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Our History

ScholarBuys started from very humble beginnings in March 2008. Matt and Bob were coworkers and had just become casualties of the “Great Recession”. The job market was not promising and they both had very young families to support. They discussed their career paths with each other and mapped out what they thought the next steps should be. They ultimately decided to start ScholarBuys in Matt’s basement and begin their entrepreneurial journey.

In 2012, ScholarBuys moved into our current location in Historic Carpentersville. The office is located on the OTTO engineering campus downtown by the Fox River. As ScholarBuys was growing out of its previous office, the beautiful location could not be beat. Technology constantly evolves and improves over time. We like to think that we have as well. The boutique size of ScholarBuys allows us to have a service-focused business that brings a quality experience to our customers and partners.

Meet our Team of Experts

Our team is extremely knowledgeable with the solutions we offer and the academic market that we serve. We build long-term relationships with our customers and partners, and are able to improve communication among customers and partners via the collaborative nature of our small team.

Matt Ryan

President & Cofounder

Bob Smith

President & Cofounder

Mike Brown

Business Development Manager

Brendon Palluck

Business Development Manager

Darren Shahinian

Business Development Manager

Michael Heap

Sr. Technology Solutions Consultant

Keegan Morgan

Operations Manager

Jessica Mann

Operations Analyst

Our Mission

To provide exceptional service that empowers the education community.

Our Foundation for Success

To achieve our mission we embrace our company values both internally with our team and externally with our partners.

Focus

Education: We are committed exclusively to the education community.

Technology: We promote the adoption of innovative technology from reputable solution providers.

Quality

Service: We build long lasting relationships based on quality, satisfaction and personal attention.

Knowledgeable: We are well informed about the solutions we offer.

Teamwork

Collaboration: We work together to solve problems, share information and create solutions.

Communication: We are open, honest and highly engaged.

SALES TEAM 1 RESIZE

Career Openings

We are always striving to grow our business and give our customers the best. In order to do that we are constantly looking for qualified, energetic, dedicated people to join our team.

Join the ScholarBuys Team

At ScholarBuys we are always on the lookout for bright, motivated people to join our team. We offer opportunities to make an impact with the next generation of technology users. We know that every coworker has something important to say, and that every coworker is important to our success. We are looking for candidates who are competitive, enjoy learning, excel at problem-solving, and can absorb new material quickly. Show us that you have the desire and ability to rapidly master new skills if given the chance. In return, you will get to work in a uniquely, dynamic environment with seasoned coworkers who are as passionate about their lives as they are about their work.

We are not a conventional company and we don’t plan on becoming one. We have abandoned the traditional approach to hiring where a prospective employee must have experience with a specific skill set in order to be considered. Instead, we are open-minded and willing to listen to people of all backgrounds and skill sets. We nurture a positive environment by hiring talented, passionate people who share our commitment to the academic technology market and want to have a great time doing it.

How Can We Help?

At ScholarBuys, we pride ourselves on not only bringing you a great price that is budget conscious, but more importantly, we provide the highest level of customer service in the industry. We understand the unique needs of the education market and we are looking for strategic partners where we can enhance the level of education that they are able to provide to their student body. Please let us know how we can help you succeed.

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Matt Ryan

President & Cofounder

My Role at ScholarBuys:
I develop and oversee operational procedures, marketing, branding and our overall corporate culture. I have seen companies built for success as well as those built for failure, and applied that knowledge to help build ScholarBuys into a successful business.

What I do in my free time:
I have three boys who keep me busy with their various sport leagues and activities. I have coached all three of my sons’ Travel Baseball teams over the years. As a coach and father, I appreciate the mental aspect of the game and the life lessons it teaches. The calls will not always go your way and you will find yourself in high-pressure situations. You learn how to deal with failure, handle success and perhaps most importantly: how to be a team player.

Bob Smith

President & Cofounder

My Role at ScholarBuys:
I focus on overall company strategy and business development. This includes the oversight and development of our sales team. I also work closely with our consortia partners and key solution providers.

What I do in my free time:
I spend most of my free time with family and friends.  I belong to several local organizations including; AYSO Soccer Coach, University Club of Chicago, and numerous sportsmen’s clubs.  I’m an enormous sports fan and support all Chicago teams.  I also play on several soccer teams.

Mike Brown

Business Development Manager

My Role at ScholarBuys:
Business Development Manager – Key account management: Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) and North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU).

Fun Fact About Me:
I have an extensive collection of Chicago White Sox bobble heads.  My favorite sports team is basically any Chicago sports team, minus the Cubs!

Brendon Palluck

Business Development Manager

My Role at ScholarBuys:
My primary responsibility is managing the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges & Universities (FIICU) consortia. This is a group of approximately 65 private and independent colleges throughout Illinois. ScholarBuys has had a great, long-standing relationship with FIICU and we manage a number of Volume Licensing Agreements.

Fun Fact About Me:
When I was 7 years old, Tony the Tiger (yes, you read that right) came to my house and gave me a brand new bike, all because I owned a box of Frosted Flakes. Dreams do come true, kids.

Darren Shahinian

Business Development Manager

My Role at ScholarBuys:
I am a Business Development Manager, managing Higher Education accounts (both private/independent and state institutions) across the United States. I also manage accounts in the AICUO, CCIC, GICA, and MICU, consortia.

Fun Fact About Me:
I fell back in love with Magic: The Gathering a few years back and have been entrenching myself in the competitive community. MtG is the grandfather of modern strategy card games, and his been around for over 25 years. I test new strategies with my peers on a regular basis and travel across the Midwest to play in the larger tournaments. One of my personal goals is to really push myself to begin developing content that would be meaningful for other players, which I could share with the broader MtG community through a variety of platforms.

Michael Heap

Sr. Technology Solutions Consultant

My Role at ScholarBuys:
I work with Schools and Districts across the country as a total solutions provider from software licensing to hardware goods. We partner with all the major manufactures like Microsoft, Adobe, VMware, Lenovo, and HP to name a few. If you have a need, ScholarBuys can find a solution.

What I do in my free time:
I enjoy going to sporting events and concerts as well as traveling and trying new restaurants. I have been to 47 Dave Matthews Concerts and over 180 Chicago Bears games.

Keegan Morgan

Operations Manager

My Role at ScholarBuys:
As the Operations Manager at ScholarBuys I take on a wide variety of responsibilities. From accounting and placing orders; to marketing, managing office supplies, and the occasional IT project, I pride myself on versatility.

What I do in my free time:
I am a huge sports fan, so you can most likely find me watching whatever sporting events are on television. I also enjoy cooking and exploring new food, craft beer, and breweries. Growing up I helped my Dad restore a 1972 Challenger, and now we’re working on a 1954 Chevrolet Pickup.

Jessica Mann

Operations Analyst

My Role at ScholarBuys:
Is to keep our office operations running smoothly. This encompasses a wide variety of responsibilities and the specific functions have evolved over the years to suit the ever-changing demands. While primarily working in accounting and sales support, each day is always different than the next!

What I do in my free time:
After moving away from Illinois, living closer to the coast has afforded my family the ability to be outside year round. If I am not working, you can usually find me soaking up the sun with my two kids and two dogs. My son plays baseball, and my daughter plays T-ball. On any given day you’ll usually find me at the ballfields.