
Meet us @ Booth #101, EDUCAUSE . October 27–30, 2025 | Nashville
BlackBeltHelp leadership team is committed to building high-performing, innovative teams that never stop learning.
Farzad Novin
VP of Marketing
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Christopher Uthe
Chief Product Officer
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Joe Heltzel
VP of Client Success (Interim)
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Manish Gambhir
Chief Operating Officer
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Anthony Banford
Chief Revenue Officer
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BlackBeltHelp is committed to empowering students to maximize their educational experience, delivering higher satisfaction rates, while reducing costs and increasing service availability for faculty, staff, and students.
Transparency
Openness and honesty
in communication
Diversity and Inclusion
Fostering an environment that respects and celebrates diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
Social Integrity
Upholding ethical standards and social responsibility.
Innovation
Encouraging creativity and leveraging new ideas.
Customer Service
Providing excellent service and support to our customers
Anthony Banford is an esteemed executive with 19 years of experience in technology, consulting, and education. He begins his latest chapter as Chief Revenue Officer at BlackBeltHelp, aiming to innovate in the higher education support industry. His move follows a successful stint as Head of Revenue at StudentBridge since March 2023, where he significantly contributed to the company’s merger with Full Measure Education, enhancing its service offerings.
At Full Measure Education, where he was CRO/EVP of Sales from 2014 to 2023, Anthony was pivotal in driving growth and securing a 95% client renewal rate, expanding their client base to over 400 partnerships. His tenure at Blackboard Inc (Anthology) as Vice President of Sales and Client Success from 2011 to 2014 showcased his post-acquisition integration and team development skills, substantially improving customer retention and sales. Anthony’s earlier role at Presidium Inc. further emphasized his ability to boost company growth and operational success.
Anthony is renowned for his dynamic leadership and strategic insight, with strengths in sales and marketing strategy, client relationship development, and strategic budget planning. At BlackBeltHelp, he is set to foster significant growth and customer satisfaction through innovative solutions and collaborative team management.
Inspired by a family computer that always needed fixing, Chris Uthe has submerged himself in business and technology for the last 20 years. His first company, a PC repair and networking business, was started at just 16 and successfully fueled a deep interest in solving problems as he helped business customers throughout his hometown adopt technology into their business. He would go on to successfully run a media & managed IT company before joining the Ed Tech industry with a successful 13-year tenure within an ERP/SIS company leading the Student Portal & Learning Management division. His last startup, EdSolio, helped to fuel the winds of competency-based education by providing a comprehensive view of a student’s work and achievements. Chris is now focused on creating successful learners by ensuring the highest quality help and support through the use of AI backed toolsets spending the last 3 years in the student engagement and support markets.
With 20+ years of experience in the education space as a campus administrator and in client success leadership, Joe brings in-depth knowledge of higher ed best practices to BlackBeltHelp and its clients.
After a successful tenure as Chief Enrollment Officer at a campus in the Indiana University System, he went on to achieve exceptional client satisfaction and retention as a client success leader and senior account manager at StudnetBridge and Capture Higher Ed.
Farzad brings 20+ years of experience in the education space to BlackbeltHelp.
He has served as a campus administrator and in marketing and sales leadership roles at educationally focused organizations ranging from start-ups to $1B+ in revenue. Farzad served as the Assistant Director of Annual Fund at his alma mater, SUNY Stony Brook, prior to his leadership roles at the College Board, Capture Higher Ed, Regent Education and QS.
BlackBeltHelp is the leading AI Helpdesk platform for higher education. BlackBeltHelp uses Generative AI, trained agents, and 200+ pre-built integrations with systems including Ellucian™ Banner, Blackboard, Slate, and Entra to answer IT, student services, and admissions questions.
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