leadership
Executive Management
G. Thomas Ahern
CEO, Capstone and Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Tom joined Capstone and its parent company, Coughlan Companies, Inc., in 2007. He is responsible for the overall vision, strategy, and direction of the publishing and stone companies. Prior to joining Coughlan Companies, Tom served as CEO of Swiftknowledge, Inc. and was Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for PLATO Learning, Inc., (TUTR; NASDAQ). He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Peoples Publishing. Tom earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from Northwestern University, Evanston.
William R. Rouse
COO and CFO, Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Bill provides direction in operations and finance for Coughlan Companies, comprised of Capstone and Mankato Kasota Stone. Before joining Coughlan Companies in 2008, Bill served as the Vice President and General Manager of Anchor Block Company and the Holmberg Company, and as President of Cargill’s Seed Division. Bill has a B.A. in Political Science from Northwest Missouri State University, Marysville.
Matthew A. Keller
President, Capstone Nonfiction
Before joining Capstone in 2002, Matt served as Vice President of Marketing for AGS, a curriculum and assessment publisher for special needs children. Matt brings more than 20 years experience in the publishing industry to his role as president of Capstone Nonfiction. Matt holds a B.A. in English and Business from St. John's University, Collegeville.
Todd R. Brekhus
President, Capstone Digital Solutions
Before joining Capstone, Todd held a variety of executive positions, including Vice President and CMO of PLATO Learning, President and COO of Learning Elements, and Education Program Director for MCI WorldCom, where he helped build and implement the Marco Polo program. Todd also spent eight years in education as a teacher, department chair, and Technology Director and currently serves on the Board of the Educational Division of The Software Information Industry Association. A graduate of Concordia College, Todd completed graduate studies at John Hopkins University.
Miles E. Stevens-Hoare
Managing Director, Heinemann-Raintree, Raintree
As the Managing Director of Capstone’s Heinemann-Raintree division, Miles leads the publisher’s U.K. and U.S. business. Before joining Capstone in 2009, Miles was the Managing Director of Scholastic Book Clubs and Fairs. Miles has extensive experience across a range of other publishing formats having lead Panini in the U.K. and worked for DeAgostini and EMAP.
Lori J. Benton
General Manager/Publisher, Capstone Fiction
Lori joined Capstone in 2010 and brings more than 25 years of children’s book experience, primarily in trade book publishing. She was most recently Vice President, Publisher of the Children’s Books Division for Harcourt Trade Publishers. In addition to history and political science studies at the University of Arizona and Boise State University, Lori has completed executive education programs at Stanford University Graduate Business School and University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. She is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors for Every Child a Reader, a literacy foundation. Lori was Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Book Council from September 2003 to September 2005, and has served on the steering committee for Texas Women’s University School of Library Sciences and the board of directors for the Mid-South Children’s Booksellers Association.
Senior Management
Eric S. Fitzgerald
Vice President of Direct Sales, Capstone
With 16 years of sales experience, Eric is responsible for the internal and external publishing company sales representatives. Prior to joining Capstone in 2001, Eric owned Fitzgerald Library Resources and served as National Sales Manager at Sagebrush Corporation.
Lisa J. Hanson
Director of Human Resources, Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Lisa brings more than 12 years of experience in the human resources field to her role as Director of Human Resources. Before joining Capstone, she served as Director of Human Resources for Midwest Wireless/Alltel. Lisa earned a B.S. in Industrial Psychology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and an M.A. in Organizational Management from Concordia University, St. Paul, and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by the Human Resource Certification Institute.
Stephen A. Neir
Director of Finance of Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Steve joined Coughlan Companies, Inc., in 1990 and is responsible for the accounting, tax, banking, and insurance portions of the business. Steve has more than 20 years of finance experience, serving as Controller at Shari Candies and as the Office Manager at Lagers. Steve holds an Associates degree in Accounting from Mankato Commercial College, Mankato.
Gail S. Beer
Vice President of Customer Relations & Fulfillment, Capstone
Gail is responsible for Capstone’s distribution center, customer service, purchasing, and bids and contracts area. Before joining Capstone in 1997, Gail managed the customer service department at Coloplast. Gail attended Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Valorie L. Klemz
Vice President of Marketing, Capstone
Val drives the marketing strategies to support Capstone‘s goal to be the most valued business partner for educators. She joined Capstone in October 2003, with 20 years experience leading customer service and marketing divisions for the nation’s foremost legal publisher. Val has an MBA from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, and a BA in French.
Crista L. Kippes
Director of Information Technology, Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Crista joined Coughlan Companies, Inc., in 2009 and brings more than 20 years of technology leadership experience. Her varied career includes directing software development teams at C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., working as a performance management consultant, and working with an international community of scientists and educators at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research and National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder. Crista received a B.A. in Political Science from Carleton College, Northfield.
Board of Directors
Robert J. Coughlan
Owner and Principal, Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Board Member: 1992
Bob, with his brother Jim, are the fourth-generation of Coughlans leading the diversified Coughlan Companies, Inc. As the family-owned company expanded with stone, banking, land development holdings and publishing, it developed centralized management and administrative services to serve its two operating companies: Capstone and Mankato Kasota Stone. Before Bob’s tenure on the Board, he served in a variety of executive leadership positions in the manufacturing and publishing industries. Currently, Bob is a Board member for the Association of Educational Publishers, Mankato Area United Way, Greater Mankato Early Learning Initiative and enjoys being involved in CEO peer to peer roundtables. Bob graduated from Gonzaga University, Spokane, with a B.A. in History.
James P. Coughlan
Owner and Principal, Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Board Member: 1992
In 1983, Jim and his brother Bob became the fourth-generation owners of the Coughlan Stone Quarry. Today, Coughlan Companies, Inc. is comprised of Capstone and Mankato Kasota Stone and provides centralized management and administrative services to both businesses under Jim and Bob’s, direction. Jim managed the development of the stone business and expanded the publishing imprints to include fiction under the Stone Arch Books imprint. Jim studied Agricultural Economics at Gonzaga University, Spokane, and the University of Minnesota, St. Paul.
Dennis E. Miller
Board Member: 2008
Dennis is a former President and CEO of Midwest Wireless/Alltel, and also served as Vice President of Minnesota Operations for Pacific Telecom Cellular and Corporate Sales Manager for Northwest Telephone Company. He currently serves on the Immanuel St. Joseph's-Mayo Health System Board of Directors (Vice Chair) and Minnesota State University Foundation Board of Directors. Dennis holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a mini-MBA from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
William L. Kozitza
Board Member: 2008
Bill is a former Executive Vice President and CFO of Taylor Corporation. He is Secretary and investor in Rembrandt Enterprises, Inc., an in-line liquid egg producer. He is also an investor and serves as Director of Riverland Bancorporation, and serves on the Board of Directors of Northland Securities and the Minnesota Racing Commission. Before joining Taylor Corporation in 1979, Bill worked as a CPA for McGladrey Hendrickson in Sioux Falls. Bill graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a B.S. in Accounting.
Paul J. Schleich
Board Member: 2008
Paul is the past President of the Taylor Corporation Direct Marketing Group. He served as President of Taymark, a direct marketing company located in White Bear Lake, and was the Financial Analyst and Controller of Midwest Federal. Paul graduated from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, with a B.A. in Business and Finance.
G. Thomas Ahern
CEO, Capstone and Coughlan Companies, Inc.
Tom joined Capstone and its parent company, Coughlan Companies, Inc., in 2007. He is responsible for the overall vision, strategy, and direction of the publishing and stone companies. Prior to joining Coughlan Companies, Tom served as CEO of Swiftknowledge, Inc. and was Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for PLATO Learning, Inc., (TUTR; NASDAQ). He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Peoples Publishing. Tom earned a B.A. in Communication Studies from Northwestern University, Evanston.
