Coursica Advisors
Coursica is led by a team of high-profile businesses gurus.
Alex Hernandez
Senior Manager of Community Engagement & Talent Development
Alex (she/her) is a business development manager who builds and runs programs that further OpenSesame’s vision of a world where EVERYONE can easily access the training (and skills) they need to advance their purpose. Alex is the key architect in building an amazing people experience at OpenSesame by driving the culture and growth of our people and community through building and supporting world-class programs, recruiting and fostering the best and brightest people for OpenSesame.
Don Spear
CEO & Co-Founder of OpenSesame
As the company’s president and CEO, Don leads OpenSesame to help its customers develop the world’s most productive and admired workforces. Prior to OpenSesame, Don founded BlueVolt.com and led its growth to a leading provider of online Learning Management Systems (LMS) for the manufacturing, construction and service industries. With over 30 years of experience starting, building, and investing in companies, Don enjoys creating companies that disrupt the conventional industry model. Previously, Don was the president of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, during its early rapid expansion to 250 locations, and senior vice president of retail operations, strategy and logistics at PetSmart from two stores through IPO. Don received an MBA from Harvard Business School and completed his undergraduate studies in electrical engineering and economics at Rice University. He is a former submarine officer and served aboard the USS Tunny (SSN 682).
Tara Cooper
Diversity & Inclusion Consultant
For more than 22 years, Tara Cooper has worked in higher education and with organizations to build awareness and strategies to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. During her career working in higher education, Tara worked in a variety of colleges and universities gaining a broad yet deep understanding of the challenges that come along with serving diverse populations of students and community stakeholders. Through community-building and individualized advising and mentoring, Tara devised strategies for connecting with diverse students to build trusting relationships that empowered the student to succeed on every level. She brings a unique ability to "meet people where they are at” to facilitate growth, learning, and the maximization of individual potential. In addition to equity and inclusion consulting, Tara serves as a Post-Secondary Pathways Director overseeing career and college pathways work for 20 public school districts in the Portland, Oregon area. Adding to her experience in post-secondary education and advancing DEI in organizations, Tara holds a master’s degree in intercultural communications and is currently completing her doctorate degree in adult learning and leadership.
Tamar Elkeles, Ph.D.
Chief Human Resources Officer/Head of HR at XCOM
Tamar Elkeles, Ph.D. is the Chief Human Resources Officer for XCOM, a rapidly growing wireless technology company propelling the next mobile revolution. She was previously Chief Talent Executive for Atlantic Bridge Capital, a global venture capital fund focused on technology investments. Prior to that role she served as Chief People Officer for a Silicon Valley mobile technology start-up, and prior to that spent nearly 24 years as Qualcomm’s Chief Learning Officer. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for GP Strategies (NYSE: GPX), The Board Advisors of the Forbes School of Business & Technology and ATD's Chief Talent Officer (CTDO) Next Board. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and The Conference Board’s Executive Council on Talent and Organizational Development. She also serves as a strategic advisor to several startup companies in the talent, learning and education technology sector. Dr. Elkeles is the author of three books focused on the CLO’s role: The Chief Learning Officer, Measuring the Success of Learning Through Technology, and The Chief Talent Officer. Her upcoming book, Forward-Focused Learning, will be released by ATD Press in December 2020.
Josh Blank
President, Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder of OpenSesame
A native Oregonian, Josh honed his innovation, management and football appreciation skills at the University of Southern California, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication. He has a rich background in technology, software development and user interface design. Josh co-founded the internet services agency PopArt in 1997 which quickly grew to become the fifth fastest growing technology firm in the state and third best place to work in the state of Oregon Business magazine in 2003. Josh also co-founded Portland-based technology company Eleven Wireless, which provides on-demand software to centrally manage broadband networks for hospitality providers.
Jalyssa T. Woodall
Digital Marketing Specialist
Jalyssa T. Woodall was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She’s been in the marketing industry for four years and now works as a Digital Marketing Specialist at a well known marketing agency in Chicago.
Her educational profile consists of receiving her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree from Eastern Illinois University in 2015, successfully completing an OpenSeame internship in 2016, as well as receiving her Master’s of Science degree from Illinois State University in 2017. Due to Jalyssa’s passion for marketing and storytelling she was able to debut her very own blog entitled: JalyssaDoubleU.com
Jalyssa takes readers through her adulting journey and discusses everything from growing pains, to saving money, and self care. JalyssaDoubleU.com is now accompanied by her YouTube channel, where she further shows her encounters and provides tips, tricks, and discounts for her subscribers.
Yogi Roth
Award-Winning Filmmaker & New York Times Best-Selling Author
Yogi is seeking and uncovering the humanity in sports around the globe. A Pac-12 Networks college football analyst, award-winning filmmaker, scholar, New York Times best-selling author, accomplished coach, motivational speaker, media personality, host and world traveler. Yogi began his storytelling career after coaching football at USC, co-authoring the New York Times best-seller Win Forever with Pete Carroll. As a media personality, Yogi has been a host/college football analyst for ESPN, Fox and the Pac-12 Network. In 2017, he co-hosted the podcast Season of Sam with current NFL quarterback Sam Darnold. Yogi is the host of a podcast The Yogi Roth Show: How Great Is Ball, Ted & Yogi’s Pac-12 Adventure and the Pac-12 Perspective alongside Ashley Adamson. He has also hosted the Elite 11 for the last twelve years.
