Meet Our Team

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 (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, which she and her husband, Ethan, proudly purchased in 2025. As Director of Admissions & Marketing, Gen 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 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 teacher and student scheduling for our North Suffolk and Central Suffolk locations, billing, enrollments, and revenue tracking, while supervising the tutoring team and ensuring the center runs efficiently. 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 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 oversees 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.

Amiee Smith is the Center Assistant and Lead Tutor 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, Amiee 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.