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The IPC Education Foundation’s New Column
January 27, 2020 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The IPC Education Foundation’s new column with I-Connect007 will feature Charlene Gunter du Plessis, Aaron Birney, and Corey Lynn. These IPC Education Foundation members will share updates on programs and activities here.
Find out more about the authors below and read "Foundations of the Future" in the SMT007 Week newsletter. Subscribe today!
Charlene Gunter du Plessis
Charlene joined IPC in November 2018 as director of strategic partnerships and programs and transitioned into the leadership role of the IPC Education Foundation in December 2019. She is responsible for the strategic direction of the Foundation and works with industry member partners, academic institutions, and Career Technical Education instructors and teachers to develop and execute programmatic initiatives for the IPC Education Foundation.
Before joining IPC, Charlene worked at a non-profit for more than 12 years with a focus on cultivating and stewarding existing and new corporate partnerships, building relationships with key donors through corporate fundraising efforts, managing foundation and scholarship funding, and business development of membership-driven organizations. She has experience in fundraising and partnership development within the corporate, government, non-profit, and higher education spheres on a national and international level.
Charlene also has an MPhil in entrepreneurship and small business management, two bachelor degrees in professional and technical writing and journalism from the University of Pretoria, and a post-graduate certificate in advanced business communications from the University of South Africa. In her spare time, she explores the world and travels with her husband and their family members. Charlene has visited 25 U.S. states and 28 countries and enjoys cooking, photography, and interior design.
Aaron Birney
As IPC’s education program manager, Aaron Birney is responsible for the launch, management, and growth of IPC Student Chapters, IPC’s STEM activities, and other education programs. Birney has three years of experience launching and developing student organizations at the collegiate level for Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. His roles consisted of prospecting, recruitment, on-boarding, and chapter maintenance.
Before working in student development, Birney worked in marketing for two startup companies in Toledo, Ohio. Birney led the marketing and website development for the first year of Peacock Social’s existence, previously housed in the LaunchPad Incubator at the University of Toledo. After this, he worked as the marketing manager for Arista Home Care, a home healthcare company in Northwest Ohio. Birney resides in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He enjoys playing tennis, golf, and hockey, and is an avid Minnesota sports fan.
Corey Lynn
Corey Lynn works as a marketing manager for the IPC Education Foundation. As a life-long learner and marketer, Corey has researched, written, and promoted content in the education and electronics industries.
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