Faculty & Staff

Since 1984, 123ce has helped thousands of food service professionals earn and maintain their certifications. Our success revolves around our students’ eagerness to learn, and the dedicated faculty and staff who support them. Our course authors and faculty members are leaders in their field of expertise, and the 123ce staff has many years of experience in distance education. 123ce’s support and development team assists in writing and editing our educational materials, as well as updating and reviewing them for accuracy. All of the staff and support and development members work under the guidance of a skilled administration that has student satisfaction and course quality as its primary goals.

ADMINISTRATION

Kevin J. McCloskey
President
Kevin J. McCloskey is president of Direct Learning Systems, Inc. (DLS), a Lehigh Valley, PA based distance educational services and publishing company, which he founded in 1999. His previous experience includes over fifteen years in senior management prior to founding DLS. He was vice chairman and managing partner of NLKK, Inc. the operator of Keystone National High School, a nationally accredited internet-based secondary school with an enrollment of over 25,000 students. In 2000 Mr. McCloskey orchestrated the sale of NLKK, Inc. to KinderCare Learning Centers, Inc., a publicly traded firm. Prior to that time, he held various senior management positions in the medical equipment field. Mr. McCloskey was primarily responsible for the marketing, sales, business development and strategic planning throughout this period. He holds a BA degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Professionally, Mr. McCloskey is active within the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), served on the Business Standards Committee (Vice Chairman), and was Chairman of the International Marketing Workshop of the DETC in 2000. Additionally, he has served on the long-range planning and membership committees of Brookside Country Club. Other professional affiliations include the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association, the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, and the Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators. He has also served on the school board of St. Thomas More School for seven years as fund raising chairman.

Paul Grumbein
General Manager
Paul graduated from Salem College with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, earning a dual major in physical education and art with a minor in health sciences and safety education. Upon graduation, Paul was employed as a high school teacher for three years, active in the school’s scholastic sports programs, theatrical productions and extracurricular activities. During this time he continued his education by enrolling as a night student in a master’s program at Millersville College, where he pursued a degree in school guidance. His career took a turn into the business world, where he elevated himself through the sales ranks to the position of district sales manager in a career spanning twenty-four years. Along the way he continued with his education, enrolling in Albright College, where he took business related courses. With the opportunity to merge his educational background and management abilities, Paul joined the staff of Direct Learning Systems in 2001 where he is responsible for the schools’ operations.

Valerie L. Behrle
Director of Education
Valerie L. Behrle, B.S., M.Ed., holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Valerie has over twenty five years’ experience in education and has worked with students of all ages, including K-12 and post-graduate. Since 1999 Valerie has been the director of education at Direct Learning Systems, where she supervises the evaluation staff for our distance-education schools. In addition, she writes and edits new programs for 123ce.

STAFF

Darlene Boyle
Financial Administrator/Human Resource Coordinator
Darlene earned her Human Resource Certification at Penn State University. She is a member of the Society of Human Resources. Darlene is also a Certified QuickBooks user. Darlene joined Direct Learning Systems in 2000.  Her professional and educational background in bookkeeping/human resources enables her to coordinate the financial needs and human resources development at Direct Learning Systems, Inc.

Moira Fleming
Technical Content Writer
Moira graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor’s of Arts and Sciences.  She arrived at Direct Learning Systems in 2012 as a writer/editor and soon took on much more responsibility. She works with the other members of the development team to construct and revise various educational, marketing and web-based material.  In addition to generating content Moira assists in the formation and maintenance of Direct Learning System’s digital resources.

Tammy Kromer
Financial Assistant/Sr. Student Services Representative
Tammy has over 20 years of experience in customer service and began at Direct Learning Systems in the fall of 2001.  As a Sr. Student Service Representative Tammy serves as a mentor to the staff.  Her responsibilities include assisting students with their financial accounts and assuring each student has their appropriate course resources.  Tammy enrolls new students and assists the General Manager and Financial administrator in matters that concern the school and students accounts. In her spare time she enjoys reading, spending time with her family and with her pets.

Cheri Pagliaro
Student Services Representative
Cheri attended Kutztown University, where she majored in art. She is an assistant in our Education Department. Cheri is responsible for grading and student services for 123ce, as well as preparing student shipments.

Stacy Feifel
Student Services Representative
A graduate of Kutztown University with a BS in telecommunications, Stacy has many years of experience as an administrative assistant and customer service manager.  Her responsibilities include responding to student queries, providing educational assistance to students, handling requests for program information, and assisting military and military spouse students obtain their educational benefits.

SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT

Tracey Vasil Biscontini
Editorial Manager
Tracey Vasil Biscontini has over fifteen years’ experience in distance education. A professional writer, editor, and college instructor, Tracey owns and manages Northeast Editing, Inc., a writing and editing service specializing in educational writing. Tracey holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Scranton and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from King’s College. She is a member of the American Association of Curriculum Development and the National Writers’ Union.

Gerold Chorba
Computer Programmer/Consultant
Gerold has over seventeen years experience as a computer programmer and consultant. He has been working with Direct Learning Systems, Inc. since 2001. Specializing in FoxPro, Gerold manages DLS’s database system as well as maintaining the Online Student Center and IT troubleshooting.

Compute Asyst, Inc.
Computer/Network Support
Founded in 1980 by Charles Myers, Compute Asyst, Inc., is a Pennsylvania-based computer consulting and service company located in the Lehigh Valley. Charles and his staff provide computer and network consulting, service, and support to Direct Learning Systems, Inc. Compute Asyst helps businesses and professional organizations of all sizes gain the most productive and cost-effective benefit from today’s computer and networking technology.

Camille G. Scarborough
Consultant/Copy Editor
Camille has been running her own writing, editing, and marketing consulting business for over five years, with many clients in the field of education. Prior to starting her own business, Camille worked as a marketing manager for retail banking programs at the American Bankers Association and was the copy manager for NRI Schools, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Deborah Silvestrini
Designer
Deborah Silvestrini has over fifteen years’ experience in desktop publishing and design on PC and MAC platforms. She owns and operates D.A.S. Computer Enterprises, a computer service specializing in desktop publishing. Deborah has designed textbooks and training materials for some of the largest educational publishers in the United States. In addition to desktop publishing, her clients rely on her for software training, computer installations, and troubleshooting.

Celia Swallow
Creative Services
Celia has over twenty years of experience in the graphic design field, and an association with Mr. McCloskey and Direct Learning Systems since 1997. She is responsible for developing and executing the creative concepts for communication projects. Her focus is to create affordable, exciting design solutions for her clients. Celia has a background in graphic design, communication and client development. Previously, art director for a leading promotional advertising agency, she currently holds the position of VP of Creative Services for CG2Direct, a direct marketing company targeting the financial industry.

Jennifer Brennan, RD, CSO, LDN
Sodexo- Oncology Dietitian, Lehigh Valley Health Network
Nutrition/Sanitation and Foodservice Management

Jennifer has worked at Lehigh Valley Health Network in the outpatient Cancer Center since 2006. In 2013 she renewed her board certification through the Commission on Dietetic Registration as a Specialist in Oncology Nutrition.

Jennifer has an undergraduate B.S. in General, Clinical and Management Nutrition from Simmons College. She completed her Dietetic Internship at the August Area Dietetic Internship program in Augusta Georgia and has been a registered dietitian since 1990. Jennifer’s experience in nutrition includes clinical trial work on the role of diet in breast cancer in Hawaii and Texas. Jennifer had been employed as a clinical dietitian in health care facilities in Hawaii and Texas before moving to the Allentown area. She has always focused on oncology as her specialty, becoming a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition in 2008.

Jennifer’s present work includes patient and staff nutrition education, development of patient nutrition education material, patient assessment, and Sodexo Dietetic Intern oncology preceptor. Jennifer is a Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Oncology Dietetic Practice Group.

Besides her nutrition work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family and friends, running, swimming and triathlon.