AutismPro's People
The AutismPro Team is made up of a dedicated group of educators, software programmers, trainers, and marketers. The Team is committed to helping those professionals who work with children with autism make a difference.
Management Team
Kevin Custer
Chief Executive Officer
Kevin Custer offers more than 20 years of experience in launching and growing successful education and technology companies. Custer is a founding principal of Arc Capital Development, a private equity and advisory firm that invests in and operates companies that serve school districts, educators, students and parents. Custer's companies have helped more than 6,000 school districts in North America successfully adopt technology. Combined, the companies serve more than 10 million students and teachers online each week.
Currently, Custer is the CEO of AutismPro, which helps educators improve outcomes for students with autism. In 2009 he participated in Colorado's Autism Commission, which developed the state's 10-year strategic plan for autism. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Autism Society of Colorado, along with assisting the Autism Society of America on the Delegate Assembly Task Force. As a nationally recognized speaker, Custer has presented to many state and national associations, including CASE, ASBO and CEC.
Custer received a bachelor's of science in computer information science and a bachelor's of science in marketing from the University of Northern Colorado. He has served as the chairman of the education section of the Software and Information Industry Association, which helps to set public policy as it relates to education technology for schools. Custer volunteers with the National Sports Center for the Disabled, serving as a ski instructor for developmentally and physically disabled children and adults.
Visit Kevin Custer's Blog
Karina LeBlanc
Vice President
Karina supervises business development, marketing and human resources, with a focus on developing relationships with clients. As director of product management at Mathis Instruments, she developed key external partnerships and customer relationships in bringing new online technology to the market. As a brand manager at Procter & Gamble, Karina managed sales and marketing in the feminine care market and was successful in reversing share decline and growing sales volume.
Don Spencer
Director of Technology
Don has over 20 years experience as a software developer and senior manager in both the private and public sectors. As the Director of Technology, Don is responsible for establishing the company's technical vision and leading all aspects of the company's technology development. An experienced developer, software architect and project manager, Don was a Division Manager for Caris Geomatics, a global provider of geographic information systems software. He has managed the successful delivery of projects in Asia, Latin America, and Europe.
Brian Neill
Chairman
Brian Neill is also chairman of Canadian Business Television (BTV+) and Ciel Satellite Holdings Inc. He founded and managed a communications company, Star Choice (which was named fastest growing company in Canada by Canadian Business Magazine). At Star Choice, Brian developed significant strategic partnering initiatives with major corporations such as Hughes Electronics Corporation, Motorola Inc., Shaw Communications Inc. and Radio Shack.
Cynthia Howroyd, M.Sc., Human Communication Disorders, SLP
Founder
Before founding Virtual Expert Clinics, Cynthia Howroyd was a speech language pathologist working with children with autism and the president of the Speech and Learning Institute. From this early experience in the field, she draws her inspiration and drive to make VEC the world's leading developer of educational supports for special needs children. Cynthia also contributed to the design of the software.
Visit Cynthia Howroyd's Blog
Leise Roberts
Vice President Marketing
Leise Roberts' career includes an initial five years as an elementary school teacher, followed by more than 20 years of marketing, sales and operations primarily in education and healthcare industries. Previously, Ms. Roberts was Vice President of Marketing for Jones International, the parent company to an international online university and to a provider of corporate training programs.
Ms. Roberts' work in the education field includes her role as Director of Marketing for Pearson Education's first web-based edutainment product. Before Pearson, Ms. Roberts was Director of Marketing for LOGAL Software, an Israeli-based educational software company which was one of the first to market and deliver science simulation-based software over the Internet. Ms. Roberts also sold networked hardware, software and training services into New England schools for Jostens Learning.
Ms. Roberts earned a B.A in English from Kenyon College. She and her husband are writing a book to help parents of developmentally-disabled children seek the support that's available to them during their child's K-12 academic experience and the assisted living supports once their child becomes an adult.
