It all began in 2004, in a small corner of her husband’s spare office in Naples, Florida. After retiring and relocating to Naples in 2002, Debbie quickly realized that leisure alone wasn’t enough—she missed the fulfillment of working with students. Bored with retirement and eager to make a difference again, she decided to turn her passion into purpose.

With 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in the Greenwich, Connecticut School System, Debbie aimed to positively impact children's lives in Naples. She asked her husband, Bob, if she could have a name like the company that he was associated with – A+ Conferencing. "In education, it is desirable to achieve an A+," she stated. He immediately acquired two domains and arranged for the building of a company website.

Soon after, a family with several children who needed assistance with their homework contacted Debbie, and just like that, she was in business. Before long, the inquiries outpaced what she could manage alone, prompting her to recruit a team of highly qualified tutors to help meet the growing demand. Coincidentally, a new office building was being finished in the office complex where Bob had his office. Debbie and Bob, each with their own offices, were the first tenants, and the rest is history! A+ Skills continued to grow, even in the face of the 2007 recession and the lingering aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Debbie was offering tutoring in all subjects at all levels of academic achievement, as well as SAT and ACT college prep. A+ Skills also provided tutoring assistance for many special needs children.

In 2017, Debbie began to feel the strain of running the company alone and decided to sell it to a promising young man, Addam Cohn. Debbie mentored Addam for several months, and shortly after stepping away from the company, Addam requested her to return as a part-time Education Director, a role she gladly accepted. Under Addam’s leadership, the company flourished, integrating various digital tools, such as an online customer relationship management system and exceptional Zoom services, to enhance efficiency.

In 2020, Addam’s family relocated from Florida to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Texas. Intrigued by the opportunity to expand A+ Skills’ reach, Addam began to explore this promising new market. After thoroughly researching the area and identifying a strong demand for quality educational services, he decided that opening an office in Keller, a suburb of Fort Worth, would be a smart move—just as Debbie had once done in Florida.

Starting as a one-man operation, Addam quickly gained traction after a Texas family learned of his services through a Florida family’s referral. With his broad expertise in tutoring nearly every subject, Addam quickly became a trusted resource for Texas families. His approachable and supportive teaching style resonated with students, leading to even more referrals and rapid growth.

As demand increased, Addam opened another office in Southlake, just outside of Fort Worth, to better serve his expanding client base. Meanwhile, he entrusted the Naples, Florida office to Zach Harter—a hardworking and dedicated recent Purdue University graduate with a degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. Zach not only upheld Addam’s high standards but also introduced new technologies and innovative approaches to further elevate the company’s services.

The introduction of Zoom tutoring expanded A+ Skills’ reach, broadening A+ Skills’ horizons and connecting the company with students across the country and even internationally. But Addam saw another need: many families wanted comprehensive College Planning support alongside test prep. In response, he launched the Admission to College (ATC) program, offering guidance on college selection, applications, essays, interviews, financial aid and scholarships, campus visits, and more.

Thanks to Addam’s leadership, the ATC program has flourished. So far during the 2024-25 school year, A+ Skills has helped numerous client students gain acceptance to their dream schools, with an impressive total of over $1.5 million in financial aid secured, excluding Florida Bright Futures Scholarships.

The A+ Skills Story is a testament of how passion and dedication can transform a simple idea into a thriving educational enterprise. Debbie and Addam’s joint vision of fostering academic excellence through customized one-on-one tutoring and counseling has spurred the growth of A+ Skills, making it a cornerstone of educational support in the community and beyond. Their relentless pursuit of quality education ensures that each child receives personalized attention, empowering them to achieve their full potential.

The growth and success of A+ Skills serves as a beacon of inspiration, highlighting the impact of quality education on society. The story of A+ Skills is not just about business success; it's about the profound difference it has made in the lives of thousands of students and the enduring legacy of two passionate educators, as well as the management, tutoring, and coaching teams that support them.

Only in America!