Experience. Grit. Courage.

100+

Employees & Contractors

50+

Years of Experience

140M

Kids Played Games Created By Our Team Members

Gaming + Education

Over the years we have brought together world leading experts in education and gaming – we are 100 employees and contractors strong and continuing to grow.

Education Experts

Our education experts have spanned 5 decades of education as teachers, coaches, principals, superintendents, PhD’s and government executives.

Gaming Experts

Over the years our managers have created both world leading games and learning games for over 140 million children around the world and continue to do so.

Experience | Partnerships | Projects

Partnerships Experience and Projects

Fund Management Team

Scott Dow

Scott is a world leading kid-driven, game-based learning expert with various levels of experience from start up to public company. The teams he’s led over the years have built data-driven learning platforms that have educated millions of young children around the world. The Heroes League is the culmination of that experience and is now being used as a real solution to what is ailing education and the family –teaching real life-skills learning for the 4th industrial revolution that is delivered without any extra classroom or teacher time. This is truly a scalable and effective solution that leverages the disruptive forces of technology to directly serve the end customer –the student and their family.

LinkedIn >

Lambert Sikkema

In addition to being lead pastor for 20 years in Hanford California, Lambert Sikkema served the United States Air Force for 24 years and retired as a Lt. Col. He served in Texas, Michigan and California, Italy and France. He completed Air Command and Staff while serving in Battle Creek MI. Lambert Sikkema has owned and operated several businesses throughout his career. His business interests include oil and gas production in Alberta, Canada during the 80s, ag and commercial real estate development in California, Illinois and Michigan through to 2002 and group housing ventures in California up to the present. His expertise focuses on business “turn-arounds”, revitalizing under-performing assets/companies. With Scott Dow, he has been involved in many digital, game-based education and training projects. In 2018 he started Next Mission Inc with Scott Dow with a focus on developing an innovative product to US schools.

Larry Dow

Larry graduated with a degree in Accounting and Management Information Systems from the University of Calgary in 1978. For over 40 years he has worked with companies to cost effectively achieve business goals using technology. His experience includes data capture, digitization, databases, analysis, data mining and the integration of all data sources within comprehensive management information systems to support real time corporate decision making. Larry founded companies in several countries gaining valuable experience in all areas of corporate management including accounting, taxation and finance. He also has many years of experience as an investor in public and private companies.

LinkedIn >

Business Advisor Team

Dr. Tom Reed

Education Expert

Dr. Reed’s career in public education has touched five decades. In addition to his Masters and PhD, he’s a graduate of the Strategic Data Project, an initiative of the Center for Education Policy and Research at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. A former classroom teacher, high school basketball coach, principal, central office administrator, and district super-intendent, Reed has consulted with educational organizations throughout the U.S.

LinkedIn >

Steve Dackin

Education Expert

More than 40 years of service in postsecondary and preK-12 education having served as the Ohio State Superintendent of Education, a school district superintendent, school principal and classroom teacher. He recently served as superintendent of School and Community Partnerships at Columbus State Community College.

Ryan Lehman

Government Relations

Ryan is the founder and principal of Lehman Public Policy LLC in Columbus, Ohio. LPP was created by taking years of experience working as an advisor for the Ohio speaker of the house to provide government relations expertise to companies in the defense, education, energy & environment, government & nonprofits, and the science & technology sector.

Gary Smith

Government Relations

Gary has more than 20 years working at various levels of Ohio Stated government. He’s worked on the House Finance & Appropriations Committee, the House Education Committee, Dept of Natural Resources, State Treasurers office, Chamber of Commerce, and he is a veteran of the United States Air Force.

Jim Crooks

Marketing Expert

Three times elected to office in the City of Independence. With a Master’s Degree in Political Science and Campaign Management, Jim is a board member and officer of the MidWest Chapter of the American Association of Political Consultants and an adjunct professor of political science at The University of Akron.

LinkedIn >

Beau Euton

Fundraising

Beau Euton serves as President of First Harvest Consulting, a business development and public policy firm located in Ohio. Euton previously served as Vice President of Membership at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce for nine years and has 30 years of experience in the non-profit and political sectors.

LinkedIn >

Jim Trakas

Ohio Lawmaker & Business Owner

An American politician who served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1999 to 2006. He was the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in Ohio’s 10th congressional district in 2008. He is also the founder and President of American Online Learning Center.

Norm Goldstein

Entrepreneurship & Financial Literacy

Founder of By Kids For Kids, partnered with Warren Buffett to advance the billionaire investor’s financial literacy initiative, the Secret Millionaires Club. Their goal is to encourage students to learn sound financial habits at a young age.

LinkedIn >

Francis X. Flaherty Jr.

User Experience & Media

Co-founder, former EVP and publisher with Walden Media group. Currently executive with SkyPath Media. His focus is on family film audiences and kids projects such as Chronicles of Narnia and many other Walden Media favorites.

Nate Sawatzky

User Experience & Media

Part of the early team that built Club Penguin from startup to a $350 million sale to Disney. He continued with Disney overseeing the Club Penguin community and was later recruited by user community minded companies including Facebook.

LinkedIn >

Glen Warren

Education Expert

Adviser for Digital Literacy to the office of the Governor of California. California School Librarian Association executive. Orange County Unified School District Teacher of the Year in 2013 & 2014. California Teacher of the Year semi-finalist.

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