Special Interest Instructors
Warren Bjork
Debbie Gardiner, CPDT-KA
Debbie has been working with dogs since she was 12 years old. She is now a bit older and is finally able to live her passion as a dog trainer. She has been an educator for 28 years working in Champaign-Urbana and in the Northwest Suburbs for the past 15 years. Debbie has two dogs, Eli and Cody. Eli is a Maltese, who is an agility champion and was a therapy dog for 7 years at Northwest Community Hospital. Cody is a Mi-Ki and he participated in nosework classes. Both dogs earned their Canine Good Citizen Titles. Debbie's dogs bring so much joy to her life, and she hopes she can help you experience that same joy. Debbie teaches you how to work with your puppy, obedience, assisting with problem behaviors, tricks, beginning agility, Canine Good Citizen Certification, and Therapy Dog Certification. No dog is too old to enjoy learning new things and spending time with you.
Jackie Janesku
John Kent, MBA
E-Ling Lou
Mark Lyons
Tom Mudloff, PhD
Thomas Mudloff, Ph.D. is a former lecturer and instructor of Egyptology at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and holds advanced degrees in Egyptology, Biblical Studies and Cross Cultural Education. His specialization is Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern religion, in addition to the study of the ancient hieroglyphic language of Egypt and Mesopotamian studies. He was associated with the Discovery Channel for 4 years, was with the Field Museum for 15 years and Northwestern University for 15 years. Dr. Mudloff is a graduate of Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and Salisbury University. He has taught the archaeology, history, art and science of the ancient Near East at Northwestern University, and the Adler Planetarium in addition to lecturing both in the United States and abroad.
He currently teaches courses on several subjects relating to Ancient Egypt and Biblical archaeology at venues in suburban Chicago where he makes his home. His many articles cover a range of topics including the history and religion of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and he is an author of the best selling Hieroglyphs for Travelers. Tom was a contributing author for the book Egypt: Land and Lives of the Pharaoh’s Revealed by Global Publishing of Sydney Australia, which was the featured book for the Discovery Channel Book Club. His work Magic in Ancient Egypt; Sacred Things and Secret Places, a DVD, has won documentary awards and has been used in schools around the country. Dr. Mudloff has worked in Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Jordan and has lived and explored the area with the Bedouin people of this region for many years. His work in the region has included several excavations and lecturing to both travel and study groups.
Ron Nosek
Amy Novick
Amy Novick is the owner of Clutter Care, a professional organizing company. Her three areas of focus are Home, Paper, and Digital organizing. She is passionate about helping clients clear their clutter, care for what remains, and find the space and time to enjoy their lives. Amy has learned Home organizing hands-on over the years, and is an All-Paper Certified Organizer as well.
As an educator for 25 years, she taught elementary and high school music and orchestra, and designed online college classes. While teaching, Amy used the Google for Education Suite, and became a Google for Education Certified Trainer in 2013. She loves finding ways to collaborate and to use technology to be more efficient and effective.
Her and her husband have two daughters in elementary school - one with ADHD and one with Celiac Disease (no gluten) - both of which make organization a necessity in every area of our home and lives. As a mother, teacher, professional, homeowner, and volunteer, she knows how important it is for her paper, home, and digital worlds to be organized. Those things help her stay on top of everything and keep up with schedules, deadlines, paperwork, projects, and holidays.
Also, with aging parents, Amy has seen first-hand how important it is to have all of your paperwork, online passwords, and belongings pared-down and in order.
