Founder and Director of Pathway to College, Cheryl B. Smith, has a MBA from Wake Forest University and a BS from Virginia Tech.   She has served in executive leadership roles in corporate environments like General Electric, Wachovia, and Hatteras Yachts.  She worked for General Electric during the Jack Welch era and earned her Six Sigma Blackbelt during this time.  She is a firm believer of Jack Welch’s philosophies about “Winning”, “Candor” and “Differentiation”.  

Ms. Smith’s college planning success is attributed to her ability to partner with students and parents to help the student maximize his or her potential.  Throughout her career she has coached and mentored many young adults.  Ms. Smith spends a significant amount of time each year visiting college campuses across the nation to best facilitate matches between her clients and potential campuses.

Ms. Smith is an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA); a member of the Southern Association for College Admissions Counseling (SACAC); a member of the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Coastal Women's Forum, a member of New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club and a Director for the NC Coastal Land Trust. She will complete the Independent Educational Consultant Certificate Program at University of California Irvine in 2010 and is also a candidate to receive the Certified Education Planner (CEP) designation.