PeopleLink -- The Directors of PeopleLink

Shelley Hyde: Founder and Director

Phone:        707-769-5152
Toll Free:    800-854-5465
Fax:            707-769-0195
Email:         directors@PeopleLink.org

Role in the Global Neighborhood:
Director with focus on management, finances and administration.

Shelley has had a lifetime fascination with other cultures. She has traveled extensively, hosted dozens of foreign students, volunteered as a young mother in the AFS program, sent her son on an outbound program to Japan in 1986 and has been working in many capacities of homestay since 1981. Shelley is the grandmother of four and hopes they will be able to travel abroad when they are a bit older. In her free time she enjoys traveling, reading non-fiction and playing with her grandchildren. Shelley feels a quote by Thomas Paine epitomizes her life philosophy, "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren and to do good is my religion."

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Haruhiko Machida: Director, Japan Office

Phone:    03-5951-3930
Fax:        03-0590-4060
Email:     Hmachida@PeopleLink.org

Role in the Global Neighborhood:
Director of operations and marketing in Japan.

Haru had his first experience with homestay as a visiting college student participating in a homestay in the United States during the summer of 1975. His most unforgettable experience was seeing Yosemite and the great beauty and grandeur of America's natural wonders. Since 1979 Haru has been directly involved in arranging memorable experiences for thousands of international students including those whom he and his family have hosted in their home. He enjoys travel, classical music and skiing during his free time. Haru believes the most important part of a homestay experience is the exchange between individuals of cultural ideas and perspectives. Based on his personal experience he feels that a homestay, rather than a hotelstay, is necessary for this type of personal interaction and exchange.

	Barbara La Rue: Founder and Director Phone: 707-769-5152 Toll Free 800-854-5465 Fax: 707-769-0195 Email: directors@PeopleLink.org Role in the Global Neighborhood: Director with focus on marketing, public relations and new program development Growing up in multi-cultural San Francisco Barbara always wanted to host exchange students. However, the rules were different then. Since she and her siblings were being raised by a single mom her family wasn't eligible to host. Barbara's viewpoint is that any family who shows a genuine interest in cultural exchange is eligible to host a foreign student. Over the years Barbara and her own family have hosted many students, her son participated in a homestay in Japan and her daughter was an exchange student in England. Barbara has four grandchildren. The oldest two are already looking forward to their first exchange experience. In her free time she enjoys traveling, reading "just about anything" and working towards world peace. Barbara strongly believes, "We are all one people and through the one-to-one meeting that occurs during an exchange program we discover our similarities and begin to understand and accept our differences."
	Eve Williams: Assistant Director Phone: 707-769-5152 Fax: 707-769-0195 Email: Ewilliams@PeopleLink.org Role in the Global Neighborhood: Assistant Director with focus on office administration, systems and operations Eve, the mother of three, has been with PeopleLink since 1994. She relates with a wry grin that it was her then 2 1/2 year old son's non-stop personality which encouraged her return to work. The Williams family has hosted many students in both the short term and academic year programs. 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. Additionally her oldest has participated in homestay programs in both Japan and England. In her spare time Eve's loves are traveling, reading and gardening. 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."
	Sally Albertson: Bookkeeper Phone: 707-769-5152 Fax: 707-769-0195 Email: Salbertson@PeopleLink.org Role in the Global Neighborhood: Handles books, budgets and office supplies Sally's family hosted their first student in 1982, after which time she went on to teach over fifteen groups as a Teacher Guide (one of these groups was with Barbara LaRue when she herself was a Teacher Guide). She has also traveled to Europe and has visited several of her former students in Japan. In 2001 PeopleLink was fortunate to have Sally join us as a member of our permanent staff. She has worked with PeopleLink as both receptionist and bookkeeper, and aids in a variety of other duties in the main office. Periodically she puts her program experience to work as a local group volunteer or as an aide to a Field Coordinator. She currently has four grandsons whom she adores. She enjoys quilting, crafts, gardening and volunteering.
	Destiny Aman: Field Coordinator and Marketing Assistant Phone: 707-769-5152 Fax: 707-769-0195 Email: Daman@PeopleLink.org Role in the Global Neighborhood: Works with Teacher Guides in outlying areas and assists with marketing the programs Destiny has worked with PeopleLink since 1999 in a variety of program and administrative positions. She is currently a member of "The Team" working closely with Teacher Guides to help them locate host families and match them with visiting students. Destiny holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Geography from Sonoma State University. She finds this very helpful in her day-to-day adventures in homestay. Destiny has experienced cultural exchange from a variety of perspectives. In addition to her main office experience, she has been a Teacher Guide and an exchange student - participating in homestays in both France and Madagascar. She has studied French, Spanish and Chinese and greatly enjoys experiencing different languages and cultures first-hand. In her spare time she enjoys travel, reading, politics, and graphic design.
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	Chris Bailey: Field Coordinator and Academic program Coordinator Phone: 760-868-2714 Toll Free: 888-581-5465 Fax: 760-868-3115 Email: Cbailey@PeopleLink.org Role in the Global Neighborhood: Works with Teacher Guides and Academic Guides in Southern California and outlying areas Chris Bailey started out with PeopleLink as many of our staff members do, as a very interested and involved host family. From there she became a Teacher Guide and in the summer of 1999 became a Field Coordinator and shortly thereafter took on Academic Program duties. Chris credits hosting international students with giving her three children a different perspective on the world. She also says that hosting has increased her children's awareness and acceptance of people with different cultures and customs. Chris, who raises and shows standard poodles, is constantly on the go. The family likes to get away camping, boating and skiing. In the quiet times Chris likes to read and play with her dogs. Chris says, "I've always been interested in different cultures and people. I think that our own children really benefit when we expose them to international students. Not only do they learn things they couldn't find in a book but they now have friends across the world. "
	Megan Beauvais: Academic Program Administrator and Marketing Coordinator Phone: 707-539-4751 Toll Free: 877-430-5465 Fax: 707-539-3718 Email: Mbeauvais@PeopleLink.org Role in the Global Neighborhood: Handles the administration of the Academic Year Program as well as domestic and international marketing Megan always had an interest in cultural exchange even as a young child. She went to France for an individual immersion program at age 19 and brought home a husband as well as the ability to speak French fluently. Since beginning with PeopleLink as an administrative assistant Megan has worked with foreign agents in the Marketing Department and played a key role in the development of the PeopleLink Academic Year Program (AYP), of which she is now the administrative supervisor. In addition to her adventures in France, Megan has also traveled to Spain, England, Mexico, China, Japan, and Greece and her family frequently hosts students from around the world. Megan is interested in creating an atmosphere of global togetherness for the sake of her bi-cultural children and children everywhere.
	Lynda Bleiler: Transportation Coordinator and Academic Program Coordinator Phone: 505-737-0942 Toll Free: 877-239-5465 Fax: 505-737-0945 Email: Lbleiler@PeopleLink.org Role in the Global Neighborhood: Handles transportation for the greater United States and works with Academic Guides Working from her home in northern New Mexico, Lynda Bleiler coordinates United States PeopleLink transportation in addition to working with academic year students. She has a background in freelance writing and public relations, and has traveled extensively including trips to Europe and Canada and adventures in China, Jamaica and Mexico. Lyn says, "As Transportation Coordinator and Academic Program Coordinator I'm able to enjoy tracking various cultural exchange groups, as well as interacting with students, Teacher Guides, Academic Guides and the Petaluma staff throughout the United States. Their enthusiasm and 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." Lyn also enjoys the occasional cruise!
	Lori Bruce: Transportation Coordinator Phone: 760-949-4001 Toll Free: 877-233-5465 Fax: 760-949-0032 Email: Lbruce@PeopleLink.org Role in the Global Neighborhood: Handles transportation needs for the greater Los Angeles area. Lori's family began hosting exchange students in 1993, and in 1997 Lori taught her first group as a Teacher Guide for PeopleLink. Shortly after that time Lori was offered a job at PeopleLink as Transportation Coordinator for the greater Los Angeles area. Between balancing a busy work and family life, Lori enjoys working closely with Teacher Guides, being the occasional group volunteer, and is a frequent host family. Lori feels that working in homestay has been a very rewarding experience and she relishes the many international friendships her children have made as a result of the program. In her spare time Lori enjoys traveling, woodworking, scrapbooking, photography, boating, family get-togethers, and spoiling her grandson.
	Irene Ferguson: Academic Program Coordinator and Field Coordinator Phone: 250-765-2438 Toll Free: 800-266-6780 Fax: 250-765-2142 Email: Iferguson@PeopleLink.org Role in the Global Neighborhood: Works with Teacher Guides and Academic Guides in the United States and Canada Irene was introduced to cultural exchange in the summer of 1990 when she and her family hosted a Japanese boy for three weeks. That first experience quickly developed into a trans-national friendship for the whole family and lead to Irene becoming an ESL instructor. Since that time Irene has hosted many summer students as well as several academic year students. In 1997 Irene put her cultural exchange and ESL teaching experience to work when she became a PeopleLink employee. Irene feels that, "cultural exchange is fascinating and eye-opening. It brings lasting friendships and memories and also is so educational for everyone." For Irene the greatest benefit of cultural exchange is the reward of having "the open arms of friendship extend across the world." In her free time Irene will be found attending one of the many sporting events her sons are involved with, gardening or painting. Recently Irene told us, "Working with PeopleLink has allowed me to make wonderful, lifetime friendships all over North America and overseas. It has truly been a blessing in my life. Thanks PeopleLink!"