Unifyed and BlackBeltHelp partner to bring next-gen AI-chatbots to higher education

Anthony Banford is an esteemed executive with 19 years of experience in technology, consulting, and education. He begins his latest chapter as Chief Revenue Officer at BlackBeltHelp, aiming to innovate in the higher education support industry. His move follows a successful stint as Head of Revenue at StudentBridge since March 2023, where he significantly contributed to the company’s merger with Full Measure Education, enhancing its service offerings.

At Full Measure Education, where he was CRO/EVP of Sales from 2014 to 2023, Anthony was pivotal in driving growth and securing a 95% client renewal rate, expanding their client base to over 400 partnerships. His tenure at Blackboard Inc (Anthology) as Vice President of Sales and Client Success from 2011 to 2014 showcased his post-acquisition integration and team development skills, substantially improving customer retention and sales. Anthony’s earlier role at Presidium Inc. further emphasized his ability to boost company growth and operational success.

Anthony is renowned for his dynamic leadership and strategic insight, with strengths in sales and marketing strategy, client relationship development, and strategic budget planning. At BlackBeltHelp, he is set to foster significant growth and customer satisfaction through innovative solutions and collaborative team management.

Todd Hollrah joins BlackBeltHelp bringing 25+ years of experience managing service delivery operations for several Fortune 500 clients around the globe. After a distinguished career as an executive in the BPO industry, Todd will provide critical insight into building an exceptional customer experience combining both live voice and automated solutions.
Todd is a graduate of Central Methodist University. Upon graduation he began his career as a call center agent handling inbound telecom and quickly moved into a front-line leadership role. Throughout his career he has spent time in several leadership and support roles. For the past 15 years his focus has been on building operational excellence as a senior executive with two large BPO organizations.
Todd is excited to join a dynamic company using cutting edge technologies to support higher education student services. In his new role he will be an integral part of creating scalable solutions and soliciting future expansion opportunities.

Inspired by a family computer that always needed fixing, Chris Uthe has submerged himself in business and technology for the last 20 years. His first company, a PC repair and networking business, was started at just 16 and successfully fueled a deep interest in solving problems as he helped business customers throughout his hometown adopt technology into their business. He would go on to successfully run a media & managed IT company before joining the Ed Tech industry with a successful 13-year tenure within an ERP/SIS company leading the Student Portal & Learning Management division. His last startup, EdSolio, helped to fuel the winds of competency-based education by providing a comprehensive view of a student’s work and achievements. Chris is now focused on creating successful learners by ensuring the highest quality help and support through the use of AI backed toolsets spending the last 3 years in the student engagement and support markets.

Quaiser Absar is the Chief Technology Officer and Director of Institutional Computing at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.

At Shenandoah University, his job entails managing University computer operations, which includes, administrative and academic computing, network infrastructure, employee support and training. He also holds an adjunct faculty position at the School of Business at Shenandoah University.

Mr. Absar continues to stay up-to-date with today’s changing technology and to find ways to incorporate technology into the educational environment at Shenandoah University.

Mr. Absar remains an invaluable advisor and client of BlackBeltHelp.

Bringing in over 2 decades of experience with him, Manish has ensured seamless operations in terms of client delivery, reporting & analytics, quality, training, and transitions with a special focus on technical integrations to help reduce costs and improve the bottom-line.

He has worked across different streams which include Advertising, Marketing, Sales, Banking, and Customer Service across companies like Barclays, Wipro, NAM and Granton Advertising.

Anthony has served higher education in diverse, leadership roles for over 30 years and has helped organizations thrive through his expertise in developing, analyzing, and executing growth strategies. Prior to joining BlackBeltHelp, he served in College Administration as well as in leadership roles within Blackboard Student Services and Ellucian, Inc.

Anthony will now bring his higher education experience and passion for innovative student service delivery to BlackBeltHelp. He will lead BlackBeltHelp as the Chief Executive Officer and President and ensure its alignment with higher education market needs.

Accomplished IT Specialist and Manager with extensive experience in a higher education setting and demonstrated abilities to effectively manage both student and professional staff. Self-motivated problem solver, who is skilled in managing many issues and prioritizing their importance to find resolutions in a timely and effective manner. Possesses strong abilities to adapt to new technologies by extrapolating from existing experience. Possess first-rate communication and collaboration skills to work with diverse groups effectively.

Lila Buytendorp has been serving as the Director of User Services at Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) since 2000. In this role she is responsible for staff & lab desktop computing and end user support. She guides and supports technology based on the curriculum needs and ensures technology is implemented to support the emerging needs of the college. She builds and supports integrated systems to improve efficiencies and uses technologies to support data-driven decision making. Lila is a member of the Capital Projects Planning and Design Committee to ensure new or remodeled facilities have appropriate technology.

Lila has provided strategic and operational leadership with 28 years of experience in the Management Information Technology field which consists of 23 years in higher education and 5 years in manufacturing. She holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with majors in MIS and Marketing, and a MS in Management and Organizational Behavior from Silver Lake College. Lila was an adjunct faculty member at Fox Valley Technical College, teaching a variety of computer related courses.