Meet the Work Programs Staff

	Benjamin L. Baney, Work and Travel Employer Services Coordinator Benjamin graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and minor in Political Science. After graduation, he worked as a paralegal at an immigration law firm in Ohio, and gained valuable experience working with marriage, asylum, V.A.W.A. (violence against women’s act), and citizenship applications for immigrants. He cares deeply about the immigration and environmental issues of the day. Ben is a devout Chelsea Football Club fan, and enjoys any outdoor activity.
	Marcelle Benedicta, Work Programs Employer Relations Manager Marcelle obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications/Public Relations from Marquette University and her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago. She brings together her experiences in sales, marketing, and public relations to the Work Programs department. Marcelle has done homestay programs as well as traveled across Western Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Aside from planning events for the Beta Gamma Sigma Chicagoland Alumni Chapter and attending networking events, she likes to learn Italian, try new restaurants, go karaoke, and cuddle with her black pug, Toro.
	Elizabeth Brennan, Work and Travel Business Development Specialist Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Elizabeth's love for the mountains and the outdoors led her west to Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado and eventually to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. During college, she took advantage of as many study abroad programs as she could, traveling throughout Cuba, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru. She then continued her education and cultural exchange experiences in Costa Rica, studying with students from around the globe. At CCI, Elizabeth recruits quality employers for the Summer Work Travel Program.
	Joseph Burns, Work and Travel Employer Services Manager Joe graduated in 2010 from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in international relations. Upon fulfillment of a dual-degree study abroad program in Hungary and in Poland, he was awarded a second bachelor’s degree in international economics from the Cracow University of Economics. Joe’s passion for cultural interchange began when he moved to Berlin, Germany in 2003, to study the German language and classical guitar. To date, the most interesting place he has ever travelled to is Chernobyl, Ukraine, where he toured the site of the famous 1986 nuclear disaster. Joe believes one of the best ways to share his experiences abroad with others is to cook traditional cuisine from the places he has visited.
	Lauren Coffaro, Career Advancement Program (CAP) Associate Lauren is a graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Performance Studies and International Studies. Originally from Pittsburgh, her passion for intercultural exchange grew from her thirst for travel and a handful of both service and diplomacy based exchange experiences to places like Guayaquil, Cairo, Seoul, and Madrid. Lauren developed a love for empanadas and Malbec living abroad in Argentina, where she conducted ethnographic research on public performance and politics. She continues to volunteer on international development projects with a community-based service organization in Chicago. Lauren loves cooking world cuisines, is an amateur runner/triathlete, and a proud fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers!
	Daniel Ebert, Vice President Daniel's first experience living abroad was as a high school senior in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Daniel received his undergraduate degree in Spanish and International Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and spent a year abroad in Madrid, Spain. After university, Daniel worked in international banking for some years before moving back to Madrid and eventually joining the CCI team in 1999. Since 2000, Daniel has been working for CCI in the United States, and was instrumental in moving the headquarters from a suburban location to downtown Chicago. Today, Daniel's main focus is overseeing the J-1 Summer Work Travel Program, J-1 Intern & Trainee Programs, as well as the Greenheart Travel division for travel abroad participants. Daniel serves as the Responsible Officer on the aforementioned J-1 programs.
	Luis Federico, Work and Travel Program Assistant Luis is from a small city south of Chicago and is currently studying at Loyola University Chicago, where he's majoring in International Studies with minors in French, Psychology, and Classical Civilizations. Originally a Work and Travel Intern, Luis now joins CCI Greenheart as a Work and Travel Program Assistant, where he assists in many of the day-to-day activities of the program. When not processing DS forms or going through applications, Luis enjoys exploring the diverse neighborhoods of Chicago, trying new restaurants with friends, watching a movie, or ranting about French culture.
	Molly Fried, Work and Travel Program Assistant Molly was raised in the Midwest but moved to Washington, D.C. for college, where she studied German and Religion at The George Washington University. Molly first experienced cultural exchange when she spent a semester in her junior year studying Eastern traditions and hiking in New Zealand. Shortly after graduating, Molly relocated to Berlin as a Jewish Service Corps Fellow to organize cultural programs for Jewish immigrants of all ages from the Former Soviet Union. During the two-year fellowship, she also worked on programs in Lithuania, Turkey, and Israel, and explored numerous European countries in her free time. After becoming both a German and “denglish” Meister, as well as falling deeply in love with the grittiness of Berlin, Molly made her triumphant return to the Midwest. Molly joined CCI Greenheart in February and enjoys living vicariously through the experiences of her colleagues and the Greenheart participants.
	Mary Frances (Muffy) Grant, Work Programs Senior Business Development Manager Muffy's love of international exchange and culture comes from an early exposure to living and studying abroad, both in high school and college. After achieving her undergraduate degree from St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, she continued to Georgetown University, from which she holds a Master's Degree with a focus on international labor migration. Along with recruiting employers for our work programs and developing CCI's Career Advancement Program (CAP), Muffy is currently researching saving small and seasonal businesses by championing immigration and legislative reform.
	Liz Henning, Work Programs Recruitment Assistant Originally from Ireland, Liz graduated from Dublin City University where she studied French and Spanish translation. During her studies, she caught the travelling bug while studying in Quebec City in Canada and later, living in Spain and France, teaching English. She returned to Ireland to continue her studies at the University of Limerick, specializing in International Tourism. As a J-1 student, Liz fell in love with Chicago during her summer on the Summer Work Travel program in 2000 and subsequently moved back two years later. Liz works part time, working on research for the recruitment team and in her free time, she loves watching movies, working out and playing outside with her two little boys.
	Melissa Hickok, Work Programs Administrative Relations Manager Melissa grew up along the beautiful Aegean Sea in Izmir, Turkey, and moved to the Chicago area to pursue a dual bachelor’s degree in journalism and music performance. Melissa studied abroad in London and worked for a business travel magazine, where her writing was published internationally. After spending a little over a year working as a copy editor and page designer for a large Chicago-based newspaper, she realized that cultural exchange and public policy were her true calling. Melissa holds a Masters degree in International Public Service from DePaul University with an emphasis on public diplomacy through cultural exchange. At CCI Greenheart, Melissa's focus is on international partner relations for Work Programs (SWT and CAP), and overseeing administrative operations for the CAP program. Melissa is a classically-trained clarinetist and has performed throughout the United States and internationally. In her spare time, you can find her devouring a good book, scrap booking, or trying to figure out where to travel to next!
	Adra Klopfer, Work and Travel Employer Services Manager Adra earned her bachelor's degree in International Studies and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. During her studies, she lived in Arequpia, Peru and Buenos Aires, Argentina, where her passion for global cultures and international travel evolved. At CCI, Adra places students with businesses across the US, and assists both parties with their cultural exchange experiences. Adra gets a kick out of dancing, going to concerts, speaking and teaching Spanish, and throwing theme parties - costumes required, of course!
	Kate Lapinski, Work and Travel Employer Services Manager While studying at St. Mary's College, CCI's Kate Lapinski also enjoyed a year in Maynooth, Ireland, which was the beginning of her career in student exchange. After graduating with a degree in writing and literature, Kate spent a year as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was after this year, in 2004, that Kate joined our team. Since that time, she has juggled a number of job duties and is considered a seasoned employee! She is now doing what she does best; managing placements to ensure exemplary matches for both participants and employers. In her off time, you may very well find Kate at a Chicago White Sox game; she's a lifelong and diehard fan!
	John Matthews, Work Programs Systems Manager John grew up in the fine state of Oklahoma, where he studied art. He continued his studies at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, after which he moved to Chicago. Among other things, John coordinates development of our Online Application, Job Board, and other systems for Work Programs. Outside of the office, John's interests include drawing, as well as website design, with an emphasis on server-side scripting and database design.
	Dan Munroe, Employer Relations Coordinator After dedicating 8 years to the sport of lacrosse, Dan graduated from Dominican University with a degree in Organizational Leadership. After college, Dan spent 2 years in Philadelphia working and exploring the East Coast before returning home to Chicago. Dan’s background is in Staffing and Recruiting, specifically with job placement for recent college graduates. He also worked for a sports statistics organization where he grew to love almost every sport, even the really boring ones. Dan is a lifelong Chicago sports fan (except for the White Sox), and supports FC Barcelona.
	Adam Nelson, Work and Travel Program Assistant Adam recently graduated from Beloit College with a B.A in Anthropology. During his time at Beloit, Adam had the privilege of studying and working abroad in Belize where he befriended many of the Garifuna, Maya, and Rastafari communities he studied. After graduation, he spent his winter and early spring in the Virgin Islands working with the National Park Service Cultural Resource Management Department, before beach hopping his way around the islands. Beyond his overwhelming drive to promote cultural awareness, Adam also enjoys summer music festivals in Chicago, finding new ethnic restaurants, and thrashing his mini ramp and the streets of Chicago.
	Erin Nyhan, Work Programs Services Director Erin began her international travel with a trip to Ireland with friends in 1993. Since then, she has called Ecuador, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, and now Greece, home. Erin graduated with a Bachelor's in Education, focusing on Secondary Spanish and has applied this background to a number of jobs before settling down with CCI in 2003. Erin works mainly with the Summer Work Travel Services department, to find new and exciting placements for our participants, as well as ensuring that participants enjoy a smooth transition into and out of their summer programs. In her off time, you can find Erin trying to learn the Greek alphabet or cooking up a new recipe!
	Maria Pakhomova, Work and Travel Administrative Manager Maria is originally from St. Petersburg, Russia. Her interest in foreign cultures started through the exploration of linguistic mysteries of the English and French languages. Maria graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2010 with a B.A. in Foreign Languages: Business Translation and Communication. Her interest in foreign affairs led her to pursue M.A. in International Relations and Comparative Politics. Maria joined CCI in the Summer of 2011, where she is happy to assist students in their journeys for cultural experiences. In her spare time she likes to explore Chicago.
	Leslie Patt, Work and Travel Policy and Compliance Manager Leslie first went abroad as part of a choir at age 14 to sing in the Black Forest in Germany. Just a few years later she traveled with her high school choir to England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Austria and Italy on two separate tours and participated in a student exchange in Munich, Germany. While attending college at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois for a degree in Sociology and Anthropology, Leslie traveled with a literature class to England’s Lake District and studied abroad for 3 months in Rome, Paris and London. Leslie then decided to attend the University of Kent in Canterbury, England for her MA in Anthropology, for which she did fieldwork in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She has also traveled "for fun" to Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic. Leslie is also a diehard White Sox and Chicago Blackhawks fan!
	Justin Piper, Work and Travel Program Assistant Justin is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in Political Science and International Studies at The Loyola University of Chicago. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Justin spent six months studying abroad in New Zealand, where he adventured with the Kiwis. He also had the opportunity to visit Sidney, Australia and was unable to find Nemo. Justin is also very interested in international culture and spent part of his undergrad delving into the Arabic language. In his spare time he enjoys travelling and has almost completed his goal of visiting all 50 states.
	Abbie Ray, Work and Travel Administrative Assistant After growing up in rural Minnesota, Abbie set her eyes on the big city of Chicago. She attended Loyola University and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Services and minored in Women and Gender Studies, Psychology, and International Studies. During her four years university, she had the opportunity to participate in an academic summer program in Rome, Italy. She traveled to Ireland, England, France, and Spain. When she is not searching for her next plane ticket abroad, you can find her exploring the diverse neighborhoods of Chicago with her friends.
	Travis Roy,Work and Travel Program Assistant Shortly after earning his Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, Travis discovered his fondness for international travel while on a month long journey throughout Europe that extended into almost half a year. He has since spent a year and a half living, working and traveling in Australia and New Zealand before moving to Chicago and joining the CCI Greenheart Work and Travel team. His continued love for travel and all things international has since brought him to Stockholm, Sweden where he is currently attending a Master’s program in International and Comparative Education. He continues to assist CCI Greenheart remotely in a part-time capacity.
	Matthew Simson, Work and Travel Program Assistant Matt received his undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Latin American Studies from Colorado State University, and also had the privilege of living and studying abroad in Chile. While international affairs and awareness have always piqued his interests, this experience particularly sparked the travel bug inside of him, igniting his passion for cultural exchange and international education. Upon graduation, Matt returned to Latin America where he spent five months visiting 6 countries and meeting countless incredible people along the way. In 2011, he moved to Chicago and, despite coming from small town Colorado, fell in love with the big city. In his spare time Matt can be found riding his bike in an attempt to find his new favorite restaurant, exploring the diversity of Chicago’s neighborhoods, and planning his next big trip.
	Malgorzata (Gosia) Tekgoz, Work Programs Market Research Analyst Gosia was born and raised in Poland. Her interest in international travel and foreign cultures grew during her undergraduate studies in 2005, when she began working with the cultural exchange programs. She has seen the J-1 visa program from the perspective of a participant, a recruiter, and a sponsor, through her experience in the U.S., Poland and Turkey. Gosia received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the School of Economics and Law in Kielce, Poland and master’s degree in Business Administration from Bahcesehir University in Istanbul, Turkey. At CCI Greenheart, Gosia researches industry trends and provides support for employer, participants, and partner relations.
	Haldis Toppen, Work and Travel Cultural Outreach Coordinator Growing up in a travel-centric household, Haldis always knew that she was meant to see everything possible. This especially came true after studying abroad her senior year of college in Madrid, Spain. After completing her semester, she stayed on to teach English in a volunteer and professional capacity in the city of Salamanca for three months and did a tour of Europe, commandeering her extended family’s kindness along the way. After graduating from the University of Illinois - Chicago with a degree in Communication, and hopping around the U.S. with AmeriCorps for two years, Haldis worked with Greenheart Travel (a division of CCI) as an intern for the High School Abroad program. Now Haldis brings her experience of nonprofit and cultural immersion to the Summer Work Travel department. If you don’t see Haldis at her desk, expect that she is watching a film or talking about film culture to whoever will listen.
	Brittney White, Work and Travel Employer Services Coordinator Brittney grew up in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota where her love for all things outdoors was born. Her curiosity of culture and passion for traveling took her to Argentina in high school. From there she moved to San Francisco where she worked in sales and marketing. She returned to school and after receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Health Education she spent eight months traveling and volunteering throughout South East Asia. At CCI Greenheart, she brings her experience and passion for cultural exchange to her position placing participants with employers around the U.S. She can be found exploring restaurants, farmers markets, dance floors, and yoga studios around town in her spare time.
	Erica Wiethorn, Career Advancement Program Assistant Erica is a recent graduate from Loyola University Chicago where she obtained degrees in anthropology, Spanish and business administration. She solidified her love for the Spanish language and travel when she studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, interning at a hotel and spending most of her free time eating tapas. At CCI Greenheart, Erica assists those who wish to pursue internships or traineeships in the U.S. with the Career Advancement Program department. In her spare time she can be found out and about with friends, showing fellow travelers around Chicago, or with her nose in a good book.
	Monica Yates, Work and Travel Operations Director Monica graduated from Loyola University Chicago with an emphasis on painting and drawing. During summer vacations and school breaks, she traveled throughout Central America and the Caribbean to learn more about their cultures. After graduating from college, she began her career working in the Public School system, as well as facilitating outreach with teenagers. She joined CCI’s summer Work Travel team in March of 2004, and now oversees the administrative side of the program. In her free time, Monica enjoys traveling, searching for her new favorite Chicago restaurant, and playing chef at home by testing out new recipes.

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