Kenneth Albert | M.S. | Certified College Planning Specialist

Special expertise: College advice that saves families money.

Ken sponsors the National Association of College Counselors and conducts free, college planning classes that help families with the college process including how to prepare for standardized testing, how to select the right college to apply to, how to maximize tax deductions for college, how to reduce the family's out-of-pocket expenses for college, and how to simultaneously save for retirement.

Ken is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, School of Engineering (1982) and received his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1983. He is a former U.S. Air Force Captain. Ken is a Certified Administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and a Certified College Planning Specialist.

Heather Tomasello | Counselor/Essay Coach

As a high school senior, Heather Tomasello garnered admission to Cornell University, Duke University, Boston College, and the University of Florida. She received several prestigious scholarships including the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Regional Scholar, Elks National Most Valuable Student Scholarship, and an Education First Ambassadorial trip to Europe.

Ms. Tomasello graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Political Science and B.A. in English from the University of Florida, then served as an academic advisor in the undergraduate Honors College. She read thousands of application essays and made admissions decisions. She also assisted undergraduates applying to scholarships including the Marshall, Fulbright, and Rhodes. Ms. Tomasello wrote radio scripts for the NPR Program, “Recess!” and co-authored two nonfiction books for children and young adults published by John Wiley & Sons. Her work has appeared in magazines such as Highlights and Tampa Bay ParentGuide. A popular speaker and school presenter, Ms. Tomasello (a.k.a The EssayLady) now works with students to craft compelling admissions essays and scholarship applications. She says, "I know what admissions officers are looking for, because I’ve been one!"

Rick Darvis | CPA | Certified College Planning Specialist

Special expertise: Maximizing IRS deductions for college, and helping families receive "tax scholarships”.

Rick is a leading expert in the college funding field. He has developed more software and trained more financial professionals on college funding than any other person in the United States. He has also been quoted in Forbes, CNN-FN, U.S. News and World Report, Money, Business Week, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, The New York Times, Smart Money, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg’s Personal Finance, Nation’s Business, and Financial Advisor. Rick provides families with strategies to improve their ability to receive tax breaks or “scholarships," shift income and assets, and in general use the tax code to ultimately save money on college. Rick holds the Certified College Planning Specialist designation.

Leigh Anne Blackwell | B.S. | Certified College Planning Specialist

Special expertise: Working with teenagers to find the right college, the best majors and ultimately the perfect careers.

Leigh Anne has spent the last seven years helping adolescents find their path in life. She is currently using personality testing and career assessments to match college bound students’ unique interests and special skills with a full and rewarding career, along with the major that fits that career, and the college that fits both the major and student. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa, a Graduate Certificate in Children's Mental Health, specializing in service to youth. Leigh Anne is a Certified Administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory. She also holds the Certified College Planning Specialist designation.                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Chuck Moore | Certified College Planning Specialist

Special expertise: Showing student-athletes how to put themselves in the ideal position to receive athletic scholarships.

In the 1960s Chuck was an outstanding all-around high school athlete, receiving 16 varsity letters, and ultimately being awarded 12 full scholarships to NCAA division I and Division II colleges in football and track. For the last 24 years Chuck has helped thousands of families market their student-athletes to get noticed by coaches and ultimately get recruited. Because only blue-chip student-athletes receive a full-ride scholarship, Ken and Chuck work together to show families how to make up the difference in costs. Chuck holds the Certified College Planning Specialist designation.

Don Betterton | Certified College Planning Specialist

Special expertise: Guiding students who wish to attend Ivy League and top 20 colleges.

“When it comes to having a wide range of knowledge about the entire college going process, there are a few people with more experience and knowledge that Don Betterton.”, Shirley Tillman, Princeton's president.

Don served as the director of financial aid at Princeton University for 30 years. During that time, he was the architect of Princeton's innovative no loan program and gained recognition as a national leader in his profession. His range of knowledge is extensive, including all aspects of both need-based and merit-based aid. Don also served on Princeton's admission committee and is familiar with college admissions, from policy level discussions, to the evaluation of student credentials. Don holds the Certified College Planning Specialist designation.