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.
HEATHER SUTORIUS
Business Manager
Heather joined The Language Academy of the Carolinas team in September 2015 and 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.
BRUNA ARAUJO
Operations Manager
Bruna is Brazilian, but has lived in Charlotte since 2018. She graduated from Universidade Nove de Julho – UNINOVE, with a BA in Business Administration. She worked as a public servant for 10 years for the government of the state of São Paulo where she learned public relations and a passion for new challenges. She now handles the day-to-day operations of The Language Academy and works closely with both teachers and students. She lives for her family and her happiest moments are spent with her husband Danilo, and daughters Larissa and Julia.
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. She currently specializes in online corporate Spanish classes and Intercultural Training for the Language Academy. When she’s not working, she likes to read, cook, workout, 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.
MIGUEL ANGEL CASTILLO
French & Spanish Instructor
Miguel is a passionate language educator with a multicultural academic background. He was born in Bogotá, Colombia and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Literary Studies from the National University of Colombia. His love for languages and cultural studies led him to France, where he completed a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies. Throughout his career, he’s had the privilege of teaching Spanish and French in several countries, including France, Mexico, Colombia, and Canada. Currently based in Canada, he not only teaches but also serves as a certified Spanish examiner for Global Affairs Canada, assessing language proficiency for official purposes. While most of his experience has been with adult learners, he also enjoys working with children and teenagers, adapting his teaching style to make language learning engaging and effective for all ages. His approach combines academic rigor with cultural insights, helping students develop both linguistic skills and a deeper appreciation for the Spanish and French speaking worlds.
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!
Mariela Reyes
Spanish & German Instructor
Mariela is originally from Argentina and is a certified Public Translator in German and Spanish, with a degree from the University of Córdoba. She is the proud mother of three children. Her life has taken her across South America, Europe, and the Middle East, where she’s had the chance to truly immerse herself in different cultures. These experiences have shaped her deep appreciation for language—not just as a means of communication, but as a way to grow, connect, and see the world through new eyes. Mariela is passionate about teaching. She loves creating a welcoming, engaging classroom environment where students feel encouraged to explore, express, and be themselves. For her, each class is not just about language—it’s about sharing stories, celebrating cultures, and growing together.
DANIELLE NISKALA
English Instructor
Danielle Niskala was born and raised in Canada but has lived in Charlotte for over 20 years. Danielle completed her undergraduate degree and her Graduate Teaching Certification in TESL at UNC Charlotte. She has over 10 years of experience teaching English to students of all levels and backgrounds. She spent 8 of those years in the public school system. Danielle has a passion for teaching and all things international. She loves to travel and in her spare time she enjoys playing with her little Sheltie, August.
ORNELLA DESSI
Italian Instructor
Ornella was born in Sardinia, a beautiful island in the Mediterranean sea. She moved to Turin to attend university, where she graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating, she worked as a designer in both the luxury nautical and automotive sectors for important manufacturers. For both work and family reasons, she lived in Shanghai for two years, where she taught art and design to university students and children. Her passion for teaching later led her to obtain a Master’s degree in teaching Italian to foreigners. She has been living in Charlotte for since 2023 with her two children, her husband and her cat. She loves cooking, art, photography, and travel.
VERÓNICA HENER
Spanish Instructor
Verónica was born and raised in Argentina. After graduating from the University of Buenos Aires, she first worked as a Natural Science Teacher and then as Speech and Language Pathologist. In 2007 she moved to Miami where she worked with bilingual kids, helping them with speech delays, speech disorders, and learning disabilities. In 2017 she moved to Charlotte with her husband and two kids where she began volunteering at CMS and assisting with reading fluency problems. Verónica started working at The Language Academy in June of 2022 teaching in-person and online Spanish classes. She loves teaching her native language and culture to young people and adults. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, singing, dancing, and spending time with her family.
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.
AGNÈS MAS DE XAXARS
Spanish Instructor
Agnes was born in Barcelona, Spain. She studied Tourism in school and earned a Master’s in Marketing for Tourism. Later she went on to earn a Postgraduate degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. She speaks six languages! Japanese is her favorite, but she’s also partial to her native languages of Catalan and Spanish. Before moving to Charlotte in 2015, she worked for several years as an interpreter for Japanese companies. Agnes joined the Language Academy in June of 2022 and says that she very much enjoys accompanying her students on the magic journey of learning a new language. She also loves traveling, reading, hiking, trying new foods and most of all – writing!
CHRIS LAW
English Instructor
Chris has worked with the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system since 1997, as a teacher and district administrator. He also served as the Founding Program Director for the NC Teaching Fellows program at Queens University of Charlotte and as the Founding Program Director for the Master of Arts in School Administration program at Queens. His most recent work was leading Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in the area of early education, as the District Director of Pre-Kindergarten learning and language programs. He is published in peer reviewed journals and has presented at national education conferences. He has served the Charlotte community as the school district representative on the Mecklenburg County Early Education Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for Smart Start of Mecklenburg County. He hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of NC at Charlotte, a Masters Degree and Doctorate degree in Education from Gardner-Webb University. He holds an active licenses as a Teacher, Principal and School District Superintendent.
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.
MIA BERINDEA
French Instructor
Originally from Canada, Mia moved to the United States in 2016 and has been teaching French for the past four years. She holds a Master’s degree in Teaching French from the University of South Carolina. She has experience working with students at the university, high school, and elementary levels. Mia has been teaching at the Language Academy of the Carolinas for the past since 2023 and is passionate about making language learning engaging, practical, and culturally rich. She tailors her instruction to meet each group of students’ needs and interests and is excited to share her love for the French language with all levels of students!
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.
DANIELA WEINERT
German Instructor
Daniela was born in Nuremberg, Germany and has been teaching German for 18 years at schools, colleges and universities in the US, Germany and China. She holds a Master’s Degree in German Literature and Linguistics, and one in History as well. Daniela is passionate about languages and has not only studied English, but also French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese. She moved to Charlotte in 2004 with her husband and her two cats. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys travelling, cooking and most of all – dining out!
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.