Management Team

Dennis C. Henegar, Chairman and CEO, Co-founder

Dennis Henegar directed the effort that led to the founding of Leaps in the Fall of 2000. As the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Henegar drives the implementation of the company's business plan and strategic vision. He also oversees the finance, marketing and sales functions of the company.

Prior to Leaps, Dennis was a founding member of EduCare Community Living Corporation – America. Founded in 1987, EduCare annual revenues rose to more than $80 million before it was acquired and merged with ResCare, Inc. (the nation's largest provider of services for persons with special needs) in 1999. Dennis served as Vice President for Development and Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at EduCare for several years. He went on to become President of EduCare in April of 1998 through September of 2000. After EduCare's merger with ResCare, Dennis also served as the Senior Vice President for ResCare's Southwest region, responsible for operations in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona and annual revenues in excess of $155 million.

During his tenure with EduCare, Dennis played a key role in mergers and acquisitions and was instrumental in the development of numerous startup enterprises within the company, including the mental health company where some of the original groundwork for behavioral change through skills training -- the Leaps concept -- was laid. He developed and maintained strong working relationships with government agencies and elected leaders essential to the company's success and growth. His expertise in Medicaid funding and reimbursement rules and regulations was critical to EduCare's success and helped expand community-based services in Texas for persons with disabilities. In 1992, Dennis worked closely with underwriters, accountants, and attorneys in an IPO process that was eventually shelved, but that still paid huge dividends for the company in the form of credibility and relationships.

Dennis is passionate about Leaps and the opportunity to help educators and their students. "While the general public clearly understands that today's schools are facing daunting challenges, few people outside of the schools themselves fully understand the depth of the problems and their impact on learning. Our goal is to provide educators the behavioral management tools they need to truly leave no child behind."
 

Jay Burcham, President, Co-founder

Jay Burcham is one of the founding partners of Leaps. As President, Jay oversees the research, development, and implementation of all programming protocols that become Leaps products. Over the past three years Burcham has worked closely with school districts across the nation including some of the largest. During this time Burcham has overseen Leaps being introduced into over 25 states as a resource for thousands of educators. He is also very active on the speaking circuit making over 50 appearances as both a featured and keynote speaker.

Jay holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology with post-graduate training and education in both psychology and physiology. With over 12 years of experience in the mental health field, he has worked in positions ranging from a direct provider of clinical services to vice president of a large outpatient mental health company.

Jay developed and copyrighted extensive rehabilitation treatment programs for individuals with mental illness, through which thousands of mentally ill adults and emotionally disturbed children received treatment. This research and development in the world of behaviors led him into the realm of preventative and proactive character development and behavioral remediation with students in the classroom. The outcome is an extensive social and emotional development program called Leaps. He currently holds 5 copyrights for various treatment and intervening modalities and has published numerous research studies and whitepapers.

Jay is a strong believer in educator's ability to positively impact the lives of students. "Given the proper tools and resources teachers can not only make a difference, they can give a child a future."
 

Gayle Rolland, JD, CRM, Vice President, Co-founder

Gayle serves as in-house counsel for Leaps and also oversees company operations and the Leaps customer training programs. Gayle previously served as the Director of Legal Affairs and Risk Management at EduCare Community Living Corporation where she was involved in contract negotiation, employment policies and practices, management of outside legal counsel and mergers and acquisitions. Gayle also worked closely on the startup, management and growth of EduCare's mental health division which provided the opportunity to develop, research, test and implement the product that served as the precursor to Leaps.

Gayle earned a law degree from the University of Kansas and has over a decades’ worth of financial advisor experience. She was designated as a Certified Risk Manager, one of only a few attorneys to receive this designation.

The time that she spends in the field talking to and working with the educators who actually use Leaps on a daily basis is the best part of the job for Gayle. "Seeing firsthand how effective and efficient Leaps is in the hands of educators serves as a constant reminder that Leaps really has a unique opportunity to improve the lives of students and teachers alike."