ACHIEVE Transfer Student Success Conference

Manny is the Founder and CEO of EdVisorly, an AI enabled platform connecting community college students with 4-year universities to improve transfer success and degree completion. As a first-generation college student, Manny attended the United States Air Force Academy from 2008-2012, where he was also an accomplished division-1 athlete. Upon graduating, Manny was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force, where he spent 8 years active duty, including a 7 month deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. As a technical program manager, Manny developed and launched satellite systems and software for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Leveraging his military experiences as a technical program leader, he founded EdVisorly while in graduate school at University of California Berkeley. EdVisorly is a mobile platform revolutionizing the student experience from community college through 4-year bachelor’s degree completion by providing clear, accessible, and achievable transfer pathways.

In 2023, EdVisorly was selected to participate in EY’s exclusive Entrepreneur Access Network. In 2024, EdVisorly was one of 20 companies across 4 continents invited to participate in Google’s 2024 Founders Fund Program. EdVisorly is partnered with Lumina Foundation, ECMC Foundation, Strada Education Foundation, Jobs For the Future, and is a beneficiary of the Aspen Institute's American Talent Initiative Grant, the Duke Energy Moonshot for Equity Grant.

Manny is on to the Board of Directors for Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2) and an advisor to various Silicon Valley tech startups.

WEBSITE - www.edvisorly.com

SCHEDULED TO SPEAK - Wednesday - March 5 - Plenary Session 1 - 1:15 PM

Dr. Matt Newlin is the founder and principal of Matt Newlin Consulting. He is a proud first-generation student from a low-income, working class family. Dr. Newlin has worked in higher education for over 16 years advocating for change and equity-focused student support in postsecondary institutions. He has served in leadership roles at Washington University in St. Louis and College Advising Corps, and has provided coaching and training to colleges and universities across the country. Additionally, he is a doctoral advisor in the School of Business & Education at Gwynedd Mercy University and the creator/host/producer of the Rural College Student Experience podcast.

Dr. Newlin graduated from the University of Missouri - Columbia with two bachelor’s degrees (Communication and English). He earned his Master’s of Education in Higher Education from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. He holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Maryville University where he researched barriers to change and innovation in elite higher education institutions.

In addition to his professional passions, he is obsessed with the two rescue dogs - Taggart and Sammy Jankis - he and his wife, Lisa, adopted from local shelters. If he isn’t reading science fiction or non-fiction titles, he is re-bingeing TV comedies (“Schitt’s Creek” and “Brooklyn 99” are favorites) or trying to convince others that Christopher Nolan is the greatest living filmmaker. He lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

WEBSITE - www.mattnewlinconsulting.com

SCHEDULED TO SPEAK - Wednesday - March 6 - Plenary Session 3 - 9:15 AM

Dr. Omega W. Wilson is a respected leadership expert, speaker, trainer, coach and author whose philosophy is simple: “Lead By Example”. As a premier keynote speaker and motivational speaker, Dr. Omega Wilson is a dynamic personality and sought-after resource in the field of education and in business and professional circles for Fortune 500 companies, small business owners, non-profit and community leaders from all sectors of society.

Dr. Omega W. Wilson is the Founder & CEO of Innovative Strategies Consulting, LLC where she serves as the Senior Leadership Development Coach. As a former teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of High School Education and Vice President of Operations for a dropout recovery program, Dr. Wilson’s proven track record of success speaks for itself.

As a John Maxwell certified coach, trainer and speaker, Dr. Wilson’s company provides coaching to school divisions, teachers, administrators, 1:1 life coaching and courses for aspiring administrators and existing administrators. She and her team inspire positive life transformation and help others achieve their highest vision and goals, both personally and professionally.

For several years, Dr. Wilson’s coaching programs and speaking engagements have helped people:

• Land their dream jobs
• Speak with confidence
• Impact others while building leadership capacity
• Become better leaders while navigating on their administrative journey
• Navigate setbacks and disappointments in a way that makes life better
• Become happier while leading through change and adversity

Dr. Wilson has authored 3 books: “Spiritual Nutrition: From Alpha to Omega”, “Tips for Aspiring Administrators”, “Lead By Example: A 90 Day Journal for Leaders” and “Influence: The Art of Leadership”. Wilson’s company helps people, worldwide, create a leadership legacy within their own spheres of influence.

Dr. Omega has served as the Commencement speaker for Bryant & Stratton College (2020 & 2022) & South University (2020). She has appeared on CNN, NBC, ABC and CBS and has been featured in articles in The Richmond Times Dispatch, The Free Press and The Progress Index. Dr. Omega has also been featured in Forbes Magazine.

Dr. Omega W. Wilson is the proud of mother of two children, Ann Marie and Trey and one fur baby, Charlie Wilson.

WEBSITE - www.dromegawilson.com

SCHEDULED TO SPEAK - Wednesday - March 6 - Plenary Session 4 - 29:15 PM