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International Alumni

Board of the North American Foundation for Keele University, Inc

President: Neil Smith

nafku_neilsmith    Neil Smith graduated from Keele University in Physics and Economics in 1980. Neil was President of the Students Union in 1979, President of the Athletic Union in 1978 and Speaker of the Union in 1980. He won full colours in Rugby, Football and Cricket and ran the popular Five-a-Side leagues. Neil joined the graduate journalism programme of Thomson Regional Newspapers and went on to write for the Sunday Times. In 1982 he won a Knox Scholarship to take an MBA at the Harvard Business School, from where he graduated with honors in 1984. After Harvard, Neil joined McKinsey and Company in New York, where he met his wife, Gina. After working in the UK in the early 1990’s Neil returned to New York in 1997 to form a specialist consulting company, Promontory Growth and Innovation, which helps the Chief Executives of Fortune 500 companies to dramatically improve their earnings. Neil sits on the International Advisory Board of British American Business, Inc (the British American Chamber of Commerce) and is a member of the Harvard Business School Alumni Board.

 Secretary: John McCarthy

John McCarthy John McCarthy John has been involved in Higher Education marketing for 15 years and his career spreads across four different Universities. He began as a lecturer in Information Systems at Liverpool John Moores University, he quickly moved to the Business School and was responsible for the Business Information Systems course. He went on to hold a range of academic management positions across the LJMU and concluded his career as Head of Student Recruitment from 1997 to 2002. He moved to the University of Central Lancashire as Deputy Director of Advancement with responsibility for the full range of Marketing and Communications functions. He joined Liverpool Hope University in 2005 as their first Director of Marketing, Recruitment and External Relations and led the rebranding of Hope as it moved from University College to full University status. He grew the Marketing function to include all aspects of recruitment and admissions for both home and overseas students and set up a successful Study Abroad programme in North America. John joined Keele University in April 2011 and has been responsible for a major rebranding exercise aimed at positioning Keele as a premium choice university . His responsibilities cover all aspects of International Development and Recruitment, Outreach, Widening Participation & Recruitment, Marketing & Communications and the Development Office (which includes the Corporate Events Team and the Arts, Music & Cultural programmes. He is delighted to be involved with Keele alumni through the North American Foundation since January 2012.

Treasurer and USA Representative: Brandi Spurgin née Baker

Brandi Spurgin jan 08 mini2   Brandi studied at Keele from 1995 to 1996 as a Study Abroad student from the University of North Texas. She has advanced rapdily to a senior position in the audit team of Bank of America. Brandi has been involved with the Foundation since its inception. She appreciates her time at Keele as an opportunity to experience another culture and a country she came to love. She enjoys travelling and is very active in her local community. .







Canada Representative: Tim Gibbs

nafku_Tim Gibbs    Bristol born Tim attended Keele University from 1966 to 1970 and graduated with a degree in International Relations. After a 31-year career as an international banker, serving mainly in the Far East and Middle East, he retired to Vancouver, on Canada's west coast. His retirement pursuits include skiing instructor of persons with a disability, mentor of university business students, playing tennis, sailing, skiing and motorcycling. Since 2006 he has been Canada's representative on NAFKU's board. He encourages all North Americans with any connection to Keele, particularly those resident in Canada, to support the aims of NAFKU

 


USA Representative: Mark Kalisch

nafku_Mark Kalisch jan 08 mini      Mark graduated Keele University in 1975 with a joint honours degree in Law and Psychology and then obtained his Barrister at Law degree in England in 1977. He is a member of Gray's Inn. In 1978, he became admitted to practice law in the State of California and has been practicing in the Los Angeles area for 30 years. Mark is the managing partner of Kalisch, Cotugno & Rust, LLC, a law firm specializing in employment and business related matters and headquartered in Beverly Hills, California.  Mark is a Board member of NAKFU and is Regional Representative for the USA West Region. Married with 2 step daughters, Mark is an avid tennis player, an occasional golfer and regularly watches Manchester United.

 

USA Representative: Mark Hill

nafku_MarkHill     Mark moved to the United States in 1980 and after a brief career as an antique dealer and an aborted attempt as a DJ and rock band manager he began his career in the financial services industry in 1982 with a major Wall Street firm. In 1998 Mark co-founded Pacific Wealth Management, an investment management consulting firm.  A graduate of the College for Financial Planning in Denver, he has been an active member of the investment community for many years, serving as a board member of the San Diego Financial Planning Association, Treasurer of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and President of the Collaborative Family Law Group of San Diego. Mark is a nationally-recognized speaker on the financial aspects of divorce and a Regional Director of the Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts and a Member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. His hobbies include skiing, both listening to and playing music, running and following the NFL (go Chargers!) and the EPL (play up Pompey!). Mark is married with a son and stepdaughter and in 2008 began a new career as a grandfather.

Administrator John Easom

An independent website with email contact specifically for the North American Foundation is hosted in the USA.