| Daniel Ebert, Work Programs General Director
Daniel's first experience living abroad was as a high school senior in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The rest is history. Daniel continued on to pursue his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, graduating with a major in Spanish and a focus on International Relations. He participated in Madison's year abroad program in Madrid, Spain during his junior year. Daniel joined CCI in 1999. His responsibilities with the organization have included Internships, Independent Homestay, and Groups Programs. Daniel has directed the Work and Travel Department since 2000. In addition to the Work and Travel Program, Daniel oversees CCI's intern and trainee Career Advancement Program (CAP). Daniel's passion for international exchange and travel remains as strong as ever. When not travelling, you can find him hanging out with friends in one of Chicago's many amazing restaurants, lounging at the beach, renovating his home or just playing with his dog. |
 | Melissa Ozkurt, Work Programs Assistant
Melissa is from Izmir, Turkey and came to the United States in to pursue a dual undergraduate degree in journalism and music performance. Melissa studied abroad in London and worked for a business travel magazine. Prior to working at CCI, Melissa worked for a Chicago-based newspaper as a copy editor and page designer, but soon realized that cultural exchange was her true calling. At CCI, Melissa works on developing CCI’s Work and Travel and Career Advancement Programs, as well as internal staff development. Melissa is a classically-trained clarinetist and has performed throughout the United States and internationally. In her spare time, you can find Melissa trying to figure out where to travel to next! She also enjoys discovering restaurants and attending cultural events in her second home town, Chicago. |
 | 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 and Travel. Outside of the office, John's interests include drawing, as well as website design, with an emphasis on server-side scripting and database design.
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 | 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 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! |
 | Monica Yates, Work and Travel Program 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 Work and 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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 | Mary Frances (Muffy) Grant, Work Programs Recruitment 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. |
 | 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! |
 | Adra Klopfer, Work and Travel Employer Services Coordinator
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! |
 | Leslie Patt, Work and Travel Employer Services Coordinator
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! |
 | Heidi Jane Hansen, Work and Travel Employer Services Coordinator
Heidi grew up in the mountains of Vermont in a family that enjoyed hosting international students. She attended St Lawrence University in upstate New York where she earned her Bachelors Degree in French, with a minor in Anthropology. She was lucky to be able to study abroad in Rouen, France and enjoy an educational excursion to Senegal. After college she worked in youth centers in Burlington, Vermont before traveling for a year to Hunan, China to teach English. At CCI, Heidi places Work and Travel participants in businesses across the US. Outside of CCI, Heidi coaches and plays women’s lacrosse. |
.jpg) | Michael Nemeth, Business Development Coordinator
Michael graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, PA with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in East Asian Studies. During his time in college, Michael travelled to East Asia several times, specifically in China and Japan. After brief one month stints in each country, Michael spent a semester in Northern Japan and travelled extensively throughout the country on his own. He immersed himself in the history, culture, and languages of the countries in East Asia and other parts of the world. Mike has had a passion for cultural exchange and understanding his entire life. In his spare time he enjoys exploring Chicago, visiting family and friends, finding new music, and cooking what he likes to think of as “world class cuisine.” |
 | Mary Cathlin Sullivan, Work and Travel Employer Relations Specialist
Mary Cathlin is a Chicago native with a real love for travel, cultures, and languages. At the age of ten she visited England with her family and since then she has visited 11 more countries and has no plan to ever stop traveling. She studied Communication and Spanish at Saint Louis University in hopes that she could share her passion with others. Her semester in Madrid during college allowed her to become fluent in Spanish and travel around Europe. After college, Mary Cathlin worked as a Corporate Event Planner traveling around the US and Canada to host seminars, meetings, and trade shows. At CCI, she enjoys using her corporate experience and zest for travel to recruit employers for the Work and Travel Program. In her free time, you can find her cheering on the Chicago Cubs, trying a new ethnic restaurant, or enjoying a night at the theatre downtown. |
 | Elizabeth Brennan, Work and Travel Employer Relations 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 J-1 Work and Travel Program. |
 | Laura Horton, Work and Travel Employer Services Assistant
While attending DePaul University Laura studied abroad in Vienna, Austria and completed her degree in English. She has traveled throughout Germany, explored England, visited Budapest for a day, and recently rode a horse on the coast of Chile. She loves that her job at CCI allows her to continue learning about cultures around the world! Laura is always here to help with any questions you may have about the work and travel program. Born in Colorado, raised in northern California, Laura now considers Chicago home. Sometimes Laura can be seen performing sketch comedy on a local stage and if she's not grilling in the summer she's waiting to play in the snow! |
 | 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 J1 student, Liz fell in love with Chicago during her summer on the Work and 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. |
 | Ashley Klein, Work and Travel Assistant
Ashley Lyn Klein is a graduate of University of Florida with a B.A. in Spanish and Sociology. She has worked with CCI's Work & Travel Department since fall of 2004 and is now assisting part-time with Work and Travel employer recruitment as she works on her Nursing Degree. |
 | Mike Altier, Work and Travel Assistant
Mike hails from Green, Ohio. As a digital marketing pro, Mike has crafted marketing campaigns and developed digital strategy for numerous international Fortune 100 clients . At CCI, Mike works hard to leverage digital and online tactics to attract U.S. employers to CCI. When he isn’t working, Mike is reading, writing, playing in his band, living and loving life! |
 | Chrissy Soucek, Work and Travel Administrative Manager
Chrissy attended Loyola University of Chicago on a track and field scholarship, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in anthropology. Shortly after college, she spent some time traveling the US and living in San Francisco for a couple of years. She eventually returned to the Chicago land area, where she was raised. Chrissy enjoys traveling and being outside, especially taking trips to the beach. Some of her favorite experiences traveling have been visiting her relatives in Prague and participating in the Junior Olympics in Rome. |
 | Katherine (Kat) Kocisky, Work and Travel Administrative Assistant
Kat attended Illinois State University and graduated with a degree in English Education and French. After teaching at a high school in southern Illinois, she got itchy feet and fled to Budapest, Hungary to teach English as a Second Language. Bitten by the travel bug, she taught English in Hungary, Spain, and France while traveling extensively. Kat joined CCI’s Administrative Team in August 2009, and is happy to help foreign students get a chance to experience life in the U.S, just as she was able to in Europe. She enjoys being outside, hiking, reading, writing, and most of all, planning her next adventure. |
 | Gillian Mclennan, Work and Travel Administrative Intern
Fresh out of college with a Spanish degree in hand, Gillian is ready to share her passion for cultural exchange with the world. While attending Loyola University Chicago, she not only had the opportunity to study Spanish in Barcelona, but also dabbled in a few other foreign languages including French, Mandarin Chinese and Catalan. When she’s not debating over what language to learn next, she’s cooking, concert-going, or just exploring her favorite city in the world, Chicago. |
 | Rob Delaney, Work and Travel Administrative Intern
Originally from Tennessee, Rob first came to Chicago to study for his Bachelors Degree at Northwestern University. He studied abroad for a year in Geneva, Switzerland, and graduated with a degree in Political Science and Psychology. After working at the Public Defender Service in Washington D.C. and living in Senegal on a Fulbright research grant, he returned to the Windy City and is happy to be part of the Work and Travel team. He enjoys learning new languages and just picked up the banjo! |
 | Stephanie Mulka, Work and Travel Administrative Intern
Stephanie is a lifelong Chicagoan. She graduated in 2009 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in International Studies. She loves living in Chicago but has always had the urge to travel whenever possible. As an undergraduate she spent one year studying in Vienna, Austria, which gave her the opportunity to travel all over Europe. She speaks German and is hoping to learn Russian or Spanish. She is passionate about English education as a second language and she hopes to work for the State Department or OSCE someday. Her favorite international destinations so far include Dubai, Barcelona, Berlin, and of course Vienna. Stephanie is thrilled to be a part of CCI to help students have memorable cultural exchange experiences. |