Randi Brill

President and Founder

Randi Brill founded Quarasan in the basement of her home in 1982. What began as a one-person firm that solely provided book design services has since grown into a leading, full-service product developer. In addition to setting Quarasan’s long-term vision and strategy, Randi leads and manages Q’s executive team to ensure that client expectations continue to be met and that the highest quality products are produced.

Randi works very closely with publishing executives as a conceptual partner on new product initiatives and Pre-K–16 educational publishing strategies.

Ellen Standafer

Vice President, Conceptualization and Customization

With powerful expertise in defining and crafting winning programs, Ellen Standafer leads a creative squad at Quarasan that enters projects on “the ground floor” to conceptualize overall vision. From her previous positions, including that of Vice President, Editor-in-Chief of the Strategic Markets Group at Pearson Prentice Hall, Ellen has developed a deep understanding of efficient ways to customize materials and maximize results.

Ellen has a background steeped in math, science, and effective pedagogy that began with earning a BS in Education with a major in chemistry from Bowling Green State University. In addition to her Pearson experience, Ellen has also held high-level managerial positions at Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, and the former D.C. Heath. Ellen’s conceptualization team works across all program types, contributing as required during initial prototype stages as well as the many intricate facets of development and delivery. The team is comprised of seasoned editorial, design, and visual content contributors.

Laura Mongello
Vice President, Product Development

Laura Mongello draws upon her own significant publishing experiences as well as the vast talents of every Quarasan team member in the Product Development group to lead the actual development of editorial and visual content. Laura’s team tackles assignments in all subject areas for all Pre-K–12 grade levels. This development team integrates the initial visions shaped by Q’s conceptual team, adding and refining the critical content and design details that distinguish successful programs. While prototypes begin to mold a program vision, Laura’s team enhances this blueprint, adding grade-level appropriate content, visual value, and substance to every paragraph and learning object.

Prior to joining Quarasan in 2005, Laura was Executive Editor and Acting Co-Director at Holt, Rinehart and Winston, where she worked to manage the secondary language arts department. In addition, Laura held other significant management roles with Prentice Hall, Glencoe, McClanahan & Company, Curriculum Concepts, Macmillan, and McGraw-Hill. Laura received an MA in the Teaching of English from Columbia University’s Teachers College and a BA in English and Secondary Education from LeMoyne College.

John Lindner

Vice President, Resources

John Lindner directs the resources upon which all of Quarasan relies—including gleaning the very best of the country’s publishing talent, managing the company’s cutting-edge technology team, and keeping staff up to date on company-wide policies and benefits.

John brings many years of executive and managerial experience in several industries including retail service, information and data management, consulting, and information technology. Prior to joining Quarasan, John was Vice President of Human Resources for Anexsys, LLC. In addition, John served in several leadership capacities at Transunion, LLC. He received a BS in Management and Human Resources from Miami University.

Bob Taylor

Vice President, Business and Finance

Bob Taylor maintains a laser-sharp focus on all the business aspects of Quarasan—from the business of project management to the business and financial well-being of the company itself. He directs seasoned staff across these areas, which helps to link this company business groups in the most efficient ways possible to both the conceptual and product development teams. This group, under Bob’s leadership, protects projects of all scope and size, plans and shapes viable strategies to creatively address today’s pressing time and financial constraints. This team also focuses significant attention on Quarasan’s strategic partnerships with both publishers and providers.

Prior to joining Quarasan in 2004, Bob was CFO of the former PR21, an international public relations agency. In this role, Bob advised the CEO and board on acquisitions and divestitures as well as the development of strategic operating plans. Bob also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the public relations subsidiary of Saatchi & Saatchi Plc. Bob received a BS in Accounting from the University of Minnesota. A licensed CPA, he serves on the Board of the National Association for Down Syndrome and is a member of the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants.