Brett Lief
President
blief@nchelp.org

Brett Lief is the President of the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs, Inc. (NCHELP). Prior to his appointment, Mr. Lief served as Assistant Vice President for Student Aid Policy and Regulatory Affairs for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

Before joining the NAICU staff, Mr. Lief served as the Deputy Executive Director of the New Jersey Department of Higher Education. He has worked in the student financial aid field for many years, as Deputy Assistant Chancellor for Student Assistance for the State of New Jersey, and as the Director of Tuition Aid Grant and Scholarship Program. In the latter position, he coordinated activities for the New Jersey Higher Education Assistance Authority. He also served as the Director of Financial Aid in the public and private collegiate sectors.

Mike Balogh
Federal Relations and Industry Operations Officer
mbalogh@nchelp.org

• Developing and overseeing content of the Program Operations Committee and sub-commitee web pages
• monitoring and tracking new industry initiatives and their impact to NCHELP members’ operations
• facilitating forms development and maintenance
• developing and delivering industry presentations

 He is Liaison to:

• NCHELP Program Operations Committee
• NCHELP NSLDS Workgroup
• Student Loan Servicing Alliance (SLSA)

Kevin Bradley
Controller
(Kevin is an Independent Contractor with NCHELP)

• Enrolling participants in benefit plans NCHELP and monitoring the administration of such plans
• Ensuring compliance of NCHELP benefit plans with NCHELP policies and applicable regulations and preparing benefit plan tax filings and review preparation of Form 990 by outside accountants
• Interfacing with IRS and state governments on all tax notices and tax matters and applying for state government sales tax exemption where possible and monitor exempt status in state and local jurisdictions
• Preparing monthly financial statements of NCHELP and maintaining and monitoring general ledger maintenance and bookkeeping of organization
• Monitoring accounts receivable and working with Associate Director, Membership to ensure that receivables are collected and remain current
• Assisting outside auditors in annual audit
• Preparing lobbying reports semiannually

Kristen Demaree
Communications Administrator
kdemaree@nchelp.org

• Provides administrative support for communication efforts
• Manages listserves
• Distributes NCHELP publications, including Morning Briefing
• Serves as main contact for members' information updates
• Coordinates membership directory and committee membership and nomination process

Tim Fitzgibbon
Vice President, Debt Management Services
tfitzgibbon@nchelp.org

• leading NCHELP’s financial literacy, default aversion and debt management efforts
• working with U.S. Department of Education officials to coordinate and improve national default prevention and collection efforts
• supporting the efforts of the NCHELP Chief Financial Officers and Collection Agency Caucus
• assisting with the planning and delivery of the Debt Management and Membership, Education and Training Conferences
• developing and delivering industry presentations

 He is the liaison for:

• NCHELP Debt Management Committee
• NCHELP Membership, Education and Training (MET) Committee
• Private Loan Committee 

Cressie Fraiser
Administrative Assistant/Receptionist
cfraiser@nchelp.org

• welcoming visitors to NCHELP
• answering and directing incoming phone calls
• assisting and managing everyday office duties
• responding to membership inquiries,
• assisting in planning all conventions and conferences, including coordinating on-site registration
• maintaining and updating the membership database
• handling incoming and outgoing packages

Stefanie Gramm
Meetings Manager
sgramm@nchelp.org

• all logistical aspects of NCHELP’s 30-plus meetings per year
• coordination of site selection and research, contract review
• on-site management, food and beverage selection, exhibitors and sponsors solicitation and coordination, transportation needs and special requests/accommodations  

She is the contact for:

• NCHELP Board of Directors

Karen Lanning
Vice President, Communications and Research
klanning@nchelp.org

• informing the membership about legislative, regulatory and loan community developments
• writing and editing the Morning Briefing Newsletter
• reporting on Department of Education initiatives, legislative events and general student loan news
• overseeing Web site development
• creating NCHELP and FFELP publications
• representing NCHELP and the FFELP community on communications and policy-based initiatives
• working on research projects to support NCHELP’s Reauthorization proposals
• coordinating and planning program agendas for the Spring Convention, the Fall Conference and the All-CEO Meeting

Karen is liaison to:

• NCHELP Financial Aid Professionals Committee

Chris Martin
Director of Membership Services
cmartin@nchelp.org

• working with the association’s membership and events databases
• working on accounting matters
• covering legislative issues as needed
• assisting with the management of the ESC Alternative Loan Code and Guarantor databases and the NCHELP website.

Chris is the Liaison to:

• American Council on Education
• Committee for Education Funding

Mark Putman
Chief Technology Officer
mputman@nchelp.org

• developing content and overseeing the NCHELP Web Site
• overseeing technology initiatives
• assisting with the development and implementation of electronic standards: CAM, CCI, and CommonRecord:CommonLine
• developing and delivering industry presentations

He is Liaison to:

• NCHELP Electronic Standards Committee (ESC) 
• Post-Secondary Electronic Standards Council (PESC)

Chris Raymond
Vice President, Government Relations
craymond@nchelp.org

• Coordination of NCHELP’s liaison activities with the Congress
• Assisting in efforts with federal agencies that have an interest in federal and private student loans
• Working with NCHELP members on grassroots activities
• Assisting in the development of legislative strategies
• Preparing briefing papers on legislative matters
• Managing NCHELP’s Congressional relations activities with consultants

Shelly Repp
General Counsel
shelly_repp@nchelp.org

• providing legal advice to NCHELP and handling NCHELP’s contracts
• lobbyist
• preparation of NCHELP’s Reauthorization proposals
• liaison to other industry groups
• preparing analyses of legislative, regulatory and litigation initiatives
• providing information on developments in student lending
• resource to NCHELP and members on FFELP and supplemental loan matters

 Shelly is liaison to:

• NCHELP Legal Committee

Vicki Shipley
Senior Advisor
vshipley@nchelp.org

Vicki is liaison to:

• NCHELP Committee Chairs
• NCHELP Program Regulations Committee