TG Speakers Bureau
Speaker Bios
Programs for the TG Speakers Bureau are lead by an assortment of highly-qualified team members in the policy, regulatory, and professional development fields. All of these speakers have developed their considerable expertise after working years in the student aid industry. Here's a short bio of each that provides a snapshot of their qualifications and background.
Michelle Anderson
Senior Policy Advisor in Policy and Regulatory Affairs
Anderson has many years of experience in federal student financial aid programs, including work in the TRIO Programs and the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). She is active in the national policymaking arena, serving on the Common Manual Policy Committee. She is also active in various capacities with the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP), including serving as co-chair of the Operations Forms Subcommittee, leading the Teacher Loan Forgiveness workgroup, and serving on the Deferment Forms workgroup. At TG, Anderson responds to external and internal policy inquiries and provides industry training to help TG team members understand regulations and policies.
Sarah Faszholz
Policy Advisor in Policy and Regulatory Affairs
Faszholz has been with TG since 1998. She conducts policy and industry-related research, develops and delivers training, and contributes articles for Shoptalk.
David Garza
Senior Policy Advisor in Policy and Regulatory Affairs
Garza has worked in the financial aid industry for over 15 years. His experience includes Title IV administration for the University of Texas at Austin, policy and regulatory affairs for TG, and account management for a national private loan lender. In his current role, Garza supports schools and lenders by providing policy guidance and industry training on federal student aid issues.
Darron Grussendorf
Senior Trainer in Corporate Learning and Development
Grussendorf has more than 12 years experience in the student financial aid industry, having worked as both a school financial aid director and in TG’s policy and regulatory affairs. Grussendorf joined TG’s training team in 2001 and is a graduate of TG’s Leadership Development Program.
Kelly Kaelin
Senior Policy and Legislative Liaison
Kaelin has over 14 years of experience in the financial aid industry. Kaelin started her career as a financial aid officer at the University of Texas at Austin in 1995. In 2000, Kaelin came to TG as a member of the Policy and Regulatory Affairs team. Among her job duties at TG, Kaelin monitors and reviews changes in statutes, regulations, and policy; completes policy inquiries and analysis; and provides industry training on a wide variety of policy and regulatory issues. Kaelin also serves as the editing chair of the Common Manual, a unified student loan policy document maintained by all of the nation's guarantors.
Laura Kowalski
Assistant Manager of Policy and Regulatory Affairs
Kowalski has more than 14 years of FFELP experience. She primarily focuses on policy analysis and development, both for TG and for the national community of guarantors and lenders via the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs (NCHELP). Kowalski also provides industry training on policy and regulatory issues.
Cindy Marrs
Policy Advisor in Policy and Regulatory Affairs
Marrs came to TG in 2005 from the University of Texas at Austin, where she worked as a financial aid officer. She has more than 13 years of financial aid experience. Marrs represents TG on Mapping Your Future teams, providing policy and regulatory expertise in developing loan counseling and financial aid resources.
Lisa Pierce-Jones
Senior Trainer in Corporate Learning and Development
Lisa Pierce-Jones has worked in the personal and professional development arena for the past 16 years. She has designed and taught training programs that focus on communication, customer service, leadership, management development, and team skills and competencies. Before joining TG, Pierce-Jones worked with the Professional Development Section at the Office of the Texas Attorney General.
Tom Rebstock
Senior Trainer in Corporate Learning and Development
Rebstock has more than 20 years of professional training and organizational development experience in corporate, government, and academic environments.
Wendy Rivera
Senior Trainer in Corporate Learning and Development
Rivera has more than six years experience as a trainer on a variety of subjects, including many areas of the FFELP. She started with TG in 2005 and has led internal trainings for team members as well as Speakers Bureau sessions for financial aid offices around the country.
Tom Sharp
Assistant Vice President of Corporate Learning and Development
Sharp has worked in the professional development area for the past 15 years. He has designed and taught programs that focus on leadership skills, accountability, and team building. Before joining TG, Sharp worked with the Professional Development Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
