Our Management Team

Rick Byrd, Chief Executive Officer
Rick's entrepreneurial career has included leadership and ownership roles in multiple industries such as energy, real estate, and textile goods.  While his business experience extends over many different industries covering both domestic and international markets, one thing has remained constant--Rick's focus on delivering only the best products/services to customers and then backing them up with exemplary customer service.  "This simple business philosophy is what separates average companies from great ones.  If you provide the best, at a reasonable price, everything else tends to take care of itself."  While holding to these core values, Rick has developed a solid record of success building companies with great reputations in customer service and reliability.

Rick's involvement in CAA is a natural progression resulting from his passion for helping people, especially kids, reach their full potential.  This passion started in the 80's when he began serving as a volunteer in Young Life, a ministry focused on helping high school students.   Rick has also served as a discipleship leader in his local church, where he attends with his wife, Lori and their three children.
 
Rick's oldest son has already completed the CAA Program and is now enrolled in college.  His daughter is currently enrolled in the CAA Program and his youngest soon will start when he enters eighth grade.  Rick graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in business and accounting.  

“I love the mission of CAA. Investing in the lives of people through the services CAA offers to kids across America is infinitely more rewarding than anything I’ve ever done.” 

 

Lane Phillips, Chief Financial Officer
Through his broad range of experiences from Fortune 200 companies to smaller start-ups, Lane brings a vast perspective on business operations.  With over twenty years of experience in corporate finance, operations, and mergers and acquisitions, he has worked in technology, energy, distribution, and professional services industries with a focus on middle market and growth companies.  Lane has a BA from the University of Alabama and a MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University.  Lane and his wife have three school-aged children. He is actively involved in their church, their children’s school, and community activities.

Marilu Rios Kernan, Chief Marketing Officer
Marilu’s unique background of financial and marketing expertise began with her career as a CPA with Price Waterhouse.  Other positions held during her financial career include Chief Financial Officer at an architectural firm and Head of Office for a Fortune 200 financial services firm.  Her desire to serve prompted her to return to college and pursue a Masters in Counseling.   In 1998, she combined her new found knowledge with her passion for helping kids into a marketing position with a leading college planning firm.   Since then, she has spent the last decade serving in various leadership positions in the education industry ranging from Regional Marketing Manager to Senior Vice President.  Marilu is presently serving as a Board Member for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce.   She chairs the Jeanne Bellamy Scholarship Committee in Miami and has served as a judge for National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship. 

“My passion for what we do is personal. I was first introduced to the college planning industry ten years ago when my daughter was in the 8th grade.  As a result of our team and our process, my daughter attended Skidmore College with a financial aid package that covered 85% of the cost of college with less than $2500 per year in loans.  Elizabeth is a successful editor today living her dream career in New York City.  All I know is that this would have never happened if it wasn’t for the expert advice of her college planning coaching team.”

 

Lee Sechrist, Executive Vice President
As one of the founders of CAA, Lee brings over twenty years of organizational leadership and management experience to the company.  He is a native Texan and a graduate of Texas A&M University.  Lee began his career in management as an officer in the United States Army and served as a US Army Ranger.  He earned many awards and decorations to include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Bronze Star.  In the business sector, Lee has held sales and management positions at all levels in both private and public companies with a concentration in the for-profit education sector.   Lee and his wife Sherri have two teenagers enrolled in the CAA program, are both active in their children’s school, and in their church’s youth group.

“We are in the business of changing students’ lives for the better.   This is a responsibility  that we take very seriously.  Every student that joins our program is a gift from God and we provide them with the same level of love and commitment as we do our own children.  I think I have the absolute best job on the planet!”

 

David Russell, Chief Information Officer
As a founder of CAA, David brings over twenty plus years of finance and information systems management to the company.  He began his career in the banking and lending industries in the areas of software application, development and support.  David has spent the last decade in key leadership roles for education companies where his primary focus has been on leveraging the latest technology to help students and parents through the college planning process.  He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington.  David and his wife have been married for over twenty five years and have been actively involved in the children’s and student ministries of their church for over two decades.  Their teenage son is enrolled in CAA’s program and is very active in sports.

“Without a program like ours many students will wander through life looking for where they fit in.  With timely guidance, direction, and encouragement we can help a student down the path that will lead to a college education and doing something they really enjoy.”