Cartoon rendering of building on University campus

About Us

We help private colleges and universities make confident technology decisions, with expertise in Microsoft, Adobe, VMware, security, and AI adoption.

Talk With Our Team

Meet Our Team

Every campus works with a dedicated ScholarBuys contact, backed by a close-knit team. Private colleges and universities are our focus, and we bring the same care to the K-12 schools and other education institutions we serve.

Matt Ryan

President & Cofounder
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Bob Smith

President & Cofounder
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Mike Brown

Business Development Manager
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Brendon Palluck

Business Development Manager
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Darren Shahinian

Business Development Manager
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Michael Heap

Technology Solutions Consultant
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Keegan Morgan

Operations Manager
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Jessica Mann

Operations Analyst
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Our Story

ScholarBuys started in March 2008 in a basement. Matt Ryan and Bob Smith were education technology veterans who had worked together at several companies serving schools and colleges. Along the way, they saw that private colleges faced the same technology demands as large universities with far smaller teams and budgets. They built ScholarBuys to give those campuses the expertise and attention they deserve.

Today we partner with over 325 private colleges and universities. We’re a boutique firm with a long-tenured team, and many of us have worked with the same campuses for more than a decade. That continuity is why colleges trust us.

ScholarBuys photo showing start of company in basement

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.

How Can We Help?

Whether you’re planning for AI, strengthening security, or getting more from Microsoft, Adobe, or VMware, we’re glad to help you think it through. Campuses work with us as an extension of their IT staff, and every conversation starts with what your institution needs. Send us a note below, and a member of our team will be in touch.

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Matt Ryan

President & Cofounder

My Role at ScholarBuys:
Since cofounding ScholarBuys in 2008, I’ve overseen the core functions behind our daily operations, from planning and reporting to improving how we work. I develop the procedures and tools that make us more efficient and let us grow without losing the personal service campuses count on. I also lead our marketing, so campuses can see the expertise our team brings.

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:
Since cofounding ScholarBuys in 2008, I’ve built our relationships with the leaders of our independent college association partners and with the publishers private colleges rely on most, including Microsoft, Adobe, VMware, and our security partners. I lead our business development team, develop new strategic offerings for association members, and get personally involved whenever a campus needs extra help.

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:
I work with private colleges and universities that are members of the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF), Independent Colleges & Universities of Texas (ICUT), North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (NCICU), Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges & Universities (AIKCU), Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities in New York (CICU), and Alabama Association of Independent Colleges & Universities (AAICU). Since joining ScholarBuys in 2009, I’ve helped campus IT and business leaders find the right technology for their institutions, and I’m their first call when a question comes up.

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:
I work with private colleges and universities that are members of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges & Universities (FIICU), Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI), Kansas Independent College Association (KICA), and South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (SCICU). Since joining ScholarBuys in 2014, I’ve built long-standing relationships with these campuses, helping their IT teams plan for the technology they rely on, from Microsoft and Adobe to VMware and security.

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 work with private colleges and universities that are members of the Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Ohio (AICUO), Georgia Independent College Association (GICA), Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities (MICU), and Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges (CCIC). Since joining ScholarBuys in 2015, I’ve helped IT and business leaders understand their options and find the right solution for their campus.

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

Technology Solutions Consultant

My Role at ScholarBuys:
I work with K-12 schools and districts across the country, from Chromebook classrooms to the software that supports them. Since joining ScholarBuys in 2014, I’ve helped technology directors bring devices, accessories, and software together into one plan, working with Lenovo, HP, Microsoft, Adobe, and VMware. I also work with a number of private colleges and universities.

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:
Since joining ScholarBuys in 2017, I’ve taken on our most complex operational projects, from analyzing customer data in Power BI to building custom reports, so our team and the campuses we serve get clear, accurate answers. I also lead updates to our website and the content we publish, including our blog. 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, a 1954 Chevrolet Pickup, and we continue restoring other classic cars today.

Jessica Mann

Operations Analyst

My Role at ScholarBuys:
I support our business development team and the campuses they work with, and I handle much of our accounting. Since joining ScholarBuys in 2010, I’ve made sure the details behind every order and account are right, so our team can focus on the people we serve.

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 runs track, and my daughter participates in competitive cheer. On any given day you’ll usually find me at one of their sporting events or practices.