top of page

ABOUT US

Synergy & Associates ("Synergy") provides innovative and strategic consulting services for postsecondary training facilities and institutions of higher learning. Our consultants are seasoned industry experts with more than 40 years of combined experience in campus operations, administration, management of single and multi-campus institutions and training facilities, and institutional compliance with accrediting agencies; state authorization; distance education (online) requirements; Title IV, HEA Student Financial Assistance (FSA) Programs; authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; state approving agencies and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' veterans education (VA) benefit programs; state/federal military tuition assistance programs; and various student financing programs. We have extensive technical and practical hands-on experience with various systems such as:

​

  • Student information systems (e.g., CampusNexus, Banner, PeopleSoft);

  • Financial Aid systems (e.g., PowerFAIDS, Diamond, Education Partners);

  • Federal Student Aid systems (EdConnect, EDESuite, FAA Access to CPS Online, COD, NSLDS, StudentAid.gov, etc.);

  • VA-ONCE for veterans' education benefits;

  • Military Portals for tuition assistance programs;

  • ETPL sites for WIOA-eligible training programs;

  • Learning management systems (e.g., Blackboard, Canvas)

​

We believe in providing and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, ethical and professional standards; creating partnerships with a purpose, and striving to help schools mitigate risks and achieve their objectives.

MEET THE TEAM

CHRIS LEE

Founder and Principal Consultant

Principal Consultant

Chris has 20 years of higher education management experience in proprietary and nonprofit institutions. He is well-versed in institutional compliance; Title IV (Federal Student Aid), VA Education Benefit, DOD Tuition Assistance Programs, and non-Title IV Student Assistance Programs; Business Analysis & Process Optimization; Policies & Procedures Development; Training & Development; and Project Management.

​

Prior to establishing Synergy & Associates, LLC, In 2018, his career began in 2002 as the Director of Financial Aid for a private trade school in Nevada. Over the years, he has worked in postsecondary education for several institutions with campuses located California, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Omaha, Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas. He has served as Chair of a Catalog Committee, and successfully lead and managed a number of initiatives and projects during the course of his career while serving in various roles including - 

​

  • Corporate Financial Aid Compliance Officer

  • Director of Financial Aid & Veteran Services

  • Director of Financial Aid Training, Compliance & Services

  • Assistant Vice President of Financial Aid Training & Corporate Development

  • Vice President of Financial Aid, Compliance and Services

    • Interim Campus President

  • Chief Financial Officer (Commercial Services company)

ANNE HOPE

AH-B&W.jpg

Senior Consultant

Anne has 20+ years of higher education administration and management experience with public, private, and nonprofit institutions. She has extensive experience in federal student aid (including initial institutional eligibility), Title IV compliance audit, program reviews, student accounts, institutional and programmatic accreditation, catalog review, distance education (online courses), institutional compliance, and all aspects of student services. Additionally, Anne provides training in a variety of areas such as verification, file review, accreditation, online practices, and staff development.

​

Early in her career, she was a sports newspaper columnist, college professor, and division I college basketball coach. She is the award-winning author of Bent Pages.

bottom of page