Patrick Vogt is CEO of API, he has been with API over five years as a board member, CEO and Investor. He has more than 30 years of experience building innovative technology and products, accelerating company growth, and establishing mission-based organizational cultures.

Prior to joining API, Patrick was CEO of The National Research Center for College & University Admissions™, which is now a part of ACT®. Patrick also served as CEO for both public and private digital media technology companies and has held senior executive positions at some of the most prestigious brands in the world, including The Weather Channel, Sony, HP, and Dell.

Patrick received a bachelor of science degree in business from the State University of New York and holds an MBA from the Hagan School of Business, Iona College.

As Chief Operating Officer, Kristin oversees operations, finance and accounting, globally. She is a seasoned business partner with broad experience at both public companies and venture-backed startups. Prior to joining API, Kristin was CFO of The National Research Center for College & University Admissions™, which is now a part of ACT®. Throughout most of her career, Kristin has led the hyper growth of technology companies through organic growth, global expansion, and M&A activity. A key part of executive management teams, Kristin has been responsible for the company’s corporate finance function and has raised several rounds of capital and secured various debt financing arrangements at Integral Ad Science and PulsePoint:  both digital marketing technology companies. She also held positions at Thomson Media, a former subsidiary of the Thomson Corporation, and she began her career in Boston at Arthur Andersen LLP, where she served start-up and growth clients in the software and bio-tech industries. Kristin holds a BS in Accounting and a minor in Finance from Providence College, and earned her CPA in 2000.

Scott Paprocki is the most recent addition to our executive team, and is a  driving force behind the API Connect platform. He has 20+ years of Software as a Service (SaaS) technology experience in fast moving and high growth environments. He is , and is author of a patent filing for data aggregation and modeling. Scott’s proven track record for building teams and market disruptive products will help API to redefine and make experiential learning more accessible.

Scott earned his BBA from the Red McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Management Information Systems.

Howard Lurie is the Senior Vice President for Research and Evaluation and joined the API Abroad team in September 2021.  He is responsible for establishing and leading API’s new research and evaluation services, focused on assessing the preferences and motivations of both prospective and alumni learners seeking study away/abroad and experiential learning opportunities.  

Prior to joining API Abroad, Howard served for six years as the Principal Analyst for Online and Continuing Education at Eduventures, an independent research and advisory firm. At Eduventures, Howard designed and directed nationally representative research studies investigating the adult learner market, competency-based education (CBE), alternative credentials, and Online Program Management (OPM) services. Howard was the principal investigator for Eduventures’ 2016 – 2019 study Deconstructing CBE: An Assessment of Institutional Activity, Goals and Challenges in Higher Education.  In addition, Howard provided research-driven advisory services to a broad range of higher education institutions and technology companies. 

Previously, Howard served in management and leadership roles at Acrobatiq, EdX, and WGBH where he co-founded and directed PBSLearningMedia, a free digital resource used by millions of secondary and postsecondary students. 

Howard holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Teachers’ College, Columbia University. He has taught history at the high school, community college, and postsecondary levels. Howard is an avid sailor and runner, and has completed seven marathons throughout North America. 

Coming soon!

Craig Bonnist is an attorney who, prior to joining API, was a partner with the law firm McCarter & English, LLP.  Craig has many years of experience practicing law, with a particular expertise in Employment law, regularly counseling employers and representing them in employment disputes. As a litigator, he successfully defended his clients in matters ranging from breach of contract and restrictive covenant claims to discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation claims. He has successfully litigated through verdict in numerous cases, including several notable favorable and published decisions.

Craig’s prior expertise included negotiating and drafting employment contracts as well as retention, separation, release, confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-compete agreements. He has represented corporations and
chief executive officers in negotiating complex contracts and retention agreements. In addition to handling employment and compensation matters, Craig regularly defended and counseled businesses on contract and other commercial litigation matters.

Craig formerly served as a Co-Chair of the Westchester County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section, was a member of the Labor and Employment Section with the American Bar Association. Craig was also a frequent lecturer, author and commentator on issues affecting employers. He has been a
CNBC contributor, offered employment advice in several financial publications, and presented on employment law topics for several continuing legal education programs. He authored a chapter entitled “The Objectives of Employment Agreements and the Inclusion and Drafting of Effective Provisions to Fulfill Those Objectives” in the 2015-2016 edition of the book Negotiating and Drafting Employment Agreements and co-authored an article titled “Sexual
Harassment Claims – Changing the Response Calculus” for Bloomberg’s Daily Labor Report.