Eileen Blattner
Eileen Blattner has been involved in education since 1967. She is currently the head of the Shaker Heights High School Guidance Department, and has been since 1985, serving as the chairman since 1990.
Eileen is a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors and has presented at many of their annual meetings. She is a member of the College Board, presenting at national and regional meetings. She has also been a member of the Admission Advisory Boards at Miami University, University of Michigan, Northwestern University and Ohio State University.
Eileen is a member of the College Counselors Advisory Group for the Fiske Guide to College and has served on the Review committee for the National Merit Corporation as well as the Presidential Scholars Review Committee. She has taught workshops at Cleveland State University and John Carroll University.
Reva Levenstein
Reva Levenstein has supported more than one thousand students and their families during the college admissions process and the college years. She has an MS Ed. From the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is also Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)certified. Reva is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA).
Additionally, with fifteen years of experience in higher education as a college administrator, she also provides students an understanding of college life and the myriad of academic and support resources available to them. Her expertise includes, but is not limited to:
- College Search and Selection
- Major Selection
- Application Essay Review
- Application Review
- Mock Interviews
- Students with Autism
- Resumes
- College Life
- Career Advising
- Students with Learning Disabilities
Amy Ballash
Amy is the Associate Director of Student Services and an admissions counselor at POM. She works with students and families to navigate and master the college selection and application process. Taking the next steps towards college is a momentous and exciting occasion, but can also be overwhelming, and confusing, and Amy is passionate about supporting and advising families through this transition.
Amy is a licensed school counselor who has spent the majority of her career working with high school students approaching graduation. Before joining POM she served as a high school graduation counselor for 4 years, managing a roster of 400-700 students each year. During this time Amy’s responsibilities included ensuring the academic preparedness of each student for graduation, providing college/career planning and guidance. She then moved on the supervise the district’s high school counseling department.
Amy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Baldwin Wallace College and a Master of Education degree and license in School Counseling from Kent State University.
Joanna Fifner
As a POM admission counselor, Joanna has the rewarding role of helping students and families during the exciting college selection and admission processes. Her approach to counseling is driven by the goals and unique talents of each individual student.
Joanna has worked in the field of higher education for nearly ten years with experience in career exploration, admission, academic advising, and most recently, university outreach. She has enjoyed positions at a smaller, teaching-focused college and at a large research institution. Joanna holds Bachelor of Education with a minor in English Communication and a Master of Arts in Higher Education. She is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
Carmen Baroni
Carmen Baroni is a member of our Financial Aid Team. She has worked in financial aid for over 6 years and has knowledge working with parents and students of a diverse population. She has a background in management and customer service where helping others has been her focus throughout her career. She is dedicated to helping families understand the financial aid process and lessening the stress to make the transition to college smooth for all parties involved.
Beth Brown
Beth Brown is a member of our Financial Aid Team and has been helping families navigate the financial aid process for over 6 years. Before joining POM, she worked in the banking industry for over 17 years and understands the pressure that is put on families when it comes to paying for school. Having gone through the college experience with her own children, she knows how overwhelming and confusing the road to college can be, especially when it comes to financial aid. She is committed to helping families understand what they can expect throughout the process and supporting them from start to finish.
Meredith Herlong
Dr. Herlong received her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education where she was recognized as the 2011 recipient of the Arville V. Wheeler Prize for Excellence in Educational Administration. Dr. Herlong also holds academic degrees from The University of Alabama at Birmingham and Auburn University in addition to Independent Educational Consultant Certification from the University of California, Irvine and Life Coach Certification from the Life Purpose Institute. She established Meredith Herlong College Advising, and partnered with POM in January 2024. Meredith is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and the Southern Association for College Admissions Counseling (SACAC).
Gina Hipps
Gina Hipps is an experienced College Consultant and Professional School Counselor helping students navigate the landscape of higher education. Gina is a trusted advisor to families seeking personalized guidance in the college admissions process.Gina holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance from The University of Pittsburgh. Throughout Gina’s career, she has worked with students from diverse backgrounds and various academic interests. Whether it is developing extracurricular pursuits, identifying the right fit colleges, or strategizing for standardized tests, Gina offers tailored support for students and families every step of the way.
Patricia Wolff
Patricia has over 30 years of experience in both university and K-12 settings as a technology and STEM educator and coach. As a college counselor, she aims to provide high school students and their families comprehensive college admissions advice throughout the search and application process. She is passionate about education and believes every student has a unique profile worth highlighting. Her goal is to assist students in identifying their strengths, finding the right fit for college, and charting their path to success in higher education. Patricia holds a Bachelor and Master of Architecture and has a College Access Counseling Certificate from Rice University.
Mary Carter Scott
Mary Carter Scott is from Norfolk, Virginia. She is in her 13th year as a college counselor working with students from 9th grade through 12th. For two years, she has also served as a Post-Secondary Advising Coach for a school district in North Carolina through a Gates Foundation grant. Mary Carter received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, her Master’s degree in School Counseling from Old Dominion University and is currently working on her Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University.
Moira O’Riordan
Moira O’Riordan is the Director of College Counselor at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. She has been a college counselor for fifteen years and taught at the secondary level for five years prior.
Memberships and Affiliations:
- Founder/Member—Holy Cross College Counseling Association
- Member — National Catholic Colleges Admission Association
- Member — John Carroll University Advisory Board
- Member — Thiel College Advisory Board
- Past Member — The Ohio State University Advisory Board
- Past Member — State University of New York at Buffalo Advisory Board
- Past Member and Secretary 2010, Treasurer 2011, President 2012– Jesuit High School College Counseling Association
- Member – Ohio Association for College Admission Counseling
- Member — National Association for College Admission Counseling
- Member — College Board
Darren Rose
After almost 20 years in the world of finance in various capacities, Darren founded POM College Consulting, an experienced team that recognizes the need for a simple way to understand and navigate college planning.
POM College Consulting has one major mission–to bring peace of mind to families as they begin, explore and complete the comprehensive college planning process.
Darren also created MyTuitionScore, a unique and comprehensive college preparation tool that represents a family’s knowledge, preparedness and financial health, specific to the college investment.
Lisa Cynamon Mayers
With 15 years experience in higher education, Lisa Cynamon Mayers has worked as an admission counselor, independent college counselor, blogger, writer and speaker. Lisa worked in the Offices of Undergraduate Admission for Washington University in St. Louis and Case Western Reserve University. For the past twelve years Lisa has worked as an independent college counselor, guiding American and international high school students. Lisa was a keynote speaker at the 2008 Inside Ivy Conference in Seoul, South Korea.
Lisa served as the Academic Advisor for Intead: International Education Advantage, a boutique digital marketing agency for five years. In that role she partnered with universities to help them develop strategic marketing plans for recruiting international students.
Lisa is passionate about guiding parents and students through the college admission process. She brings a level head and calmness to an often chaotic and stress inducing process. Lisa has an ability to relate to young people and their parents, allowing everyone to navigate the process peacefully and effectively.
Michael Benz
K. Michael Benz’s work reflects his passion. He was instrumental in bringing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to Cleveland and served as the museum’s director.
Mike is also the retired President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Cleveland, one of the largest and most innovative United Way programs in the nation.
Under his 18 years of leadership, United Way raised more than $732 million dollars to fund health and human services in the community. His career also includes 12 years as the Greater Cleveland Growth Association Executive Vice President and 7 years as COSE Executive Director.
Mike has served on several local, state and national Boards for the Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way at all levels.
Mike Moisio
Mike graduated from Ohio University in 1995 and since has primarily worked in Marketing and Operations Management. Mike has worked in a wide range of fields from professional sports to opening and managing new restaurants. These experiences have given him a well-rounded background into how the operation of a company works as a whole for the best chance of long term success.
Mike has also been involved in youth coaching for a number of years. He has coached High School athletes as well as recreation age children. These experiences became important because they taught him patience, understanding, and compassion. These are qualities that will always be useful in both his private and professional life.
The most important event in Mike’s life was meeting and marrying his best friend Stephanie, a teacher of 15 years. They have been married for 12 years and have been blessed with 2 beautiful girls. These life events have taught and given more to him than he ever thought possible.
Vanessa Johnson
Vanessa Johnson is the Student Services Coordinator at POM College Consulting. She is the team member who welcomes new clients and is your go-to person if you have a question and need to connect with your financial aid counselor or your admissions counselor. She’s also on the Scholarship Team at POM so she knows how to find the best scholarships for each student to save them time and money.
Vanessa Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. Her past 7 years of experience in the field of Education have included several roles and opportunities working with high school students including teaching, administrative positions such as Director of Education and Supervisory Program Specialist, and working with a team of counselors at a K-12 public school with 15,000 students.
Previous to Education, she worked as a Training Coordinator for a retail corporation. In short, helping and educating people on any subject have always been her happiest undertaking.
Lisa Vitarelli
Lisa has guided hundreds of students through the college application process through her role as a school counselor and private college adviser. She founded Common Sense College Advising, LLC in 2019 and started working with POM in January 2024. While she caters to all students, she has the experience and passion for working with students who have special needs.
She has volunteered in many capacities at the elementary, middle and high schools. She also coached girls youth soccer for nine years. During the height of the Covid pandemic, she volunteered at FoodShare. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Ben Bronz Academy (a special needs school), volunteers for URCommunity Cares and heads a scholarship committee for her former high school.
Lisa holds a B.S. in finance from the University of Connecticut and a M.S. in School Counseling from Central Connecticut State University. She is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Brian Greene
Brian Greene has been a soccer coach at Beachwood High School since 1988. Since 1996, he has been the boys’ varsity head coach and before that the Assistant Head Coach for seven years.
During Brian’s years as head coach of the Bison, he racked up numerous coaching accomplishments. Most recently, in 2011, he was voted Greater Cleveland Division II Coach of the Year. His teams have won multiple conference championships, and he won Coach of the Year honors.
Since 1992, Brian has worked as an accountant and fraud examiner with Colagiovanni & Greene. He is also an owner of the Force Indoor Sports Facilities.
Brain is an Investment Committee Chairman for NSCAA and the Treasurer and Board Member of the Geauga Humane Society, and Miracle League of Cleveland.
John Aleric
John has nearly 20 years experience working with collegiate and high school students, athletes, and families. Having worked as a collegiate coach and faculty member, he brings firsthand knowledge of the collegiate admissions, recruitment and financial aid process.
Additionally, through his experiences working as a public school teacher and coach, he has helped many families navigate through the complexities of the college selection process.
John earned his B.A. from John Carroll University and a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.
He has served as a faculty/staff member at a number of universities and colleges, including the University of Illinois, Cleveland State University, John Carroll University, and The College of Wooster.
Additionally, John has been involved in a number of health and wellness related initiatives. He currently is a member of the Lake County Regional Wellness Committee and the Lake County General Health District PEP Grant steering committee.
Nikki Slechta
Nikki Slechta is an optimistic and enthusiastic professional who is focused on providing support to our clients at POM College Consulting. While staying connected to our students and their families, she assists the POM team and is your go-to person if you have any questions. Nikki also connects with families to help them get started with the POM team and strives to show them that college should be such an exciting and affordable option.
