I am a value-building business and legal executive, with over 20 years of experience in leading strategic, operational, and financial transformations and turnarounds across various industries, including higher education, retail, technology, and e-commerce. As the COO-Corporate, EVP-Corporate Development and Affairs, and Chief Legal Officer and Secretary at Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (BNED), I oversaw all aspects of corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, legal and government affairs, compliance, human resources, and corporate communications.I have a proven track record of driving growth, innovation, and value creation for companies and their stakeholders, successfully leading teams and collaborating with management to navigate both macroeconomic and core business challenges to drive enterprise wide results. At BNED, I led the negotiations for its strategic partnership with Fanatics and Lids, the leaders in the licensed sports and emblematic merchandise category, securing a significant equity investment and a long-term omnichannel merchandising agreement (December 2020), for which I remain an executive sponsor. I also worked in collaboration with the Corporate Development team and played a leading role in the development, launch, and management of BNED's digital (web and mobile) subscription-based study and writing product, bartleby®, establishing the Digital Student Solutions reporting segment for BNED, and led the subsequent negotiations and execution of the divestiture of bartleby to Learneo, Inc. (May 2023). Finally, I, along with the BNED CEO, led the negotiation and execution of the recently announced definitive agreement with Immersion Corporation and certain of BNED’s existing shareholders and strategic partners, on the terms of new equity and refinancing transactions that will significantly strengthen the BNED’s long-term financial position and ability to deliver best-in-class services, solutions, and on campus and e-commerce retail experiences to BNED’s clients and customers (April 2024).Additionally, I have served as an advisor for financial services and human capital management companies, presently serve as board member and advisor for ACDS, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides lifetime resources and services for individuals with Down Syndrome and other developmental disabilities, and sit on the Torch Fund Committee and Parents Club Board of Chaminade High School (Mineola, NY).I hold an MBA from Long Island University (CW Post), a JD from Hofstra University, and a BA from the College of the Holy Cross.