Passionate Team Providing Educational Support for Students
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
HAROLD GROSSNICKLE
FOUNDER, Executive Director of the Board of Directors, and Director of the Sponsored Student Selection Committee
Harold brings a track record of business leadership to his role as the executive director of ASUTA Inc. and will lead our sponsored student selection process. Before launching A Step Up to Achieve, Harold served as a partner with a board of directors’ advisory firm, president of Lucent Technology Integrated Solutions (a Lucent subsidiary), managing director of a Global Crossing subsidiary company, and vice president of AT&T. He became interested in education, particularly the quality of education and equal education opportunities while serving as a member of the Watchung Hills Regional High School (Warren, NJ) Board of Education. Harold holds a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Missouri.
DIANA JONES
FOUNDING MEMBER, Director of Policy Committee
An executive in the telecommunications industry with strong supply chain credentials and an accomplished leadership track record, Diana will guide our Policy Committee and participate in selecting our final sponsored students.
SCOTT GROSSNICKLE
FOUNDING MEMBER, Director of Financial Services, and Trustee
An accountant with one of the big four accounting firms, Scott will guide our funding and scholarship awards processes, lead our Audit Committee process and participate in our Policy Committee. As a recent college graduate, a Division 1 football player, and a student‑athlete mentor, Scott will assist our sponsored students throughout our interactions with them.
NINA BERLER
FOUNDING MEMBER, Director of Support Services
Nina’s career has been focused on education, training, curriculum and content development, and student support in both corporate and private environments. In recent years, she has been involved with companies serving education providers and as a consultant and mentor to students seeking higher education opportunities. Nina will guide our overall Support Services Committee.
KEVIN DUNN
FOUNDING MEMBER, Director of Athlete Development
An accomplished college athlete with a degree in kinesiology and exercise science, Kevin founded TEST Sports Clubs 15 years ago and has grown it to include a focus on student-athlete fitness and performance improvement and training in pursuit of college scholarships and professional contracts. Kevin will support our sponsored students who are high‑performing athletes to pursue scholarships and college admissions and will be a member of our Support Services Committee.
MATT ROBERTS
FOUNDING MEMBER, Director of Athlete Marketing
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an Army football player, Matt has had a lifelong passion to support high school athletes in their pursuit of higher education opportunities via their athletic capabilities. Matt founded ProDynamix in 2003, establishing the capability of video recording athletes’ performance and developing and conducting “marketing” activities to gain access to and attention of college coaching staff. Matt will be a member of our Support Services Committee.
JOHN MCAUSLAND
FOUNDING MEMBER, General Counsel, and Board Secretary
John McAusland is an attorney in the Law Office of D. John McAusland where he has practiced since 1998. Mr. McAusland concentrates his practice on the representation of employees and unions in labor and employment issues and related litigation. Mr. McAusland also serves as the general counsel of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, Inc. He has been a member of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association Legal Protection Plan since 1998. In addition to representing unions and employees, Mr. McAusland also works on appellate matters, appearing before the New Jersey Supreme Court and Superior Court, Appellate Division.
HEATH HARDIN
FOUNDING MEMBER, Director of Communications
As founder of HVH Consulting, Heath brings a strong marketing effort to our organization. His firm will develop and host our website, and he will serve as our Director of Communications. His athletic background may also bring Heath into our efforts to promote our sponsored students to the college coaching staff.
DR. WILLIAM LIBRERA
FOUNDING MEMBER, Support Services Committee
A former educator, administrator, and superintendent in New Jersey school districts and former New Jersey Commissioner of Education, Bill will provide overall guidance and counsel to our board of directors and our executive directors. Bill will also advise on the expansion of our efforts and serve as an interface to school superintendents and for our efforts in seeking grants.