Experts

Mr. Jim Beach
Keynote Speaker

Mr. Jim Beach’s first book, School for Startups, was published by McGraw-Hill in June 2011. Jim has started businesses and has taught entrepreneurship around the world. At the age of 25, Jim founded American Computer Experience and grew the company with no capital infusion to $12 million in annual revenue and to over 700 employees, operating in 39 states and in three countries. Jim taught entrepreneurship at Georgia State University for nine years and ranked number one in the business school for 12 straight semesters. In 2010, he founded School for Startups, which has taught over 7000 people to be low risk entrepreneurs. He has been featured in a UPS commercial, CNN called him the Simon Cowell of small business, and corporations like Wells Fargo, Toshiba, UPS, and SunTrust have hired him as a speaker and consultant. His radio show is nationally syndicated. He is mentor for TYE (TiE Young Entrepreneurs) Atlanta. He is a regular speaker at IIT, Mumbai India. More details can be found at http://www.jimbeach.com/

Dr. Maggie Wray
Expert

Dr. Maggie Wray is an ICF-certified Academic Life Coach & ADHD coach, with a Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell and a Bachelor’s degree in Astrophysics from Princeton. She started her coaching business, Creating Positive Futures LLC, to help students develop the mindset they need to thrive in school, and develop the organization, time management, and study skills they need to excel — both within and outside of the classroom.

Her private and group coaching programs provide students with research-based strategies, accountability, and encouragement to establish positive habits & beliefs that help them achieve their academic & personal goals. Visit CreatingPositiveFutures.com to learn more about Maggie and her work.

Ginger Fay
Expert

Ginger Fay, Director of Fay College Counseling, has over 20 years of experience in the field. She has worked in Undergraduate Admissions at Duke University and Emory University, College Counseling at Phillips Academy Andover and Atlanta International School, and as Alumni Director at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC. She has also taught in the Educational Consulting Certificate Program at the University of California at Irvine.

Dr. Theodora Soublis
Expert

Dr. Theodora Soublis is a licensed psychologist and is the Director of Soublis Psychological Associates, located in Roswell, Georgia. In her private practice, she provides therapeutic interventions for adolescents and their families. Additionally, she conducts comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations that allow students to obtain accommodations as young as elementary school through graduate school. She is committed to helping families achieve a balance of emotional well-being and academic success. Dr. Soublis is an active member of Georgia Psychological Association and was recently nominated President-Elect for 2017-2018.

Dr. Joanne Max
Expert

Dr. Joanne Max is a clinical psychologist with specialty in clinical neuropsychology. She has been in private practice in Atlanta since 1981. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Florida. She has held several positions in the Georgia Psychological Association and was appointed to serve on three committees of the State Bar of Georgia.
Dr. Max now focuses her practice on individual therapy and education and college planning and consulting. She works with families to provide assistance navigating the college search and application process.
Dr. Max understands that while college planning is a process, each student’s journey is unique, and having the right guide can make it a smooth and exciting one.

Ms. Sucheta Kamath
Expert

Sucheta Kamath, founder of private practice (Cerebral Matters), is an expert in brain training & Executive Function development. She is a TEDx speaker and a recent graduate of the Leadership Atlanta class of 2015. Recently, she started a weekly podcast, Full PreFrontal, that helps to expose the mysteries surrounding executive function and includes conversations with top researchers. Sucheta will be launching ExQ™, an educational software company that offers accessible, web-based learning management tools for all in the Fall of 2017. She is the parent of a recent Columbia University graduate and a Columbia University sophomore.

Mr. Stuart Canzeri
Expert

Mr. Stuart Canzeri has been in the financial and college planning arena for a combined 17 years. He has been featured in Money Magazine, Financial Planning Magazine, Atlanta Magazine and interviewed on CBS46. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Tulane University, a MBA from Mercer University and completed his Certified Financial Planner certification from the University of Georgia’s Terry School of Business. Stuart currently serves as a member of the National College Advocacy Group which provides college planning education for college planning professionals, students and families and is Co-Director at Peachtree Financial Group. He is married to Raven Canzeri and has a son, JW, named after his late father, Joseph Canzeri. They happily serve every Sunday in Waumba Land at Buckhead Church. In 2009 and 2013, Stuart was appointed Commissioner of the Housing Authority of Fulton County and has served as Chairman of the Board, Secretary and now serves as Vice Chairman of the Board. Stuart also worked on Capitol Hill for several years at the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee for Texas Senator Phil Gramm, Arizona Senator John McCain and Texas Congressman Jeb Hensarling.

Panelists

Insiya Essani
Princeton University

Insiya Essani, rising sophomore at Princeton University majoring in Computer Science, where she is a member of several organizations that support social entrepreneurship and president of college council. She is also involved in cancer research, and in the future, she plans to combine her passion for research and computer science.

Anshul Gupta
Stanford University

Anshul Gupta is a rising freshman at Stanford University. He was the valedictorian of Milton High School and a STAR student. Anshul was ranked as high as 30th nationwide in Public Forum debate, was 2nd in the state, and received 3rd overall speaker at an international tournament; he has also been interviewed on NPR/WABE regarding youth political participation. He placed top 5 at HOSA States for Epidemiology twice and qualified for the national convention. He was president of the Math Honors Society (Mu Alpha Theta) and of Key Club, and he has interned for a US Senate campaign and a lawyer. He is interested in technology and finance.

Helena Weibel
Georgia Institute of Technology

Helena Weibel is a rising sophomore and Stamps Presidents Scholar at the Georgia Institute of Technology, majoring in Literature, Media, and Communication with concentrations in Interaction Design and Social Justice. She spent a gap year studying Mandarin in a high school in Beijing through the NSLI-Y (National Security Language Initiative for Youth) program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department. She intends to work for local government coordinating student exchanges between foreign cities. She also takes lessons and works for a dance company called Salsambo.

Prashanth Kumar
Harvard University

Prashanth Kumar - attending Harvard in fall and a Pace Academy graduate - was captain of the Math Team, leader of the Knight Capital investment club, senior class president, an admissions ambassador, and a peer tutor. Captain of Varsity Tennis team which advanced to the 2015 and 2016, 2017 GHSA state finals. He is a National Merit Scholar, Regional STAR Student and US Presidential Scholars Program semifinalist. Kumar, a committed community servant, was selected to Atlanta INtown’s 2016 "20 Under 20" list, which recognizes students who strive to make a difference in the world around them.

Ashwin Ramaswami
Stanford University

Ashwin Ramaswami is a rising freshman at Stanford University. He graduated from Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek, GA. In his free time, he is a full-stack website and mobile app developer, and he is a Microsoft Certified Professional in HTML5, CSS3, and Javascript development. He likes to make apps that help students learn, such as science bowl — check out his current work at outplayedapps.com. He also like to do yoga and meditate. He plans to major in computer science.

Anirudh Bikmal
University of Pennsylvania

Anirudh Bikmal is a rising sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated from South Forsyth high school as Salutatorian of his class. At south Forsyth he was the captain of the varsity tennis team, president of Mu Alpha Theta, and treasurer of the National Honor Society. Anirudh started Motivate and Inspire Inc, a nonprofit tutoring company, which has donated nearly $31,000 so far. His research on Solitary Plasmacytoma, a rare type of cancer, was published in the BloodJournal. Currently he does computational biology research, and plans to complete the premed track.

Ryan Polk
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ryan Polk is a current MIT student, majoring in Biology, with a diverse set of skills. He is an American Chemical Society Scholar and National Merit Scholar with experience in Biotechnology, Neuroscience, Computer Science, and Medicine. In high school, Ryan had the opportunity to study at Stanford, Emory, and the University of Virginia and was recognized as a Governor’s Honors Scholar for Mathematics. At the same time, he was captain of his school’s State Qualifying Swim Team and its Nationals qualifying Academic Quiz Bowl team.

Nidhi Rao
Dartmouth College

Nidhi Rao, a rising freshman at Dartmouth College, graduated cum laude from the Westminster Schools where she was a National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Honors Society and Spanish National Honors Society member. She was a varsity rower, a participant in TiE Young Entrepreneurs Program, a frequent volunteer at LaAmistad, and co-president of Westminster’s Health Outreach Program. Additionally, she was involved with women’s rights through a mentorship program and as part of the Cause Awareness Committee for the global non-profit Circle of Women.

Cyrus Faruque
Harvard University

Cyrus Faruque exemplified leadership at the Westminster Schools. Serving as class president for three terms and as Head Discipline Prefect during his senior year, he garnered the support of both his peers and administrators. A passionate classical and jazz saxophonist, Cyrus founded the Westminster Jazz Ensemble and has sat first chair in the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and Georgia Allstate Bands. He will attend Harvard in the fall.

Maya Eashwaran
Princeton University

Maya Eashwaran graduated from Milton High School and is a writer and violinist. As the 2016 National Student Poet for the Southeast, she has read and performed at venues including the White House, Carnegie Hall, and at the National Writers Project convention in Atlanta. She has conducted poetry workshops for kids of all ages in the Atlanta area and in Nashville, TN as part of her year of service. Maya is also a violinist, with experience in pit orchestras and classical orchestras. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction as well as a National Merit Finalist and scholarship recipient. Maya will attend Princeton University in the fall and plans to major in economics with a concentration in mathematical economics or political economy.

Tarun Ramesh
University of Georgia

Tarun Ramesh is a rising freshman at the University of Georgia as a Foundation Fellow and Stamps scholar, where he will pursue a major in Sociology. A graduate from Northview High School, Tarun is a nationally awarded student journalist, editor-in-chief of his school newsmagazine, freelance-professional graphic designer, competitive policy debater, and ranked squash player. He has worked on various political campaigns, volunteered at Fernbank Natural Science Museum, and currently serves as a creative designer for a Silicon Valley based graphics company. He hopes to investigate the intersection of law, politics, and social demographics.

Yashi Sanghvi
Cornell University

Yashi Sanghvi graduated from Northview High School in the top 5% and as a National Merit Finalist. As a dedicated service leader and president of Project Darasani, she helps children in Tanzania receive an education. She also has a passion for Spanish, through Spanish tutoring as well as serving as vice president of the National Spanish Honor Society. Yashi will be pursuing biomedical engineering at Cornell University in the fall as a John McMullen's Dean Scholar.

Sreedhanya Veerapaneni
Georgia Institute of Technology

Shreedhanya Veerapaneni is a Chattahoochee High School graduate and will attend Georgia Tech in the fall to study Neuroscience on the pre-med track. Because of her interest in the biological sciences, she has shadowed at a private internal medicine practice, volunteered at Northside Hospital, and interned at a pediatric therapy center for children with various disabilities. After volunteering at a hospital in South India, she felt that the experience reaffirmed her commitment to a medical career. She is a henna artist, a singer, and a player of a variety of instruments including the violin, double bass, guitar, and bass guitar. She has taught guitar lessons and tutors in various subject areas and age groups.

Chandan Yendamuri
London School of Economics

Chandan Yendamuri recently graduated from Lambert High School where he served as president of the debate team. As a debater, he won numerous accolades on both the local and national circuit. Outside of school, Chandan is an avid cook and dirt bike rider. This fall, Chandan will attend the London School of Economics and Political Science where he plans to pursue a degree in Economics and Government.

Liz Bailey
Princeton University

Liz Bailey will be attending Princeton University in the fall and plans to major in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. She graduated as valedictorian from Westminster. She was the student body president, captain of the state championship winning volleyball team and of the girls golf team, president of the National French Honor Society, member of the policy debate team, and mentor for middle school girls as part of the women’s advocacy group "GERLS."

About the College Readiness Program

The College Readiness Program is aimed to prepare and guide high school students and their parents with Experts and Panel of College Students, speaking about the admission process, tips and tricks to prepare and survive through the tedious planning, scholarships and financial assistance along with coaching the parents to brace themselves for what's in store for them and their student-child.

Location: North Springs Charter High School
7447 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30328
Date: Saturday, July 29, 2017
Time: 1 PM - 6 PM EDT