Pamela Cox-Otto, Ph.D., is the Founder and Chief Strategist at Interact. With more than 30 years of experience working exclusively with technical and community colleges, she is an expert in two-year college marketing and continues to connect clients with bold strategies in service of enrollment, equity, and social mobility goals. Her résumé can be viewed on LinkedIn.

Diane Walleser, Ed.D., is Interact’s vice president of client strategy and outcomes. In her role, she is responsible for identifying optimal solutions for clients and ensures clients receive the custom research, marketing tool or enrollment initiative necessary to drive the desired results. Previously, she served as Vice President for Enrollment Management at Borough of Manhattan Community College which served over 20,000 students within the City University of New York system.  She also served as Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Services at Columbus State Community College (Ohio) and as Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Madison Area Technical College (Wisconsin). In 2013, Diane was awarded AACRAO’s SEM Award of Excellence for her leadership in strategic enrollment management at two-year institutions. Prior to beginning her work in higher education, Diane spent fifteen years in private industry in finance and brand management leadership roles.  Diane has an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from Edgewood College (Wisconsin); an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a bachelor of science in business administration from Viterbo University (Wisconsin), and an associate of applied science in finance from Western Technical College (Wisconsin).

Lisa brings over 30 years of experience in college admissions and enrollment management. Previously, Lisa served as the director of admissions and outreach at Borough of Manhattan Community College and held leadership roles at Ocean County College, Montclair State University, and the Culinary Institute of America. With a background in English literature and writing instruction, Lisa is known for her expertise in recruitment strategies and student services.

With more than twenty years of marketing and strategic planning experience, paired with dual master’s degrees, Chelsey dedicated thirteen years of her career to Madison Area Technical College (WI). Serving as their senior marketing manager, she led campaigns that amassed over 40 awards within a span of two years, including the prestigious Best in Show at the ADDYs and Paragon Awards. Chelsey excels in nurturing meaningful partnerships with community colleges and translating opportunities into innovative strategies that surpass performance objectives while enriching the student experience.

Grace Kendall is a driven innovator who is passionate about the power of education. Her breadth of experience in higher ed includes eight years of marketing and communications, most recently as a community college director for strategic marketing and community engagement, and twelve years as faculty. Grace brings a rich background of creativity, curiosity, and strategic thinking to her position as Account Executive. A first-generation college student, she attended community college, then earned a Bachelor of Science from San Diego State University, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Communication from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a Master of Fine Arts from California Institute of the Arts. She has served the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations as district 7 director and national board of directors member and was an executive board member for the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges Public Information Commission. Grace has experience with strategic technology and Guided Pathways, is FEMA certified in National Incident Management System/Incident Command System, and was a graphic design professional for 17 years where her work was published, shown, and awarded. Grace is always eager to learn and to help others.

Terry Kinney, Ph.D. is Interact’s Director of Research. Terry has served as an expert on numerous state-level public information campaigns and has extensive experience in research methodologies and techniques. Terry was a university professor at three urban and very diverse universities, has taught several university courses dealing with equity, racism, and discrimination, and has researched issues of racial/ethnic discrimination, sexism, and gender-based inequalities for several decades. He holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a doctorate in communication arts, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Kirsten brings a focused expertise to streamlining operations. Her approach centers around fostering trust within teams and optimizing processes for peak performance. Leveraging technology and innovative strategies, she ensures that resources are utilized effectively, and objectives are met with precision. Kirsten’s commitment to operational excellence serves as a catalyst for sustaining growth and enhancing organizational efficiency.

Previously employed as a journalist, publisher, and comedy writer, Jim Wiseman infuses his sense of humor and knack for attention-grabbing messaging into all of his projects for Interact. As Strategic Director, he is responsible for developing verbal messaging and scripts for Interact’s print, video, radio, and web campaigns, as well as providing research reports on regional political trends and ethnography. In addition to his experience in journalism and web publishing, Jim has 10 years of experience in university administration, and has also worked as a project editor for an academic publishing firm. Jim graduated from the University of California in 2001, with a degree in political science.

Angelina Devairakkam joins Interact after working two years in the banking industry. She previously worked as a project assistant for a startup company in Washington DC. She attended Stevenson University in Maryland and holds a Business Communication Degree. She joins Interact as an Account Coordinator to assist our Account Executives with various tasks such as creating weekly reports and communicating with clients.

Mai Yingneuk is our Creative Director, coming to Interact from Thailand. A talented designer and visual engineer, she brings a world perspective to visual and communication arts. Having developed an early talent for vivid and creative media design. As the leader of Interact’s Visual creative staff, she lend her sharp eye and design-savvy to our print, web, and video projects. She has won multiple awards for visual design, including a Gutenberg Award from the International Graphic Arts Education Association. Mai supervises our designer team as well as our video unit. Mai has studied in Thailand, Japan, and the United States, earning her degree in Graphic Design from a technical college before continuing at Winona State University. She currently sits on the Technical College Graphic Design Advisory Committee.

Margaret Scott joins Interact as a Jr. Copywriter looking to expand her writing horizons. Previously a freelancer, she possesses an adaptable writing background with thorough research skills. While working as an in-house copywriter, she embraced the fast-paced environment of ever-changing projects and perfecting client voices, which has helped her build a strong portfolio and find a great balance at Interact. She holds a degree in Communications with a primary focus in advertising and public relations. She is a graduate of Marywood University, located in her hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. She enjoys exploring her current residence, Philadelphia, PA, and volunteers as a graphic designer and website developer for a media literacy nonprofit in her free time.

Peggy Langreck handles the day-to-day business, including payroll, auditing, financial planning, tax issues, purchasing and accounts receivable, as Chief Financial Officer of Interact. With 25 years of experience in a two-year college finance department, Peggy understands the ins and outs of higher education accounting. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis on Organizational Management.

Patrick Larson has joined Interact as Senior Accountant after six years at the F&M bank in Tomah as Associate Vice President of Finance and Physical Security Officer, where he was responsible for compiling the company’s financial statements. Patrick has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Rasmussen College as well as an associate degree for accounting in human resource accounting and finance. Patrick also wants to pursue a master’s degree. Patrick volunteers as an assistant swimming coach and works with “Last Paw Rescue” fostering dogs and helping find them homes. He is also the treasurer of “Remembering Teresa”, a group raising funds for abused and battered women. Patrick is a proud husband and father to three boys and one girl.

Wendy Ferestad joins Interact Communications as an Account Coordinator. Her creative background began as a photographer and graphic designer then she moved into project management. Wendy’s experience while working for Madison Area Technical College as a Communications Specialist, and other positions she has held as a Marketing Project Manager and a Client Services Coordinator are a great asset to our Interact team.

Brittany Jansen joins Interact’s La Crosse office as Project Coordinator, responsible for a variety of workflow and client communication tasks. Though she has not yet agreed, it is expected that her background in music and community theater will make her Interact’s official “karaoke ringer.” Brittany, a Wisconsin native, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a major in English and a minor in Music. She enjoys reading, singing in church, and long walks on the beach (though she prefers to Uber back!)