Meet Our Team

Ethan Voight

Owner & Executive Director

Ethan Voight began his journey with Sylvan of Chesapeake in 2019 as a Tutor and Administrative Assistant. A Regent University graduate with a B.S. in Elementary Education, he previously taught 3rd Grade in Virginia Beach and Suffolk Public Schools before purchasing Sylvan of Suffolk with his wife in 2025. As Executive Director, Ethan oversees educational programs, staff development, center operations, and compliance to ensure every student’s experience is both meaningful and effective. He lives in Franklin, Virginia with his wife, Genesis (Gen), and their Australian Labradoodle, Maple, and enjoys spending time at local coffee shops, traveling, and connecting with friends and family.

Genesis Mendez-Voight

Owner & Director of Admissions

Genesis (Gen) Mendez-Voight joined Sylvan in 2022 as a tutor while studying at Regent University, where she earned her B.S. in Early Elementary Education in 2024. She went on to serve as Director of Education at Sylvan of Chesapeake before becoming Center Director at Sylvan of Suffolk. In October 2025, Gen and her husband proudly purchased Sylvan of Suffolk with the hopes of continuing the center’s legacy. She is often the first face new families meet, ensuring a smooth and welcoming start while helping expand Sylvan’s presence across Suffolk and Western Tidewater. Outside of Sylvan, she enjoys time with her husband and their dog, as well as pickleball, hiking, and the arts. Gen is also fluent in Spanish.

Cheryl Olsen

Director of Operations

Cheryl Olsen began her Sylvan journey in 2022 as a Math Tutor and now serves as our Director of Operations. She holds a B.S. in Secondary Math Education and previously taught in the DoDEA school system overseas before bringing her expertise to Sylvan. In her role, Cheryl oversees our human resources and billing operations, scheduling for our North Suffolk location, enrollments, and data tracking. Known for her precision and heart for student success, she loves building meaningful relationships and helping students grow in confidence. Outside of Sylvan, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her family and traveling the world—she’s even lived abroad!

Rica Kevorkian

Assistant Director, Central Suffolk

Rica Kevorkian is the Assistant Director at Sylvan Learning of Suffolk. Originally from the Philippines, she lived in California and New York before settling in Virginia. She holds a B.S. from the University of Virginia, a Special Education license from Old Dominion University, and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University. Rica spent 15 years working in Virginia’s public school system and later taught at an international school in Kuwait before joining Sylvan in the summer of 2025. In her role as Assistant Director, she supports Ethan in maintaining the integrity of our educational programs and serves as Site Lead for our satellite center in Central Suffolk. Her favorite part of Sylvan is collaborating with the team and tailoring learning plans to meet each student’s needs. Outside of Sylvan, Rica enjoys reading and spending time with her family and friends.

Amieé Smith

Center Assistant, North Suffolk

Amieé Smith is the Center Assistant at Sylvan Learning of Suffolk, bringing over 20 years of experience supporting students across Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Suffolk. Born in Virginia and having spent several years in California before returning home, she earned her Associate’s Degree from Tidewater Community College and her B.S. in Math and Science Education from Old Dominion University. As Center Assistant and Lead Tutor, Amieé supports Cheryl in processing enrollments, prepares daily learning materials, leads our SAT and ACT programs, and checks students in for their sessions. Her favorite part of tutoring is witnessing those memorable “light-bulb moments” during challenging math lessons. Outside of Sylvan, she enjoys building Legos, working on puzzles, and crafting.

Julie is our Lead Tutor at the North Suffolk location. As a gifted teacher for Portsmouth Public Schools, she expertise in meeting each students’ individual needs. Friendly and kind, Julie checks students in to their sessions and helps to build each students’ confidence. When Julie isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her spending time with her daughter or playing bells at her local church.

JoAnne is our Tutor Assistant at the North Suffolk location. She is a retired reading specialist with over 40 years of teaching experience in public schools across New York and Virginia. Her expertise in literacy allows her to work with each of our elementary students one on one to practice decoding and comprehension skills. When JoAnne isn’t at Sylvan, she enjoys spending time with her grandkids.

Nancy is a Tutor at the North Suffolk location. She has a license in Special Education and in Elementary Education. Nancy has taught in public schools across Florida and Virginia, and she currently serves students at Hampton High School. Her expertise with diverse learners fuels her belief that every student can learn. When Nancy isn’t at Sylvan, she enjoys spending time with family in Florida.

Dr. Brindle Darden

Tutor, North Suffolk

Dr. Brindle began her tutoring journey with Sylvan in 2011. She recently returned and has a renewed passion for supporting student success. She holds a Doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Instructional Leadership along with three additional degrees that reflect her deep commitment to education and lifelong learning. She is the Senior Coordinator in the Department of Learning Support with Norfolk Public Schools and is a Professor in the College of Education at Grand Canyon University. Her work centers on supporting students, educators, and administrators through effective, supportive learning practices. When Dr. Brindle is not at Sylvan, she enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as volunteering with the American Heart Association.