Dr. Trent Grundmeyer
Trent is the founder of Grundmeyer Leader Search LLC. Prior to his tenure at Drake University serving as an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership he served as a high school principal at Hampton-Dumont and Indianola High School. Trent was recognized as 2013 Secondary Principal of the Year by the School Administrators of Iowa organization. He earned his doctorate degree in educational leadership at Iowa State University in 2013 and focuses much of his research around technology integration and leadership.
Trent has many connections around the state and Midwest which provides and advantages to the districts he serves through the recruiting and hiring process. Grundmeyer Leader Search continues to grow based on Trent's integrity in the search process ensuring that the leader who gets hired is truly the best fit for the job.
Trent has many connections around the state and Midwest which provides and advantages to the districts he serves through the recruiting and hiring process. Grundmeyer Leader Search continues to grow based on Trent's integrity in the search process ensuring that the leader who gets hired is truly the best fit for the job.
| trent_grundmeyer_cv.pdf |
Dr. Elaine Smith-Bright
Elaine Smith-Bright, EdD has worked in education for over 30 years as a teacher, coordinator of gifted programming, middle level principal in two districts, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources in a 9000-student district, a Director of Leadership Development for School Administrators of Iowa, and most recently as an Assistant Professor at Drake University. While at Drake her primary responsibilities included graduate level courses for aspiring principals and superintendents. In 1993, she was the recipient of the National Milken Educator Award with a $25,000 stipend, in 1997 the Scottish Rite Fellowship Award, and in 2005 she was selected for Drake’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Throughout her career, she was an active member of two professional honorary societies, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Delta Kappa. Currently she is a consultant with Grundmeyer Leader Search and does other independent educational consulting.
| elaine_smith_bright_cv.docx |
Terry Welker
Terry Welker, SHRM-SCP/SPHR has 26-years in public safety as a Chief Officer, training specialist and criminal investigator prior to founding Municipal Resource Solutions in 2006. Terry graduated Summa Cum Laude at both Hampton University (B.S.) and Troy State University-Norfolk Naval Base (Masters in Human Resources). He was recruited by SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management) to teach the certification preparation (SHRM-CP/SCP) program to HR professionals from all industries and across several continents. Terry also teaches Employment Law, Analytics, Statistics and other courses related to Human Resources like Compensation Design and Benefits Administration.
Terry is the founder of his own consulting company called Universal HR Solutions. For any human resources consulting or executive searches outside of education Terry is highly recommended. For more information you can visit his website at universalhr.org.
Terry is the founder of his own consulting company called Universal HR Solutions. For any human resources consulting or executive searches outside of education Terry is highly recommended. For more information you can visit his website at universalhr.org.
Dr. Jim Verlengia
Jim earned his B.A. degree from the University of Northern Colorado, his M.A. degree from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., and his educational specialist and doctorate degrees from Drake University in Des Moines. He has served Drake as chairman of the President’s National Advisory Board, chairman of the School of Education National Advisory Board and as an adjunct professor. Jim has also received Drake’s School of Education Distinguished Alumni Award.
Throughout his career, Jim has served as a teacher, principal, central office administrator and superintendent, as well as an AEA director, working with teachers, administrators and boards of education in developing, implementing and evaluating initiatives that impact student achievement. For his efforts and commitment to youth, he has received local and state recognition as a catalyst in the middle school movement and was recognized as Iowa Middle School Educator of the Year. Jim’s leadership talents have extended beyond education when he was selected to participate in Leadership Iowa, a premier issues-awareness program promoting leadership within the State.
Throughout his career, Jim has served as a teacher, principal, central office administrator and superintendent, as well as an AEA director, working with teachers, administrators and boards of education in developing, implementing and evaluating initiatives that impact student achievement. For his efforts and commitment to youth, he has received local and state recognition as a catalyst in the middle school movement and was recognized as Iowa Middle School Educator of the Year. Jim’s leadership talents have extended beyond education when he was selected to participate in Leadership Iowa, a premier issues-awareness program promoting leadership within the State.
| jim_verlengia_resume.doc |
Dr. Kevin Fiene
Kevin is the former Superintendent of Interstate 35 Community Schools. Originally from northern Illinois, Kevin came to Iowa (and never left) to do his undergraduate work at Central College in Pella, and both his masters and doctorate at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. His work experience includes 10 years as a teacher and coach at Denver Schools; six years as secondary principal at Denver; six years as high school principal at Waverly-Shell Rock School, Waverly; nine years as associate professor of education at Wartburg College, Waverly; four years as superintendent at East Sac County Schools, Lake View; and four years as superintendent at Interstate 35 Schools, Truro.
Throughout his career, Kevin’s focus has been on collaborative leadership designed to provide the best learning opportunities for students. He has also served on multiple state boards and committees.
Throughout his career, Kevin’s focus has been on collaborative leadership designed to provide the best learning opportunities for students. He has also served on multiple state boards and committees.
| kevin_fiene_resume_.doc |
Roger Wilcox
Roger Wilcox retired from Waverly-Shell Rock Community Schools in June of 2016. Roger was an elementary and middle school principal at WSR for 25 years. Prior to that administrative assignment, Roger was a PK-6 principal at Dunkerton Community Schools. He taught in a variety of elementary classroom settings in Glenwood, Iowa, while obtaining his MS degree from Creighton University. During the 2016-17 school year, Roger was hired by New York City Leadership Academy as a principal “coach” working with principals at all stages of their professional career.
Roger was named the Iowa Fine Arts Administrator in 2010, Iowa Music Educator’s Administrator of the Year for the Support of the Arts in 2009, and received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award in 2000. Roger has been an adjunct instructor for Viterbo University, Buena Vista University, and the University of Northern Iowa. Currently he is a consultant with Grundmeyer Leader Search and does other independent educational consulting.
Roger was named the Iowa Fine Arts Administrator in 2010, Iowa Music Educator’s Administrator of the Year for the Support of the Arts in 2009, and received the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award in 2000. Roger has been an adjunct instructor for Viterbo University, Buena Vista University, and the University of Northern Iowa. Currently he is a consultant with Grundmeyer Leader Search and does other independent educational consulting.
| 2017_roger_wilcox_resume.pdf |
Michael Mathews
Michael L. Mathews has been an award winning and well published chief information officer and a leader of chief information officers for over eight years. Many of Michael published and cited works can be seen at https://works.bepress.com/michael-mathews.
Michael has interviewed over 75 educational CIO’s over the past ten years for over many education organizations and colleges and universities. Michael has also managed IT staffs ranging from 25 individuals to 450 individuals. Michael’s focus is on recruiting and mentoring CIOs for education transformation. Michael has served in the roles of CIO for 15 years, Chief Innovation officer for five years and teaching and learning director for 12 years. Most recently, Michael was named to the 2017 Top 30 Innovators in Education, 2017 Global Business Transformation Leaders, and a 2018 CIO 100 Awardee.
Michael has interviewed over 75 educational CIO’s over the past ten years for over many education organizations and colleges and universities. Michael has also managed IT staffs ranging from 25 individuals to 450 individuals. Michael’s focus is on recruiting and mentoring CIOs for education transformation. Michael has served in the roles of CIO for 15 years, Chief Innovation officer for five years and teaching and learning director for 12 years. Most recently, Michael was named to the 2017 Top 30 Innovators in Education, 2017 Global Business Transformation Leaders, and a 2018 CIO 100 Awardee.
| mathews_bio_may_2017.pdf |
Jeff Corkery
Jeff Corkery retired as superintendent from the Western Dubuque Community School District in 2015. Jeff did his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Norther Iowa and his specialist degree at Drake. Jeff was a superintendent for 24 years with 9 at Western Dubuque, 13 at Tipton, and 2 as a shared superintendent at Allison Bristow and Clarksville Community Schools. Jeff also has 6 years of experience as a High School Principal and 10 years’ experience as a business teacher and coach.
Jeff was one of 3 finalists for two years in a row for Iowa Superintendent of the year. Jeff is trained in quality concepts in systematic school improvement and also in HUMANeX Ventures which focuses on discovering and developing the talents of individuals, educating and equipping leaders and managers to coach, engage and develop individuals to their potential.
Jeff was one of 3 finalists for two years in a row for Iowa Superintendent of the year. Jeff is trained in quality concepts in systematic school improvement and also in HUMANeX Ventures which focuses on discovering and developing the talents of individuals, educating and equipping leaders and managers to coach, engage and develop individuals to their potential.
| resume_jc_2015.doc |
Dr. Brian Mitchell
Dr. Mitchell earned an Educational Specialist from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri in 2001 with an emphasis in the Superintendency. Dr. Mitchell earned his Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri in 2007. After six years in the classroom, Dr. Mitchell served as the Assistant Principal at Bolivar Primary School for one year and Elementary Principal for the Greenfield R-IV School District in Greenfield, MO after which, Dr. Mitchell was offered and accepted the Superintendent’s position at Fair Play R-II School District where he served for five years. In 2005, Dr. Mitchell accepted the position as Deputy Superintendent with the Independence 30 School District in Independence, MO. overseeing all day-to-day operations. After completing four years with the Independence School District, Dr. Mitchell was offered and accepted the position of Superintendent of Schools for the Jefferson City Public Schools in Jefferson City, Missouri where he retired.
During his tenure as a district level administrator, Dr. Mitchell was recognized as the New Superintendent of the year for the Southwest MASA District in 2003 and the 2010 Missouri Association of Educational Office Professionals Administrator of the Year. Brian joined the GLS team in 2020 and is the lead consultant for leader searches in Missouri.
During his tenure as a district level administrator, Dr. Mitchell was recognized as the New Superintendent of the year for the Southwest MASA District in 2003 and the 2010 Missouri Association of Educational Office Professionals Administrator of the Year. Brian joined the GLS team in 2020 and is the lead consultant for leader searches in Missouri.
| brian_mitchell-_resume.docx |
