Preparing Students for Success

Zach Wagner brings a decade of experience leading product strategy and development for consumer and business-to-business platforms in the education technology industry, most recently serving as senior vice president of Product Strategy and Operations for EVERFI.

His career path has long been shaped by his passion to change education for the better. Zach began his career as a full-time AmeriCorps volunteer in a Title 1 school in Philadelphia, and saw first-hand the effects of the opportunity gap that exists in communities across the country.

Zach regularly serves as an advisor to startups on operations, early revenue generation and product vision and strategy. He is a featured speaker for the Product School, a mentor for New Chip Accelerator, and continues to volunteer with City Year, an organization he served during his time as an AmeriCorp volunteer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and a master’s degree in Technology. Zach currently resides in Kensington, Maryland, with his wife Lindsay and their son Cole.

Gregory is responsible for the implementation, management, and execution of all financial activities for StraighterLine. This includes business planning, budgeting, forecasting, overseeing human resources, and maintaining investor relations and negotiations. He works with each member of the leadership team to help them successfully execute short- and long-term strategies.

Gregory was attracted to StraighterLine by the organization’s mission-driven atmosphere and because the company offered him the opportunity to significantly impact students’ lives by helping them achieve their dream of earning a college degree.

Gregory’s professional background includes senior and executive leadership roles at several business advisory and private equity firms, including Ernst & Young, American Capital, Cannon Capital, and Riveron. Gregory received his B.S. and Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Mel leads academic operations across our education ecosystem spanning Early Childhood and Higher Education. She oversees academic strategy and quality across three distinct brands, ensuring we deliver on our promise to make quality education more accessible, flexible, and achievable for all learners.

With a track record of successfully leading technology and data teams for consumer platforms for more than 20 years, Dave joined StraighterLine as Chief Technology Officer in 2023.

Gardner’s career with high-growth education technology companies dates back more than a decade to when he joined his first edtech startup. Prior to joining StraighterLine, he served as the vice president of technology at General Assembly, the global education company that offers bootcamps, digital upskilling, apprenticeships, and other career onramps into in-demand jobs and fields like web development, UX/UI, data and design. Earlier in his career, Gardner was the chief technology officer at Legends of Learning, the world's largest developer of game-based learning experiences for K-12 students. In this role, he led a diverse team and played a vital part in the creation of a comprehensive digital learning platform.  

Gardner holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Duke University and completed graduate studies in computer science and artificial intelligence at George Mason University. Gardner is an active volunteer and mentor in the National Capital Region technology and startup community as a member of the DC CTO Club. He currently resides in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife Christina and their three children.