Balraj Kalsi

Chief Executive Officer

Balraj is the CEO of CORE Higher Education Group. Balraj has spent over 15 years in the Healthcare Education industry helping Higher Education providers and Employers create the workforce they need. Prior to joining CORE, Balraj was an EVP and member of the Executive team at Cengage Group, held Global Commercial roles at Elsevier and Skype, and delivered products and results that helped the community through Healthcare Education and democratized communication. Balraj earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics and Economic History from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Balraj is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

David Powell

Chief Financial Officer

David Powell is the Chief Financial Officer at CORE Higher Education Group. He is a distinguished financial executive with a wealth of experience and expertise. Holding Master's degrees in both Business Administration and Accounting, David's career has been marked by strategic financial leadership and accomplishments in diverse corporate settings. He brings a depth of knowledge and a proven track record of success.

Alexis Carbone

Vice President of Sales

Alexis Carbone is the Vice President of Sales at CORE Higher Education Group.  Alexis has a Business Degree from Johnson & Wales University and over 15 years of experience helping Higher Education Institutions with implementing solutions to help streamline and improve their program's operations. Alexis is passionate about delivering value and results to clients and her team. 

When she is not at CORE, Alexis loves spending time exploring cities, and you can always count on her to share her favorite restaurant recommendations and hot spots.

Dustin Maines

Vice President of Technology and Product

Dustin Maines is the Vice President of Technology and Product at CORE Higher Education. Dustin has more than 17 years of software application development and project management experience within healthcare and higher education. Dustin specializes in conceptualizing, developing, and launching SaaS applications focused on niche needs within healthcare and higher education. 

Dustin has a passion for technology and developing solutions to meet the ever-changing needs of the higher education market.  Dustin specializes in agile development and brings new ideas to market quickly.  Dustin graduated from Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island, in 2002 with a degree in Computer Information Systems.

Ashley Spain

Vice President of Marketing

Ashley Spain is an accomplished marketing executive with over 20 years of experience leading strategic initiatives in higher education and enrollment-focused organizations. Currently serving as the Vice President of Marketing at CORE Higher Education Group, Ashley oversees brand strategy, demand generation, and go-to-market planning to drive impactful solutions for experiential learning and student success.

Prior to joining CORE, Ashley held several leadership roles at Ruffalo Noel Levitz, including Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing, where she led transformative marketing campaigns that elevated brand presence and drove measurable growth. Earlier in her career, Ashley led admissions, marketing and financial aid at a small private institution in the midwest, driving enrollment initiatives for nearly six years. She also honed her skills in community and corporate marketing as the Director of Marketing at the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and as the marketing lead at a civil engineering firm in Chicago.

Ashley earned her Bachelor of Business in Marketing Management and Spanish from Western Illinois University. Known for her ability to align marketing strategy with organizational goals, she brings a passion for innovation and a proven track record of building high-performing teams that deliver results.