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Meet our Zinta Team Members!
Vendla Smith, M.Ed.
Founder and Director
Vendla has developed a groundbreaking instructional model that transcends traditional focus on “words” and “mechanics.” Her approach to language acquisition immerses learners in practical use of the language, facilitating faster fluency compared to conventional methods. Smith has presented at over 150 industry-specific seminars nationwide. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language, a Teaching License, and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Having mastered over seven languages, she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Education.
Kerry Smith
Customer Service Representative
Kerry has been a Zinta team member since 2004, managing various behind-the-scenes activities including technical and customer support. If you need assistance or encounter an issue, Kerry is likely the person you’ll interact with. A retired CMSgt from the Air Force, Kerry is deeply passionate about guiding students into the right classes and supporting them as they achieve their language goals.
Fatima Araujo
Zinta Lead Instructor
Meet Fatima! She joined the Zinta team in 2021 as a distance language trainer, conducting classes from her home country of El Salvador. Fatima provides her students with native-speaking experience from the comfort of their own homes. Her encouraging approach makes her an effective and beloved instructor. Her favorite part of teaching at Zinta is having fun with her students while watching them become bilingual.
Javier Nevarez
Zinta Certified Instructor
Javier’s first language is Spanish, though he was born and raised in the Chicago area. His Mexican parents taught him Spanish from an early age, but he quickly became fluent in English as well. Alongside learning about U.S. culture, history, and politics in school, he was also educated about Mexican culture, history, and politics by his parents. Javier has a diverse range of hobbies, including art, drawing, painting, and tattoos.
Brittany Maloney
Zinta Certified Instructor
Brittany earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish from Friends University in Kansas. After working with Zinta for a few years and taking a brief hiatus, she has returned to our team. Her love for helping other has helped her gain experience working at a Spanish immersion daycare for preschoolers. Aside from teaching, Brittany enjoys reading, writing, dancing, singing, and spending time with friends. She is currently focused on getting some of her poetry published and regularly participates in Open Mic nights. Brittany is full of energy and makes learning fun for her students!
Gabriela Hernandez
Zinta Certified Instructor
Gabby has a deep passion for languages, speaking three of them fluently: Portuguese, Spanish, and English. Whether you’re looking to learn any of these languages, she is well-equipped to help. Patience might as well be her middle name, as she is dedicated to helping students learn at their own pace. Living in El Salvador, Gabby offers her students a wealth of knowledge and experience, all from the comfort of their own homes. She is highly engaging and committed to going the extra mile to ensure her students are learning and making progress in their language studies.
Dawn Miner
Zinta Certified Instructor
Dawn joined the Zinta staff in 2021. Her passion for French began early, inspired by watching Sesame Street as a young girl. After earning her degree, she spent three years living in Vittel, France, where she achieved a high level of fluency and cultural understanding. Dawn is familiar with the challenges of learning a language in a foreign country and has many tips and tricks to share. What excites her most about working with the Zinta team is “tearing down the walls” to make language learning more accessible and engaging.
Hazel Martinez
Zinta Seminar Trainer
Meet Hazel! An exceptional Zinta trainer, Hazel leads some of our Industry-Specific seminars. Originally from El Salvador, she brings authentic native language experience to her students. Her warmth and patience quickly endear her to learners, who appreciate her caring approach. Hazel’s favorite part of her role is witnessing the excitement of students when they successfully use Spanish outside the classroom.
Eusmary Timaure
Translator
Eusmary has been a valued member of the Zinta team for many years. Based in Venezuela, she has provided exceptional English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English translations. Clients appreciate Eusmary for her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to catch errors that others might miss. Her deep knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in both languages makes her an outstanding asset to our translation services.
Sebastien Dousset
Translator
Seb lived in France his entire life before moving to the U.S. several years ago. With a passion for language and a keen eye for detail, he provides the high-quality translations that Zinta demands. Need a voice-over? Seb offers that as well! Multi-talented and a pleasure to work with, he delivers the top-notch French-to-English and English-to-French translations you need.