Employment Agreement - Capella Education Co. and Michael Offerman
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of this 30th day
of May, 2006 between Michael Offerman ("Employee") and Capella Education
Company.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Capella Education Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries,
including without limitation Capella University, Inc., (individually and
collectively "CEC") are engaged in the business of providing, developing,
selling and marketing on-line educational products and services;
WHEREAS, CEC currently employs Employee as University President and Senior
Vice President, Capella Education Company;
WHEREAS, CEC desires to retain Employee in that position in conjunction
with the move of Paul Schroeder to the position of Senior Vice President,
Capella University, reporting to Employee; and
WHEREAS, Employee also desires to retain the positions of University
President and Senior Vice President, Capella Education Company.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the
following undertakings, CEC and Employee agree as follows:
1. Employment.
(a) Position. CEC will continue to employ Employee as its President,
Capella University, and Senior Vice President, Capella Education
Company. Employee will continue to report to the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer oaf CEC.
(b) Duties. Employee's duties are as set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
2. Term of Employment. CEC will employ Employee on an at-will basis with
no fixed employment termination date. Either Employee or CEC may
terminate Employee's employment with CEC at any time and for any
reason upon 30 days' prior written notice.
3. Compensation. As compensation for services to be rendered by Employee
under this Agreement, CEC will provide the following:
(a) Base Salary. CEC will pay to Employee a base salary at the same
rate currently in effect for Employee, which salary shall be paid
in accordance with CEC's normal payroll policies and procedures.
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(b) Management Incentive Plan. The terms of the Management Incentive
Plan for 2006 shall continue to apply to Employee. If Employee's
employment with CEC ends prior to December 31, 2006, he shall not
receive a bonus for calendar year 2006; provided, however, that
if Employee gives three-month notice of termination on or before
October 31, 2006, but his employment does not end until December
31, 2006 or later, he shall be entitled to receive a bonus for
full calendar year 2006, regardless of when such bonus is paid by
CEC.
(c) Participation in Benefit Plans. Employee shall be entitled to
participate in employee benefit plans or programs established by
CEC from time to time to the extent that he is eligible under the
terms of the plan or program. Employee's participation in any
such plan or program shall be subject to the terms, rules, and
laws applicable thereto.
4. Stock Options. Employee shall be entitled to receive an annual stock
option grant in 2006, provided that he is still an employee of CEC at
the time of the grant.
5. Severance Plan.
(a) Participation in Severance Plan. Employee shall be eligible to
participate in the Capella Education Company Executive Severance
Plan (the "Severance Plan"), as amended from time to time,
according to its terms.
(b) Termination for Cause. If CEC terminates Employee's employment at
any time for "Cause," as defined in the Severance Plan, Employee
shall not be entitled to receive severance benefits outlined in
the Severance Plan.
(c) Termination other than for Cause. If CEC terminates Employee's
employment at any time other than for "Cause," as defined in the
Severance Plan, Employee shall be entitled to receive severance
benefits outlined in the Severance Plan.
(d) Voluntary Termination Prior to January 31, 2007. If Employee
voluntarily terminates his employment with CEC such that his
employments ends before January 31, 2007, Employee shall not be
entitled to receive severance benefits outlined in the Severance
Plan.
(e) Voluntary Termination Between January 31, 2007 and April 30,
2007. If Employee voluntarily terminates his employment with CEC
by providing advance notice of termination on or before October
31, 2006 such that his employment ends on or after January 31,
2007, and on or before April 30, 2007, he shall be entitled to
receive severance benefits outlined in the Severance Plan.
(f) Voluntary Termination for "Good Reason". Notwithstanding any
contrary provisions herein, if Employee voluntarily terminates
his employment for
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"Good Reason" between the date hereof and the termination date of
this Agreement, he shall be entitled to receive severance
benefits outlined in the Severance Plan. "Good Reason" shall be
defined as "a voluntary termination by Employee, whether or not
preceded by a change in control, in any of the following cases:
(i) Employee's position is changed to a position with a lower pay
grade or lesser responsibilities than his current position of
President, Capella University and Senior Vice President, Capella
Education Company (as more fully described in Exhibit A hereto);
(ii) Employee's fixed compensation is decreased; or (iii)
Employee's reporting relationship to the Capella University Board
is materially changed."
6. Confidentiality Agreement. The Confidentiality, Non-Competition and
Inventions Agreement entered into between Employee and CEC on April
16, 2001 ("Confidentiality Agreement") shall remain in effect and
shall not expire upon termination of Employee's employment.
7. Lockup Agreement. CEC covenants and agrees that, incident to any
proposed sale of CEC's shares of capital stock pursuant to a
registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, it
shall not obligate Employee to execute a lockup agreement until such
time as CEC is within ten business days of commencing its "road show."
8. Release of Claims. As a condition of receiving the severance payments
described in Section 5 above, Employee must sign a release of all
claims in a form prescribed by CEC and allow all applicable rescission
and revocation periods to expire without a rescission or revocation.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is intended that
the release will release all claims that Employee may have against
CEC, its shareholders, directors, officers, insurers, agents,
representatives, and employees that relate in any manner to Employee's
employment by CEC or the termination of his employment from CEC.
9. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect until May 1,
2007, and shall terminate on that date. In the event that Employee is
still employed by CEC on May 1, 2007, such employment shall be at-will
and on such terms as are at such time agreed by Employee and CEC.
10. Notices. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered to
Employee or to the Chief Executive Officer of CEC or when mailed by
United States registered or certified mail (return receipt requested,
postage pre-paid) or sent by express delivery service to the last
known residence address of the Employee or, in the case of the
Company, to its principal executive office to the attention of the
Chief Executive Officer, or to such other address as either party may
have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except
that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
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11. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is binding on and inures to the
benefit of Employee and Employee's heirs and legal representatives and
on CEC and its successors and assigns. No rights or obligations of the
Employee hereunder may be assigned, pledged, disposed of, or
transferred to any other person or entity without the prior written
consent of CEC.
12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed under and governed by
the laws of the State of Minnesota without regard for the conflicts of
law principles of any state.
13. Amendments and Waivers. No provision hereof may be modified, waived,
or discharged in any way whatsoever except by written agreement
executed by both parties. No delay or failure of either party to
insist, in any one or more instances, upon performance of any of the
terms and conditions of this Agreement or to exercise any rights or
remedies hereunder shall constitute a waiver of such rights or
remedies or any other rights or remedies hereunder.
14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to the specific subjects addressed
herein, and this Agreement supersedes all prior oral and written
agreements, representations, and promises between the parties which
are inconsistent with the terms herein. It is specifically understood
that this Agreement does not supersede any agreements or terms of
employment not specifically discussed or contradicted herein, such as,
by way of example but not limitation, stock option agreements
currently in place between Employee and CEC, the Management Incentive
Plan, the Confidentiality Agreement, the Severance Plan and the offer
letter of employment to from CEC to Employee dated April 16, 2001.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto set their hands, intending to
be legally bound, as of the date first above written.
CAPELLA EDUCATION COMPANY
By: /s/ Stephen Shank
------------------------------------
Its: CEO
EMPLOYEE:
/s/ Michael J. Offerman
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Michael Offerman
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EXHIBIT A
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
President, Capella University
ROLE
The President reports to the Capella University Board of Directors on matters of
policy, governance, and general direction. The Board consists of ten (10)
members, a majority of whom serve as representatives of the public interest.
With respect to operating matters and strategic direction and implementation,
the President reports to the CEO of Capella Education Company, parent company of
Capella University. Under the current organization, the following position
reports directly to the President: Senior Vice President of the University. The
University President serves both an internal and external role focused on
thought leadership and related positioning and differentiation of Capella
University from other educational providers. The University Senior Vice
President is responsible for all day-to-day operations, operational decisions
and supervision of the university.
Internally, the President conducts research that is used to conceptualize and
articulate possible strategic positions and actions for consideration by the
University Senior Vice President and other company and university leadership.
Examples of areas for consideration include increased transparency of outcomes
data, expansion of ideas for the next generation of online learning, the
identification and exploration of pedagogical implications and applications
unique to the online delivery environment, models of assessment and predictive
profile development and exploration of emerging educational opportunities based
on developments in cognitive science and technology. The President develops
papers, positions, presentations and other communication on these and other
issues to inform Capella leadership.
When appropriate, the President uses this information and information on other
existing aspects of the University (for example, the Predictive Model) in
external communications to promote and differentiate Capella University in a
positive and brand-appropriate manner. Examples of external communications
include publications, presentations, editorials and briefings. The President
seeks out local, state, national and international presentations and related
opportunities to showcase Capella University and to become established as a
thought leader.
Responsibilities
As a core member of the senior management team of Capella Education, the
President participates in providing strategic direction and works effectively
with the organization's business functions providing financial, marketing,
operations and technology support to the University.
Specific expectations for the position will include but not be limited to:
- articulating a vision for the University to internal and external
constituencies;
- collaboration in the development of a strategic plan for the
University as an integral part of the Capella Education Company
strategy;
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- ensuring the high quality implementation of the academic program,
including improving institutional research and data collection for
planning and benchmarking purposes;
- promulgating best practices in higher education and incorporating them
throughout the University;
- providing inspirational leadership;
- providing executive leadership to and interface with the Capella
University Board of Directors;
- creation of potential new academic and/or business partnerships;
- enhancement of relations with national organizations critical to the
University, such as the American Council on Education (ACE);
- engagement in public policy debate and formulation through engagement
with public policy bodies (state, federal, international) and both
government and non-government organizations involved in the
establishment and oversight of educational standards and regulations;
- engagement with other research organizations and efforts such as the
WCET, Carnegie Foundation and others;
- research into the faculty experience through engagement in faculty
orientation, training, mentor development and faculty development
courses and programs.
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