Edward Retta has lived, worked and traveled in 40 countries. Educated in the USA and in the UK, he holds an MA in Cross-Cultural Ministry and a BS in Psychology and Management. Retta spent his early career in corporate America in engineering and manufacturing. During eight years with a British NGO, he designed and implemented cross-cultural training for staff members from over 60 countries. He speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish and has studied Arabic, Japanese and German. Retta has published numerous articles on cross cultural business practices. He has provided acclaimed training and consulting to companies in Europe, Africa and the Americas. Please click here for information about booking Edward Retta for National Hispanic Heritage Month

Marilyn Retta was born into a family on international assignment, spent her childhood and her professional life as a global nomad. Marilyn has lived, worked and managed her family in Europe, Africa and Latin America. She has been an "accompanying spouse" and has had two children born abroad. She is a specialist in international relocation issues for families with children. Marilyn's education includes degrees in foreign languages and education, as well as an MA. Marilyn is also an Accredited Professional Translator certified by the American Translators Association.

Cynthia Brink is a bilingual intercultural trainer with a background in marketing and operations. As Senior Account Executive for Business Horizons magazine, she published international editorial profiles. Cynthia also lived and taught at the Universidad Autonoma de Campeche, Mexico. She has worked and traveled in South America, Germany and Australia, and developed a field course in Maya history with the University of Texas. Cynthia holds a BA in Art History and received part of her education in the UK. She writes, curates exhibitions of Latino art, and has initiated a series of articles on art and its relationship to culture. Cynthia has given professional presentations to peers on the subjects of emerging Gen X leaders and multinational teams at SIETAR international conferences. She holds a graduate Certificate in Intercultural Communication from the University of British Columbia, Canada.

Christine Maria Wirths is based in Frankfurt, Germany and specializes in cross-cultural training design for multicultural teambuilding and intercultural management. She speaks fluent English, French and German, and has consulted and trained in Egypt, the USA, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Britain and Pakistan. Wirths has been a consultant and trainer to companies including BASF, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, Airbus Industrie, ThyssenKrupp Automotive, Rütgers, E-Plus, Lafarge, PricewaterhouseCoopers, EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, Intersnack and T-Mobile.

Wirths holds the Diplomarbeit: Interkulturelles Management from the University of Passau, equivalent to the MBA in Intercultural Management. She also studied in France at the Institut International d'Etudes Francaises at the University of Strasbourg. She is a regular presenter at SIETAR (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research).

Dr. Jian Li Dr. Jian Li was educated in China, Canada and the United States and has lived in the U.S. for many years. She holds a Ph.D. in anthropology, a MA in sociology and a BA in language and literature. Dr. Li started her career in academia, teaching college classes on Anthropology and Fieldwork an Introduction to China and Japan. She leads groups from the USA to visit Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Suzhou, Guilin and Hong Kong. Dr. Li is fully bicultural, and understands both cultures exceptionally well.

Bert Olson is a senior executive with over 40 years experience in international business. He has lived and worked in Europe and Australia. He has transacted business in over 40 countries. Mr. Olson led the US delegation to the first China Air-conditioning / Refrigeration show in 1987. Currently he is a Principal with International Business Group LLC.

Kathi Tarantal is a cross-cultural trainer, international speaker, training course developer, team leader and founder of a non-profit organization in Hungary. She holds a Master’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, with thesis research on issues faced by expatriates.

A U.S. American expatriate, Tarantal is based in South Africa, where she lives with her South African husband and two children. She speaks four languages and has traveled to and/or worked in 40 different countries. She lived in Eastern Europe for three years during the transition from communism and in South Africa during the change from apartheid to democracy.

As Director of Leadership Development for an international NGO, Tarantal created a training program for leaders working across cultures. She is also a Lecturer and Trainer on group and interpersonal relationships in the complex racial and cultural theatre of South Africa.

Kelli McCloud-Schingen is an accomplished communicator, speaker and trainer in the Intercultural and Diversity fields. Drawing on her own experiences from a childhood background in an all-black environment to work in multicultural universities around the U.S., McCloud specializes in domestic Diversity, Cross-Cultural communication, Conflict Resolution and Organizational Leadership. Before earning her M.A. in Cross-Cultural Studies, she studied and traveled in the U.K., Canada, Mexico and Europe. McCloud's focus is on interactive training methods.