The Mango Team

Jason Teshuba - Founder / Chief Executive Mango

Jason founded an ecommerce language company in early 2004. Originally deemed a "side business," Jason's Midas touch transformed it into an international ecommerce operation by selling language educational programs to clients worldwide.

Currently learning Mandarin Chinese, Jason is conversationally fluent in Hebrew, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese. In addition, he has surveyed many other languages including Spanish, Russian, Cantonese Chinese, Hindi, Dutch, Armenian, Greek, Japanese, Thai, French, German, Polish, Romanian, Albanian, and Twi.

A passionate student of language, Jason was nevertheless frustrated by the deficiencies of the many language-learning systems that he had used. Thus, he founded a company with a very noble goal: to revolutionize the way people learn languages. His vision was to make learning a new language as fun and as easy as learning one's own native language.

After studying computer engineering at Michigan State University, Jason worked for EDS as a vehicle simulation software engineer. He developed software to run on GM and Daimler Chrysler vehicle simulators that saved his clients millions of dollars in annual expenses. As you can see, Jason is a very smart and hard working person, but he also knows how to have a good time. Let's admit it, he is kind of a closet nerd but tries to compensate for it by spiking his hair up and coming to the office in jeans.

Fact: Jason was captain of the back-to-back DECA quiz bowl national championship teams in 1993 and 1994.

Michael Goulas - Founder / Chief Operating Mango

Michael is the Program Director and one of the founders of Mango Languages. Since the inception of the company in 2004, he has taken the lead role in overseeing the development of Mango's state-of-the-art language learning software system. As an organizational genius, Michael is responsible for building a team of talented linguists (which includes finding a singularly magnificent editor) to help Mango provide the language learning community with optimal tools and services. His passion for scholarly research and accomplished abilities in management have propelled Mango Languages into an elite position of the language industry.

Affectionately called "Goulas" by many of his friends, Michael loves languages. He is fluent in Greek and currently studies Brazilian Portuguese. A voracious reader, he spends much of his leisure time immersed in the great books of the Western canon. In addition, Michael also teaches part-time, takes a Filipino martial arts class, and trains for marathons. But by far, he loves spending time with his family - even if it is just to watch a bad movie.

Fact: After receiving a bachelor's degree with honors from Michigan State University, Michael went on to earn a Master's Degree in Politics from the University of Dallas.

Mike Teshuba - Founder / Chief Technology Mango

Michael Teshuba is a real crazy mango. In an office of computer people, he holds the coveted title of Chief Technology Mango (CTM). He oversees the design and development of all Mango's software and technology initiatives. He has a degree from Michigan State University in Computer Science Engineering. Among the many subjects he studied at MSU, his favorites were the theory of quantum computation and teleportation. Maybe he hopes one day he will be able to use this knowledge to beam up to the Starship Enterprise and hang out with Spock and Captain Kirk.

Our technology is in good hands. Michael has over five years of experience in designing, developing, testing, and deploying major software applications. Mr. Teshuba has worked on a diverse array of projects including, Ecommerce, pharmaceuticals, content management systems, CRM systems, and many others. He has a wealth of indispensable experience in doing what counts and getting the job done. He is detail oriented and has a keen way of drawing quality work out of his people.

When Mike isn't geeking it out in front of his computer, he enjoys snowboarding, water sports, golf, poker, and a host of bar games. Being highly competitive and annoying, he loves to gloat when he defeats his opponent in whatever game he is playing. If you are his friend, he takes no greater pleasure than rubbing it in after he has defeated you. However, if Mike doesn't know you he acts really humble if he wins. Although Mike dishes it out, he has a bit of a harder time taking it. It really is fun to see him squirm in anguish after he has been defeated.

Mike is a smart, honest, hard working, and trustworthy fellow. We are proud to have him as a friend and a colleague.

Ryan Whalen - Founder / Chief Marketing Mango

Ryan attended Wayne State University where he began his career in Graphic Design. Ryan has been the Creative Director, Chief Marketing Officer, and one of the major shareholders of Mango.

Ryan is a uniquely gifted, highly creative, and inspired individual. His creative talents span the spectrum from drawing, painting, and graphic design to sculpture and music. Ryan is a master cellist and guitarist and was the lead guitarist in his band "Luna's Love Child." Most individuals that have such a developed creative and intuitive faculty lack in many left-brain activities such as analysis and mathematics. This is where Ryan displays his extraordinary genius. He is able to easily and effortlessly spot trends, analyze data, and even write software. He is a genuine whole brain thinker and innovator.

Before founding Mango, Mr. Whalen created and managed online marketing campaigns for many internet companies. He has sharp insight into people, can spot trends, and is a master of Internet marketing. His ability to develop and implement creative marketing strategies makes him a key player in the growth of Mango.

Ryan brings to the table an entrepreneurial mind, a deep understanding of the Internet and Internet marketing, and an excellent ability to research the most effective marketing techniques. He is always keeping up to date, finding new and better ways of doing things.

Ryan married in 2002 to his most supportive and gorgeous wife Lucia, who speaks several languages including Slovakian and Hungarian.

Anna Maria Wagner - Course Director / Polish ESL

Anna Maria Wagner has been an ESL teacher for over fourteen years, working both in Europe and in the United States. Originally from Poland where she completed her master's degree in Education from the University of Maria Curie Skłodowska in Lublin, Ms. Wagner also studied at the University of Cambridge in England. Ms. Wagner moved to the United States in 1996 and ever since then, she has been tutoring both English as a Second Language and Polish. Besides teaching, Ms. Wagner also has vast experience as a graphic designer and computer animator.

Anna Wagner has a passion for traveling. Ms. Wagner has been all over the world, enjoying the various languages and cultures of the world. Ms. Wagner has visited most of the European countries, Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, China, and Japan.

Ms. Wagner also enjoys dancing and playing the guitar. Ms. Wagner has a happy home in Michigan with her husband Waldemar and daughter Agata.

Diana McGraw - Course Director / Russian

Diana McGraw is a native Russian speaker and an accomplished linguist and translator. Ms. McGraw has more than nine years of professional experience in translation, interpreting, and cross-cultural communication. Her academic and cultural background combined with her extensive work experience makes Ms. McGraw the head of the Russian Mango language program.

Diana McGraw's linguistic expertise in developing the Russian language program for Mango is highlighted by her accomplishments as a translator and interpreter for many reputable companies around the world. Ms. McGraw has served as a Translator-Interpreter for AVIASTAR-SP JSC, a major Russian aircraft construction company, Cairo Aviation in Egypt, and for many major translation agencies in the United States and Eastern Europe.

Ms. McGraw is a member of American Translators Association and Northeast Ohio Translators Association. She received her M.A. in Linguistics and Intercultural Communication from the Institute of International Relations at Ulyanovsk State University in Russia.

Diana McGraw is married to Stephen and has twin sons, Michael and David. They make their home in Marietta, OH.

Jennifer Ordeñana - Course Director / Spanish ESL

Although originally from the Detroit area, Jen's true home has always been in Latin America. Jen has spent much time living and traveling throughout Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and a handful of other Latin American countries. Besides Jen's husband, Orlando, who she met in Nicaragua while in the Peace Corps, Latin America is her life's love.

Jen received her bachelor's degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from Albion, a private, liberal arts college in Michigan. She has worked for many years teaching Spanish, ESL, and translating for various companies. While working in the Peace Corps training teachers, among other things, she also created a library and started a reading program for children in the local schools.

Jen loves to travel, learn more about other cultures, find opportunities that challenge her, and spend time with friends. Although she is partial to digging into a good book while laying in a hammock with a cold drink under the shade of a mango tree in the beautiful green outdoors of Latin America! Jen and Orlando currently live in Atlanta and are expecting their first little bilingual child in late March.

Almut Reinicke - Course Director / German

Cat's love Mango too! Almut's cats thoroughly enjoy Mango, but they've yet to speak any new languages...

Almut Reinicke was born and raised near Munich, Germany. Her interest in the English language was first sparked at age five on a trip to England with her family. The farmhouse dog there only spoke English and she was determined to play ball with him.

Maybe it is because her mother is an English teacher and her father is an engineer that Almut has always been equally interested in foreign languages and natural sciences. Almut enjoyed studying English, French, and Russian in high school as well as biology, math, and physics.

After high school, Almut began her studies of Veterinary Medicine at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich. During school vacations she travelled to America as often as possible to do externships in a Wild Animal Park in Huntsville, Alabama and a clinic in San Diego, California. At this time, Almut took advantage of the wonderful opportunity to attain a mastery of the English language.

Winning a green card in a lottery allowed Almut to spend two years in California. While in California, Almut continued to pursue her passions and studied English and natural science. Almut immersed herself in English literature, American history, oceanography, and marine biology at California State University in San Marcos and at the Mira Costa College in Cardiff. After her tenure in California, Almut returned to Munich to complete her veterinary degree. Since 2002, Almut has spent most of her time living in San Diego, California but frequently goes back to Germany to visit her family.

While going to school, Almut has gained experience as an English tutor and as a translator for veterinary research documents from German into English. Since 2004, she has been working as a part-time freelance translator in the software localization, telecommunication, multimedia, and medical research industries.

When she is not glued to her computer, Almut enjoys drawing cartoons and any outdoor activities like swimming, surfing, snowboarding/skiing and hiking.

Evangelia Mouma - Course Director / Greek

Evangelia Mouma is a native Greek speaker. She grew up with the vision to study Shakespeare in the original. As a child, she spent her time looking up words in dictionaries. Today she holds a BA in English Literature and Language, a BA in Greek Philology, and an MA in (Chomskyan) Linguistics from UCL, London, and she can proudly declare that she understands the secrets of any language.

Apart from English and Greek, Ms Mouma speaks French and Italian, can read German, and is learning Swedish. Brain sciences is her favorite subject. She has compiled a two-volume English / Greek and Greek / English dictionary. She also works as a teacher of English and Greek, freelance translator / proofreader / editor, and author of language books and teaching material.

In her free time she enjoys tennis, walking in the nearby forest, taking care of her plants, exchanging emails, and Skyping. She is fascinated by the new technologies and the power of the Internet and is awed by modern gadgets.

She lives in Athens with her husband, Apostolos, and their daughter, Katerina, who is dreaming of building a ranch in Kansas.

Abey Kuruvilla - Mango Head of Research

Abey Kuruvilla holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Louisville. He was a special faculty member at the School of Business at Oakland University and held adjunct faculty positions in business at Lawrence Tech University and in Engineering at Wayne State University. He is currently a Visiting Professor at University of Wisconsin Parkside and teaches Quantitative Methods and Operations Management. He topped his High School in India and taught Operations Research at University of Louisville as a graduate student.

We invited Dr Kuruvilla to be a consultant in 2005 and subsequently to be on board as the Head of Research at Mango. Dr. Kuruvilla can speak five languages and his passions are travel, photography, horseback riding and taking risks - he met and married his lovely wife, Asha, in 6 days!

Ginnett Zabala - Course Director / Spanish

Ginnett was born and raised in "La isla del encanto" (The Isle of Enchantment), Puerto Rico. Her interest for learning languages was born out of her curiosity to find out just what her parents were saying when they did not want her to understand. It just so happens that Cable TV made its appearance in Puerto Rico and Ginnett would learn the real English from shows. As a teenager, she started reading romance novels and magazines in English. After a few years, Ginnett knew everything that her parents were trying to keep secret from her.

She liked being bilingual so much that she decided to become a teacher, earning her Bachelor's degree in Education with a focus on Teaching English to Spanish Speakers from Universidad de Puerto Rico. She practiced what she was learning with her son Javier (who is now 12 years old and bilingual as well) and taught English to Spanish speakers in the private school sector.

Ginnett has a good sense of adventure and likes to travel. Her adventurous spirit led her to respond to an ad in the newspaper announcing Atlanta's need for bilingual teachers. Ginnett was asked for an interview and few months after, she got on a plane and moved to Georgia. It was while teaching at an Atlanta school that "thanks to an introduction from a co-worker" she crossed paths with her now husband, Jesus.

Ginnett earned her Master's degree in Instructional Technology from University of West Georgia and now teaches Spanish at the high school level. She likes to integrate technology into her Spanish class as much as possible, making videos to present grammar points and Power Points to review and play language games.

Ginnett loves spending time with her "Bori-Mex" family, (a mix of Boricuas-her son and Ginnett are from Puerto Rico and Mexican-her husband is from Mexico) as well as her extended family of international friends. She also enjoys traveling and plans to visit as many countries as she can.

Theresa - Course Director / Mandarin Chinese

Being born and raised in Northeast China, Theresa is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese. In school, English was her best and favorite subject. After completing her university courses, Theresa was accepted into a postgraduate program in Linguistics and her research focused on Psycholinguistics. As a person who's always up to new challenges, Theresa decided to further pursue the PhD degree after working at the university for 2 years. She was fortunate enough to have a former Dean of the Linguistics Department at SOAS, University of London, as her supervisor, who is also a founder of the Government Phonology Theory. With an expertise in Phonology, Theresa also received formal training in Second Language Acquisition, Syntax, Semantic, and Pragmatics.

Although it appears that she has devoted many years of her life to education and schooling, Theresa is by no means a "bookworm." Even when she was teaching at the university, she was a DJ and newscaster for a local radio for years, which she would have continued if she didn't have to leave to pursue higher education. This experience has always made Theresa very confident when she teaches Mandarin because she knows how to liven things and entertain while instructing.

Now Theresa and her family live in a peaceful small town in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. While her 2 young sons, Andrew and Noah, both under the age of 3, and her job keep her very busy, her passion in Linguistics never stopped. With her experience and passion in broadcasting, her dream is to have her own Chinese TV channel one day, to shorten the distance between China and the rest of the world.

Stephen Augenstein - Code Monkey

Stephen is a bright and rare genius. He joined Mango Languages at 17 years old, right after graduating from the prestigious International Academy High School. He decided not to go to college right away and instead opted to enter the work force. At first, this was a bit unsettling until we understood Stephen and his motives. Simply put, he LOVES programming and he is amazing at it. In his role at Mango Languages, he can write code to his heart's content. At 18 years old, this young man is a better programmer than 95% of the software developers out there with 10 or more years of experience.

This self taught programmer wrote software to sync his iPod with his personal Linux operating system. He also developed a Firefox extension in JavaScript with C++ hooks that has received over 85,000 downloads. He is fluent in a number of different programming languages including Perl, Flash/ActionScript, JavaScript, Ajax, HTML, XHTML, and CSS. Just to add a couple more stripes to his black belt in "Geek", he refuses to use the Windows operating system and installed Linux on the personal computer that he built for himself last month.

Stephen is also a passionate student of language with proficiency in German and Spanish and is now learning Japanese. When he is not geeking out in front of his computer, Stephen likes to listen to all kinds of music, read sci-fi books and learn math, physics and computer science. Working for Mango has inspired Stephen to go to college at some point and persue a joint degree in Computer Science and Linguistics.

Dagney - Chief Canine Mango

Dagney is the cuddliest member of Mango. Dagney has served as the CCM (Chief Canine Mango) of Mango for a number of years. Dagney is well qualified to serve as the CCM. She is fluent in fifteen languages, including barkonese, howlish, and three dialects of an arcane Burmese Canine Jungle tongue. Dagney has many responsibilities at Mango, although her main function is to protect us from the quotidian threat of the mailman and the UPS driver. Dagney often tours the country on barking engagements. She has barked on a wide range of subjects such as "Special Topics in Hind Leg Itching," "Yeah, I Ate Your Jimmy John's Sub While You Were in the Bathroom," and "Puppy Dog Eyes: You Can Make Them Too."

If you would like to contact Dagney, please send her an email at dagney@mangolanguages.com.