You'll gain valuable insights into the benefits of franchising with Sylvan, as explained by our leaders within each department. They'll share their knowledge and expertise to help you understand our comprehensive support, product offerings and what your return on investment looks like.
During and after the event, you’ll have the chance to ask any questions you may have. We're here to ensure you have all the information you need to embark on your franchise journey with confidence and peace of mind.We look forward to meeting you!
When you invest in a Sylvan franchise, you gain access to top-of-the-class expertise and leadership.
John McAuliffe joined the Sylvan family in January 2010 as the Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, he created the annual budget and the forecasting of the company’s financial outlook. After his promotion to Chief Executive Officer in January 2016, John laid out an ambitious roadmap for future success and spearheaded efforts to streamline Sylvan’s business model, resulting in the most flexible and dynamic education franchise in the country. Under John’s leadership, Sylvan aims to deliver the best educational programs through the use of cutting-edge technology and best-in-class customer service. He holds a BA in Accounting from Loyola University Maryland.
Susan Valverde became Chief Franchise Operations Officer in August 2016 after a successful 15-year run as a Sylvan franchisee. In her capacity, she has transformed how Sylvan supports franchisees by managing the franchise business consultants, franchisee training, institutional support teams and education operations and oversight. Susan is also key in Sylvan’s new owner onboarding process and regularly holds regional trainings that are focused on key growth areas. With more than 25 years of business experience, she has held leadership positions in various organizations from the Sylvan Franchise Owners Association to the Texas Lyceum and Latinos for Education. Susan holds an MBA from the University of Texas, Edinburg and has been a fellow at the Aspen Institute for ten years.
Amy Przywara became the Chief Marketing Officer at Sylvan in 2015, following more than a decade as a leader in Sylvan’s Marketing Department as VP of Marketing and Senior Director of Brand and Customer Acquisition. Amy has been instrumental in the company’s digital marketing transformation and in delivering integrated campaigns for Sylvan franchisees. She leverages her past leadership experience at a full-service advertising agency to deliver national and locally focused strategies to drive business to local centers. Amy is also instrumental in Sylvan’s corporate culture including being an executive member of the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Amy holds a BA in Communications and Advertising from the Pennsylvania State University.
Since 2011, Jacob Jones has played a pivotal role in streamlining and modernizing Sylvan into the technologically advanced company known today. From budgeting and forecasting to analytics, he has automated and updated the finance department. Thanks to Jacob and his team, Sylvan owners can rest assured the company remains at the forefront of technology with innovations like our proprietary curriculum, SylvanSync™, and advanced backend technology systems that ensure smooth center operations. Jacob holds a Bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and a Master’s degree from Auburn University.
Kate McComiskey joined the Sylvan family in 2014. In her multifaceted role, Kate helps protect Sylvan and its franchise owners by managing the company’s legal priorities, including compliance with franchising regulations and territory protection. She ascertains potential risks for the company and oversees the creation of franchisee agreements. In addition to legal matters, Kate manages the company’s human resource needs and strives to build a welcoming and engaging culture by co-leading the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She holds a BA from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Emily Mitchell re-joined Sylvan in 2016 as Vice President of Education, overseeing the development of Sylvan’s academic programs and educational quality in the centers. She had previously been at Sylvan from 2003-2008 as the Program Manager for Language Arts and Accreditation. Emily’s extensive experience in educational technology includes time spent as Vice President of Curriculum at Citelighter writing software suite, spearheading curriculum for publishers at CORE ECS and Six Red Marbles and developing digital assessments and learning plans. After earning a BA in Secondary English Education from the University of Maryland and an MS from Towson University, Emily began her career as a middle school teacher in Maryland.
Leslie Poteet joined the Sylvan Corporate family in 2011 after a five-year record of success working in both corporate and franchise-owned Sylvan Learning Centers. She leads the team of franchise business consultants, the onboarding experience for new Sylvan franchise owners and oversees the National Learning Centers. Leslie has held various roles at Sylvan, including Institutional Business Consultant, Business Development and Director of Management Systems. Prior to Sylvan, she worked in sales roles for investment and software organizations. Leslie has a BA in English and Philosophy from Suffolk University and an MA in Classics from Boston University.
Education is Everything
Learning Should Be Personal
Inspirational Franchise Owners
Technology Accelerates Learning
Results Matter
“It was through my work with colleges and universities that I realized the importance of developing a strong foundation during the K–12 years. With Sylvan, I get to help students have more opportunities that they wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Sara Qadir Yang
“I know Sylvan’s excellence in education firsthand and have seen the results it provides for scholars, which is highly regarded by parents and educators.”
Marty Conner
“Above all else, I love the lasting impact Sylvan leaves on its families. We’ve seen kids start out with us in elementary school, and as they near high school graduation, it’s very touching to see how Sylvan has led them to a longstanding path of academic success.”
Kim Teixeira
“I’m an educator, so I know the value of Sylvan’s technology-based lesson plans. We’re able to meet each student where they are and create individualized lesson plans essentially with a tap of a button.”
Fauzia Akhter
“One of the best parts of my job is seeing our students improve and the excitement in their eyes when their scores increase.”
Kent Kolbow
