Aztec Software Announces Leadership Transition

Aztec Chief Executive Officer - Jim Panos

Jim Panos to Become Chief Executive Officer; Jonathan Blitt and Michael Kheyfets Named Co-Executive Chairmans of the Board

MORRISTOWN, NJ – May 8, 2024 – Aztec Software, an educational software company focused on helping adults make generational change through academic upskilling, workforce and job-specific certification preparation, and wealth management and financial literacy programming, today announced the appointment of its new CEO, Jim Panos, effective April 29, 2024. Panos will succeed Jonathan Blitt, who will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer, and Michael Kheyfets who will be stepping down as President and Chief Operations Officer. Both Blitt and Kheyfets will be transitioning into Co-Executive Chairmen of the Board of Directors and will continue to be integrally involved in leading the broader vision and growth strategy of the company.

“Joining Aztec over two decades ago began my life-long passion for making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. I have been truly blessed to share this passion with some of the most incredible professionals imaginable, without whom Aztec would not be where it is,” said Blitt. “It was with that burden that we set out to find the most capable leader we could to help the company realize its potential. After an exhaustive search, Michael and I are proud to announce that as of April 29th Jim Panos has assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer. Jim brings with him a rich background spanning two decades in the education and technology industry and will be leading
Aztec Software into its next chapter.”

Jim has 25 years’ experience in the education space and came from EduCo International Group where he has spent nearly nine years in various executive level positions including President, North America and Europe. Panos has also held executive level positions at Ascend Learning and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

“For more than 40 years, Aztec Software has focused on helping adults make generational change and driving their mission of creating equitable access and sustainable impact in the lives of the people they serve,” said Jim Panos, Chief Executive Officer of Aztec. “I am energized about the team and our mission and look forward to seizing the opportunities ahead to build long-term, sustainable value for all stakeholders, and ensuring we do our part to strengthen our society.”

“Over the past 15 years, it has been a privilege to fulfill the role of President and Chief Operating Officer at Aztec Software. Witnessing the profound impact our organization has had on our community, impacting over 3 million individuals in 2023 alone in achieving academic success, and enhancing their quality of life has been both humbling and inspiring. This commitment to empowering adult learners remains a driving force behind my daily endeavors. I am excited to continue advancing our mission in my new capacity as Co-Executive Chairman of the Board,” said Michael Kheyfets, former President & Chief Operations Officer of Aztec.

Over the years, Aztec has grown from a small 6-person company with a single office to a multifaceted corporation, with over 100 employees and offices across the country. From its focused mission to improve the lives of adults through targeted academic support, it has evolved into a company capable of helping adults not only find academic proficiency but prepare for an ever-changing work landscape, and as importantly, understand how to operate in an increasingly complex financial environment. Though no longer operating members of the Aztec team, both Blitt and Kheyfets will continue to be significant contributors focused on both organic and inorganic growth in fostering Aztec’s Social Impact efforts.

About Aztec Software

Since 1980, Aztec Software has been in the business of helping adults make generational change in three fundamental ways; by upskilling academically from literacy and numeracy through career and college prep, by providing a workforce toolkit including core and soft skills and job specific certifications and training, and by offering award-winning financial wellness, and financial literacy programming helping our learners navigate and manage a complex world of personal finance and financial decisions. Already the number one preparer of GEDs, Aztec continues to add to its impressive list of Career Tech Education certification programs and it best in class financial wellness/literacy offerings. Developed by educators, not technologists, Aztec’s software platform provides instructors and students with the tools they need to diagnose, remediate, instruct, and learn, while utilizing ongoing formative assessments to guide the learning and instructional process. For more information, please visit www.aztecsoftware.com.