leadership team
English learning classes
ELENA FARKAS
Executive Director
M.A. in Educational Leadership, University of Alaska Anchorage.
BA/MA in ESL and History, Magadan International Pedagogical University, Russia.
Elena has over 30 years of experience in language program development and teacher preparation, community and family outreach.
Fluent in Russian & English.
DANIA EVANS
Communications Manager
BA Communications FSPAC, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
MA Advertising BU, Bournemouth, UK.
Advertising and Marketing Professional with international experience in consumer and social research.
Over 7-year experience in Social Media & Digital Marketing.
Fluent in Romanian & English.
TATIANA ARTEMYEVA
Executive Assistant
Curriculum Development
BA in ED /Russian, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Associate degree in music, Musical Pedagogical College, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Over 10-year experience in bilingual education developing and delivering content-based language curricula in the classroom and online settings.
Fluent in Russian & English.
TATIANA SURKOVA
Administrative Assistant
M.A. in Marketing and Sales Management, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Diploma of General Medicine, Moscow, Russia.
Certificate in Accounting, Spain.
Over 15 years of experience in administrative management, customer service, and delivering work-related training to personnel.
Fluent in Spanish, Russian, and English. Knowledge of French and German.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ANN GRIFFIN
Board Member & Founder
PAM SEYFRIED
Vice President
JOHN YILMAZ
Board Member
MELISSA SCHWAB
Board Member
CHARLIE CUNNINGHAM
Emeriti
CHERYL EVANS
Board President
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Jack Francis
Secretary
CAROL PARKER
Board Member
DILER AKSU
Volunteer Recruiter
M.A. With Distinction from N.A.U
Endorsements in ECE/Sheltered English Immersion.
B.S. in Elementary Education.
A.S. in Child Development.
Life coach certified.
University of Maryland, BA, Economics.
Retired executive-level officer with the Federal government. More than 35 years of experience in a variety of analytical, managerial, and senior staff assignments.
BA in Spanish, English and Education,
Michigan State University.
Linguistics with specialization in teaching ESOL,
University of Illinois.
Teacher trainer online
Teacher trainer face to face-Applied Linguistics
Certified Spanish teacher.
Fluent in Spanish.
Building on her background in Teaching, Ann Founded Project Light Of Manatee in 1994 with the help of Sister Nora and her partner Ed Griffin.
They felt that competency in English would equip the students with the confidence and skills necessary to fully participate as productive members of our community.
MA in Hospitality Leadership- Technology USF.
BA Hospitality Management USF.
Florida Real Estate Licensed.
BA in Computer programming languages, and IT management. ECPI. NJ.
Business Management Science degree from Thomas Edison State College, NJ.
Fluent in French, Spanish, and Arabic.
MA in ESL and Educational Leadership.
Retired from MCSD as ESOL Migrant.
Specialist and Curriculum Development.
Experienced Principal and a leader in Manatee County.
Diler is an immigrant from Turkey, a successful entrepreneur, and business owner.
Her life experience and expertise make her a valued member of the Project Light team.
BA in Journalism.
Experience Grant Writer from MCSD.
Production Specialist for Klett World Languages.
FINANCIAL CONSULTANT
Andy Evans
CFO