About Peak Research

Bernice German has experienced mathematics education from every possible angle. First as a student who once she simply “wasn’t good at math”; so much so that Bernice quit math in tenth grade.

Later, Bernice enrolled in the most remedial university course available only to discover that not only that she could succeed, but excel.

That turning point led her to earn a master’s degree in physics, where mathematics became meaningful through real-world application. Later, she spent a decade as a geophysicist in the oil industry, where her strong math background opened doors and demonstrated the tangible value of mathematical thinking in professional, high-stakes environments.

Her career from there on spanned the world of textbook publishing and sales, state testing where she saw the lack of rigor in test construction, and a cirriculum developer.

Ultimately returned to education a where she brought her own historic passion and a broad perspective to research, teaching, and system-level work.

28 years ago, Anne Cortez founded Washington Federal Strategies. Anne provides guidance to
clients in the US and around the world on regulatory issues related to licensing to launch
satellites.  She is an attorney with experience working in government and the private sector.
Anne has found that her work with radio spectrum calls upon math skills she developed
throughout her academic experiences. She is an advocate for math literacy due to its importance
in all aspects of her work and through her life.

When she is not working on regulatory issues, Anne can often be found playing with her dogs
Zeus and Hamlet, or gardening, or cooking. She is a past president of the Princeton Club of
Washington, DC, she was a founding board member of the Princeton Entrepreneur’s Network,
and she is a member of the Alumni Council of Princeton University. She has served as a
member of the Industrial Advisory Board for the University of Arizona’s Electrical and
Computer Engineering Department. Anne currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the
Graves Library in Kennebunkport, ME.

Nina Tyzik is a retired senior banking executive with a storied career in financial services and executive coaching. Her successes in banking relied on her highly attuned people skills, which made her an insightful manager and leader. Among the assets she brings to the board is her extensive network of business and personal connections that will inform Peak Research on the needs of the business community as we develop the next generation of working talent. She is currently giving back to her community through a variety of volunteer activities. Nina’s commitment to Peak Research is based on her deep experience with the importance of math education; in her experience math was challenging. The challenges she faced instilled in her a desire to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to comprehend and embrace math skills. Nina brings her selflessness, talents, and intellect to this role with all the passion she has shown for her endeavors throughout her life.

Gus Spheeris is an intellectual property and contracts attorney who has guided Math Whisperer and Peak
Research from our beginning. His expertise has been invaluable in developing our IP asset protection
strategy. He brings an entrepreneurial spirit to our work, helping facilitate the right partners for growth.
and has experience working with government grants. Gus also brings years of experience in the tax-
exempt sector, keeping an eye on compliance matters for us.  In addition to his JD degree, Gus has an
LLM in technology contracts and transactions, and is licensed to practice law in multiple jurisdictions.