Executive Team

James Chellis – Chief Executive Officer

James Chellis is a bestselling educator, author, editor, and publisher. James founded Comcourse in 1994 as EdgeTek Computer Education. Since that time, millions of students have read Comcourse’s bestselling Sybex MCSE and CCNA Study Guides. With more than 6,000,000 in print, several titles in this series have been worldwide #1 bestsellers.

Thousands of students have completed James’s classroom trainings, watched his educational videos, and used his training software. James has provided training to dozens of Fortune 500 corporations, and many universities and governmental organizations.

Starting in 1995, in conjunction with Cyberstate University, James presented one of the first online IT certification trainings, and the first live elabs, to more than 2,000 sudents. Since that time, James has continued to contribute to the development of the frontiers of online learning, and elearning communities. James earned his degree in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and has completed graduate work in Writing and Communication.

Matt Sheltz – Chief Technology Officer

Matt has more than a decade of experience writing bestselling training books and developing educational technologies. Matt has co-authored more than a dozen IT certification books, and managed teams of developers in the production of more than a dozen software products. Matt was the lead developer on The EdgeTest software, licensed to Sybex Inc. for use in more than 3,000,000 technical certification exam preparation study guides.

Matt has developed advanced technologies related to the Comcourse Learning Management System, including student tracking and reporting functionality. Matt recently led and completed development on an advanced software simulation tool, produced by a team of five developers over a period of one year. This software simulates the Windows Server 2003 environment, providing necessary hands-on experience to students.

Matt earned his degree in 1998 in Digital Media from the University of California, Santa Cruz, helping forge the program as the very first graduate in the first year of the program.

Fiachra O'Sullivan – VP, Business Development

Fiachra brings over ten years of sales and business development experience to Comcourse.  Upon emigrating from Ireland in 1994, Fiachra began his career as a Financial Consultant with Merrill Lynch in San Francisco.  As Vice President of Business Development for AST StockPlan Fiachra designed and implemented an aggressive sales campaign resulting in AST’s eventual acquisition by Smith Barney.

While at Smith Barney Fiachra worked as a Corporate Client Group Director and effectively developed new business relationships for the firm with companies such as Google, MGM Mirage and ChevronTexaco.  

Fiachra attained his BA and MA in Economics from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in 1994 and in 2004 completed a year long residential study program at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California.

Jon Broenen - Managing Director of Programs

Jon first established his professional roots as a freelance communications specialist throughout the 90's - catering primarily to venture capital portfolio software startups in their seed phase. In 2001, he received licensing from the National Association of Securities Dealers to help develop Morgan Stanley's deferred compensation business. He partnered with one of the developers of the Java programming language to assist progressive technology startups in Hyderabad, India. During this time, he also lead a technology incubator that supported companies headed by young, urban-based visionaries in Los Angeles.

Jon was later recruited by the top online trading site in the financial services industry to successfully develop and coordinate all communications and service programs for their new institutional division. Jon went on to establish and implement delivery and communications best-practices for the most trusted third-party software development research firm who provides real-time intelligence to developers of the latest technologies from Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo, Amazon, IBM, Motorola, and the Eclipse Foundation.

Jon is from Silicon Valley, California and has a combined BA in Communications and Digital Media from Humboldt State University.

Rebecca Picker - Director of Student Success

Rebecca Picker's career as an organizational director spans nearly a decade. As Program Manager and Lead Facilitator for the innovative Mariposa's Art not-for-profit in Santa Cruz, California, Rebecca helped to institute change and provided effective leadership which culminated in the dramatic expansion of the organization's fundraising campaigns and overall financial and organizational success, including a 400% increase in the organization's donor base. Under Rebecca's leadership, Mariposa's Art student body grew by more than 150% while providing after-school art and leadership development programs to over 1,600 at-risk youth per year by the end of her tenure. While managing a sizeable staff, Rebecca enabled this small business to become the community cornerstone that it is today.

Rebecca's extensive work as an artist and teacher allowed her to develop vital creative problem solving skills and a keen sensitivity to the needs of students struggling with challenges at home, with their peers and day-to-day living. She has worked with a variety of age groups and populations from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Rebecca feels passionately about giving service where there is a need and enjoys being a leader and mentor.

Rebecca earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2001 in Fine Art at the University of California at Santa Cruz.