INTERNATIONAL CHAMELEON
International Chameleon
How did we meet and how did we form this business?
Shortly after Ellen relocated to Pittsburgh, we met at the International Women's Association of Pittsburgh. Ellen hired me (Michelle) as an English Instructor to improve her American English business language skills. Together we explored the English language, American idioms, and the similarities and differences between life in the U.S. and in Germany. We both discovered that we not only learned a lot about the other's country, but we found out new things about our own country and language. Ellen joined my workshop feelshome and continued to learn more and more about American life. Once Ellen started teaching German and Intercultural Communication, she realized that she had a lot to offer to foreigners working for or with German companies. As we compared our experiences, we saw that, together, both professionally and personally, we could help ease the challenges of living and/or working in another culture.
Michelle Dreyfuss
Founder of International Chameleon
Founder of Excellent Language Solutions
My journey in international cultural exchange began when I was twelve years old and moved with my family from my country of origin, the United States, to France. Ever since returning to the USA six years later, I have been excited to welcome others to this country. My extensive traveling and my own ex-pat experience has made me particularly sensitive to the adjustments one needs to make when living in another country.
Ten years ago I had the opportunity to embrace my passion for teaching others about life in the United States. Through global language companies, I have taught English to dozens of trailing spouses and children of executives who have been transferred to the U.S. Having done this work for many years, I am very familiar with the challenges as well as the benefits of living in another country.
For the last five years I have run a book group for international women that examines and explores important, fascinating, and funny aspects of American life and of American. Helping these families learn English and adjust to life in the US has been extremely rewarding, interesting, and educational.
EDUCATION
B.A., University of Michigan
M.H.S.A., University of Michigan
American English native speaker, fluent in French.
WORK HISTORY
Family Hospice, Pittsburgh, PA
Public Relations
Global Lt., Pittsburgh, PA
English Language Instructor
CORE Languages, Pittsburgh, PA
English Language Instructor
CARTUS, Pittsburgh, PA
English Language Instructor
IOR Relocation Services, Pittsburgh, PA
Destination Services Consultant
Independent English Language Instructor, Pittsburgh, PA
International Chameleon
Founder and Owner
English and German Instruction and Intercultural Workshops for Expats
Consortium for International Languages and Intercultural Consulting
Founder
Ellen Marquardt
President of Marquardt Language Design, LLC
Founder of International Chameleon
Founder of Excellent Language Solutions
Residential Interior Design
Graduate of New York Institute of Art and Design (NYIAD), USA
RIQDC Certified - Residential Interior Designer
Member of the Designer Society of America
During my professional career in Germany, I worked as a Project Manager, Research Associate, and later as Deputy Managing Director of a mid-sized consulting firm. I was also active as an expert in communication, language, and program development. Throughout these roles, I frequently collaborated with international teams, especially with colleagues from the U.S. and across Europe.
Each collaboration strengthened my skills and deepened my cultural awareness — it was a rewarding and eye-opening journey. In 2015, I volunteered with the Cologne Public Library’s initiative Sprachraum (“Language Area”), where I taught German to refugees and supported them in navigating German culture. This experience gave me a much more personal understanding of the emotional and practical challenges of living in a new country — an understanding that soon became even more relevant.
In 2016, I moved to Pittsburgh with my husband and began working as a Language Program Developer, German Tutor, and Intercultural Consultant, supporting executives and corporate teams. My work focuses on customized language training, intercultural communication, and program design. I continue to learn from every student and every client — their languages, their stories, and the unique global perspectives they bring. It’s a profession I feel truly passionate about.
EDUCATION
Architecture
3 Years of Academic Studies – University of Siegen, Germany
Sociology (Major), Psychology and Applied Linguistics (Minors)
Magistra Artium (Combined Bachelor's + Master's Degree, Germany)
University of Siegen, Germany
Residential Interior Design
Graduate of New York Institute of Art and Design (NYIAD), USA
RIQDC Certified - Residential Interior Designer
Member of the Designer Society of America
additional:
German and Philosophy
1 Year of Academic Studies - Philipps-Universität Marburg
Macroeconomics
2 Year of Academic Studies
Wilhelms-Universität Münster
KEY PROFESSIONAL ROLES
Project Manager and Research Associate | Urban Aging
Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Germany (in cooperation with Johns Hopkins University, USA)
Conducted interdisciplinary research on aging in urban environments, with a strong focus on how space, accessibility, and design impact quality of life. Developed a deep sensitivity to the relationship between people and their built environment — particularly for older adults. Strengthened my analytical, planning, and user-centered thinking skills — all essential for thoughtful, age-inclusive residential design.
Deputy Managing Director
teamEXPERTE.de – Cologne, Germany
Oversaw daily operations, managed teams, and led strategic planning at a mid-sized training and consulting firm. Gained valuable experience in project management, budgeting, and leadership. Learned how to balance vision with execution — and how to keep people at the heart of every project.
Language Program Developer, German Tutor, Intercultural Consultant
Founder and Owner – Marquardt Language Design, LLC
International Chameleon – Excellent Language Solutions
Designed and delivered customized language and intercultural training programs for professionals and companies. Specialized in clear communication, cultural understanding, and practical language use in diverse work environments.
Student Assistant
Architecture and Interior Design Offices Various Locations in Germany
Assisted in architectural and commercial interior design projects, contributing to concept development, drafting, and project coordination.
Student Assistant – Miro GmbH, Siegen, Germany
Provided administrative support to the team responsible for creating and implementing assessment tools and training materials focused on workplace design and organizational development.
Student Assistant – University of Siegen, Germany
Provided research and administrative support to two professors, contributing to academic projects in psychology.
Consortium for International Languages and Intercultural Consulting: Excellent Language Solutions
A cooperation of:
Marquardt Language Design, LLC & Intercultural Communications, Inc.
Cynthia Lennox
President of Intercultural Communications, Inc.
Founder of Excellent Language Solutions
My professional journey began with teaching English to Soviet refugees who had relinquished outstanding careers as lawyers, doctors, musicians and scholars to seek freedom in a new land. Not only were these interactions personally and professionally rewarding, but they also awakened in me a deep interest in seeking to understand the infinite and intricate layers of culture and its impact on human interactions and relationships.
After seven years supporting refugees from a wide variety of backgrounds, I became an English instructor at Bayer Corporation, where I assisted senior executives, their partners
and children move from surviving to thriving in the American culture through enhancing their communication skills and moving toward multiculturalism. While continuing my work with Bayer Corporation, I founded Intercultural Communication, Inc., to enable my instructors and myself to provide similar services to many other corporations and health service organizations.
From neurosurgeons and cardiovascular surgeons to chief executive officers and senior vice presidents, I have learned the English language and cross-cultural communication challenges they and their families face during their international experiences. From my over twenty years of experience as a full-time faculty member at Duquesne University, I have learned best practices in language instruction and multi-cultural training for cultural awareness and understanding. My passion is to share this understanding with my students as they simultaneously educate me in new cultural and language differences.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Washington & Jefferson College
French and English
Certification in Secondary Education in English and K-12 Certification in French
Master´s Degree of Arts, Carnegie Mellon University
English, Linguistics, and Curriculum Development
WORK HISTORY
Intercultural Communications, Inc. 1995- present
Founder and Owner, Language instruction, cross-cultural training
Assistant professor, Duquesne University 2001 – present
English Instructor, Cross-Cultural Instructor, Learning Technology Coordinator, Speaking-Listening Curriculum Coordinator
Bayer Corporation 1987-2001
English Instructor and Intercultural Consultant for Executives
Allegheny Intermediate Unit 1980 - 1987
English Instructor for Visiting Scholars, Students, and Refugees
Consortium for International Languages and Intercultural Consulting
Founder
About Intercultural Communications, Inc.
Intercultural Communications, Inc. is a customer-oriented, woman-owned business. Our mission is to assist native and nonnative professionals, employees, and their families to improve their performance by enhancing their communication skills in English and modern languages. As an integral element in this development process, we are strongly dedicated to helping Americans and nonnative speakers of English function more effectively through deepening their understanding of the business, professional and social cultures of the United States and other countries. To attain this outcome, Intercultural Communications, Inc. employs experienced instructors holding advanced degrees in English as a Second Language or foreign languages.
Intercultural Communications, Inc. has assisted nonnative professionals, employees, spouses and children to improve their communication skills and enhance their cultural understanding at large corporations including Bayer Corporation, Marconi Corporation, Traco, Hitachi Corporation, CONSOL, Lanxess Corporation, Mitushishi, Marcegaglia USA, Mineteck America, Tyk America, Inc., United States Steel Corporation, Wheeling-Nisshin, UPMC, and West Penn-Allegheny General Health Systems. These services have included helping clients improve their oral communications skills, compose business correspondence and reports, develop professional presentations for national and international conferences, and prepare professional papers for publication.