Every child deserves a great start
At Waterford, we make tools that grow the reach and impact of great teachers. We encourage and contribute to research around integrating technology and early learning. We use technology to personalize each child's learning experience. Because every child deserves a great start.
Nonprofit Organization
As a nonprofit, we invest more time and resources into quality curriculum, research, and excellent service.
Research-Driven Results
We continually push forward in technology, but never lose sight of our commitment to research-based practice and evaluation–all with the ultimate goal of real student growth.
Personalized Learning
Our adaptive curriculum was the first of its kind, launching the use of technology as a means to give each child a uniquely personalized learning experience. Today, our curriculum leads the industry with its breadth and depth of activities.
Leadership
Benjamin Heuston, PhD
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Benjamin Heuston, PhD
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
As a leader in educational technology over the last two decades, Edward “Benjamin"Heuston has continued the legacy started by his father Dusty. Benjamin is an active speaker, including presentations at ASU + GSV Summit, NAEYC Annual Conference, TEDx, and the Early Education and Technology for Children Conference. He is also a member of several boards and associations, including the SIIA Education Board, the Society for Scientific Study of Reading, and the International Gold Key Honour Society, as well as a mentor for Utah Entrepreneurship Challenge. Benjamin has bachelor’s degrees in biology and English from Swarthmore College and a master’s and doctorate in psychology from Brigham Young University. He resides in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife and five children.
Andy Myers
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Andy Myers
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Andy rejoined Waterford as Chief Operating Officer in June 2016—nearly 21 years after starting his career in education technology sales at the nonprofit. After that first role, Andy filled several leadership positions in sales and marketing before becoming COO for Pearson's digital learning business unit and later Senior VP of Digital Product Development for Pearson's U.S. K-12 curriculum division. More recently, Andy served as Chief Executive Officer at Scientific Learning and as Chief Strategy Officer at Renaissance. Andy holds an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley and earned his bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Utah. Andy and his wife Heidi have four children—one each in elementary, middle, high school and college—and they concurrently cheer for the Utah Utes football team and the BYU marching band, for which their oldest daughter plays clarinet.
Tom Ness
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Tom Ness
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Tom brings 20-plus years of executive and financial leadership experience to Waterford. Tom has worked as a consultant advising businesses on best practices in accounting and management. Additionally, he has helped a variety of startups, primarily in technology, mature from early stage companies to established businesses, typically serving as a vice president of finance and controller. Of the three technology companies Tom has worked with, one had a successful IPO raising $42.3 million and was eventually acquired for $9.3 billion, and the other two were acquired for a total value of $497 million. Tom is a graduate of the University of the Pacific with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and also has a bachelor’s in information systems from Illinois State University with a summa cum laude distinction. Tom resides in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife and son.
Claudia Miner, PhD
VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT
Claudia Miner, PhD
VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT
Claudia has more than 25 years experience in non-constituent-based institutional advancement, focusing on all aspects of fundraising, public relations, and marketing. Prior to coming to Waterford, Claudia was Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the Desert Research Institute and Director of Development for The National Judicial College. At Waterford, Claudia’s responsibilities include prospect identification, grant writing, foundation and corporate initiatives, and government relations. Her work has been invaluable in extending Waterford’s reach to more children, including the award-winning UPSTART kindergarten readiness program. Claudia received her undergraduate degree from Colgate University, her master’s degree from the College of William and Mary, and her doctorate from Washington State University.
Anne Brown
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Anne Brown
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Anne has spent her career engaged in advancing the design and implementation of digital personalized learning. Her experience as a teacher in low-income, high-risk schools prompted her desire to improve education for all learners, regardless of their circumstances. After accepting a position with Pearson Education, focusing on early literacy with Waterford Early Learning, Anne began to focus on the business end of education, gaining expertise in educational products, funding, and curriculum. Over time, her skills led her to the emerging world of virtual, blended, and online learning. Anne has become a national leader in personalized learning working with the AASA The School Superintendents Association to build the first Superintendent’s Cohort and Certification in Personalized Learning, and recently brought her experience back to Waterford as Vice President of Education and Business Development.
Mike Hight
VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTS
Mike Hight
VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTS
As VP of Product, Mike is responsible for Waterford's product vision and software development. He joined Waterford from Known Factors where he was the Chief Data Officer. Mike has 15+ years of experience building products and analytic platforms in healthcare, politics, e-commerce and education. His deep understanding of data and analytics has allowed him to repeatedly solve seemingly intractable problems. Mike holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Neumont University and a Master's degree in information systems from Boston University. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, a middle school science teacher, and three children; one of their favorite family activities is taking road trips together through national parks.
Ann Treacy
VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND FACILITIES
Ann Treacy
VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND FACILITIES
Ann has more than 20 years experience leading global education initiatives. As the Vice President of HR, she is responsible for human resource policies for Waterford’s U.S. and international offices in Romania, Taiwan, and India. A former resident of many cities east of the Mississippi, Ann attended Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland before making the move out west to Utah. She is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the American Management Association (AMA).
Board of Trustees
A. Scott Anderson
chairman, president and ceo, zions bank
Dusty Heuston
chairman founder emeritus
Benjamin Heuston
president and ceo, waterford institute
Nancy Heuston
emeritus head, waterford school
Ann Christensen
president, christensen institute
James Holbrook
professor, college of law, University of Utah
Todd Cranney
partner, riverwood strategies
Allison Gushee Molkenthin
managing director, bentley associates
Lawrence W. Leighton
emeritus member
Priscilla Winn-Barlow
emeritus member
Steve Owen
emeritus member
Benjamin V. Lambert
emeritus member
Ed Rover
emeritus member
Interested in joining our team? View our current opportunities.
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