W. OBENSHAIN Elaine

An experienced trainer, facilitator and coach, Elaine is an English language instructor at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University of BenGuerir , Morocco. She specializes in cultural competency development and teaching soft skills courses including modules focusing on leadership, communication, teamwork, problem solving; cultural and emotional intelligence, cultural competence; and entrepreneurial development and marketing skills. Elaine is Vice President of the American Moroccan Alliance, a non-profit organization focused on promoting cross-cultural understanding to dispel common stereotypes and misconceptions. AMA was created in the spirit of building a cultural bridge between the United States and Morocco to develop and maintain friendly relations. Since 2012, AMA has sponsored four study trips for teachers to Morocco. Forty educators from the North Texas region participated in these study tours. Upon returning to their classroom, they have shared their experience with approximately 11,000 students to date. The teachers' ideas were collected from a unique and in-depth window on all segments of the Moroccan economy, culture, politics, academics, societal issues, religious and daily life of the population. Elaine has demonstrated the ability to lead and develop people, coordinate complex projects and achieve mission critical results. Prior to leaving the apparel industry, she specialized in developing various project management initiatives in support of strategic wholesale and retail marketing and corporate training objectives. Working with leading iconic brands including Williamson- Dickie Mfg ., Sears, Wal-Mart and J.C. Penney , she has demonstrated success in creating growth in target markets through the implementation of major and complex design and merchandising projects, on time and on budget. planned. She is adept at communicating with all levels of management, vendors and internal departments to ensure overall marketing efforts are launched and sustained successfully. She is recognized as an industry specialist whose mission is to create profitable, exciting and dynamic experiences that suit the business model and the audience.