Meet the Work Programs Staff

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. Currently Daniel works on developing CCI's new H2B program, as well as overseeing the Work and Travel Department.  Daniel's passion for international exchange and travel remains as strong as ever.  When not on the job, you can find him experimenting in the kitchen, eating out in one of Chicago's many amazing restaurants, or burning it all off on the treadmill.

June Poon

Work Programs Development Coordinator

A native New Yorker, June moved to Chicago almost 8 years ago to attend the University of Chicago, where she graduated with a degree in international studies. Her love for cultural exchange stems from her education and her time spent studying French literature in France.  At CCI, June has worked in many capacities for the placement, recruitment and administrative sides of the Work and Travel Program.  She is currently focusing on developing CCI's work programs and partner relations. When she is not working, June enjoys reading and cooking.

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.

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.

Ashley Klein

Work and Travel Recruitment Services Manager

Since 2004, Ashley has worked with the Work & Travel Department in many aspects of the program including placements and recruitment.  She will now be focusing on securing quality employers throughout the U.S. that would like to hire J1 students for their winter, spring and/or summer programs.  Ashley has a passion for culture, music, travel and people.  She has lived and worked in Europe, Asia and South America through study, intern and work abroad programs since she was in high school.  She looks forward to cultivating CCI's program in all corners of the U.S. by connecting J1 students to workplaces of all kinds.

John Scholl

Work and Travel Recruitment Services Manager

John became excited about cultural exchange at the age of 14 when he traveled to Kuwait to visit his sister who was teaching there. His love of travel led him to CCI, where he has worked with our Self Placed Program and helped planned international conferences and events for the Work and Travel Department. He now works hard at recruiting quality employers for our many participants. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time in the great city of Chicago, attending many social events. John holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Writing and has experience in periodical writing, marketing and event promotions.

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, Muffy is currently researching saving small and seasonal businesses by championing immigration and legislative reform.

Kate Lapinski

Work and Travel Placement 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 students 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

Placement Services Coordinator

Adra earned her bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. During her time in university, Adra lived abroad in Arequipa, Peru and in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her passion for global cultures and international travel has led her to pursue a career with CCI. At CCI, Adra works hard at finding jobs for our students. When she is not at work, Adra gets a thrill out of dancing, seeing live music, speaking Spanish, and sharing the many wonders from her great state of Wisconsin!

Leslie Patt

Placement 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 at Canterbury, England for her MA in Anthropology, for which she did fieldwork in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is Leslie’s love of cultures and traveling that drew her to CCI’s Work and Travel Program!

Melissa Ozkurt

Work and Travel Services Assistant

Melissa is from Izmir, Turkey and came to the United States to pursue undergraduate degrees in journalism and music performance. During her time in university, Melissa studied abroad in London, England and worked for a business travel magazine, where her writing was published internationally. Prior to working at CCI, Melissa worked for the Sun-Times News Group as a copy editor and page designer, but soon realized that cultural exchange was her true calling. At CCI, Melissa works with recruitment as well as placements to ensure that program participants are having a successful work program. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Studies at DePaul University with an emphasis on the advancement of cultural exchange programs in the United States. Melissa is a classically-trained clarinetist and has performed throughout the United States and internationally in Germany, Italy and Turkey. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys teaching beginning clarinet lessons, and trying to improve her French. She also enjoys discovering restaurants, shopping and attending cultural events in her second home town, Chicago.

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 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.

Nicole Jawerth

Work and Travel Self Placed Program Coordinator

Nicole began experiencing cultural exchange the moment she was born. Being the child of first generation Swedish immigrants and traveling between Europe and the US throughout her life, Nicole grew up with a personal understanding of differing cultures. After living all over the US, Nicole eventually began her university studies at Knox College, in Galesburg, IL where she obtained a bachelors degree in Modern European history and ceramic arts. During her time at Knox, she studied abroad in Copenhagen, Demark where she gained a ‘first hand’ look at historical sites across Europe. After graduating, she moved to Chicago, where in January 2008, Nicole joined the CCI Work and Travel team and now works as the coordinator of the Self Placed Program. When Nicole’s not working, she loves Frisbee, spending time with her friends and seeking the perfect studio in Chicago to continue making ceramics.

Heidi Jane Hansen

Work and Travel Administrative Assistant

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 got the opportunity to test her French language skills by spending a semester studying abroad in Rouen, France and traveling to Senegal. After college she worked with youth centers in Burlington, Vermont before traveling for a year to Hunan, China to teach English. Currently Heidi resides in Chicago and works at CCI with the administrative side of the Work and Travel Department, organizing student programs and assisting them when they arrive to the US. Outside of CCI, Heidi coaches and plays women’s lacrosse. In her free time she enjoys traveling and exploring Chicago.

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