Our Team
Eric Dobler
Founder & Independent College Advisor
Eric founded Dobler College Consulting in October 2011 after spending twelve years working with college-bound high school students and their families as a college admissions counselor and academic advisor. When he was in high school, Eric never had a plan. He never thought about the college process as a dedicated search. He never prepared for the SAT, let alone stressed out about it, and didn't tour either school he applied to until he was up against the May 1st confirmation deadline. It wasn't until he was in college when he started to realize his potential and stared putting it all together. As much as Eric enjoyed his college experience, he knows he missed out on a lot simply because he had no one to help him figure it all out.
Because of the path Eric’s life took, he believes it is important for students to seek out colleges where they will excel academically and socially without having to spend excessive amounts of money to do it.
Eric regularly attends professional conferences and tours numerous college campuses every year. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Master of Science in Counselor Education with a concentration in Student Development in Higher Education from Central Connecticut State University. He is a professional member of IECA where he currently serves on the Business Practices Committee and where he previously served on the College Committee from 2020-2022. Eric is also a board member of the Cheshire Education Foundation, which raises money to support student scholarships and special projects for teachers.
Eric can often be found on the beach lost in a book, is a self-proclaimed master chef (in-training), and loves to ski. Eric currently resides in Cheshire, Connecticut with his wife, Amanda, their two boys, Brady and Kasen, and their dog, Baxter.
eric@doblercollegeconsulting.com
C: 203.525.4096
Lynne Bossart
Independent College Advisor
Lynne brings seven years of college advising experience from her former practice, Muse College Consulting. After a career in office administration, she decided to pursue her passion for helping young people realize their potential through higher education. Having taken a circuitous route to earning her own college degree, she is committed to helping students achieve their post-secondary goals through informed guidance and counseling. While successfully guiding her two daughters (now 25 and 27) through the college admissions process, she experienced first-hand what an overwhelming task it can be for both students and their parents, and works closely with families to make the transition as stress-free as possible.
A long-time advocate of literacy, arts integration, higher education and college access, Lynne has volunteered extensively in the public schools and regularly offers college counseling workshops at her local library. In addition to her work as an independent college advisor, she is the college counselor for the Legacy Foundation of Hartford, a non-profit college access organization serving Hartford area youth.
Lynne regularly attends professional conferences and tours numerous college campuses every year. She holds a Certificate in College Counseling, with Distinction, from the University of California-Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts in Music History & Theory from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Lynne has professional affiliations with NACAC and its regional affiliate NEACAC, and is a professional member of IECA, where she serves on the Subcommittee on College Affordability and Financial Aid. She also serves on the Simsbury Connecticut Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.
Lynne loves to travel, is a medieval history nerd and an arts devotee. She lives in Simsbury, Connecticut with her cat, Marcel. She has lived in two foreign countries and speaks fluent French.
lynne@doblercollegeconsulting.com
C: 320.282.6237
Lara Poulios
Independent College Advisor
Lara has been an Independent College Advisor for seven years, working with students nationwide to guide them through college list development and the application process. During her training, she worked at a performing arts magnet high school, where she loved counseling students over the thunderous sound of tap dance classes held in the next room. It was there that Lara gained expertise in the unique college application process for students interested in theater, dance, music, and the visual arts.
Lara received her B.S. in Business Administration from Bryant University and earned a College Counseling Certification with Distinction from UCLA. She is affiliated with NEACAC and is a professional member of IECA, serving on the Finance Committee. In 2021, Lara earned the designation of International University Advocate through NACAC by demonstrating the ability to support students pursuing a college education outside the United States. She also participates in multiple professional development conferences and campus tours throughout the year.
Before she entered the world of college advising, Lara worked for twelve years in financial services, directing a team that developed corporate marketing and sales presentations.
An active member of the CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce in Glastonbury, Lara currently serves on its Board of Directors. She has participated in various volunteer roles in her local school system as well as the parent organization for the Kingswood Oxford School, an independent day school in West Hartford, Connecticut. Most recently, she has had the joy of mentoring students through the Matchlighter’s Scholarship program.
Lara is a music buff and has absolutely useless expertise in music trivia. She’ll challenge anyone to beat her in identifying 5-second clips of music from the ‘80s and beyond. In fact, she triumphed in a few intense music trivia contests, much to the dismay of her fellow cruise ship passengers who were just trying to enjoy a relaxing evening in the ship lounge.
When she’s not searching for a new Spotify playlist, Lara loves to watch the Red Sox, pick vegetables from the garden, and cook. Lara lives in southeast Connecticut with her husband and two sons, both of whom successfully completed the college application process and landed at Northeastern University in Boston.
Ashley McClain
Independent College Advisor
Originally from New Haven, Ashley graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration. After several years working in the social service industry as a resource advocate and social worker, she felt the need to shift gears. Ashley acquired a job in college admissions.
During that time, Ashley traveled to various parts of the country assisting students in the college selection process. She also found a passion working with pre-college programming having developed several programs to allow high school students in getting a jumpstart on their educational career by taking collegiate level classes prior to graduating from high school. Ashley has over 10 years experience in higher education that includes undergraduate enrollment, part-time enrollment, event planning and financial aid. Ashley truly enjoys the opportunity to work closely with students as they prepare to take this next big step in their lives.
Ashley enjoys volunteering her time with organizations that are close to her heart such as the ALS Association of CT, the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Program and various Autism organizations both locally and nationally. Ashley is also an advocate for those in the special needs community. In addition, Ashley has been a life-long dancer, choreographer and a dance team coach for over five years.
Ashley resides in North Branford, Connecticut with her husband Josh, and their two children, Leigha and Colton.