He enjoys traveling a lot; which makes him an international worker, who finds joy in meeting new people and learning different cultures. He strives to always keep a positive attitude and has the ability to inspire confidence in any person and is always ready to offer his help. Lenka Culikova: Business Development Manager – Eastern Europe, Turkey, Vietnam, Thailand Lenka was born and raised in the heart of Europe, city called Banska Bystrica, located in a small, but picturesque country of Slovakia. She holds a Master degree in Economics and Management from University Nitra. Before joining Tamwood, she worked as a sales and marketing staff member in worldwide retail chain. Her position at Tamwood is a Business Development Manager for Central and Eastern Europe and Far East. You can meet her at one of the upcoming industry workshops or sales trips, as she travels extensively in order to develop her markets. In personal life, she loves skiing and has big passion for fashion. Connie Ip: Work Programs Coordinator Connie was raised in Vancouver and had worked in Japan and Hong Kong before. From her overseas living experience, she understands new culture can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time and she is more than happy to assist you in all aspects. Connie will be helping students of Tamwood with their internships and co-ops. She enjoys many outdoor activities such as snowboarding, golfing and camping. Her travel to Asia and Europe has enriched her appreciation of diverse cultures and life. Sarah Tam: Customer Experience Coordinator Sarah was born and raised in downtown Toronto and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing from Ryerson University. She is the Customer Experience Coordinator for GO International and works with participants who are looking for work once they arrive in Canada. She also manages the GO International Outbound programs to assist Canadians interested in going abroad. Sarah’s background is focused on marketing and international business. She loves music and dance and has travelled to parts of Europe and North America. She particularly enjoys learning about new cultures, languages and meeting new people from around the world. Claudia Wu: Work Placements Coordinator Claudia was born and raised in Toronto and received a Bachelor of Applied Sciences degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto. As the Work Placements Coordinator, she is responsible for helping Work Program participants with the interview process and continuously works with host employers to bring new opportunities to GO International programs. With a passion for traveling and exploring new cultures (traveled to 30 countries and counting!), Claudia has backpacked solo across Asia, Africa, Europe, North and Central America. Having recently moved to Vancouver, she can usually be found biking around/exploring the city or playing volleyball during her spare time. Claudia loves learning about new cultures and is looking forward to meeting participants from around the world. Tina Barzo: Volunteer Programs Coordinator Tina Barzo is a graduate of Marketing and Ecotourism Management with 15-year experience working in communications, fund development, community engagement and volunteer program management with conservation and environmental nonprofits in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta and the federal government for the past 7 years. She is also a graduate of Leadership Calgary, and was recognized with the Leadership in Volunteer Management Award in 2009. Her recent three month trip to New Zealand, where she volunteered for a coastal restoration project, has re-inspired her to study voluntourism and dive into her new job at Tamwood/Go International! Scott Robertson: Program Advisor As the Work Placement Coordinator and Program Advisor for Go International's Toronto location, Scott Robertson has spent most of his working life in the Employment Services field. Scott's experiences include owning and operating an Executive Recruitment Company based in Toronto and more recently Managing a Youth employment office for a non-profit Toronto Employment services organization. Scott has a BA in Psychology as well as a Bachelor of Social Work degree and has completed all the necessary coursework for a Masters in Conflict Resolution. With a passion for culture, travel and teaching/coaching, Scott looks forward to helping our Canadian visitors make the most of their Canadian experience. Kaz Futawatari: Vancouver Campus Manager You all made an incredibly good decision to come learn English here in Vancouver!!! Take advantage of every opportunity you have, especially the ones that you would never ever even think of doing if you were back home. This is your time to let go, experience a different side of life, find out who you are, be challenged, make tons of friends, get lost and then find your way home, be scared, but realize that you are in a safe place, and just learn and love learning. You are amazing for choosing to be here and I am SO EXCITED to meet all of you! Shelley Quinn: Whistler Campus Manager Shelley has been an active member of the Whistler business community since 1997, and owned and operated a Golf and Ski Tour Company prior to starting with Tamwood. After graduating from the University of Western Ontario in the late 1980's with an honours degree in French Language and Literature, Shelley completed a Diploma in Business Administration at Wilfred Laurier University. After graduation it was off to travel and work in various countries around the world, including Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, France, China and India. With a true passion for languages, Shelley speaks fluent French, along with basic Spanish and rudimentary Italian and Japanese. Favorite activities include many of the sports that Whistler has to offer, including skiing, cross-country skiing, biking, running, hiking, tennis, yoga. Whistler is an awesome place to live, work, play, and study… to make new and lasting friendships and everlasting memories. Drew Irwin: Toronto Campus Manager Drew joined Tamwood International College in the spring of 2011, in the role of Campus Manager for Tamwood Toronto. It has been an exciting and productive time, and he is looking forward to many more years with this prestigious organization. Drew embarked on his teaching career over six years ago after spending years in the entertainment and event industries. In some ways, the parallels are remarkably similar in spirit although fundamentally different in theory. Most importantly, Drew is delighted to share cultural values and ideas with students from around the globe, and to share his love for the English language. Rachel Elizabeth McKim: Toronto Office Administrator Rachel has lived in the Yonge and Eglinton neighborhood for over 15 years, which has proven to be a huge advantage as she welcomes new students to the Toronto Tamwood Campus every Monday. Rachel loves getting to know the students during their Monday morning orientation, as she helps them learn the ropes of the campus and introduces them to the neighborhood hot spots. Many students refer to her as their “Big Sister in Toronto” because they can always go to her for information or advice on any topic!