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Meet the Team
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Left to Right: Mike, Cassie, Sharon, Adrien, Loreli, Mary, Kathleen, Lana, Bernice, and Judy. Seated: Al and Joan.
Not pictured: Carrie, Jackie, Carissa, Julie, Angie, Wendy and Ann. |
ABOUT OUR CFO: Joan's husband, Al Cotter, has many roles with Activities for Learning, Inc., primarily financial. He is also a sounding board for Joan's lesson plans and a mentor to employees in business practices. As time permits, Al enjoys customer contact at conferences.
Al has a BSME degree (mechanical engineering) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He worked for 3M Company for 35 years in various technical and management positions. Al and Joan purchased a farm in Hutchinson MN, which they operated for 32 years. Upon retiring from 3M, Al joined the Corn Growers Association, where he led various state and national programs. His focus was using agriculture products as a resource for renewable energy.
Al enjoys this next stage of retirement working to assure that Activities for Learning, Inc. has a strong business structure so children can understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics. Al can be reached at AJCotter@ALabacus.com
ABOUT OUR VICE PRESIDENT AND MARKETING MANAGER: Kathleen Cotter Lawler is the daughter of Al and Dr. Joan A. Cotter, author and creator of the RightStart Mathematics program. She has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a second Masters Degree in Management from the University of Mary in Bismarck ND.
Kathleen, her husband, and four children, ages 13 to 18, live on a fourth generation working farm and ranch with their collection of cats, dogs, horses, calves, ducks, and other critters. Three Lawler children attend a rural school and are "afterschooled" in mathematics and science and the oldest is attending college. Kathleen spends her spare time reading, quilting, and keeping up with the kids. She can be reached at Kathleen@ALabacus.com
ABOUT OUR SCHOOL SPECIALIST: Cassie graduated from Dickinson State University in North Dakota with a major in Elementary Education and minors in Speech, Theater, and Psychology. She taught both elementary and special needs children in western North Dakota. She is married and lives nearby in Linton, ND. Cassie, her husband, and their newborn daughter enjoy traveling all over the United States to see friends and family. She spends her spare time scrapbooking, sewing, decorating for holidays, and walking with her dog, Sadie. She can be reached at Cassie@Alabacus.com.
ABOUT OUR OFFICE MANAGER: Loreli keeps the office running smoothly and does the bookkeeping for the organization. She has an AAS degree and has worked for both profit and nonprofit firms as an administrative assistant and office manager. Loreli and her husband live in a rural area north of Linton. She enjoys gardening, sewing, and attending auction sales. Loreli can be reached at Loreli@ALabacus.com.
ABOUT OUR CUSTOMER CARE AND SALES PEOPLE: Wendy has a Bachelors degree in communications with a minor in German from Mississippi State University. After working a few years in Human Resources, she returned to school and became a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Wendy then obtained a second Bachelors degree in Nursing from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and worked as an ICU nurse for about 11 years. Wendy has been using the RightStart Mathematics curriculum for five years and is starting her third child in the program. In her free time, she is a Sunday school teacher and enjoys creating smocked garments and French heirloom sewing. She can be reached at Wendy@ALabacus.com.
Carissa has a degree in Early Childhood Education and is a certified preschool teacher. She has been homeschooling since 2000 and is active in her local homeschool community. Her goal for homeschooling parents is to help them cultivate the love of learning in their children. Carissa has been teaching her children RightStart Mathematics since 2002, and is currently teaching the Geometric Approach for a second time and Level D for a third time. She has taught Level B three times, Level C three times, Level D twice, and Level E twice and the Geometric Approach once! She is a wife and mother of three. Carissa can be reached at Carissa@ALabacus.com.
Angela has a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Messiah College in Grantham, PA. She worked four years as a foster care/adoption caseworker until she had her children. She has been homeschooling her three children for twelve years and is active in her local homeschool community. Angela has used RightStart Mathematics to teach all three of her children. She is currently teaching the Geometric Approach to her two younger children. She has also taught RightStart Mathematics at her homeschool coop. Angela is involved in her local church and enjoys scrapbooking and playing tennis. She can be reached at Angie.H@ALabacus.com.
Julie has a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Christian Ministries from Spring Arbor college in Michigan. She has been homeschooling her four daughters for seven years and is active in her local homeschool community. She is currently teaching RightStart Mathematics levels A, C and E to her three oldest children. Julie is involved in her local church and enjoys playing math games with her children and reading. She can be reached at Julie@ALabacus.com.
Jackie and her husband, Conrad, have five boys. The two oldest have completed RightStart, the next two are currently working through RightStart Mathematics, and the youngest is waiting in the wings! She can be reached at Jackie.S@ALabacus.com.
Ann has been homeschooling for eight years. When her now college-aged daughter was 12, Ann began her homeschooling journey. Her 11 year old son has been homeschooled from the start. Ann worked with horses her whole life. She spent five years as a traveling groom and assistant thoroughbred trainer. She met her husband, Nick, also an assistant trainer in Kentucky. They married and quit traveling with the horses and both made career changes. Ann and her family go biking, running, and camping and she enjoys gardening, hydroponics, baking, and reading. She can be reached at Ann@ALabacus.com.
ABOUT OUR ORDER PROCESSOR: Bernice processes orders and assists customers for Activites for Learning, Inc. She and her husband live on a farm in south central North Dakota. Their three grown children are all married and they have four adorable grandchildren. In her free time, Bernice enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and going to garage sales. She can be reached at Bernice@Alabacus.com or toll free at 888-RS-5-MATH (888-775-6284).
ABOUT OUR OFFICE ASSISTANT: Lana is the person who holds our office together and the friendly voice who answers your calls. She and her husband, Luke, and young son, Lukie, live on his childhood farm with their various livestock. Lana is currently working on her Bachelors degree in Business Management Administration. She can be reached at Lana@ALabacus.com.
ABOUT OUR WAREHOUSE PERSONNEL: Sharon supervises the warehouse, keeping the shipments processed, maintaining the inventory, and running interference where needed. She spends her free time making candles, playing computer games and reading. Sharon, her husband, and their daughter, live in a neighboring town.
Judy grew up in Hazelton, ND and graduated from Hazelton High School. She married a local farmer 32 years ago and have three children and two beautiful granddaughters. She enjoys sewing, reading, and watching TV. Judy helps with shipping and works diligently on assembly.
Tammy pulls orders and does assembly. She lives in a nearby town with her husband of 37 years and has two grown children and three grandchildren. Tammy keeps herself busy with gardening and bike riding.
ABOUT OUR PRINTING DEPARTMENT: Mary manages the printing of our books and other related material. She relocated from Nye, Montana back to her hometown of Hazelton, ND. Mary has an Associates Degree in Process Plant Technology from BSC. Hobbies are archery instruction, hunting and horses. Megan is a local high school student who works summers and after school in the winters.
ABOUT OUR PROJECT COLLABORATORS: Carrie provides project and technical support where needed. She and her husband farm in south central North Dakota, keeping busy with their five young children. Any corrections can be sent to her at Carrie@ALabacus.com.
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