Our mission at ALC is to help our students achieve their dreams for a better future. In order to accomplish this we take great pride in having the greatest staff possible!

Sara Carlson

Sara Carlson is a New York native that recently traded in grey skies & snow for sun & sand. Sara was a Rotary International Youth Exchange student and studied in Nokia, Finland. After her study abroad experience, she attended SUNY Fredonia and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology.

Sara joined the ALC family in July of 2008 as our Education Coordinator. When she is not maintaining the schedules of our private tutors and students, you can find Sara at the beach or on the water. She loves the Florida weather and is slowly but surely recruiting her NY family & friends to the Sunshine State.

Michele Gauthier

Born and raised in Vermont, Michele moved to St. Petersburg in 2002 to attend Eckerd College. Her time with ALC began then as a private tutor for students in the office and at Academy Prep, St. Pete campus.  Leaving Eckerd with an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and minors in Human Development & Psychology, she moved to Providence, RI to pursue her true passion – education.  Teaching full-time and completing graduate coursework, she graduated from Brown University’s MAT program with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education.

Missing Florida, Michele moved back to St. Pete where she and her boyfriend can enjoy outdoor entertainment year round. She is currently ALC's Director of Education, taking responsibility for program development, tutor training, professional development and supervision as well as meeting and working with families and students helping them achieve their goals for a better future.

Abby Sterensis

Abby Sterensis was born and raised in the Tampa Bay Area, one of the few real Florida natives! She attended the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in finance and a minor in entrepreneurship.  After college she moved to Sydney, Australia and received her MBA from the University of Technology, Sydney. While Australia was an amazing country, she always loved and missed home, so after completing her degree she moved back to the US and headed north to Philadelphia. In Philadelphia she worked at a non-profit which furthered her passion for giving back to the community.  However, winter in the Northeast is rough for someone with thin Florida blood, so Abby decided to return home to Florida and join the family business! Her life experiences and business background were a great combination for a successful transition into the role of Director of Community Outreach. 

In her free time Abby loves spending time with her family and friends, playing and watching sports, traveling whenever possible, cooking, and soaking up the Florida sunshine! She is so happy to be back in sunny, warm Florida and thrilled to be part of the ALC family! 

Joe Sterensis

Joe Sterensis was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y.  A child of immigrant parents, displaced survivors in post war Europe, Joe grew up with a deep appreciation for the value of education as a way out of the cycle of poverty.  Joe graduated from Long Island University with a Bachelor’s Degree and became a Physician Assistant. A true entrepreneur, Joe had a successful 20 year career in the medical field, first in a private Neurology practice in St. Petersburg and later as the co-founder and Director of Preferred Diagnostic Services a medical diagnostic and oxygen company.  In 1995 Joe sold this company, retired from the field of medicine, and turned his lifelong passion for learning into the creation of ALC - Advanced Learning Centers. 

Joe has overseen ALC's growth from it’s humble beginnings in St. Petersburg as a private tutoring company, to State-Approved-Provider of Supplemental Education Services throughout much of the State of Florida, all while maintaining the superior levels of service excellence that all of our clients have come to expect.

Jennifer Sterling

Jennifer was born in Puerto Rico but was raised in the Orlando area where she attended the University of Central Flolrida. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in International Relations she worked locally in administration and management before deciding to move to South Korea to teach English at a private English academy in Seoul. She taught classes to students ranging from five to fifteen years old and developed a passion for education. After her time in Seoul, she traveled further through Southeast Asia and into Australia and gained a love and understanding of other cultures and people.

Jennifer returned to Orlando and hoped to find a position where she could use her management background and continue to work in education. She considers herself extremely lucky to be working back in her hometown, in a field she loves, for a company as wonderful as ALC!

Kristen Stone

As a native of the Orlando area, Kristen Stone grew up in Altamonte Springs, just a few short minutes from the ALC Central Florida office.  She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (GO KNIGHTS!) and from the University of Florida in 2006 with a Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience (GO GATORS!).  While completing her Master’s degree at UF, she taught many courses to undergraduate students and discovered her love of the education process.

Kristen and her husband now live in Winter Park with a lovable dog and a portentous cat. They enjoy entertaining friends, playing sports, and spending time with their close-knit family on the weekends.  Kristen currently oversees the ALC Central Florida operations.  She has truly found a company to call “home” with ALC!

Dennis Topping

Dennis is ALC’s CFO/Controller. Dennis earned his undergraduate Accounting degree at Penn State University and his M.B.A. from the University of South Florida. After working many years with Joe Sterensis in the medical industry, Dennis signed on for a second tour of duty with Joe and has been with ALC since 2005. He and his family reside in St. Petersburg and enjoy boating, cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers, home improvement projects (yes, really!) and spending time with family and friends.