Alice Garside received her B.A. from Vassar College and her Masters of Education from Boston University. She was the Reading Supervisor for the Language Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital for over twenty years and is internationally known for her work in learning disabilities. The 1987 recipient of the Samuel T. Orton Award, Mrs. Garside is currently a reading consultant for the Carroll School in Lincoln, MA.
Dr. Hook was awarded her Ph.D. in Learning Disabilities by Northwestern University's Department of Communication Disorders, where she completed her doctoral dissertation in reading and metalinguistic awareness. A graduate of the University of Illinois, she received her M.A.T. from Harvard University in Reading and is certified in elementary education and reading. Dr. Hook has extensive expertise in language arts curriculum development and learning disabilities. She is currently Assistant Professor at the Institute for Health Professionals at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Jones received her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Arizona, as well as an M.S. degree in Education of the Deaf, and an undergraduate degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Dr. Jones is the Program Coordinator for the HILL and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Graduate Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the Institute.
Dr. Marsh received her doctorate in Education Administration from Boston University and her Sc.M. in Learning Disabilities and Behavioral Disorders from Lesley College. Dr. Marsh has over twenty years of classroom experience and is the former Education Director at the Carroll School in Lincoln, MA and at the Commonwealth School, Boston.
Ms. Weiss-Kapp is a speech-language pathologist, and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Language Laboratory in the Graduate Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is the President, CEO, and developer of the Wisnia Kapp Reading Program (WKRP), which addresses the needs of children who have language-based learning difficulties.
Isabel Wesley has an M.Ed. in Special Education from Boston University and is a Fellow of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. Isabel is currently a private educational consultant specializing in reading disabilities.
Founder, Treasurer and Chairman
Bob Lemire, the father of a child diagnosed with developmental dyslexia, founded Lexia Learning Systems in 1984. His son’s struggle with reading moved him to create a reading intervention program accessible to everyone, no matter one’s personal or financial resources. Bob kicked off his efforts by teaming up with a technology expert and developing a computer program at a time when computers were still in their infancy. Today, what began as one man’s attempt to help children with reading problems has turned into one of the nation’s most well known and respected developer of reading software programs. Bob’s primary current responsibility involves speaking directly with educators, parents and others to help them choose the right Lexia product to help others strengthen their reading and cognitive skills.
President and C.E.O.
As President and C.E.O., Nick brings to Lexia deep industry experience in both the software and educational publishing worlds. Known for his ability to apply strong general management and leadership skills with a focus on growth, Nick has successfully guided companies through successful transactions, and leveraged his skills in sales and marketing to launch numerous product lines and distribution channels. The education industry veteran began his career at Pitzer College, where he earned a BA in Psychology with a focus on early childhood development, and then continued on to earn his masters at Boston University’s School of Management. Prior to joining Lexia in 2005, Nick served as President of Educators Publishing Service, Inc. (EPS), a publisher of literacy solutions for the K-8 market. Prior to his tenure at EPS, Nick held various sales and marketing positions at Vertigo Development Group, Lotus Development Corporation, and New England Business Service. Nick is a member of the Board of the Massachusetts branch of the International Dyslexia Association.
Director of Research and Product Management
Robert McCabe has been with Lexia since May 2001. His responsibilities include: collaborating with Lexia’s principal academic consultants to design and implement rigorous studies measuring the efficacy of Lexia software, as well as, coordinating the efforts of various company departments involved in product design, development and testing. He has extensive experience working in school-based settings with teachers, technical staff, reading specialists, administrators and students. His field work has led to the collection of large data samples using scientific methods to measure the outcomes associated with Lexia software use. His observations and analysis have led to new insights into the performance of Lexia products, as well as enhanced training methods, new product features, and the development and publication of journal articles.
Mr. McCabe has a B.A. from Harvard College and a M.Ed. from the University of Kansas. He is married and has three young children all of whom use Lexia products to build reading skills, cognitive abilities, and to have fun.
Vice President
Mr. Brown has worked in the high technology industry since 1986, fulfilling a lifelong goal and joining the education sector at Lexia in 2001.
Prior to joining Lexia, Joel was the Vice President of International Sales at Terra Lycos, developing the Internet portal across four continents, much as he now helps develop the use of Lexia in schools around the world. In addition, he has worked at Boston.com and at Verizon, opening the telecom company's first Polish office in Warsaw.
He has been a featured speaker at industry conferences including Closing the Gap, the New York Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and numerous Internet events.
Joel is an avid hockey fan and player, and lives in Massachusetts with his wife Colleen, their two children, and a dog.
Chief Financial Officer
Paul began his career on Wall Street, with operations and research positions at PaineWebber and Merrill Lynch. With a B.A. degree in English from Vassar College, an M.B.A. degree from Boston University, and a Master of Science degree in Accounting from Northeastern, Paul is responsible for directing Lexia's finance, accounting, and human resources functions. Before joining Lexia in 2001, he held financial management roles at several Boston-area technology startup companies, including Real World Interface, which later merged with iRobot Corporation.
Marketing Director
Chris oversees Lexia’s communication to the marketplace as well as lead generation initiatives. She brings a blend of software marketing expertise as well as a background in education. Chris has 20 years of diverse marketing experience in the high-tech industry at companies including Compaq Computer, Ascential Software, and Progress Software. While at Compaq she earned the Services Headquarters Excellence Award for her work developing innovative sales training initiatives including a 4-day interactive training session and a multi-phase, incentive-based “no-travel” training program.
Chris holds a B.A. degree from Tufts University in cognitive psychology and education, and an MBA degree from Simmons School of Management. Prior to graduate school, Chris spent four years teaching grades 3 and 4 at a public alternative school in Salem, MA.
