Alena Laube, Ed.D., Senior Associate
Alena Laube works with ECRA in the fields of assessment audits, research, and training and support with the Local Growth Model.  Dr. Laube has served as assistant superintendent for research and development, assistant principal for school improvement, department chair for World Languages and English Language Learners (ELL), and as a teacher and department chair.
alenalaube@ecragroup.com

Bill Melsheimer, M.S.Ed., Senior Associate
Bill Melsheimer works with ECRA as a senior accociate and lead consultant for strategic planning as well as an associate for Hazard, Young and Attea (HYA).  Bill has 37 years of experience as a school principal and private school head.  He has worked as a regional facilitator for the Midwest Principals' Center (MPC) and is a former adjunct and associate professor of educational leadership for Northeastern Illinois University, National-Louis University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
billmelsheimer@ecragroup.com

David Smith, Ph.D., Senior Associate
David Smith's eight year career at ECRA includes involvement in ECRA services and Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) search services.  His career in education includes experience as a high school teacher and time spent as an instructor at College of Lake County and Trinity College.  He also served as the Director of Secondary Education at Noblesville Schools in Indiana, superintendent at Delphi School Corporation in Indiana, superintendent at Lake Park High School District #108 in Roselle, IL, and an assistant professorship at Roosevelt University.
davidsmith@ecragroup.com

Kim Perkins, Ed.D., Senior Associate
Kim Perkins assists ECRA in servicing accounts, talking with prospective customers, and performing superintendent searches for Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA).  Dr. Perkins served as a superintendent for nine years and was also an assistant superintendent as well as a principal at the middle and high school levels in his 31-year educational career.
kimperkins@ecragroup.com

Mary Olson, Ed.D., Senior Associate
Mary Olson works with growth model implementation at ECRA.  Prior to joining the ECRA team, she served as the Chief Academic Officer for Consolidated School District 158 in Algonquin, IL and as Director of Instructional Improvement at Warren Township High School District #121 in Gurnee, IL.  Dr. Olson has also worked as a high school mathematics teacher and department chair, assistant high school principal, and high school principal in both public and private schools in Wisconsin.
maryolson@ecragroup.com

Paul Swanstrom, Ph.D., Senior Associate
Paul Swanstrom works in client development for ECRA.  He has 36 years of experience in public education, including nine years as a superintendent at Joliet Township High School District #204, as well as roles as assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, department chairperson, and classroom teacher.  Dr. Swanstrom served as president and chair of the Illinois High School District Organization as well as chairperson of the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) legislative committee.
paulswanstrom@ecragroup.com

Arthur Newbrough, Ed.D., Senior Associate
Arthur (Tee) Newbrough specializes in association and organization partnerships at ECRA.  Dr. Newbrough has 35 years of public school experience, including positions as a superintendent, principal, school board president, author, national and international presenter, and an adjunct professor.
arthurn@ecragroup.com

Pete Marcelo, LCSW, Ph.D., Senior Associate
Pete Marcelo contributes his skills as a licensed clinical psychologist and social worker to his role as a senior consultant for ECRA while also working as the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services at Niles Township High School District 219.  Dr. Marcelo is a certified school administrator with a director of special education and superintendent endorsement, is certified in school psychology and school social work, and is an active member of the American Psychological Association (APA), ASCD, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Illinois Principals Association (IPA), and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
petemarcelo@ecragroup.com

SENIOR ASSOCIATES

Bill Attea, Glenview, IL
Hank Bangser, Ventura, CA
Ted Blaesing, White Bear Lake, MN
Rudy Castruita, San Diego, CA
Jerry Chapman, Inverness, IL
John Connolly, Osterville, MA
Bruce Dennis, Armonk, NY
JoAnn Desmond, Lake Forest, IL
Marvin Edwards, Wayne, IL
Judy Ferguson, Yardley, PA
Keith Frankland, St. Charles, IL
Jim Fritts, Highland Park, IL
Roger Garvelink, Troy, MI
Hank Gmitro, Chicago, IL
Dick Greene, Boca Raton, FL
Jim Henderson, Pittsburgh, PA
Mike Kremer, Minneapolis, MN
Bill Levinson, Larkspur, CA
Bill Librera, New York, NY
Joan Levy, Northbrook, IL
Bud Marley, Agoura Hills, CA
Diana McCauley, Columbia, SC
Carolyn McKennan, Aptos, CA
Sam Mikaelian, Chicago, IL
Joseph O'Brien, Downingtown, PA
Rick O’Connell, Sedalia, CO
Debbie Raizes, Scarsdale, NY
Jim Rickabaugh, Whitefish Bay, WI
Fred Schroeder, Grand Lake, CO
Russell Schumacher, Yardley, PA
David Smith, Bloomingdale, IL
Mark Smith, Woolwich, ME
Randy Tinder, Edwardsville, IL
Gail Uilkema, Piedmont, CA
Barbara Ramsey West , Des Plaines, IL

ASSOCIATES EMERITI

Charles Almo, Chicago, IL
Steve Berry, Arlington Heights, IL
Carol Conger, New Vernon, NJ
Art Jones, Kiawah Island, SC
Dick Kolze, Palatine, IL
Charles Moody, Las Vegas, NV
Paul Thurston, Savoy, IL
John Whritner, Greenwich, CT
Sybil Yastrow, Desert Mountain, AZ
Charles Young, Northbrook, IL

ASSOCIATES

Brian Ali, Kankakee, IL
Al. Argenziano, Salem, MA
John Barbini, Wauconda, IL
Janet Barry, Issaquah, WA
Ellen Bartlett, Parker, CO
Larry Baskin, Arlington Heights, IL
Mary Bates, Gillespie, IL
Brian Benzel, Spokane, WA
Ken Bird, Omaha, NE
Peggy Black, Fond du Lac, WI
Jane Boubel, Bend, OR
Sue Bridge, Oak Park, IL
Lela Bridges, Flossmoor, IL
Howard Bultinck, Glenview, IL
Gary Catalani, Wheaton, IL
John Chambers, Katonah, NY
Louise Coleman, Flossmoor, IL
Ben Cooper, Bolingbrook, IL
Patrick Crawford, Everett, PA
Tim Daniels, Columbia, SC
Paul Drury, St. Louis, MO
Ronald L. Epps, Columbia, SC
Peter Flynn, Freeport, IL
Kay Forest, Palm Court, FL
Fred Hall, Palatine, IL
Al Hanna, Overland Park, KS
Dick Hibschman, Kansas City, MO
Jere Hochman, Bedford, NY
Fred Hohnke, Woodridge, IL
Don Hugo, St. Charles, MO
Steve Humphrey, Lemont, IL
Bill Jenkins, Milwaukee, WI
Tom Kalousek, Machesney Park, IL
Fran Karanovich, Macomb, IL
Homer Kearns, Kayenta/Ivins, UT
Carol King, Walnut Creek, CA
Ron Knauf, Tarrytown, NY
Ken Kutska, Bend, OR
Alan Leis, Naperville, IL
David Magill, Chicago, IL
Maggie Mejia, Elk Grove, CA
Bill Melsheimer, Lake Bluff, IL
James E. Morse, East Grand Rapids, MI
Connie Newport, Bend, OR
Dan Newport, Bend, OR
John O’Rourke, Pittsford, NY
Vicki R. Roy, Burnsville, MN
Doug Parks, Grayslake, IL
Jim Perino, Coronado, CA
Steve Person, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Jesse Register, Signal Mountain, TN
Tom Richardson, Bend, OR
Tim Ricker, Lemont, IL
Joanne Rooney, Arlington Heights, IL
Jamie Savedoff, Allentown, NJ
John Simpson, Norfolk, VA
Catherine Townsley, Sonoma, CA
Doyle Valdez, Austin, TX
Florie Wachtenheim, Scarsdale, NY
Dot Weber, Grand Lake, CO
Jane Westerhold, Schaumburg, IL
Barbara Young, Point Richmond, CA