At CFO (Boardroom Media) we track over 1,000,000 startups and over 5,000,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top California based CFO’ operating in the Education space. If you think a CFO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on [email protected].
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Andrew Brown
CFO of Chegg
As CFO of Chegg, Andy’s goal is to help drive the financial performance of the company. Andy has over 25 years of experience in the financial sector, over 10 of which he’s spent as CFO of three public companies, most recently with Palm, Inc. Andy’s proven ability to help build organizations, impressive track record in high growth environments and significant experience in the consumer technology space make him a great fit for Chegg and will help continue the company’s growth. Andy earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Eastern Illinois University, where he serves on the Business School advisory board. He lives in the Bay with his wife, has two children in college and when he’s not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his family. When time permits, you will see him going wheel-to-wheel with other competitors, racing his formula car in the West Coast Formula Car Challenge Series!
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About Chegg: Chegg is a student media learning platform offering services to universities and community colleges.
Doug Barry
Co-Founder, COO and CFO of PORTL Hologram
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About MSMCi, PopJax, PORTL Hologram: PORTL Hologram offers at-home hologram machines.
Steven Hammersly
CFO and Board Member of PORTL Hologram
Steven Hammersly is the CFO at PORTL Hologram.
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About PORTL Hologram: PORTL Hologram offers at-home hologram machines.
Yannis Peyret
CFO of Holberton School
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About Holberton School: Holberton School is a project-based alternative to college for the next generation of software engineers.
Anthony Matusich
CFO of Founders Circle Capital
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About Founders Circle Capital: Founders Circle Capital is a growth-stage investment firm that focuses on investing in people.
Kim Witmer
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer of Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Kim Witmer is Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Salk Institute. She oversees all financial activities of the Salk, including financial reporting and treasury functions, research accounting, annual budgets, procurement, grants administration and endowment/investment management. Prior to joining the Salk, Witmer worked for the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche. Witmer also acts as past President of AIRI, the Association of Independent Research Institutes, as well as serving on AIRI’s Board of Directors and Government Affairs Committee. AIRI brings together nearly 100 independent, not-for-profit biomedical and behavioral research institutes whose mission is to enhance the ability of its members to improve human health and advance knowledge. Additionally, Witmer served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM), and currently holds a position on SCRM’s Administrative Council as the Salk representative. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.S. in business administration from San Diego State University.
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About Salk Institute for Biological Studies: Salk Institute for Biological Studies conducts research on molecular biology and genetics, neurosciences, and plant biology.
Kenneth Hahn
Chief Financial Officer of Coursera
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About Coursera: Coursera is an online education company that partners with universities and organizations to offer classes on their platform.
Joe Powers
Chief Financial Officer of zSpace
Joe has over 20 years experience in senior level financial positions with high-technology/high growth companies where he led financing efforts and designed, implemented, and managed financial and operational control systems focused on supporting overall growth and profitability. During his career, he has played a key role in developing international business strategy that improved revenues and profitability, ultimately leading to the integration of operations into publicly traded companies. Joe has also been responsible for manufacturing oversight and negotiating inbound/outbound product licensing transactions. Prior to joining zSpace, Joe was CFO for Virident Systems, WorkRite Ergonomics, Bay Packets (acquired by Genband), Pacific Microsonics (acquired by Microsoft) and ViTel International (acquired by Premier Global).
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About zSpace: zSpace offers a system that enables its users to integrate their normal lives with a desktop-based virtual reality system.
Joe Powers
Chief Financial Officer of zSpace
Joe has over 20 years experience in senior level financial positions with high-technology/high growth companies where he led financing efforts and designed, implemented, and managed financial and operational control systems focused on supporting overall growth and profitability. During his career, he has played a key role in developing international business strategy that improved revenues and profitability, ultimately leading to the integration of operations into publicly traded companies. Joe has also been responsible for manufacturing oversight and negotiating inbound/outbound product licensing transactions. Prior to joining zSpace, Joe was CFO for Virident Systems, WorkRite Ergonomics, Bay Packets (acquired by Genband), Pacific Microsonics (acquired by Microsoft) and ViTel International (acquired by Premier Global).
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About zSpace: zSpace offers a system that enables its users to integrate their normal lives with a desktop-based virtual reality system.
Shari Freedman
CFO of Room to Read
Shari has over 25 years of international financial, non-profit and administrative management experience with companies ranging in size from $35MM – $150B. Prior to joining Room to Read, she served as CFO at Niman Ranch, Wordwise, Inc. and most recently with One Medical Group – all for-profit companies but with important social missions as well. Prior to that, she provided international financial and administrative management to best in class global branded companies, including Gap, PepsiCo and GM. She was one of the San Francisco Business Times’ Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business in 2012. Shari’s non-profit experience includes chairing the boards of both JVS (Jewish Vocational Service) and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, and actively supporting startups with a focus on increasing capital for women entrepreneurs. Her academic pedigree includes courses at Harvard, an MBA from Georgetown and a BA from American University.
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About Astia Angels, Room to Read: Focus on two areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact: literacy and gender equality in education.
Elaine Kitagawa
Chief Financial Officer of Lynda
Elaine Kitagawa is the chief financial officer of [lynda.com](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/lynda-com#/entity), an online learning company that provides video tutorials to learn software, creative, and business skills. Prior to that, she held the same position at [Saba](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/saba#/entity). With more than 20 years of financial management experience in fast-growing global technology companies, Kitagawa is focused on driving the continued growth of lynda.com as it builds out platforms and expands internationally. Kitagawa began her career as an auditor at [KPMG](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/kpmg#/entity). She has also served as the chief financial officer and chief operating officer of [Gaia Interactive](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/gaia#/entity). Kitagawa holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from [UC Berkeley Haas School of Business](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/uc-berkeley-school-of-law). She lives in Santa Barbara, California, United States.
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About Lynda: Lynda provides business training.
Cheryl Kim
Chief Financial Officer of Hazel Health
Cheryl Kim is the Chief Financial Officer at Hazel Health.
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About Hazel Health: Hazel Health is a healthcare company that improves the health and well-being of students by increasing access to healthcare.
Matt Finick
CFO of Reading Rainbow
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About Reading Rainbow: Reading Rainbow is an interactive application delivering digital media content that is both educational and entertaining.
Kevin McFarland
CFO and Co-Founder of Formative
Kevin McFarland is the CFO and Co-Founder at Formative.
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About Formative: Formative is an ed-tech company that offers a real-time assessment platform.
Aaron Neilsen
Chief Financial Officer of Online Trading Academy
Mr. Neilsen joined Gatekeeper in 2005. Mr. Neilsen, who is also a CPA, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from California State University, Long Beach. After earning his degree, Mr. Neilsen was employed by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP. Since 1998, Mr. Neilsen has held senior positions at Westcorp Inc., a financial services holding company with $7 billion assets under management, and more recently was the Director of Accounting at go2 Directory Systems in California. Prior to joining Gatekeeper Mr. Neilsen was Corporate Controller at Bitfone Corporation, a private company with global operations, where he managed worldwide finance and accounting operations. As Chief Financial Officer, Aaron Neilsen is responsible for overseeing the long-term financial development of the company and managing the internal financial and administrative operations. He also serves the company as the corporate secretary.
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About Online Trading Academy: Online Trading Academy is an educational institution offering investing and trading classes for people from all walks of life.
David Sherman
Co-Founder, COO & CFO of Criteria
David cofounded Criteria in 2006. He is responsible for managing operations at Criteria, directing legal affairs, and for implementing key strategic initiatives. David has a unique background that includes thirty-three years’ experience as a successful entrepreneur, along with professional experience as a psychologist and an educator. Prior to Criteria, David served as the co-president and CEO of AIMS Multimedia, an educational software company, from 1983 until its sale in 2004 to Discovery Communications, Inc. At AIMS he was responsible for all technology productions, including AIMS’ flagship product DigitalCurriculum™, a comprehensive Internet-based K—12 curriculum VOD system with over 20 million subscribers. Prior to AIMS, David had a private psychology practice and taught at Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology. David received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, MS.Ed. from the University of Southern California, and his Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA.
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About Criteria, Stikbox: Criteria is a provider of pre-employment tests, including aptitude, personality, and skills tests.
Mike Soloviev
Acting CFO of WOWCube® System (CubiOs Inc.)
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About Roostify, WOWCube® System (CubiOs Inc.): WOWCube system is a puzzle cube with tangible interface where virtual gameplay is controlled by physically tilting, twisting shaking.
Garfield Byrd
Chief Financial Officer of KIPP Foundation
Garfield Byrd is the Chief Financial Officer at KIPP Foundation.
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About KIPP Foundation: To create a respected, influential, and national network of public schools.
James Hays
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of Brentwood Associates
James joined Brentwood in 2021 as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to joining Brentwood, James served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at St. Cloud Capital, LLC and also worked in the audit and assurance practices at Rothstein Kass (acquired by KPMG) and Meloni Hribal Tratner. James received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University. James is a Certified Public Accountant.
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About Brentwood Associates: Brentwood Associates is a consumer-focused private equity investment firm.
Jamie Illing
Chief Financial Officer of ProctorU
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About ProctorU: ProctorU provides distance proctoring services using webcams and screen-sharing technology.
Nathan Brostrom
Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer of University of California
Executive Vice President, Business Operations University of California.
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About UCOP, University of California: The University of California (UC) is a public university system in the state of California, with 10 campuses serving over 250,000 students.
Bill Pace
Co-Founder & CFO of ClearlyNext
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About ClearlyNext: Career Education and Services Start-up
Autumn Jackson
CFO of Taction Enterprises
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About Taction Enterprises: Music Technology – Midi Control – Capacitive Sensor technology.
Mark Tao
Chief Financial Officer of Wu Yee Children’s Services
Mark Tao is Director of Finance at Fort Mason Center.
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About Wu Yee Children’s Services: Wu Yee Children’s Services is a non-profit social service agency that provides child care and education for children.
Soren Thorvald
Treasurer & CFO of Portlet Power, Inc.
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About Portlet Power, Inc.: A Portlet™ is a portable outlet that allows any user with any laptop or tablet to charge their device anywhere.
Sean Baird
Chief Financial Officer, Founder of FlipStamp
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About FlipStamp: An application for connecting university students and alumni. Making friends made easy.