With his extensive and decorated experience in identifying natural strengths and addressing limitations, Dr. Brandon Heck founded EXCEL Assessments to help local youth in these areas. “There are a lot of tutoring centers in the area, so obviously parents care about the success of their kids,” Brandon said. “Parents want their children to do well; they’ve invested in sports camps, invested in tutoring, but there is a blind spot in their junior and senior year as a high school student, in between high school and college or right after high school before going into the workforce,” he continued.
“Some parents have done career assessments for their child – and this is not that. My services talk about how the students are wired, the things they are good at, the way they interact with people, deal with stress, how they’re doing a great job and how to use that to get ahead,” Brandon explained. It’s called emotional intelligence and Brandon explains it is simply a “person’s ability to understand and moderate their emotions” so they can be more effective in relationships, school, work and life. His services are “very different but very important.” The challenge is getting people to recognize what emotional intelligence is and why it is essential.
Brandon explained the difference is that career assessments give you the roads to get somewhere and that’s it. “But what happens if you get a flat tire or a car comes in your lane? Instead of simply where you need to go, let’s come up with a plan of how to get there,” he said. That’s where Excel Assessments comes in.
“Students don’t recognize how stressed they’re getting until they feel it,” Brandon said. A goal they might come up with is to learn to put their foot on the break, recognize their warning signs of stress and how to deal with it through things like breathing exercises or visualization.
Brandon uses a very simple strategy when working with his students. He first meets with the student via an online video conference – this way they’re on their own territory and can become more comfortable with the process. From this meeting, he identifies the areas the student is good at and areas that need improvement. The student will then take two web-based assessments they can take at their convenience. The first test is on personality attributes and the second is on emotional intelligence. There are no right or wrong answers – just discovering who they are with no pressure.
Brandon then takes the results, a series of graphs, and creates a story to give the student. “Many career assessments give you a printout and that’s all,” Brandon said. “I create a detailed report with personalized plans for the student.” The report is discussed with the student in person. They collaboratively come up with three or four goals that are important to them and the steps to those goals. The next steps are periodic coaching sessions in person or through video conference, monitoring the student’s progress towards their goals.
While in graduate school, Brandon worked with underprivileged young adults; he knew he would again in the future. That’s why he gives back a portion of his time for free. For each four assessments, Brandon donates one assessment to a youth in need – ideally one that is interested in joining the military. Although Brandon has a doctorate in clinical psychology, his services are not therapy, medical treatment or psychological therapy. Through Excel Assessments, Brandon is oftentimes a voice of reason for these young adults and helps them take ownership of their growth.
For more information on Excel Assessments, visit excelassessments.com or contact Dr. Brandon Heck at [email protected]
A board-certified psychologist- Dr. Heck would rather his students call him Brandon, he’s a relatable person with an extremely interesting background. Originally from Rome, NY, Brandon always had a desire to go into the Naval Academy. After a brief stint in pre-med, Brandon realized his educational path was not playing into his strengths. Brandon switched gears and acquired his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Psychology from Loyola University in Maryland. It was during an internship at a VA hospital working with PTSD patients, in which his desire to join the military was reawakened.
Brandon received advanced training in assessment methods in the U.S. Navy, acting as the primary psychology consultant to a strike group admiral on the USS George H.W. Buch (CVN 77). Afterward he served in a rare and coveted position with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Special Operations Command where he became focused on assessments.
