About Us
Employee Spotlight
Executive Leadership
David Marr
Chief Executive Officer
A seasoned executive, and two-time President and C-level executive with a track record of driving product innovation, strategic growth, and market impact in EdTech and institutional advancement. Before joining Affinaquest, David was CEO of Transact Campus, where he grew the company five-fold and led transformative acquisitions. Previously served as President of Blackboard Transact and Managing Director at KPMG, earning multiple awards for innovation. Holds a BS in Accounting from the University of North Carolina and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).
Brian Austin
Chief Technology Officer
A technology executive with extensive expertise in IT strategy, cloud services, and organizational change, Brian drives innovation and business continuity at Affinaquest. Oversees Product Engineering, Cloud Services, Client Support, and Information Security, ensuring seamless delivery of higher education data solutions. Previously held leadership roles at Transact Campus and Blackboard, managing global teams, cloud migrations, and $40M+ budgets. Known for his people-centric leadership style, Brian fosters team development and operational excellence.
Nils Krumins
Chief Business & People Officer
An accomplished HR and Operations executive with expertise in building HR departments, leading culture transformations, and managing mergers and acquisitions in high-growth tech organizations. Proven track record in recruiting, developing, and motivating high-performing teams, with strong international business and communication skills. Previously held leadership roles at BrightFi, BillingTree, and Bloomberg, driving operational excellence and organizational success. Brings Ivy League education in Labor Relations from Cornell and a JD in Employment Law from Loyola University Chicago.
Christopher W. Sheppard
Chief Client Officer & Head of Product
With 30+ years in edtech, Christopher has led growth at industry leaders like Blackboard, Ellucian, and Parchment, delivering triple-digit success in start-up and mature environments managing portfolios up to $750M. At Affinaquest, he oversees Product Management, Marketing, Business Development, Market Capture, and Client Experience. Christopher holds a BA from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a Pragmatic Marketing Certification.
James Werner
Chief Development Officer
A seasoned leader with 30+ years of experience in EdTech and advancement, specializing in leveraging CRM technologies to foster relationships and drive strategic growth. At Affinaquest, James oversees development strategy, product innovation, and client success. Formerly held executive roles at Summit, UATX, and Affinaquest, driving growth, market capture, and transformational change. Holds a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MA from UCLA.
Senior Leadership
Our People
“Affinaquest has given me the chance to see and experience the different cultures and traditions of colleges and universities up close. I’m passionate about higher education, and it’s rewarding to have the opportunity to be in service to these institutions – helping them engage, fundraise, and further the missions of their respective schools.”
Vashonta Roach
Director, Client Solutions
”As a Product Director with Affinaquest, working for a company committed to innovation is very fulfilling. Being able to work with internal teams and clients to build industry-leading products is incredibly challenging and fun. It enables us to make an impact with higher education institutions and really see measurable improvements for the schools we serve.”
Mark DiMaurizio
Director of Product, CRM & Athletics
“I’ve greatly enjoyed working as part of the Affinaquest team, serving as a key link between our higher education advancement clients and our support and product teams. Affinaquest is committed to driving our clients toward their next transformational donor, engaging with new ideas to improve our client experience, and grow our community of users.”
Josh Muller
Client Manager
Our Partners
Bringing best-of-breed solutions and services together is in the best interest of our clients, and a key differentiator in creating impact, efficiency, and ROI. At Affinaquest, we continually evaluate partnership opportunities to grow and improve our offering.
Join Our Team
