About Step Ahead Idaho

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Cindy Fazzio

• B.S. in Business Administration, Marketing emphasis from Oregon State University, 1980
• Worked as account representative for the Xerox Corporation, Johnson and Johnson Corporation, and C.R. Bard
• Step Ahead Idaho Founder and Advisor since 2010

Cindy’s work in our community lists various leadership positions, including serving as a current Advisory Board Member of the Downtown Boise YMCA. She has served on Junior League of Boise including Second Time Around, the Renaissance Faire and Just for Kicks after school program; Service Unit Director and troop leader for Girl Scouts, service as a founder, volunteer, coach and mentor for the Idaho Science Olympiad; and Co-chair of the Silent Auction for the Bishop Kelly Dinner Auction.

Laura Gibson

• M.A., English/Creative Writing, Arcadia University, 2007
• Secondary Teaching Credential (M.A. Education equivalent), Humboldt State University, 1992
• B.A., English Literature, Humboldt State University, 1990
• UC Irvine Independent Educational Consulting Certification in Progress

Step Ahead Idaho College Advisor since 2013
Laura worked for fifteen years in California and Pennsylvania as a high school English teacher, Gifted Programs Coordinator, volleyball coach, student government advisor, and student literary journal advisor. She’s served on several school district committees, helped write educational grants, designed language arts curricula, and held offices on non-profit boards in Washington, where she worked with Girls on the Run and Lower Columbia School Gardens, and in Idaho, where she served on the Foothills School Board. When she’s not working with students, Laura is an avid skier, mountain and road biker, trail runner, beekeeper, gardener and reader.

Sue Lovelace

• B.S. Geophysics, Boise State University, 1982
• Independent Educational Consulting Certification, UC-Irvine, 2017

Step Ahead Idaho Founder and Advisor since 2010
Sue worked as an Exploration Geophysicist for Amoco Production Company for seven years.
Her community impact includes serving on the boards of Payette Lakes Ski Club in McCall, the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, and the Boise School District Foundation. She volunteered as Co-Chair and spokesperson of three successful Boise School District funding campaigns, including the 2006 and 2017 Bond Campaigns and 2012 Levy Campaign, as well as serving as a GED math tutor at Life’s Kitchen. Sue has a particular interest in athletic recruiting, and is based in McCall, Idaho where she is a Nordic and Backcountry Ski Patroller in the winter, and avid trail runner and mountain biker in the summer.

Liz O’Neill

• B.S. Mathematics, University of Alabama, 1985 (Roll Tide)
• Secondary Teaching Credential, University of South Alabama, 1987
• Step Ahead Idaho Advisor and Administrative Assistant since 2014

Liz volunteered at Timberline High School’s College and Career Counseling Center for seven years where she planned and executed Timberline’s College Fair, helped organize Timberline’s College 101 night, attended and presented at PNACAC, and served as volunteer coordinator for the Boise National College Fair. She also served as Chairman and Co-Chair of the Teacher Appreciation Committees at Les Bois Junior High and Timberline High School. Liz served as a parent volunteer for First Robotics’ Team 2122, Boy Scouts, and Mayfair/St. Clair Swim Team in Alpharetta, Georgia. Liz was a member of Junior League in Mobile, Alabama, Memphis, Tennessee, and Fulton/Gwinnett Georgia. Liz taught Geometry, Algebra II, and AP Calculus at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, and was the Academic Coordinator and teacher at Behavioral Medical Services, Inc of Mobile, Alabama.

Vicky Swerdloff

• M. Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, UCLA, 1993
• B.A., Sociology, Business Emphasis, UCLA, 1990

Vicky is a professional educator and advocate for the transformative potential of higher education. She worked in public education in California, Washington, and Virginia. She served on the boards of Idaho Voices for Children, Treasure Valley YMCA, and Boise High School Boosters. She is co-founder of Book It Forward Idaho, a non-profit that is dedicated to increasing access to books for children. In her spare time she enjoys running, reading, and spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors.

Sharon Burke

• Masters of Public Administration, Boise State University, 1997
• B.S. Accounting, University of Idaho, 1988
• Step Ahead Advisor since 2022

Sharon began her career at Chevron Corp. in San Francisco where she worked in a variety of areas of the company through their Management Development Program. When she and her husband returned to Boise to raise two children, Sharon shifted the focus of her career to serving at-risk populations and administering behavioral health programs. Through her work at the Idaho Supreme Court, Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections and Governor’s Office of Drug Policy, and most recently, as a Director at Optum Idaho, Sharon was passionate about creating effective and efficient systems for families in need of support and access to resources. With a focus on the adolescent population, Sharon developed and implemented programs to serve the needs of youth in Idaho. Sharon serves on the Board of the Treasure Valley YMCA and enjoys volunteering in the community.

Lindsey Crawford

• M.A., Peace & Conflict Studies, University of Ulster, N. Ireland, 2002
• B.A., Marketing & Japanese Linguistics, University of Washington, 2000
• Academic year abroad at Keio University, Tokyo, Japan 1998-1999
• UCLA College Counseling Certification in Progress
• Volunteer College Advisor since 2019

Lindsey joins the Step Ahead team with significant business experience in corporate real estate, international marketing, and business development. For the past four years, she has been a volunteer college advisor and is passionate about connecting students to business opportunities, study abroad, and Gap Year experiences. Over the past twelve years, Lindsey has been an active volunteer with Junior Achievement, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girls on the Run and has held various leadership positions with her children’s PTOs and has served as a Board member for the past three years at Klahya Swim & Tennis Club. In her free time, she enjoys supporting the Boise swim and tennis community and continues to consult in the real estate sector.

Tamar Dolgen

• Certificate in College Admissions and Career Planning, UC Berkeley Extension, 2022
• M.A. Law & Diplomacy, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, 1997
• B.A. Government, Cornell University, 1993
Academic semester abroad, La Universidad de las Américas, Puebla México, 1992
• Bilingüe en inglés y español
• Professional Memberships: PNACAC, IECA and pending NACAC

After decades in marketing and communication for start-ups, global companies and nonprofits, Tamar Dolgen transitioned her passion for education into career and college counseling to help students stand out and reach their goals. She believes a strategic and supportive approach converts the overwhelming college application process into a more positive experience for students and their families. Tamar founded GoFuture Advising and works with students at Step Ahead Idaho. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, Master of Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University and a Certificate in College Admissions and Career Planning from UC Berkeley. She sits on the board of Hillel at Cornell University and has previously served on the Cornell University Council. Having lived and worked in Latin America, Tamar speaks fluent Spanish. When she’s not advising students or visiting colleges, you can find Tamar hiking, biking, skiing or spending time with her friends and family.

Andrew Wilburn

• BA in English Literature, Seattle University, 2009
• MA in Higher Education Student Administration, 2013
• UC Irvine Independent Educational Consulting Certification in Progress

Andrew has worked in higher education for over 15 years in a variety of roles and institutions at small private liberal arts college, rural community college, and a gigantic land grant public universities. He has worked in student affairs, admissions, and academic advising. Additionally, he has provided private tutoring for standardized test prep for over 10 years. Currently, Andrew works as a senior academic advisor supporting online undergraduate and graduate students at Boise State University. In the community Andrew serves the Boise Climbing Association helping to manage the organization’s social media on Instagram. In his free time Andrew regularly tests gravity whilst trail running, mountain biking, rock climbing, and backcountry skiing.