Our Team
Tom Leahy, co-founder
Tom is the Managing Partner of OptimumEd, an international higher education consulting firm. Over the past 23 years, he has assisted dozens of families and students.
He is a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association, the Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants.
This past January, Tom published the fourth edition of his college planning book "Plan for college, prepare for life - The No-Nonsense Guide to Higher Education Planning.” He was published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, featured in other local publications and on local television. As an expert on college admissions and financial aid, Tom has been featured on national radio and podcasts.
Tom has delivered seminars for The Governor’s School for International Studies, Richmond Community High School for the Gifted and Talented, the Chesterfield County School System’s “Very Informed Parents’ Program” (VIP).
A graduate of the University of Florida, Tom also earned his master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is a retired military officer and a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College and the Defense Information School.
Tom sat on the board of the St. Francis Medical Center Community Advisory Board, the Virginia Treatment Center for Children’s Advisory Council and the Program Committee for the Children’s Mental Health Resource Center. He was the past president of the Midlothian Youth Soccer League for six years prior to architecting its merger with the Richmond Kickers in 2010. Tom held a previous board seat with the Three Springs Foundation, Huntsville, Alabama. He is currently a member of the Midlothian-Chesterfield Kiwanis Club and the president of Beacon Tree Foundation.
Tom and his wife Diana live in Midlothian, VA. They have four children and three grandchildren.
Candice Suarez, Co-founder
Originally from Pennsylvania, Candice received her education from Millersville University, earning both a Bachelors Degree in English Education and a Masters of Education Degree in School Counseling. She also earned a post-masters certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Penn State University and is a National Certified Counselor (NCC).
Candice has devoted her career to the helping professions, working for nine years as a School Counselor at the elementary and middle school levels. She next transitioned her experience to the community setting working as a Mobile Therapist and Behavior Specialist, which eventually led to a position as the Director of Community and School Based Behavioral Health for a nonprofit mental health agency. This experience has allowed Candice to hone her skills in counseling and supervision while working closely with school administrators to support students and allow them to reach their full potential. She is a skilled presenter, developing training opportunities for school faculties as well as therapeutic staff under her supervision.
Being a lifelong learner, Candice was in annual attendance at the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association (PSCA) Conference where she learned the latest skills, data and trends in School Counseling. On two occasions, Candice presented workshops at the PSCA conference on behavior analysis and her Community and School Based Behavioral Health program.
Upon moving to the Richmond area, Candice joined OptimumEd, as well as providing Life Transition Coaching to adults experiencing transition or looking to make a change. She is a cancer survivor, having had tongue cancer in 2021/2022, and is thriving despite her setbacks.
Julie Atlas, Board Member
Julie Atlas obtained her Bachelor of Education from Northern Illinois University and her Master of Science degree in Criminology from Northern Arizona University specializing in Child Protective Service Legal Reform and Restorative Justice Practices. She has been an educator and mentor for over 20 years to students of all ages. She has taught at the community college and university levels in the field of mathematics through Coconino Community College. She has also served as an instructional coach in Henrico and Chesterfield County Public Schools for teachers in the elementary setting and as a classroom teacher in pre-K through the tenth grade in Virginia, California, and Texas. During her educational journey, she has had the opportunity to work with students across the country as her family moved and adapted to her husband's military career. Her greatest joy is helping others realize their dreams both inside and outside of the classroom.
Julie has a love and passion for working with young adults to help them achieve their greatest potential through continuing education in both traditional university settings, community colleges, and the trades. Julie has a heart for helping young adults that have aged out of the foster care system and understands that their journey may not look like someone else's journey. This is also true for young adults that have been living the military family lifestyle. She understands that many of the things in life that challenge us, prepare us for our greatest victories.
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