Administrative Staff

Lori, so carried away by transportation had no time to look for a picture!

Lori Bruce:
Phone: 760-949-4001
Fax:760-949-4001

Role in the Global Neighborhood:
Los Angeles Transportation Representative

Lori has been hosting Japanese students for more than five years. She feels that working in homestay has been a very rewarding experience. "I have a much better understanding of how different a culture can be from our own". Additionally, her children have benefited by establishing many international friendships with the visiting students.

We can clearly see Marina's high expectations for perfection started young

Marina Perezcassar:
Phone: 707-769-5152
Fax:707-769-0195
Email: Mperezcassar@PeopleLink.org

Role in the Global neighborhood:
Operations Coordinator

Marina, a native of Nicaragua, has been involved with cultural exchange programs for many years. She worked for 15 years in the cultural office of the American Embassy before she migrated to the United States with her family. Marina has also seen the beauty of several South American countries and has lived in Costa Rica. In her time away from the office she collects angels and dotes on her three grandchildren. Marina believes that by "promoting cultural exchange and understanding other cultures we may, one day, have world peace."

Lynda in anticipation of travel playing a big role in her life is packed and ready to go.

Lynda Bleiler:  Transportation Coordinator
Phone: 505-737-0942 or
Toll Free 877-239-5465
Fax: 505-737-0945

Role in the Global Neighborhood:
Transportation Representative Greater United States

Working from her home in New Mexico, Lynda Bleiler coordinates United States PeopleLink transportation in addition to working as a freelance writer and public relations consultant. Currently Lynda is volunteering at the University of New Mexico's Harwood Museum. A local art institute which showcases southwestern arts and cultural artifacts. Regarding her position with PeopleLink Lynda says "As travel coordinator, I'm able to enjoy tracking our various cultural exchange groups, as well as interacting with the Petaluma staff, Field Coordinators and Teacher Guides throughout the United States. Their enthusiasm and the sharing of their personal experiences with our visiting friends from overseas allows me to feel a part of a wide-spread network of warm and caring individuals."

Eve keeps a keen and watchful eye on the entire PeopleLink operation

Eve Williams:   Operations Manager
Phone: 707-769-5152
Fax: 707-769-0195
Email: Ewilliams@PeopleLink.org

Role in the Global Neighborhood:
Assistant Director

Eve, the mother of three adorable children, has been with PeopleLink since 1994. She relates with a wry grin that it was her 2 1/2 year old son's non-stop personality which encouraged her return to work. The Williams family has hosted many students from junior high through university age. Eve enjoys "the diversity of each student and the unique lesson my family learns from each hosting experience. I am always impressed by the education we gain while teaching and sharing our culture with someone from another country." Eve has traveled to Japan and experienced homestay, staying with the families of her previous students. She loves foreign travel and hopes to go abroad again soon.

Megan Beauvais:  
Phone: 707-769-5152
Fax:707-769-0195
Email: Mbeauvais@PeopleLink.org

Role in the Global Neighborhood:
Academic Program

Megan always had an interest in cultural exchange even as a young child. She went to France for an individual immersion program at 19 years old and brought home a husband as well as the ability to speak French fluently. Megan has also traveled to Spain and England. She and her family have hosted students from Belgium, France and Spain. Megan is interested in creating an atmosphere of global togetherness for the sake of her bi-cultural child and children everywhere.

Destiny Aman:
Phone: 707-769-5152
Fax:707-769-0195
Email: Daman@PeopleLink.org

Role in the Global Neighborhood:

If you've ever called the main office you've probably talked to Destiny. You can identify her by her eternally perky phone voice. Destiny, aside from handling phones, is working with the Outbound Program and does other special projects. She has recently graduated from our local community college with her AA in liberal studies, and is set to attend a local university in 2001 majoring in cultural geography and international studies. Destiny is also an avid soccer fan, playing the coveted position of center forward. Destiny has always been interested in international travel and people of different cultures. She speaks both French and Spanish and has recently added Chinese to her list of languages. She feels that cultural exchange is a great way to learn a language and has arranged to be an exchange student herself, scheduled to go to France in the fall of 2000. While she has not yet been a host family she has been the informal "hangout family" where students have come to relax, talk and watch American TV. Destiny says that cultural exchange is a "wonderful way for people to learn first hand how others feel, behave and think". She hopes to contribute to the Global Neighborhood by learning all she can about other cultures and helping foreign students on American soil.