MBA in Strategic Leadership

Director, Spanish Language and Graduate Management Programs
Email: lparra@nec.edu

Bio
Born in Medellin, Colombia, Dr. Parra dreamed of acquiring a prestigious education in the United States. She came to the U.S. with an international student visa, and through the years, she had the opportunity to study at institutions such as Miami-Dade College, Barry University, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Nova Southeastern University where she earned her Doctorate in Public Administration. A professional with over 19 years of experience in the field of education, Dr. Parra presents significant contributions as an administrator and faculty member, including exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. She offers 18+ years of multi-site college/university leadership experience gained via exemplary long-term tenures with two of Florida’s largest academic institutions.

As an Enrollment Services Administrator with a background covering all aspects of undergraduate and graduate student support services, her experience includes:

• Recruitment and admissions
• Academic advisement
• Registration and retention
• Financial aid
• Employment services
• Career/vocational counseling
• Student academic progress
• Judicial affairs

Dr. Parra’s ability to work with a diverse population of national and international students has allowed her to oversee academic programs in English and Spanish. This includes teaching from undergraduate to doctoral courses in both languages.

Associate Professor, Business Administration
Phone: 603.428.2438
Email: ccolbert@nec.edu

Expertise and Achievements
• Holds five marketing certifications
• Member of American Marketing Association, Network of Executive Women, and National Association of Professional Women
• Guest speaker on a variety of business and marketing topics

Educational Background
Doctor of Management, University of Maryland Global Campus
MBA, California State University, Los Angeles
BS in Marketing Management, California State University, Los Angeles

Bio
Dr. Carrie Colbert, Dr. C to her students, manages the marketing side of the Management Division. She teaches the majority of the marketing courses, including Advertising and Brand Promotions, Digital Media Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and Personal Selling and Customer Relationships.

By trade, Dr. Colbert is a marketing management professional with over 20 years of experience in strategic marketing, promotion development, data analysis, and marketing management. She has held senior-level positions with Valassis Communications, Dole Food Company, Symphony IRI, and The Nielsen Company. She has also worked with many CPG manufacturers such as Nestle USA, Kraft, Mission Tortillas, and Nissin Foods, along with various grocery and drug retailers (e.g., Ahold USA, Delhaize, Winn Dixie, Rite Aid, etc.).

Dr. Colbert owns and operates Doctor Colbert Consulting, a marketing management consulting company where she helps small businesses build their customer base and increase exposure.

Dean of Management; Associate Professor, Business Administration
Office: John Lyons Center
Phone: 603.428.2301
Email: ewilkinsonhartung@nec.edu

Educational Background

• DBA with specialization in International Business—Marketing, Alliant International University
• MIBA, U.S. International University
• BA in International Relations, Second Major in Business Economics, University of San Diego

Research Interests

• Social venture business models
• Livelihood development and sustainable entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa

Bio
Erin Wilkinson Hartung is a marketing, academic, and business consultant with over 15 years of experience in higher education, global development, and small business advising. Her specialties include competitive analysis, international marketing, consumer behavior, and sustainable entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa. She has held international teaching positions

Wilkinson Hartung has consulted with numerous small business agencies—such as the SBDC, CWE, and MBDA—assisting small businesses with market planning and training, often times bringing client projects into the classroom. She also has experience in global development championing women’s empowerment as she has worked on several NGO-sponsored international livelihood development projects.

Wilkinson Hartung is a Fulbright Scholar and spent 2012 teaching, doing research, and working on social venture marketing and sustainable entrepreneurship in Tanzania. She continues traveling to Tanzania and is active in her follow up on these entrepreneurship projects. Outside of her professional interests, Wilkinson Hartung travels widely, cooks, bikes, and kayaks. A transplant from southern California, she enjoys living in New England with her family and dogs.

Professor of Accounting and Economics

Expertise and Affiliations

Expertise

• Business economics
• Experimental and behavioral economics
• International accounting
• Internal audit
• Risk management
• Research and publications in areas of managerial economics, quantitative methods, Middle Eastern economies, and behavioral economics

Affiliations

• Member of nine academic and professional organizations
• Reviewer for six academic journals

Educational Background
PhD in Economics, University of New Hampshire
MSA in Accounting, Bentley University
MA in Economics, University of New Hampshire
MBA in Managerial Accounting, James Madison University
MS in Operation Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic institute
BS in Accounting and Finance, N.I.O.C., College of Accountancy and Finance, Tehran, Iran

Bio
Dr. Jalili’s accounting career includes five years of experience as a staff accountant and supervising auditor, two years as an internal auditor, and three years as a chief financial officer. Beyond his hands-on accounting experience, he has worked as an independent consultant and has taught at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive levels for over 25 years.

Dr. Jalili is married with two children. His interests include reading, formulating and solving problems, soccer, martial arts, mountain climbing, watching classic movies, opera, and old boxing matches.

Educational Background
Doctorate in Management, NOVA Southeastern University
Doctorate in Marketing, NOVA Southeastern University
MBA, Barry University
BA in Political Science, University of Miami

Research Interest
Professional sales/sales management

Bio
Dr. Dave Hinkes, a Spanish bilingual native Miami Beachian for a half-century, is an Assistant Professor of Marketing/Faculty of the Practice at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Worldwide Online based in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Adjunct Professor of Marketing/Management/Leadership at New England College (NEC).

Dave was a former Professor of Marketing/Management at Sullivan University Graduate School of Business in Louisville, Kentucky, for three years after seven years as Chair/Associate Professor of Management/Marketing at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.

Dave holds all seven available professional sales and marketing certifications from the three different accrediting bodies. Dave has 27 years of corporate sales/marketing experience in the document management services outsourcing industry. Dave is CEO of Hink, Inc.—a management, marketing, sales training, coaching, and keynote speech consultancy since 1991 (hinkinc.net). Dave’s book Selling by Objectives (SBO): The Handbook for More Profitability in the 21st Century (now in its third edition) is an Amazon Best-Seller.

Dave is married to Deb, his supermodel for 41 years and they have children: Jenny, Missy, and Steve. Dave’s hobbies are reading, golf, bowling, table tennis (ping pong), theatre, music, and spectator football and basketball. Dave resides in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

Educational Background
Doctorate in Strategic Leadership, Regent University
MBA, Texas Wesleyan University
BS in Economics, Texas Woman’s University

Research Interests

• Practical economics for personal growth
• Non-traditional economic impact on farmers
• Ethics in business

Bio
Dr. Evette Hyder-Davis is published in peer-reviewed academic journals and is a member of Emerald Insight.

She has been an Associate Professor of Economics, Finance, and Statistics for New England College, University of Texas—Dallas, and Texas Woman’s University and Professor of Business for Northern Virginia Community College. She has served as the coordinator of the online master’s in Anthropology program for the University of North Texas and as the Teach Specialist for LeTourneau University, helping certify secondary and elementary teachers in the State of Texas.

Dr. Evette serves her community by remaining actively involved with economic development and non-profit agricultural community through her farmland. Dr. Evette is a farmer; hotel owner; and author of textbooks, workbooks, and journals. She’s also an instructional designer and curriculum developer who designs materials for local communities and colleges.

Educational Background
PhD in Organization Development, Benedictine University
MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, University of Tulsa
BA in Psychology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Research Interests
Currently developing a new 360-degree assessment tool and a personality measure to assess people’s ability to assimilate to new technologies

Bio
I began my “work life” by funding my undergraduate education through sales and retail jobs, including two years as a store manager. I have spent the last 25+ years in various consulting roles with leading firms such as Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Accenture, and Hewlett-Packard. My focus right now is on teaching, researching, and executive coaching. I am also a Board-Certified Coach.

Most of my consulting and academic careers have focused on organizational change, leadership development, and business strategy. I have worked across numerous industries, including government, pharmaceutical, healthcare (both provider and payer), manufacturing, and retail.

Educational Background
PhD in Instructional Design and Development, University of South Alabama
MA, University of South Carolina
BA in Education with specialization in Speech Communication and Social Studies, University of Mississippi

Bio
Julie Zink has been teaching and designing courses for New England College since 2007. She served as the MBA and MSM Program Director in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies from 2014–2017.

Her PhD dissertation examined instructional design and learning strategies in the public speaking environment.

Julie wrote, developed, and currently teaches the Organizational Communication, Conflict Resolution and Negotiation, and the Organizational Communication for Leaders courses. She regularly teaches the Strategic Capstone course for graduating MBA students.

She has also taught Project Management, Organizational Management and Leadership, Issues in Ethics for Healthcare, Organizational Ethics from a Global Perspective, Ethical Decision Making for Leaders, Organizational Development and Leading Change, Strategic Planning and Policy, Comparative Health Care Systems, and the Psychology of Social Media.

From 1987–2001, Julie taught communication and education courses at various colleges in the South Alabama area before moving to Maine with her family.

Educational Background
DBA, University of Phoenix
Executive JD, Concord University
MBA, University of Phoenix
BA, Washington State University

Bio
I have spent 20 years working in various businesses. I spent six years as a state medical commissioner for Washington State, being appointed by the Governor. I have been an Executive Director of an agency that helps seniors and people with disabilities in a rehabilitation environment. I have worked in a long-term care facility. I have been the Agency Director for a company providing home healthcare to clients. I have been a commissioner on the Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission.

In addition to my academic degrees, I also have a master’s certificate in Six Sigma and a master’s certificate in Project Management.

I enjoy teaching our students and working with a great team here at New England College. I spend my remaining spare time with my girlfriend, Peggy, and our cat, Baby Girl, and our Boston Terrier, Shermy. We have fun doing stuff together like watching movies and eating pizza. Baby Girl is also my Research Assistant.

Educational Background
MBA in Decision Support Systems (computer science), Southern New Hampshire University
BS in Marketing, Plymouth State University

Bio
Ray Coutermarsh has worked for KPMG LLP for over 23 years. A former Partner and Practice Chief Operating Officer, Ray has invested the past 10 years working in the firm’s Strategic Pursuits Group. The groups’ role is to assist pursuit teams with pursuit strategy, solution development, and preparation for oral presentations. Throughout his successful career, Ray held positions as president, member of a corporate board of directors, senior vice president, and others, with a focus on helping build companies to develop and manage sales revenue streams.

Prior to joining New England College in 2018, Ray worked as an adjunct professor at California State University Chico where he taught in the graduate and undergraduate business schools for approximately five years.

Educational Background
Doctorate in Finance, Vienna University of Economics and Business/London Graduate School of Mathematical Finance
Magister in Management Science, Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
Diploma in Jazz Piano, Prayner Conservatory

Research Interests

• Monetary and macro-economic topics, as well as trading and pricing-related issues to Big Data and Artificial Intelligence applications in geo-political context
• Standing program committee member of the World Energy Council in London
• Director of the Institute of Cybernetics and Geopolitical Analysis

Bio
Stephan Unger worked for several years in the Markets and Investment Banking Division of UniCredit as corporate FX/Fixed income structurer before pursuing his PhD in Finance. He then worked as Assistant pre-doc at Vienna University of Economics and Business before working as post-doc at the Finance Department of the University of Vienna for five years. Since 2016, he works as Associate Professor of Finance in the Department of Economics and Business at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. He joined New England College as Adjunct Professor in Finance in 2019 and has been appointed Associate Professor of Finance at the Gerrish School of Business at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Educational Background
Juris Doctorate, Massachusetts School or Law
MBA, Franklin Pierce University
BA in American Studies, Franklin Pierce University

Bio
Susan Holden Martin is an experienced educator and professional editor who offers private consulting services in business management, conflict resolution and mediation, and information communication technologies.

Since 2006, Susan has advocated for the human exploration and settlement of the planet Mars by service to various non-profit space advocacy organizations. She is currently the EU-Interact Station Manager of the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island in Nunavut, Canada, and a member of the Board of Directors of The Mars Society-Canada. She also serves The Mars Society U.S. as a member of the Management Team of the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah, as a member of the organization’s Steering Committee and is a past Executive Director. Follow her on Twitter @MarsTweep.

Educational Background
Doctorate in Health Administration, University of Phoenix
MBA/Master’s in Health Care Management, University of Phoenix
BS in Management, University of Phoenix
Associate in Nursing, Mount Aloysius College

Research Interests
I have provided multiple presentations, have two publications, and I am currently working on more.
My research interests are emotional intelligence, human resources, health information technology, and healthcare leadership.

Memberships
American College of Healthcare Executives
Strategic Human Resources Management

Bio
Professionally, I currently teach adult learners remotely for various universities. I am an accomplished professional with over 28 years of experience in the healthcare industry with a diverse background in various leadership positions and faculty positions. I have a history of rapid key assessments of diverse situational challenges and team collaboration to develop action plans, producing positive impacts for all stakeholders involved.

My core competencies include team leadership, strategic planning, policies and procedures, labor relations, problem-solving, project management, quality assurance, collaboration, programmatic accreditation, contract negotiations, adult learning techniques, course development/revision, regulatory compliance, syllabus development, faculty mentoring, business development, remote learning, faculty course lead, startup situations, committee experience, supervision (>375 employees), human resources/recruitment, scholarly presentations, and consulting.

Personally, I am from Mount Desert Island, Maine—a beautiful New England coastal island with plenty of lobster, boating, and Acadia National Park activities. I am married to a wonderful man named Scott. We enjoy spending time with our five children and four grandchildren. We also have our mini-schnoodle dog named Oliver to keep us company. Some of my hobbies include sailing, hiking, ATVs, snowmobiles, fly fishing, and skeet shooting/bird hunting. In addition, a few of my stress relievers are time spent on the water, running/walking, boxing, socializing with family and friends, or watching a good mystery show.

Educational Background
MS in Engineering Management, Western New England University
BS in Electrical Engineering, Western New England University

Research Interests
A variety of technology and business areas, project management, change management, strategic planning, governance, and continuous process improvement

Bio
Tom Mongeon has been an Adjunct Professor at New England College since 2016. He also serves as a corporate board member, management consultant, and Chairman of IEEE’s NH Chapter of the Power and Energy Society. He previously served as board chairman of a $250M electric utility, as a Fortune 100 high tech executive, and as a nonprofit Executive Director/CEO.

He has transformed engineering organizations; led complex multimillion dollar projects; and led change at companies including GE, Honeywell, and United Technologies, New England’s regional transmission (electric grid) operator and the world’s largest semiconductor distributors. He represented Honeywell on international regulatory committees in Washington, DC, and represented United Technologies in university industrial research and recruiting. He transformed and led the largest nonprofit consulting firm in New Hampshire and focused on New Hampshire nonprofits across all mission/service areas. He has also consulted for numerous small businesses and start-ups including one that he guided through a $4.5M acquisition by a multibillion-dollar global conglomerate.

He has extensive volunteer and community service with numerous New Hampshire nonprofits including the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, where he served as a Facilitator and Coach in their High Impact Volunteer Engagement (HIVE) program and currently serves as a Mentor in their Hoffman-Haas Fellowship program.

He has been a regularly invited speaker on strategic planning at the New Hampshire Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism, various US State Department venues, and the Tri-State Housing Conference.

He holds the following certificates in board operations and governance from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA): Cooperative Credential Director; Board Leadership Credential; and the Director Gold Certificate, the highest level of certification provided by NRECA. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and holds certificates in Continuous Process Improvement and Project Teams.

Bio
Dr. Tonja A. Gardner holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana; a dual Master of Business Administration in Accounting and Management from Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, Texas; and a Doctor of Business Administration in Accounting from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dr. Gardner has been teaching accounting, business, and management courses for over a decade. Her professional accounting and managerial experience include senior-level roles in public accounting, higher education, non-profit businesses, property accounting, governmental entities, and small businesses, as well as health care for home health and long-term care facilities.

Dr. Gardner is also the owner of Genuine Accounting Services, PLLC, which provides accounting and tax services, prepares governmental cost reports, and performs business and financial consulting.

Dr. Gardner’s research has been in the importance of soft skills in the business environment. Her dissertation title was Exploring the Importance of Soft Skills Training for Accountants, which was a multiple case study to explore strategies regional accounting firm leaders use to train technical staff on soft skills needed for success, mentoring and leadership programs, and team-building initiatives.

Dr. Gardner is married to Dr. Brian I. Gardner, Navy veteran, and they have three children: Mi’Toya, Jeremy, and Jamal.

Educational Background
MA in Communication and Organizational Leadership, Marist College
BA in Communication, University of Southern Maine

Bio
Wayne L. Clark is a Maine native who took his career to the west coast for nine years and returned home to Maine in 2016. He was Vice President of Community Relations and Marketing for Legacy Health in Portland, Oregon, an integrated healthcare system composed of six hospitals, a multi-specialty physician practice, and a research facility. He had responsibility for public relations, marketing, creative services, and community benefit.

Before moving to Oregon, he served Maine Medical Center and eventually helped form the integrated delivery system that included it, MaineHealth. There, he built a communications and marketing function from the ground up, leading a significant uptick in awareness and preference for Maine Medical Center.

On returning to Maine, he worked as Director of Communications and Marketing for Mercy Hospital in Portland, and helped create a start-up public relations apprenticeship program called WordLab.

He taught planning and marketing as an adjunct instructor in Pacific University’s Master of Health Administration program for 15 years and teaches the same in its Bachelor of Health Science program. He teaches marketing at New England College and has also taught at the University of Southern Maine and Southern New Hampshire University at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Mr. Clark is the recipient of the Bernays Award from the Maine Public Relations Council and the Evans Houghton Award from the New England Society for Healthcare Communications, both recognizing lifetime achievement and contributions to the field. He has been a presenter at annual meetings of the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development, the Social Marketing in Public Health Conference at the University of South Florida, the Public Relations Society of America, and the Academy for Community Health Improvement.

In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Clark has been active in his communities, serving on the boards of Portland West, the National Kidney Foundation of Maine, the Mad Horse Theatre Company, Rippleffect, and the Maine Public Relations Council. In Oregon, he served on the board of the Native American Youth and Family Center, and on the Advocacy and Awareness Committee of the City Club of Portland. He is currently Assistant Historian for The Mayflower Society’s Maine chapter.