Staff Directory

President

David Merkley, BS

David’s journey into language education is marked by a deep-rooted passion cultivated from an early age. Following high school, he ventured to Brazil for a transformative two-year missionary experience, immersing himself in the culture and occasionally teaching English. Returning to the United States, David pursued higher education in Colorado, earning a bachelor’s degree in business. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for a successful career spanning two decades in corporate management and entrepreneurship.

Driven by a desire to empower others and fueled by his love for languages, David eventually transitioned into English language education. This career shift allowed him to merge his professional expertise with his commitment to linguistic empowerment. Today, David’s journey stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication and versatility, inspiring others in the realm of language education.

Center Director

Alexandre Saraiva

Professional with over 30 years of experience in commercial, business management, and marketing sectors, Alexandre has a solid academic background in Law (Bachelor’s degree) and Marketing (Postgraduate studies). Recognized in The Top 100 magazine in 2023, he currently holds the position of Center Director at Antares Winter Park.

Alexandre’s career is marked by a continuous quest for learning and improvement. He has always deeply valued the importance of mastering a second language, and his passion for English is notable. During his time in the United States as an F1 student, Alexandre not only achieved fluency in English but also developed advanced knowledge of Spanish. This linguistic proficiency complements his extensive professional experience, enabling him to effectively engage in international markets and collaborate with a diverse range of clients and partners, reflecting his love and commitment to the English language.

Office Manager

Giovanna Panza

Born in Brazil, in the city of São Paulo, into a traditional Italian family with the surname Panza, she is familiar with the countries of Italy, Spain, Argentina, Chile and the United States and has enjoyed getting to know different cultures and languages.
With a degree in Marketing, she has had the opportunity to gain qualifications in every country she has worked in, combining customer service, management and administration skills with team leadership.
Since 2021, she has worked as senior marketing manager for the Vida Maxima group, developing projects, brand control, media and visual identity.
As a result of her successful results, she holds the position of office manager at the Antares Winter Park unit.

Academic Coordinator

Hugo Brito

Hugo’s passion is teaching. There is no other proffesion he’d rather do than teach English.

Hugo has taught English for more than three decades enjoying every minute of it. Hugo taught English, as an English Professor, in th Naval Academy in his native country Dominican Republic for ten years. (1997-2007)

Having the opportunity tomake special military studies as a professor in the well-known Defessive Language Institute in Lackland air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Since 2015 Hugo has been working in languages schools in Orlando, Florida leaving an unforgettable memory on the students under his supervision.

Hugo has a BA in Languages, mention in English, a postgrade course in Learning Disabilities. Two specialties; Growing with Children and Growing with Adolescents.

His passion is reflected on making his students focus on the four English skills, more importantly, in the spaeking skill!

Teacher

Luciana Villar

Luciana is an English Translator, Interpreter and Teacher from Argentina.
She has fallen in love with the English language and culture since she started studying it in 2008.
She earned the TOEIC certification (Test of English for International Communication), TESOL/TEFL Certification and a BA in Human Sciences attained in the National University of Cordoba.
Luciana has been teaching English for almost 10 years now to students of all ages. Throughout her teaching career, she has developed engaging lesson plans, fostered interactive learning environments, and adapted her methods to meet the unique needs of each student. Her approach emphasizes enjoyment and practical application, making language learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience.