AW SERVICES Team Members
Jed Stevenson
Founder
Jed Stevenson established Academica West, LLC to provide superior business and management services to the fledgling Utah charter school movement. Since that time, under Mr. Stevenson’s leadership and direction, Academica West has steadily grown to serve schools throughout the state. Mr. Stevenson is a graduate of Weber State University and earned his JD from California Western School of Law.
Matthew Mouritsen
President
Dr. Mouritsen brings many talents and much experience to the role of President. Prior to joining Academica West, Mr. Mouritsen served for three years as the Dean of the Goddard School of Business and Economics at Weber State University. During his career at Weber State, he served for eleven years as the director of the MBA Program and as a professor in the School of Accounting & Taxation for over twenty years. Prior to joining Weber State, he was a technology manager in the banking sector. Mr. Mouritsen’s areas of expertise include teaching, leadership, trust and ethics, strategic management accounting, technology asset management, quality management, project management, and assurance of learning.
Brandon Fairbanks
Vice President, Director of Compliance & Business Development
Mr. Fairbanks’ duties and responsibilities focus on supporting governing boards’ and school administrators’ efforts to remain in compliance with the laws, rules and regulations applicable to Utah public charter schools. With over 12 years of experience advising Utah charter schools, Mr. Fairbanks has developed a specialized expertise in Utah charter schools. He provides regular training and works closely with boards on governance, operational, and contractual issues. Mr. Fairbanks’ background in commercial litigation, corporate law and real estate law provides valuable guidance and insight to schools as they navigate through the challenges of operating a public school. Mr. Fairbanks is a licensed attorney and earned his undergraduate degree and law degree from Brigham Young University.
Brad Taylor
Chief Financial Officer
Brad Taylor is considered one of Utah’s most experienced charter school finance experts. Mr. Taylor has been with Academica West for over 12 years and oversees the financial and accounting activities of the company’s client schools. In addition to overseeing the general school financial operations, Mr. Taylor advises board members and school directors on budgeting, financial forecasting, annual state and federal reporting requirements, and state charter school funding rules. In 2015, Mr. Taylor was appointed by the Utah Senate President to serve on the Charter School Legislative Task force, which is charged with making educational funding recommendations to the Utah State Legislature. Prior to joining Academica West, Mr. Taylor was a staff auditor with Deloitte in Salt Lake City, Utah. During this period, he spent much of his time working on audits involving the banking industry and non-profit organizations. Mr. Taylor earned his BA and MAcc degrees from Weber State University.
Gabe Clark
Vice President, General Counsel
As general counsel for Academica West, Gabe Clark advises boards, principals, and employees of the charter schools we serve on a variety of issues, including employment law, public law issues (e.g. open meetings act, public records, procurement), education law, civil rights law, risk management issues, contractual issues, and corporate governance issues. Prior to joining Academica West, Mr. Clark worked as a shareholder in the law firm of Durham Jones & Pinegar. Most recently, Mr. Clark practiced primarily in areas of corporate law and financial/estate planning. Mr. Clark is experienced in nonprofit corporate law, taxation issues, securities, corporate finance and real estate issues. Mr. Clark was an original board member of Quest Academy, a charter school in West Haven, Utah. In addition, he has been involved in the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Northern Utah program as a participant, co-chair, and chair, and also served as a member of the board of directors and board president for Enable Utah, Inc.
Sheldon Killpack
Sheldon Killpack serves in the critical role of training and counseling governing boards. Drawing on his experience as a founding board member of North Davis Preparatory Academy, Mr. Killpack helps each charter school’s governing board achieve autonomy and control over its school’s academic program, staffing needs, and curriculum. Mr. Killpack served in the Utah State Senate for six years, during which time he served as Assistant Majority Whip and Senate Majority Leader. In addition to serving in state government, Mr. Killpack served as chairman of the Davis Chamber of Commerce and as a board member of the Davis Convention and Visitor Bureau, the North Davis Hospital and Medical Center, the Utah Defense Alliance, and the United Way of Salt Lake Executive Steering Committee. He has served as a member of the Utah Transit Authority appointed by the Speaker of the House and on the Executive Committee of the Utah Center for Digital Arts. Mr. Killpack is a graduate of Weber State University.