Diane Kramer, CEO, PeakSkills Learning Systems: In 1992, Dr. Kramer co-founded PeakSkills Learning Systems (formerly MultiMedia Associates) to develop custom eLearning programs. PeakSkills Learning Systems went on to win two major Long Island LISA awards for software development, nine R&D awards from KeySpan Energy (formerly Long Island Lighting Company), a National Library Association Award and Curriculum Developers’ Software Award. During this time, Dr. Kramer led and managed teams of instructional designers, artists and programmers fulfilling custom eLearning contracts for PeakSkills. Her duties also included application programming in the early years, and the conceptual design of all eLearning programs using ‘best learning practices’ from the fields of Cognitive and Educational Psychology, NLP and Accelerated Learning. Clients included: KeySpan Energy, Con Edison, The World Health Organization, San Francisco Airport, Santa Clara Public Health, GE, Barnes and Noble, Sunglass Hut and more.

In 2002, Dr. Kramer assembled a team of learning specialists and technologists to develop a revolutionary new eLearning strategic and eLearning instructional design method that would allow trainers, disenfranchised from the eLearning industry, to develop breakthrough courseware for clients or their own corporations. Dr. Kramer expects to continue holding the PeakSkills vision, leading the company and designing transformative learning experiences for PeakSkills channel partners and clients.

Diane Kramer, born on Long Island, NY, has lived there her whole life. She currently resides in Eatons Neck, NY. At 59, she is married to Fredrick Klarer, Esq., founder of the Klarer Law Firm and corporate counsel for PeakSkills Learning Systems.

In college at New York University, Diane majored in psychology and learning, and graduated magna cum laude in 1966. She then entered the NYU Graduate Psychology Department where she completed her Masters and Ph.D. Her primary interest as a cognitive psychologist was in how the brain/mind system works during learning and change, including predictive mathematical models of the process. She graduated Magna Cum Laude having won NYU’s prestigious Founder’s Day Award.

Upon completion of graduate school, Dr. Kramer took a job as Professor of Psychology at Nassau Community College where she taught undergraduates using active learning methods. In the 70s and 80s, she continued her interests in how learning and change happens by getting post-doctoral certificates in Organizational Development, Family Systems, Psycho-Analytic Psychology and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. During this time she applied her expertise in two consulting companies, Lucid Learning Systems and Kramer Associates. In Lucid Learning Systems, she managed a team of 5 designer/trainers who developed programs for the corporate and educational markets. In Kramer Associates, she managed a team of consultants who went into high tech companies with ‘best management practices’. Meanwhile she began teaching Organizational Development at Nassau and went on to become the co-founder of Nassau’s Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning where she managed a staff who trained 650 teachers in best practices of classroom teaching and learning.

In 1990-1992, Dr. Kramer founded the Center for Practical Solutions, a business development center for training Long Island Defense Engineers to become entrepreneurs. Having secured a grant from the Federal Department of Labor for $1,000,000 by getting the support of all Long Island business leaders, congressmen and NY Senators, Dr. Kramer went on to manage a team of 23 business developers who worked with 383 defense engineers over two years to develop 83 businesses that began the multimedia industry on Long Island. Dr. Kramer used ‘best learning practices’ in organizing the Center’s curriculum, developing a process for teaming engineers with each other as business partners, and managing an applied program for turning the engineers’ new learnings into new businesses.

Richard Close, Vice President of Marketing & Sales, PeakSkills Learning Systems Richard Close provides 16 years of branding, marketing and business development experience in the training and eLearning business. As a senior consultant he has developed aggressive sales and marketing programs for companies such as: Sun Microsystems, American Management Association, ThoughtWare Technologies, Mentergy, Graduate School USDA, TechRepublic, Michigan Virtual University, LeadingWay, Global Learning Systems Windows NT Magazine, Catapult/IBM Leaning Services, International Data Corporation, Interliant Education Services, University of Phoenix, Oracle, NETLAN Technology Center, Powersoft/Sybase and Global Knowledge Network (Digital Learning Services), Lotus Development, Microsoft and Symantec. Corporate experience has been with MCI International, GE and Keane.

Richard has been a key player in the launching or several eLearning companies and Technology Centers in New York. He was Board member of Association of Technical Education Centers during the beginning development of the Novell and Microsoft Education channel programs. He is published as an industry analyst, and serves often as a guest speaker.

Fredrick Klarer, Esq., Corporate Counsel, PeakSkills Learning Systems
Fredrick Klarer co-founded PeakSkills Learning Systems in 1992 and served as its main technology officer for the next ten years. At that point, he returned to the practice of law while remaining as PeakSkills Learning Systems’ legal counsel and technology advisor.

Mr. Klarer attended Harvard College and Harvard Law School while simultaneously developing his expertise in technology. After graduating from Harvard Law and before co-founding PeakSkills Learning Systems in 1992, Mr. Klarer worked in a number of major law firms in Manhattan, specializing in high technology and intellectual property law. He also served as technology advisor to these firms.

Grant Larimer, Chief Internet Architect, PeakSkills Learning Systems
Grant Larimer joined PeakSkills Learning Systems as Chief Internet Architect and Director of Programming in the Fall of 2002. He has managed and been responsible for the architecture and programming of the PeakSkills eLearning Platform.

Prior to joining PeakSkills, Mr. Larimer had been responsible for strategy, architecture, development and implementation of leading edge information technology including Internet, intranet, wireless and voice solutions. Grant has developed ecommerce strategies and user-centered architectures, focusing on increased revenue and customer retention, as well as designing processes and implementing technology that reduces organizational costs.

During his 10 years in the Internet industry, Grant has worked with numerous Global 1000 companies implementing information technology solutions. He developed eLearning applications for the University of Utah, developed and implemented intranet based project management and reporting tools for Novell, guided interface development for the MasterCard consumer site and developed a document management intranet for Japan Tobacco International. Prior to his work in civilian industry, Grant served in the U.S. military for eight years where he spearheaded numerous information technology initiatives including implementing network technologies and developing Database Management Systems.

Rachel Hazan, Director of Client Projects, PeakSkills Learning Systems
Rachel Hazan joined PeakSkills Learning Systems in 1998 as front-end programmer, graphic designer and customer service manager. When the PeakSkills eLearning Platform was being built, Ms. Hazan was responsible for all HTML page development and page layout, front end programming and graphic design (based on original designs from Tony Halpin who does work for the Olympics). Currently, Ms Hazan has added eLearning content development to her responsibilities. Her ability in dealing with customer issues and her attention to detail has gotten tremendous positive feedback from PeakSkills clients over the years.