

  Serves on the Board of this College accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offering online degree programs in Education, Healthcare and Business. Chairs the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board.

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  Higher Ed International LLC

  Jan 2022 - now

  Chief Financial Officer

  Recently transitioned from executive advisor to CFO to oversee all financial reporting, international tax planning and compliance, bank relations and investor relations for this global organization, which enables university partners to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education in an engaging online environment.