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

The NZED 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, culture, cookery, 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 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 rugby.

By age 17 Chris had written over 100 songs. Chris released a music 45 record, two rock ballads, 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.

From 1990 to 1994 Chris volunteered into the US Army and traveled 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; renamed in 2008 as The New Zealand Education Directory.

In Early 2000 Chris taught the English language in Seoul, South Korea, for a period of two years.

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

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 school.

Chris founded Aspire New Zealand, an English Language school and TESOL Teacher Training College. Chris was Principal and Managing Director until 2007 when the school was closed from pressure from the strong New Zealand Dollar and declining international student coming to New Zealand for study.

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

Education and Qualifications

• Candidate for Masters in Education, Organizational or Ethno Psychology
• Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc) University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
• Education Major – Gifted and Special Needs Children, and
• Psychology Major – Cross Cultural / Ethno Psychology
• 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
• Certificate in Business and Administration, Big Bend Community College, Moses Lake, Washington, USA
• Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree (A.A.Sc) – Technologies. Graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA – Honors and Deans List of Excellence, Wenatchee Valley College, Wenatchee, Washington, USA
• Attended the Digital Media School of New Zealand in the Diploma of Digital Media (NZQA Level 6)
• Barista Certification – New Zealand Management Academies (NZMA), Auckland, New Zealand
• Real Estate Salesperson Certificate – TAFE College (NZ) Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand

Other Training

• 1992 - Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Weapons Officer (NBC) Diploma, United States Army, Fort Gordon, Georgia, USA.
• July ‘92 - Non-Appropriated Chaplin Funds Financial Bookkeeper/Auditor United States Army Chaplin Center and School, Fort Monmouth, NJ, USA
• June ‘87 - Diploma in Primary Leadership and Development (PLDC): Non-Commissioned Officer School of Infantry, Fort Benning, Georgia, USA
• 1998 - Diploma of Administrative: Field-Grade Officer (CAC) United States Army Chapin Center and School, Fort Monmouth, NJ, USA