To commemorate IECA’s 50th anniversary this year, we’re shining a spotlight on eight IECA member parent/child co-working teams. Together, these proud parents and their kids-turned-colleagues showcase the legacy of IECA members as stewards of this profession and how so much—and so little—has changed in the practice of independent educational consulting over the past several decades.
How It Started
While the consensus is that working together was “never part of the plan” for these parent-child teams, as Jill Burstein says of partnering with her son, Jordan, it often “evolved naturally over time,” as with Kathie Carnahan and daughter, Sarah Girolami. Sarah’s first college visits happened from a stroller while Kathie was visiting campuses, and her homework sessions in Kathie’s office after school allowed her to absorb conversations about colleges without even realizing it.
Jennifer Bush, too, who “comes from a long line of entrepreneurialism,” grew up with leading boarding schools, New York City day schools, and universities as household names, whose admission officers’ names she knew by heart. Winter holidays were spent by the fax machine with her mother, Virginia Bush, enthralled, reading through student essays and helping families finalize applications prior to the January 15 deadlines—back in the pre-internet, pre-email, and pre-cell-phone days of hand-signed contracts. “Everything was relationships, built and done with direct contact and a handshake,” says Jennifer.
Jason Robinovitz was starting high school when his family moved to Vero Beach, and his mother, Judi Robinovitz, expanded her college counseling and test prep/tutoring services to Florida. He started by helping in the office and, after practicing as a lawyer for five years, joined the practice as the COO, significantly growing the business, most recently opening their fifth accredited microschool under their Score Academy brand in Miami.
“I never planned to work alongside my mother,” says Janet Loren. After earning her MBA, she embarked on a career in advertising. However, her mother, Pearl Glassman, a teacher and school counselor-turned-IEC, would often call, saying, “Janet, could you speak with my student about your MBA and your experiences in business? You are so good with young people.” She always said yes, “because saying no to my mother was simply not an option.”
A Parent’s—and an IEC’s—Intuition
Just as they find best-fit educational options for their students, intuitive IEC parents have a knack for seeing the potential in their own children. “I always knew Ryan would be an amazing IEC, but he resisted until he started doing some essay work for me and realized pretty quickly this was a much better fit than corporate life,” says Sue Luse of her son. Jill Burstein, too, knew her son Jordan would excel as an IEC. So, when he was looking for a change after working in an inpatient adult psychiatric unit, she invited him to join her educational consulting practice.
Yet these parent-IECs also supported and encouraged their children’s growth in other careers before welcoming them into the IEC practice. “My mother was adamant about me getting corporate experience in New York City when I graduated from college,” says Jennifer Bush.
“Over time,” Janet Loren reflects, “I discovered my genuine passion for moments spent with students, which led me to pursue my counselor accreditation and an offer to join her business in Westchester, New York. My mother was an unwavering source of support; she provided me with many books and articles to study and encouraged me to participate in every campus tour, conference, and lecture available, as well as to join IECA.”
Finding Their Professional “Fit” and Unique Skillsets
For the McMillans, family relationships at work extend beyond parent-child, since the practice also includes Don’s wife, son, and niece; each brings unique strengths that shape the work they do for the company. Niece Samantha works with special-needs students; son Noah excels at social media, marketing, and international school and university counseling; and Don’s wife, Dr. Sarah McMillan, oversees McMillan Education’s therapeutic branch and manages the budget. Don does media interviews and serves as the “face of the company” in meetings and speeches at international schools and at conferences in the United States.
Jill and Jordan Burstein share insightful, clinical understanding of learning differences, patience, and critical-thinking skills, but they each offer a unique perspective that benefits their client-families. Jill brings an educational foundation in behavior disorders/learning disabilities, combined with her sense of compassion and perspective as a parent of a child with a learning difference. Jordan understands personally what it is like to have an IEP, is forward-thinking in business, and is adept at setting healthy boundaries. Where Jordan can use his educational background to connect with students, Jill can do the same with parents. They often use Jordan’s “rocky” college experience to keep it real with students; Jordan even jokes with clients that “his mom messed him up so they could get everyone else right.”
Blurred Boundaries for Some
Many independent educational consultants struggle with work-life balance, and these teams are no exception. The boundaries between family member and coworker are “nonexistent,” Jason Robinovitz says bluntly. Yet regular family dinners and an annual vacation together help them prioritize dedicated family time.
Other teams strive to create distinctions between the relationships; after the workday concludes, Ryan reverts to calling Sue, “Mom,” and Jill and Jordan spend enough time talking shop during the work week that they are solely mother and son when together—not “Boss and Bossier.” It surprises Jill “how fast she can flip hats from business partner to mom and vice versa.” Don McMillan says that while their professional boundaries are blurred, they try to keep Saturday as a personal day as much as possible.
Open Communication Is Key
Jill and Jordan Burstein acknowledge there were “growing pains,” but they have adapted fully to a partnership that is both family and professional in its foundation, with open communication as the glue that holds it firmly together. “Our relationship is like a marriage,” says Becky Grappo of her work with daughter, Michelle. “We are there as business partners and as family members for all that we need.”
Final Thoughts
While technology has evolved, the educational landscape has changed, and the IEC profession has grown, shared values grounded in ethics, finding a student’s best fit, and upholding the family practice’s reputation have remained steadfast for these IEC teams through the years. For other IECs considering having their family members join their practice, Becky Grappo offers this advice: “Focus on the relationship.” “Only a few have the privilege of learning the business this way, from mother to daughter,” reflects Virginia Bush. “We are both so lucky to share this profession,” says Sue Luse.
One thing is certain: the pride these IECA members have in their professional reputations and in their love for one another is evident. “Sharing this professional chapter has been a genuine joy, and it has deepened both our work and our relationship in meaningful ways,” concludes Sarah Girolami. At 98 years old, Janet Loren’s mother’s first question, after their hellos, remains: “How are your students doing?”
Read More About Each Parent-Child IEC Team
Jill and Jordan Burstein | Virginia and Jennifer Bush | Kathie Carnahan and Sarah Girolami | Pearl Glassman and Janet Loren | Becky and Michelle Grappo | Sue and Ryan Luse | The McMillan Family | Judi and Jason Robinovitz
Jill and Jordan Burstein
Jill Burstein has worked in the field of special education for more than 40 years. She became an independent educational consultant after searching for colleges for her own son, Jordan Burstein, who has learning disabilities, and realizing that what she learned could help other families in the same situation. Jordan studied psychology in college and worked as a mental health specialist at an in-patient adult psychiatric unit before joining the practice. At the time, he was looking for a change, and Jill suggested they work together. She knew he would be good at it.
As the parent of a child with a learning difference, Jill can identify with and empathize with the parents their practice supports, while Jordan has a personal understanding of what it’s like to have an IEP and struggle in school. His goal is to help students who may need intervention find success in their current school or find a more appropriate fit. Jordan has also worked as an academic mentor for at-risk college students, including those with learning differences, autism spectrum disorders, and ADHD. As a mentor, Jordan helped students become more organized academically and thrive in social settings.
Working together as open, respectful business partners, in addition to being family members, has brought mother and son even closer.
Virginia and Jennifer Bush
Virginia & Jennifer Bush & Associates (VJB), which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 (just one year ahead of IECA), has grown from a one-woman sole proprietorship based in New York City to a worldwide consultancy business. This was done holistically and always with the belief that finding the best school fit is paramount to what they do.
Virginia Bush founded the consultancy in 1975 following work with the American Field Service, a merit-based program that brought 3,000 international students to the United States each year for one year of high school, and as director of admissions for a private day school in New York City. After seeing students apply to this school who were not a great fit, Virginia felt obligated to counsel the parents about other, more appropriate school options on her own time. When the headmaster got wind of what Virginia was doing, often after hours, she told her she had the makings of her very own business—this was birth of VJB! As Virginia’s practice grew, she also left an indelible mark on IECA, serving on the IECA Board of Directors in its early years.
While working together was never a foregone conclusion, Jennifer grew up immersed in the family business. Each client was embedded in her memory and became part of the VJB family, which extended into their daily living like osmosis. Though this was rather unconventional, Jennifer views it as an education of a lifetime. Only a few have the privilege of learning the business this way, from mother to daughter.
Jennifer went on to study education in college, and held her first job in New York City in marketing for the children’s publishing company, Scholastic, which she loved. She joined VJB & Associates in 1992, after working in the corporate world and having run her own company previously. In 2008, when Jennifer opened VJB’s doors overseas, she carried that historical grounding with her, but also felt the weight of high expectations from her mother’s colleagues and Virginia’s own reputation to uphold in the evolving world of independent educational consulting in Asia. Building the Asian side of the business meant introducing the VJB name to an audience unfamiliar with the brand or Virginia’s pedigree—18-hour days spent building something largely unknown internationally, but something Jennifer fully believed in and lived and breathed. She did it through grit and determination, putting families first and working to live up to her mother’s reputation. Virginia’s experience working with international students from Switzerland, Holland, Japan, Iran, Qatar, and elsewhere allowed her to fully support Jennifer as she grew the business internationally. Along the way, Jennifer, like Virginia, became involved in the leadership of IECA–joining the association as a Professional member, serving on the Global Committee, and chairing the ASEAN Nations Regional Group.
Virginia’s ethics and genuine empathy for every child and family she works with remain the nuts and bolts of VJB’s culture, something the whole team strives to embody. Her particular gift is reading people; she is remarkably perceptive, a quality Jennifer feels fortunate to have inherited. Together, they understand what parents need as distinct from what they want, and they know their students well enough to see what each one can achieve and which schools are the best fit.
Asked what has surprised her most about working with her mother, Jennifer says: everything, and nothing. Working alongside Virginia has been the greatest gift of her career. In a world where so much feels disposable and fleeting, Virginia taught her that reputation is everything, a belief Jennifer carries as she stewards the VJB brand with dignity, confidence, and an unwavering ethical approach that the firm’s consultants live by as well. Virginia built a brand that has become invaluable, one whose reputation with families and schools alike precedes it. Of everything Jennifer has done to grow VJB, domestically and internationally, it is that reputation—inherited from her mother and carried forward—of which she is most proud.
Kathie Carnahan and Sarah Girolami
Kathie Carnahan founded The Carnahan Group in the early 1990s, making it Louisiana’s longest continuously running educational consultancy. In the years since, she has shaped the field both regionally and globally through her leadership as an as IECA board member, a Commissioner for the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP), and a counselor advisory board member for multiple institutions.
Working together was never a premeditated plan for Kathie and her daughter, Sarah Girolami, but rather, it evolved naturally over time. After carving out her own path through undergraduate and postgraduate studies and exploring several professional fields, Sarah ultimately found her way back to educational consulting and joined the practice. Having lived for many years in Italy before returning to her native New Orleans, Sarah expanded The Carnahan Group’s reach internationally and continues to serve students from around the globe. An active IECA Professional member, she currently chairs IECA’s College Committee.
Kathie and Sarah each bring distinct skills and perspectives to their work. Kathie offers deep institutional knowledge from more than 30 years in the field. She has watched the profession evolve, built a national reputation as a trusted educational consultant, and earned the respect of college leaders across the country—work that has led to invitations to serve on collegiate advisory boards and has shaped a practice rooted in trust and long-term relationships.
Sarah brings a modern lens, combining data-driven strategies, technology, and a sharp understanding of the current admissions landscape. She weighs both quantitative and qualitative factors together and has expanded how the team serves students through new tools, systems, and workflows that simply weren’t possible years ago. She is also deeply involved in the profession through leadership roles within IECA, including the College Committee and the Gulf South Regional Group, and she regularly presents at national conferences. Beyond IECA, she serves as a college advisor for local nonprofits and has supported college admissions offices as a seasonal application reader.
Their communication styles differ in complementary ways, though both are communicators whom students and families trust. Sarah tends to be highly structured, laying out clear plans and expectations early so families understand the roadmap from the start. Kathie’s approach has always been more intuitive and conversational, grounded in deep listening and relationship building, with sessions that often unfold organically and leave room for reflection and discovery. Over time, these styles have blended: Sarah has adopted some of Kathie’s intuitive flexibility, while Kathie has incorporated more of Sarah’s structure and forward planning. Families respond well to both, and together the pair strike a balance that meets students where they are while still moving them forward with intention.
As the longest continuously operating IEC practice in New Orleans, The Carnahan Group has always centered its work on trust, fit, and student happiness. While the tools have changed, the core philosophy has not: the most important question remains whether a student will be happy and successful where they land.
Looking back, neither has been surprised by how well the partnership has worked. They have always trusted each other and worked well together, and sharing this professional chapter has been a genuine joy—deepening both their work and their relationship in meaningful ways.
Pearl Glassman and Janet Loren
By Janet Loren
There are certain individuals in our lives who profoundly influence our paths and shape who we become. My mother, Pearl Glassman, is one of those remarkable people. Her impact extended not only to me but also to the thousands of students and families she advised, as well as the countless counselors and consultants she mentored. She was a dedicated teacher, a guidance counselor, Director of Guidance, and Chairman of Special Education for the Hendrick Hudson School District in New York State; an independent educational consultant; an educational advocate; and truly the most compassionate, tenacious, and brilliant person I have ever known.
My mother began her private practice in 1984. At that time, the role of an educational consultant was largely unfamiliar to most. She often shared her belief that college is a vital step in an individual’s journey, and she frequently felt that the high school environment did not provide her with enough time to engage her students in this important decision. With a smile, she would say, “I just want more time to talk with my students.” Within five years, she had a thriving, active business.
I never planned to work alongside my mother. After earning my MBA, I embarked on a career in advertising. However, my mother would often call me, saying, “Janet, could you speak with my student about your MBA and your experiences in business? You are so good with young people.” I always said yes because saying no to my mother was simply not an option.
Over time, I discovered my genuine passion for moments spent with students, which led me to pursue my counselor accreditation and an offer to join her business in Westchester, New York. My mother was an unwavering source of support; she provided me with many books and articles to study and encouraged me to participate in every campus tour, conference, and lecture available, as well as to join IECA. Approximately three years into our business collaboration, I received a job offer to serve as the Director of College Guidance at a private high school in New Jersey. When I asked my mother whether I should accept the position, she emphasized that gaining knowledge within a high school setting would give me a better understanding of the challenges students and counselors face daily and would provide insights we could offer our students and their families. I accepted the position and dedicated 11 years to my school, while also working alongside my mother in our private practice. Our clients liked our partnership, since our combined knowledge gave us more to offer them. My mother brought her extraordinary knowledge of colleges and boarding schools, as well as her expertise in working with students who have learning differences, to our collaboration. I brought new technologies, my recent campus observations, new information from admissions representatives, and an understanding of the current challenges faced by high school guidance departments.
My mother and I quickly realized that we had fundamentally different working and communication styles. I tended to take extensive notes, while my mother would retain information in her head. Her approach was direct and concise, whereas mine was softer and more conversational. Of course, we also had our mother-daughter moments. However, there was never any doubt that mutual respect was at the core of our relationship.
This divergence led us to decide that each of us would take on our own clients rather than work together with a single student. Nevertheless, we maintained open discussions about each client’s situation and held brainstorming sessions to explore potential solutions. Eventually, I established an office in New Jersey. We continued to learn from each other, discussing new information about schools, conferences, and admission policies.
My mother instilled in me the importance of trusting my instincts while ensuring that my views did not interfere with families’ decision-making. I learned to present the facts and share my insights, while allowing families the space to reach their own conclusions. I have even incorporated some of her directness when working with my students. My mother retired in her seventies, and I now run the business. Now at 98 years old, my mother’s first question after our hellos is always, “How are your students doing?”
Becky and Michelle Grappo
Rebecca Grappo founded RNG International in 2007, bringing more than 35 years of experience in international education. Her work also includes various leadership roles within IECA, contributions to national conferences, published articles, and service on the Advisory Board of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation.
When her daughter Michelle joined the firm, RNG’s expertise deepened even further. Michelle completed her graduate work in School Psychology at Teachers College Columbia University, and brings extensive experience with learning differences, neurodiversity, mental health, and student well-being. She has evaluated and supported students in public schools, chaired IECA’s Therapeutic Committee, and continues advanced training in educational consulting.
Sue and Ryan Luse
A former high school counselor, Sue Luse turned the part of her job she loved best into an independent business called College Expert in 2001 and has since supported thousands of students on their college research and application journey. Over the course of her 25-year career, she has been an active IECA Professional member, a Certified Educational Planner (CEP), and a member of several community boards.
Sue always knew her son, Ryan Luse, would be an amazing independent educational consultant, but it wasn’t until he began doing some essay work for her that he quickly realized this career was a much better fit than corporate life. An Emerson College alumnus, Ryan went on to attend the IECA 2012 Summer Training Institute and then join as a College Expert counselor and became an IECA Professional member in 2016.
Despite their generational differences, Sue and Ryan share the same goal: treating every student as special and keeping families happy. Ryan’s ability to improvise, think outside the box, and apply strong tech skills has helped modernize the business and has more than doubled its growth since he became an owner.
That dynamic has clearly benefited the families the practice serves. Since Ryan joined IECA, College Expert has grown, and the practice now has five consultants total. His ideas and improvements have made their process more aligned with today’s students and younger parents. While each has their own students, Sue and Ryan are constantly running ideas off of each other.
What has surprised Sue most in their work together is watching Ryan become a rising star in the IEC world. She used to attend all the conferences and serve on committees, including the College Committee; now Ryan is doing that, and going on the college tours she once led herself. Sue says she’s happy to step aside and let him shine.
The McMillan Family
Founded in 1955, McMillan Education is the nation’s oldest and foremost educational consultancy. Its roots are deeply intertwined with the founding of IECA: it was in the office of Parsons and Howland—the firm’s original name—that a small group convened in 1976 to create the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Don and Sarah McMillan have led the practice since 2009, when it was renamed Howland, Spence & McMillan (and later still, McMillan Education), following their 20-plus years working in independent schools. Since then, they have broadened its reach to serve students of all ages and profiles internationally, growing the team from three consultants to 18 and taking on leadership roles within IECA, TABS, EMA, and SBSA.
As the practice has grown, it has remained a family affair: the team includes Don and Sarah’s son, Noah, who excels in social media, marketing, and international school and university counseling; and their niece Samantha, who works with special-needs students.
Judi and Jason Robinovitz
Judi Robinovitz started Score At The Top Learning Centers & Schools in 1980 in New Jersey, following her experience at Educational Testing Service, the company that created the SAT for the College Board. When Judi moved to Florida in 1992, with the encouragement of her husband Alan, she opened the first physical Score At The Top Learning Center in Vero Beach. The center was designed to provide students and their families with academic support and guidance beyond what was available in local schools, opening additional locations as the years progressed.
After practicing law for five years, her son Jason Robinovitz decided to follow in his parents’ entrepreneurial footsteps as both the director of the Coral Springs/Parkland center and the chief operating officer of the company. Through Jason’s insight and technological savvy, Score At The Top began offering virtual tutoring services to students from all over the world. Jason plans to continue the company’s growth by opening additional centers in Florida and other states.