Dr. Thomas H. Estes, President
A cofounder of Dynamic Literacy, Dr. Estes holds the distinction of Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia. From 1970 to 2001, he served as professor of Reading Education in the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia. Previously, Dr. Estes was an English teacher at the high school level and worked as a reading specialist in an elementary school. He has authored several books, written numerous articles and delivered many conference presentations on the psychology and pedagogy of reading. Dr. Estes holds a B.S. in English Education from the University of North Texas, and a M.Ed. and Ph.D. from Syracuse University with a specialty in Reading and Language Arts.

Dr. Rollin David Larrick, Director of Instructional Content
The other founding member of Dynamic Literacy, Dr. Larrick serves as a consultant on matters of language and derivation, and as product developer for the WordBuild® Vocabulary Development System. Prior to joining the company, he spent the last 25 years as a Latin and Greek teacher at the high school level. During this time Dr. Larrick also taught Linguistics for Teachers as an adjunct instructor at the University of Virginia, and Latin, English grammar, and Humanities at Piedmont Virginia Community College. He received his B.A. with High Distinction in Greek and his M.A. in English from the University of Virginia. Dr. Larrick also earned his interdisciplinary Ph.D. from Florida State University with emphasis on Greek and Latin literature.

Eric A. Schmitz, Chief Operating Officer
Prior to joining Dynamic Literacy, Schmitz began his professional career with Lockheed Martin. During his 5 years with the company, he managed several key financial projects including a $400 million program to upgrade, integrate and manage the Pentagon’s computer network and provide IT services to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He also oversaw a monumental engineering, design and reconstruction effort after September 11. Later, Schmitz served as financial analyst, where he worked with the treasurer and CFO of the corporation, as well as worked with the company’s venture capital arm to evaluate business plans for startups. Schmitz received his M.B.A. from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Gerald V. Bailey, Vice President
Mr. Bailey is the third cofounder of Dynamic Literacy, and has been a computer systems professional for more than 25 years. Jerry has a broad range of experience as a systems analyst, systems designer, programmer, and consultant. His former employers and long-term clients include The Institute for Chartered Financial Analysts, The Mayo Clinic, The University of Virginia, APPX Software, United Parcel Service, Hospice of the Piedmont, and St. Anne’s Belfield School. He also served as an adjunct professor for The University of Virginia Division of Continuing Education, teaching a variety of database courses.

Richard Northup, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Rich began his professional career teaching both English and Remedial English at the high school level. Motivated by his desire to improve the quality of products available to teachers, he joined McGraw-Hill Publishing Company as a sales representative. Rich progressed rapidly through positions of increasing responsibility as field sales manager and district sales manager. He later became Senior Product Manager of the Webster Division of McGraw-Hill where he was responsible for all marketing of elementary products. He was then appointed Director of Marketing Services of McGraw-Hill’s Gregg Division where he was responsible for all promotion, advertising and direct marketing. In 1988, Rich began a successful twenty-year career with Zaner-Bloser, a Highlights for Children Company, as Vice President of Marketing. Zaner-Bloser publishes a broad range of products for reading, vocabulary, spelling, handwriting, and writing skills development. His motivational leadership along with his innovative approach to marketing helped the company enjoy strong, long term sales growth. Rich instituted the well-known Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest, began sales advisory boards, brought creative research-based products to market, and designed highly successful lead generation programs that significantly increased revenues while reducing the cost of sales. Rich brings thirty years of experience in sales and marketing of reading, language arts and vocabulary products to his responsibility for building national sales and distribution of WordBuild. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in English, from Georgetown University.