ConnectEDU Opens Austin Office to Manage Operations in Texas & Southwestern U-S

BOSTON, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ConnectEDU, Inc., (www.connectedu.com) the market leader in developing online college and career planning tools and platforms, today announces the opening of an Austin, TX office, from which to conduct its sales and operations in Texas and Southwestern United States.  The new office is located in the Littlefield Congress Building on East 6th Street in downtown Austin.

ConnectEDU will use the new Austin space to continue to implement an online college preparation assistance program in select Texas markets and to provide support to other state partners in the South.  In 2010, ConnectEDU inked deals with Texas, Massachusetts, and Michigan to develop district and statewide college and career planning portals.

"We are thrilled to open an office in the Lone Star State," said Craig Powell, Chief Executive Officer.  "With strategic staff in place in Austin, ConnectEDU is positioned to support school districts to do more with less by implementing systems that empower students, guidance counselors and parents to get more involved with each student's customized path toward a college education and viable career.  As a company, we're poised for continued growth, with a pool of exceptional talent to choose from in Austin."  

Chris Sharman, who joined ConnectEDU in October as Director of Texas, will oversee the Austin office.  Sharman has been working closely with the firm's Government Solutions and Sales and Operations team to ensure that ConnectEDU's Texas projects are successful and scalable.  Formerly with Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing as Vice President, Sharman has experience working in Texas state government, as well as many years of experience in marketing, both domestically and internationally.  

"We're committed to providing schools with comprehensive online products to help students, parents, counselors, teachers, and administrators manage the high school-to-college-to-career planning process," said Chris Sharman, Director, ConnectEDU Texas.  "Our team is looking forward to successfully working with school districts across Texas to help students set and achieve post-secondary education and career goals."

Reporting to Sharman as Senior Account Manager will be Marie Keith, Ed.D., a 31-year veteran of the Texas public education system – where she worked as a teacher, counselor, campus-based administrator, and curriculum coordinator.  Her primary role is to support school district implementation of ConnectEDU solutions in Texas and across the Southwestern United States.

Also working out of the Austin office will be Chris Cutrone, who will serve as Sales Director with ConnectEDU and will report to Steve Branson, the company's Vice President of Sales.  Cutrone spent the past 10 years working in Texas state government.  Most recently, Chris was a Communications Specialist with the Texas Education Agency.  Previously, Chris served as Deputy Press Secretary in the Texas Governor's office as well as the Texas House of Representatives and the State's Attorney General's office.  

All members of the new Austin office report to Jane Swift, the former Massachusetts Governor who joined ConnectEDU in December of 2009 as a Senior Vice President of Government Strategy and Solutions.

Founded in 2002, ConnectEDU has shown rapid growth in the education technology space in recent months, signing partnerships with school districts, states and government entities.  ConnectEDU's network ("The Connect! Community") has grown to include 5 million high school and college aged students, 2,500 high schools, 450 colleges, and nearly 50 employers.  The company's technology, including its SuperAPP college application completion resource, is currently available in hundreds of high schools, including major urban districts such as Baltimore Public Schools, Detroit Public Schools and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.  

The Boston-based ConnectEDU also currently operates an office in Amherst, New York.

About ConnectEDU, Inc.:  (www.connectedu.com)

ConnectEDU, Inc. is the web-based leader in empowering students to manage their education.  The company is devoted to helping students find and enroll in the right college, get a degree, and launch their careers. Created, developed and run by people who have worked in every area of college counseling, admissions, and career development, ConnectEDU uses information technology to connect real students and real data with real colleges, and real career opportunities. We make the college admissions process simpler, more efficient, more reliable and more effective. ConnectEDU's approach gives every student, from every neighborhood across the country, the best opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and promising career.

For reporters interested in seeing ConnectEDU's April 27, 2010 announcement with the State of Texas please visit this link:

State of Texas Selects ConnectEDU to Create an Online Resource to Help Students Transition to College and Careers

SOURCE ConnectEDU, Inc.