- Orlando
Staff Directory
Antares
Our Team
PRESIDENT
Mikle Merkley, BS
Mikle enjoys the study and use of language, and the possibility to communicate despite language differences. He believes language is essential to an individual’s understanding of their world and their ability to build relationships.
Mikle’s passion for language began when he was young, as he grew up around individuals who spoke multiple languages. He first studied language (Spanish) formally throughout his four years in high school. Later, he studied Italian in a high-intensity, immersive program for six weeks before moving to Italy, where he lived for two years as a religious missionary. During that time he volunteered teaching English on a weekly basis, as well as tutoring students in an after-school program for a period.
Chief Operating Officer
Dave Merkley, BS
David learned to love languages at a young age. After high school, he lived in Brazil for two years as a missionary and taught English classes on occasion. Then he attended University in Colorado, USA, where he got a degree in business. He then spent the next 20 years in corporate management and entrepreneurship before getting involved in English language schools. He has a passion for helping others, and for languages.
GENERAL MANAGER
Vinícius Nogueira
Vini learned English while in Brazil, which led him to teaching beginning and intermediate students for two years. He also has experience in logistics and problem solving from work in the United States, which has helped both his language and his qualifications as Internexus/Antares’ general manager.
Finance Coordinator
Camila Fagundes
Camila has always liked to learn new things, including new languages. This desire brought her to The United States to start her English classes. Today, living in Orlando, Florida, she has been able to meet and exchange experiences with many people from different parts of the world. She has also been able to improve her English and learn Spanish as her third language . She loves traveling and being with her family and friends.
Office Manager
Michelle Marshal
As the daughter of an English teacher, Michelle has always seen learning a second language as a priority, but it was moving to The United States as an F1 student that she reached fluency in English. After living for 3 years in Massachusetts, where she was able not only to study, but also to be a student ambassador at her first school. Now she is in Orlando, Florida, where she works as the office manager, guiding our students through the entire process of school enrollment and also assisting and providing them with much of the support they need during their journeys.
Academic Coordinator
Heidi Quist
Heidi has loved languages since junior high when she both started learning French and realized how much she loved reading and writing in English. Towards the end of her time as an undergraduate student, she lived in France for a year and a half as a missionary. Since then, her career has taken different directions, including working as a copyright expert teaching (and learning from) many multinational teachers in the U.S. Foreign Service Institute. More recently, she has been teaching English and French since 2010. She has a BA in English, an MFA in Children’s Literature (Creative Writing), and an MA in French, with an emphasis in linguistics and teaching. Her passions related to English teaching include helping her students to improve in critical thinking, to develop their creativity, to understand the world around them, and to improve their abilities with English mechanics.
Teacher
Jamal Jaradat
Jamal earned his TESOL Certification from Huntington University in 2011, and taught at Exodus Refugee Immigration for a year and has been a part of the Globalcom family since 2012. Jamal has lived overseas for 23 years and is bilingual in English and Arabic. He enjoys playing sports, reading, and traveling.
Teacher
Curt R. Lentsch
MA – Applied Linguistics, U of Illinois-Chicago, 1988
PhD – Education (Curriculum & Instruction), U of Illinois, 1999
1989-1990, 1997-2008: Teaching English in China institutions of higher ed – Subject areas: 4 skills (reading/writing/listening/speaking), American & British Literature intros, Western Civilization, Intro Linguistics courses
2010 -2017 – higher ed in Hong Kong – subject areas: 4 skills, applied linguistics courses
Teacher
Michael Norato
Hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, Michael is a proud Italian-American. His family made the journey to the United States after World War II. Possessing a Bachelor of Science in meteorology, a Master’s in administration/educational leadership, and a graduate certificate in mathematical sciences, Michael has dedicated 25 years to teaching. His experience spans from instructing grades 7-12 as a math and science teacher to serving as a professor of mathematics at the collegiate level since 2012. In 2018, he ventured into English education, earning his TESOL certificate. Choosing to re-enter the realm of teaching English in 2023, Michael finds immense enjoyment in his role.
