Dean Nafziger, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer

Sandy Doty, CPS
Executive Assistant

Michael Repper
Manager, Financial Analysis

George Vickrey, CPA
Comptroller

Kristin Newkirk
Director of Strategic Relations

Terri Robertson
Business Manager

Dean Nafziger, Ph.D. –Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Dean Nafziger is a founding partner and CEO of Edvance Research Inc. As CEO, he provides the overall strategic vision and direction for the company and builds relationships with institutions, stakeholders and customers.

Dr. Nafziger has been involved in various aspects of public education for more than three decades, starting as a high school mathematics teacher in the Boise, Idaho, public schools, and later serving in leadership positions at some of the nation’s most respected education companies and institutions.

He is a nationally recognized leader and skilled executive, educator and researcher. Based on his training and research experiences, Dr. Nafziger has a deep understanding of the rationale behind scientifically valid research, and the analytical skills required to conduct rigorous, high-quality research studies, including randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and analyses using large data sets.

His broad experience gives him the insight and ability to work confidently with researchers, policy makers and business executives, as well as the expertise that produces effective strategies and superior solutions.

Prior to joining Edvance Research, Dr. Nafziger was associated with the Houston-based American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC), a member-based nonprofit providing benchmarking and best practice research in all industries. Dr. Nafziger established the organization’s education line of business.

Prior to his association with APQC, Dr. Nafziger was president of Harcourt Educational Measurement, the education division of test publisher Harcourt Assessment. At Harcourt, Dr. Nafziger supervised the launch of a new, innovative edition of the company’s flagship norm-referenced achievement test, as well as new assessments for reading and English language proficiency that met the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. He guided the management of contracts with 30 state departments of education, and oversaw 1,000 full-time and 1,500 temporary staff in specialized functions, including catalog product sales, marketing, customer support, psychometrics, sampling and statistics, test development, new product development, program management and operational logistics.

Dr. Nafziger also held leadership positions at Sylvan Learning Systems, where he launched new programs for teacher certification. While an executive Educational Testing Service (ETS), he was responsible for testing programs in 180 countries and launched new products for test preparation and teacher training, as well as career and educational guidance.

Dr. Nafziger’s career also includes research positions at the Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Social Organization of Schools, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) and the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD).

Dr. Nafziger was also chief executive officer of Far West Laboratory. He was a founder and the developer of a successor company known as WestEd. During his 10 years at WestEd, he led the Company's significant growth and set the foundations to provide leading educational services to government agencies, businesses and foundations that continue today.

Dr. Nafziger has published extensively in professional journals, such as the Journal of Vocational Behavior and the Journal of Applied Psychology. In addition, Dr. Nafziger has served on boards and held officer positions for numerous professional organizations, and is frequently invited to speak at conferences and symposia.

Dr. Nafziger earned a Ph.D. in educational administration and research at New Mexico State University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, and has attended advanced management courses at Harvard Business School.

Sandy Doty provides administrative support services to the chief executive officer, the chief administrative officer, the comptroller and the manager of human resources and contracts.  In this capacity she schedules meetings, travel and departmental activities, and also coordinates board meetings for REL Southwest.  Before joining Edvance Research, Doty held several executive assistant positions supporting senior officers at Harcourt Assessment.  Prior to that she held executive assistant and client services positions at the Holt Companies, and executive and administrative support positions at Bruns Production Company, the Superior Oil Company and Coastal States Gas Producing Company.  Doty is a certified professional secretary (CPS) through Professional Secretaries International.  She has studied business at Del Mar College and nursing at the University of Texas at Austin and Wharton County Junior College.  Doty serves on the San Antonio College Human Resources Advisory Committee.

As manager of financial analysis, Michael Repper is responsible for all forward-looking analyses and projections, including annual budgets, long-range strategic plans, and economic and cash planning activities, as well as special projects implemented at the direction of the comptroller.  He also assists the comptroller with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and other regulatory compliance issues. 

Prior to joining Edvance Research, Repper held financial analysis positions at Harcourt Assessment.  He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in finance and accounting from Allentown College.  Repper is a candidate for a master’s degree in accounting systems at Strayer University, and he has been certified as a financial analyst by the American Management Association.

As comptroller for Edvance Research, George Vickrey is responsible for all financial reporting and compliance activities, including financial transactions, budgets and strategic plans, as well as special studies implemented under the direction of the chief administrative officer. 

Prior to joining Edvance Research, Vickrey held a variety of budgeting, forecasting, fiscal planning and general accounting positions at Harcourt Assessment, Baylor University and Pennzoil-Quaker State.  Vickrey holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University and he is a certified public accountant (CPA) in Texas.  He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

As Director of Strategic Relations, Kristin Newkirk works closely with the Executive Management team to ensure that executive initiatives and projects are completed in a timely manner and stays focused on company goals. She serves as the liaison for the REL Southwest Governing Board and is responsible for forming long-standing and successful relationships with external customers.

Prior to joining Edvance Research, Newkirk was director of special projects for the Texas Ethics Commission, where she established project goals and objectives and developed, monitored, and maintained project plans, work assignments, standards and budgets for a number of projects, including a project to rewrite the agency’s campaign finance electronic filing software.  Newkirk was also a program manager at Harcourt Assessment, where she oversaw four custom statewide assessment programs, and provided services such as contract development, financial management, operational design, and overall project management.

Newkirk holds a bachelor’s degree in geography, with concentrations in urban planning, spatial analysis and resource planning, from the University of Texas at Austin, where she has also pursued graduate course work in community and regional planning.

As Business Manager, Terri Robertson is responsible for the daily accounting functions including accounts payable, employee expense statements, accounts receivable log, and project budget support. She assists the Comptroller and Finance Manager with month close and reporting.

Prior to joining Edvance Research, Robertson was the publishing analytics manager at Harcourt Assessment where she provided financial analyses, annual budgeting and project related reporting for the Clinical Division. Robertson has an Associates degree in Accounting from Mankato Business College.