#5 – CDI Press Release

Schermbeck Consulting Helps D.C. Group Expand College Advising Services For Low-Income Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 29, 2016

(Charlotte, NC) – Collegiate Directions, Inc. (CDI), a non-profit from the DC area is embarking on a three-year pilot to expand their college advising consulting services as a result of their work with Schermbeck Consulting, a Charlotte-based social impact consulting firm. On October 18, 2016, after an 8-month partnership, CDI’s board unanimously approved Schermbeck Consulting’s business plan and financial model to aid in their new strategic direction.

“We are grateful to Greg Schermbeck and his team for the research, analysis, and guidance provided during this business planning process. Greg was diligent and responsive. He took the time to understand our specific context, interviewed a variety of stakeholders, and developed a plan that will allow us to support school counselors helping students to and through college, while we maintain the strong work we already do directly with students, “ said Rachel Pfeifer, President of CDI.

Nationwide, only 9% of low-income students enrolled in college will graduate. 97% of CDI scholars graduate from college within their Direct Scholar program. CDI’s new consulting service will work with schools nationwide to implement the processes and systems that they’ve leveraged to be successful.

“It was an absolute privilege to help CDI explore this new initiative to increase college graduation for our youth,” said Greg Schermbeck, Founder of Schermbeck Consulting. “CDI has an incredible track record of helping scholars from low-income communities access and graduate from college. It was exciting to help them test and plan for a new adult-facing service to build capacity within schools, districts, and educational organizations to have an even greater impact.”

CDI will officially begin the pilot program in January 2017 and will support college-advising offices nationwide.

To fulfill their commitment as a social impact consulting firm, Schermbeck Consulting, with the guidance of CDI, made a financial contribution to Generation Hope, a Washington, D.C. based 501(c)3 that aims to reduce poverty one family at a time.

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Schermbeck Consulting

Charlotte, NC

Media Contacts & Interview Inquiries: Lori Schermbeck, Director of Operations – lori@schermbeckconsulting.com

Schermbeck Consulting is a social impact consulting firm working with partners toward an educational utopia. We reinvest a percentage of our time / funds back into the communities we serve. Learn more at schermbeck.co