Meet The Team

Mike Packer is a dedicated leader in arts, media and entertainment education and music instruction, with over 30 years of experience. His passion for education and innovation has been instrumental in launching and managing online programs and international initiatives within the arts and entertainment sector. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts in Percussion Performance from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master’s in Education, Leadership, and Policy from Boston University.

​

In addition to his administrative roles, Mike is an accomplished drummer who has performed both nationally and internationally, collaborating with artists like Lorna Luft, Free Flight, and The Los Angeles Philharmonic. His teaching experience spans three decades, during which he has instructed students in private and classroom settings while conducting clinics worldwide. Mike is also an accomplished author, with several publications, including Feet Don’t Fail Me Now and The Bass Drum Owner’s Manual. He is the editor and producer of the Playing Techniques book series by Ralph Humphrey and Joe Porcaro, and the inventor of the Heel Less bass drum pedal, which is produced and distributed as the DW5000 ADH by DW Drums.

Danielle Collins is a passionate Curriculum Designer and educator specializing in Career Technical Education (CTE) at Inspire EDU, where she develops innovative programs in the arts, media, and entertainment sectors. As a Training Facilitator for the CTE Arts Media Entertainment Institute, she is dedicated to equipping students with essential skills for their careers. Danielle serves as the Board President of Pulse Percussion, Inc., leading initiatives to support young musicians, and is also the Audio Lead and board member for Arts Media Entertainment.

​

Her extensive experience includes being the Music Media Entertainment Technology Chair at the Academy for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School and working as a Contract Consultant for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Danielle is an active board member of the California Band Directors Association and the Innovations Council of the California Music Educators Association. Her commitment to arts education is further demonstrated through her roles as VAPA Coordinator and Instrumental Music Director at Rosemead High School and as an Adjunct Professor at CSU Long Beach and CSU Los Angeles. Danielle continues to make a significant impact in the arts and education community.

Alfredo comes from a background in the music products industry and arts administration. He earned undergraduate degrees in music and communication studies, and completed his Master of Fine Arts in Music Composition from the California Institute of the Arts.

As an artist, Alfredo has had performances in the U.S. and Europe, and his background in education and arts administration includes working with CalArts, the California College of Music,

The Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association,
Pacific Crest Youth Arts Association, and Pulse Percussion. When he’s not working in academia,

​

Alfredo loves teaching kid’s music classes and coaching his niece’s T-ball and basketball teams. He’s excited to bring his experience in Arts, Media, and Entertainment to help support the next generation of artists.

Jack Friedman founded Study Smart Tutors out of his dorm room at USC because he wanted to provide College Access Programming to students who wouldn’t otherwise receive it.

​

In addition to his work at Study Smart Tutors, Jack is a partner and the Chief Business Officer of Inspire EDU, a co-founder of Educational Gaming Services and Advanced Employment Group.  He serves as the Board Chair of the Youth Business Alliance and as a board member of Tzedek America and the ACT’s CA Council.

Stephanie is an accomplished executive leader with over a decade of experience in sales, business development, and people management. Known for her proactive energy, empathetic leadership, and data-driven strategy, she has a proven track record of helping businesses grow and succeed. Throughout her career, Stephanie has led dynamic business development, outreach, and account executive teams, fostering positive sales cultures where teams feel inspired, accountable, and equipped with the right tools to exceed targets.
Her extensive expertise spans high-level sales and partnerships, sales operations, sales enablement, RFP strategy, and both B2B and B2C sales within TK-12 education and ed tech sectors. Stephanie excels in collaborating with cross-functional teams—including operations, marketing, customer success, and finance—and building strategic relationships with C-level partners and leaders.
Stephanie’s professional passion lies in coaching and mentoring teams, nurturing team culture, and creating customer-centric solutions that build lasting connections with internal and external stakeholders. Her leadership style is rooted in developing talent, encouraging innovation, and delivering measurable results