OptimumEd is offering a free college planning workshop to middle school and high school students and their parents tonight, January 22, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Wellesley Club House, 3601 Lauderdale Drive, in Short Pump.
OptimumEd is a new organization that helps families navigate the college search and planning process by offering aptitude and interest assessments for students, education searches to find the right college or training program, and financial aid planning.
Tom Leahy, co-founder of OptimumEd
OptimumEd was launched by two local business leaders, Tom Leahy and Joe Crowley, in November 2012. Leahy, a financial adviser, has been in the college planning business for over 15 years as president of Campus Financial, LLC, providing college and financial aid planning services. Crowley is president of Inussi Marketing, a strategic marketing and branding firm. Together, they want to help customers through each stage of higher education planning, starting with efforts to help students determine where their interests and aptitude lie and what career path might be best for each individual student.
OptimumEd helps families and students evaluate all options, including traditional four-year institutions, career colleges, and career and technical education programs. “Our goal is to work with parents and their children to map out a path to the right education and a rewarding career for that young adult,” says Crowley.
Joe Crowley, co-founder of OptimumEd
Leahy and Crowley have significant personal experience with the college planning process, having been through this process with each of their combined seven children. Leahy says, “Families today face a tremendous financial challenge when it comes to helping their children get more education. We help families and students first identify the right educational and career path, then find financial aid options to maximize their financial investment in higher education. The OptimumEd process is aimed at insuring value and a fulfilling and rewarding career for the student, so families aren’t wasting their money going down the wrong path.”
OptimumEd starts their process at the onset of high school to determine the appropriate path of secondary and higher education. OptimumEd’s menu of services include aptitude and interest assessments to identify the best education path, creating a student and school profile, assisting in the school application process and analyzing financial aid opportunities. They create a comprehensive tracking system to make sure the right things are done in the right way at the right time. They are facility-based, allowing the student to work with onsite counselors.
Seating for tonight’s event is limited. For reservations, or to schedule a private consultation if you cannot make tonight’s event, call 804-417-4807 or email info@OptimumEdCenter.com. For more information, visit www.OptimumEdCenter.com.
