The New Zealand Education Directory - The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

About the Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Christopher Linton was born in beautiful New Zealand.

Chris was raised in the Wellington region of New Zealand. His interests are in music, movies, and theatre, culture and ethnic foods, cookery, golf, international travel, and education.

At age 11 Chris played in the Wainuiomata Brass Band; playing Trumpet, Fugal Horn, and Cornet. He also played the same instruments in the Gallery Youth Orchestra.

At age 13 Chris migrated with his parents to beautiful British Columbia, Canada. He attended the Southern Okanogan Secondary School (SOSS), in Oliver, British Columbia, where he was involved in track and field, wrestling, football, and co-establishing rugby in the high school.

By age 17 Chris had written over 100 songs and countless poems. Chris released a music 45 record, two rock ballads "Time will bring you to me" and "There's a way to know" under the name Christopher Neil. The record was released to 300+ radio stations in Canada and the USA, with limited success.

At age 19 Chris relocated to the USA, where he started his formal education and started his first business; Sign making and then later as a home building contractor.

From 1990 to 1994 Chris volunteered into the US Army and travelled throughout the world. Chris is a Desert Storm War Veteran. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant.

In 1998 Chris founded New Zealand Education Global Services Limited; trading as Education New Zealand, later, in 2008, renamed, Education New Zealand (The New Zealand Education Directory).

In Early 2000 Chris taught the English language in Seoul, South Korea, for a period of two years. He also provided educational consulting on English language curriculum development to English language schools in S. Korea.

In 2002, Chris founded the Academy of English Language, Thames New Zealand.

In 2003, Chris attained an internationally recognized TESOL Certification; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Chris resigned as Principal and Managing Director of the Academy of English Language selling his shares to pursue a new English language school.

In 2004 to 2007, Chris founded Aspire New Zealand, an English Language school and TESOL Teacher Training College. Chris was the Principal and Head Tutor of the English language school.

2008, Chris is currently focused on The New Zealand Education Directory (NZED) Project.

Education and Qualifications

• Candidate for Masters in Education or Psychology.
• Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc), The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
• Education Major – Gifted and Special Needs Children, and
• Psychology Major – Cross Cultural / Ethno Psychology
• Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree with Honors (A.A.Sc) - Carpentry Technology (Graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA and listed on the Deans List of Excellence), Wenatchee Valley College, Wenatchee, Washington, USA
• Diploma of Digital Media, attended Media Design School of New Zealand, Auckland, 2007-2008, (NZQA Level 6)
• TESOL Certification: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (NZQA Level 5, 15 credits)
• Diploma in Business Operations (B.O.C.) with Honors, McDonalds University, Auckland, New Zealand

Other Professional and Personal Development

• Barista Certification, New Zealand Management Academies (NZMA), Auckland, New Zealand
• Real Estate Salesperson Certificate, TAFE College (NZ) Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand

Military Training and Personal Development

• Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Weapons Officer (NBC) Diploma, United States Army, Fort Gordon, Georgia, USA.
• Non-Appropriated Chaplin Funds Financial Bookkeeper/ Auditor Training Course, United States Army Chaplin Center and School, Fort Monmouth, NJ, USA
• Diploma in Primary Leadership and Development (PLDC): Non-Commissioned Officer School of Infantry, Fort Benning, Georgia, USA
• Diploma of Administrative: Field-Grade Officer (CAC), United States Army Chaplin Center and School, Fort Monmouth, NJ, USA