MEET OUR TEAM
CRAIG SNYDER
Owner & President
The Language Academy of the Carolinas is locally owned and operated in Charlotte, NC by Craig Snyder. Craig has a master’s degree in Spanish from UNC-Chapel Hill and has lived in both Spain and Mexico. He has authored numerous textbooks designed to teach small groups of adults to converse in Spanish and has designed the curriculum for The Language Academy. His work is being used throughout the Triangle and Charlotte Metro areas and has been adapted to fit a variety of workplace environments. He has taught hundreds of people to successfully communicate in Spanish and has many loyal students at The Language Academy.
RODRIGO RIÓN
Vice President
Rodrigo Rión is of both Spanish and Mexican descent. His mother’s side of the family is from Spain and his father’s side is Mexican. He graduated from UNC – Charlotte in 2007 with a major in International Business and minors in both German and French. He joined The Language Academy in August of 2008 as an instructor and now handles the day to day operations of the office along with his regular teaching duties. His love of languages and wealth of knowledge have made him one of our most requested instructors.
HEATHER SUTORIUS
Business Manager
Heather joined The Language Academy of the Carolinas team in September 2015. Heather is a native North Carolinian. She graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. Having worked at Bank of America, United Way, Communities in Schools, The Family Center and Dermatology Group of the Carolinas, she has experience in the banking, nonprofit, and medical fields. She has lived in the Charlotte area for more than 16 years. She enjoys crafting, reading, biking and spending time with her family and friends.
CATALINA ECHEVERRY
Spanish Instructor
Catalina was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia where she studied Journalism and Social Communication. She later earned a Master’s Degree in TV and Video production from Bournemouth University in the UK and then moved to Charlotte with her husband in 2003. Catalina has lived in 5 countries and speaks 4 languages. She truly appreciates when someone wants to learn more about other countries and cultures, and especially when they want learn another language. She is very thankful for being able to help you through your journey into Spanish.
CECILIA CELAYA
Spanish Instructor
Cecilia was born and raised in Mexico City where she lived happily as a high-heeled, caffeine-addicted Corporate Insurance Broker focused on risk management and international account management. Due to her husband’s job, in 2012 she moved to Tokyo and founded her own company that helped multicultural families in Tokyo, and later in Dubai where she moved in 2017. She also helped design and deliver country specific cross-cultural workshops for individuals and management teams to help them gain the skills and knowledge they needed for their personal and professional transitions. She started teaching Spanish while living in Tokyo, where she obtained her teaching certification from Instituto Cervantes. In her free time, she likes to work out, read, cook, and drink wine. Salud!
LAURA PAGANI
Italian Instructor
Laura Pagani was born in Saronno, where the famous “Amaretto di Saronno “ liqueur is made. She grew up in Lombardia, a region of Northern Italy, moving between the cities of Milano, Saronno and Bellagio – Lake Como. After graduating from the University of Milano, she launched her career as a registered journalist, combining her passion for travel and writing. While working for various Italian publications, she was able to visit all European countries, Northern Africa, the Middle East. She relocated to the USA in 2016 and then joined the Language Academy as Italian teacher. During her free time, she likes to run, ride her Moto Guzzi motorcycle, make delicious Italian meals and cuddle with her cat “Apple”.
GILBERTO VELAZCO
Spanish Instructor
Gilberto Velazco, born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, is a Civil Engineer from UCV-Caracas and has a Master´s Degree in Structural Engineering from UIC-Chicago. He combined a career as a Construction Manager and a QA/QC Consultant with academics as a professor at the UCV school of Engineering for over 30 years. Gilberto, who has 4 children and 5 grandchildren, has taught Spanish at The Language Academy since March 2020, in person as well as online. His students appreciate Gilberto’s unique ability to challenge and guide them through the learning process. In his free time, he likes walking, reading, spending time with his family and taking care of his grandchildren.
CHARLOTTE ROUCHOUZE
French Instructor
Charlotte Rouchouze is originally from Pittsburgh but can hardly remember a time when she wasn’t learning, speaking, or teaching French. She recently moved to Charlotte from Chicago. She and her husband have two young sons. She holds a PhD in French from Northwestern University and loves teaching students at all different levels. She also enjoys cooking, food blogging, making beaded jewelry, and helping out at her older son’s school.
JANE PRATES
Portuguese Instructor
Jane is from Brazil, but has been living in Charlotte for about four years. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and worked at both private and public schools in Brazil for more than 10 years. She has taught and at a local preschool and in May 2018 she joined Language Academy as a Portuguese teacher. In addition to teaching she enjoys improving her English and is working on her Spanish as well!
ALEX VIGO
French Instructor
Alexandre was born in the Champagne region of France, in the City of Troyes. He studied Law at the University of Paris and moved to the U.S in 1998 to continue his education at the Boston University School of Law. After coming to the states he lived in New York City, Boston, and Charlotte. He is an avid runner and a fan of French Literature as well as French Cinema. He has been a French instructor for many years and keeps his classes fresh and interesting. He is proud and happy to be a part of The Language Academy and is looking forward to sharing his passion for his language and culture with you!
DIPTI TIWARI
English & Spanish Instructor
Dipti’s childhood on two sides of the globe, India and the US, inspired a lifelong appreciation of languages and cultures. She grew up with Hindi and English and started learning Spanish from an early age. She studied Business Administration and Spanish in college and also began training in yoga, meditation, and the arts. For over a decade, she has taught languages and yoga to students from more than fifty countries and of all ages. In addition, she has worked in bilingual international business, medical interpretation, and as a community volunteer. She has traveled to many countries, including Spain, and has co-led a student service trip to India. Her other interests include poetry and hiking. Learning languages can open the door to self-awareness and a deeper understanding of the unity of humanity.
MARCELO BARRERA
Spanish Instructor
Marcelo Barrera was born and raised in Quito – Ecuador, He received his Bachelor’s degree in Education and Languages at the Central University of Ecuador. He speaks Spanish, English and French. After graduating in 2014 He traveled to Lyon – France where he worked as an Assistant Instructor of Spanish in middle and elementary schools before moving to Charlotte and joining the Language Academy in 2021. He loves teaching at all different levels of Spanish and also enjoys improving his English. In his free time, he likes brunch with friends, cooking, traveling, dancing, working out, and reading a good book.
ROBERTA PIETROBON
Italian Instructor
Roberta was born in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. After graduating from the University of Venice, Roberta worked for 20 years in export sales until she eventually changed her career when she and her husband moved to Charlotte in 2009. In 2018 she started teaching Italian and French for the Language Academy and has many loyal students. When she goes back home to visit she volunteers as a English teacher for local children. Roberta also has her own business, Con Gusto LLC, where she offers Italian cooking classes and personal chef services.
BEATE DORNBURG
German Instructor
Beate Dornburg was born and raised in Germany. She has been living in Huntersville, NC with her husband and three children since 2011. This is her second time in the US. Between 2001 and 2004 she already lived in Cumming, GA. Beate joined The Language Academy in the spring of 2013. She graduated from the University of Leipzig-Germany with a bachelor’s degree and from the University of Frankfurt-Germany with a master’s degree in Psychology. She gained professional experience in the field of neuropsychological rehabilitation, educational psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, and in brain research. Teaching comes rather naturally to her in a wide spectrum of situations: from coaching elementary children, cognitive training for adults and groups, to teaching and tutoring German. Beate enjoys working with students of all ages. In cooperation with Craig Snyder, she offers intercultural workshops for companies that collaborate with German colleagues and/or customers. In the era of globalization, businesses are becoming more and more international. Improving their cultural awareness and helping employees to behave and communicate effectively in cross-cultural situations is one of her goals. In her free time she enjoys going for walks, attending classical music concerts, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
RUBI HERRERA
Spanish Instructor
Rubi Herrera was born in Mexico. She studied Business Administration at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has had additional training in languages and physical therapy for children with special needs. She began as an English student with the Language Academy and later was hired as a Spanish Instructor. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and teenage children, reading and writing.
ELIANA MOLZ
Portuguese Instructor
Eliana was born and raised in Santa Cruz do Sul in the south of Brazil and attended the USCS where she studied Modern Languages and Linguistics. She later received her MBA from Canterbury university in England. She Moved to the United States in 2008 and provides consulting services for Brazilian and American corporations. She loves animals, reading and going for long walks. She also likes to travel and interact with different cultures. Her favorite time of the year in North Carolina is the fall, especially when the leaves turn color in the mountains. She dreams of retiring to Europe.
Monica Catramado
Spanish Instructor
Monica was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. While studying Translation and Education at the University of La Plata, she ran her own Language Academy before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Master’s Degree in TEFL and Teaching Spanish as a foreign language. She lived in New England for 10 years, where she worked as an English and Spanish instructor. She later moved to Spain and then England where she worked as an EFL / Spanish instructor and Director of Pastoral Care at a boarding school. Today, she is back in Buenos Aires where she continues to work with languages, as teacher and translator in the medical field, and as an online language instructor for the Language Academy!
NADIA DE MARTINO-REEL
Italian Instructor
Nadia De Martino was born and raised in Capri, an island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula of Italy. Growing up in Capri, she learned English and French and lived in Rome before coming to the States in 1996. During her first years in Charlotte she enjoyed volunteering at the International House for the Italian conversation hour and tutoring students at Davidson College. She joined The Language Academy in the fall of 2012. When she’s not teaching Italian, Nadia enjoys cooking, reading, taking pictures, zumba, yoga, pilates, and going for walks. She also loves swimming and spending time with her two daughters, Shani and Naomi.
CHAYREE SANTIAGO THOMAS
Spanish Instructor
Chayree Santiago Thomas is a native Spanish speaker from Colombia and moved to The United States in 2005. She comes from a family of teachers and most of her life she has been involved in teaching and training activities. She received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering and started her professional career as an Engineer for Gelatins of Colombia. She has also received a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies from UNCC and has worked as a Spanish Instructor at the Language Academy and at area colleges since 2008. Additionally, she has been a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce.
JACQUES M. WHETTNALL
French Instructor
Jacques M. Whettnall was born and raised in Paris. With a Licence de philosophie/psychologie at the University of Vincennes/Sorbonne he participated in the founding of Recherche and Application Pedagogic JDK alternative school. He has a strong interest in the subject of personal development and the study of creative, innovative, and proven methods of learning and understanding. He previously taught adult professionals French at the Alliance Française and Berlitz in California. He also has taught in Japan and presently is co-director and teacher at Charlotte’s Ecole du Samedi, in addition to teaching at the Language Academy. “Mr Jacques” considers teaching an honor and believes you have to trust the student’s own capabilities to foster the discovery of their talents. It is his great pleasure to build confidence in students, for learning a language is a means to learning more about oneself. He believes in the situational approach, using authentic French as it applies to one’s personal interests and enjoyment. He is very pleased to join the total immersion program at the Language Academy. With his Wife Delia and their two genius cats, they enjoy Charlotte, which he considers a mix between Fontainebleau and the South of France.
GENEZI “JENNY” REYES
Portuguese Instructor
Genezi was born and raised in the south of Brazil. She has a Master’s degree in Portuguese Language and Literature from UNICENTRO, PR also studied Intercultural Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky. She is the author of a myriad of educational materials and has also worked on countless translation projects related to Cross Cultural Training, a field in which She has over 20 years of experience. When she’s not teaching at the Language Academy you can find her working in her yard, reading, writing or traveling.
Noriela Maldonado
Spanish Instructor
Noriela was born in Cuenca, Ecuador and has worked for 25 years in public and private administration. She was a former Manager of the Central Bank in Ecuador and former Director of the Post Office in her province. She currently works at CAMINO HEALTH CENTER as a Workforce Development Coordinator for Upward Mobility supporting the Latino community in education, entrepreneurship, and employment. She has taught E-Commerce in Ecuador and Spanish as a volunteer at Calvary Church of the Nazarene, Forest Hill and Camino. She has lived in Charlotte since November 2019 with her husband and she joined the Language Academy team in August of 2021.
KAREEN MISSIHOUN-TERRAZA
French & Spanish Instructor
Kareen is a native French Speaker from the Ivory Coast. She moved to Charlotte, at the age of 14 with her family. She went on to earn Undergraduate Degrees in Spanish and International Studies with a Concentration in European Studies as well as a Graduate Degrees in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Kareen is very passionate about the languages she knows and teaches. In addition to French and Spanish, Kareen also speaks Abbey, one of over sixty different languages spoken in her native country. In addition to teaching at the Language Academy of the Carolinas, Kareen also works as a Freelance Translator / Interpreter for several local organizations and government institutions. Kareen currently resides in Harrisburg, NC with her Guatemalan Husband, and her three children.
JULIE TENG GREENE
Mandarin Chinese Instructor
Julie was born in Nanning, Guangxi, China. She earned a Master’s Degree of Economics from Xiangtan University in the Hunan province of China in 2000. She then went back to her hometown and became a professor at a local university. There she taught a variety of economics and English courses. She also did research and subsequently published several peer-reviewed scholarly papers in various Chinese journals. After 11 years of teaching and researching in China, in 2011 she married her husband and moved to Charlotte, NC. She likes hiking, walking and traveling.