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I’m from Massachusetts originally but have been in KC for 30 years.  I worked at Children’s Mercy Hospital for many years, negotiating their managed care contracts. I decided to stay home with my kids and have spent the last 20 years raising them.  They are now 22 and 25.  I have served on multiple boards including being the President of The Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired and helped run that school through Covid.  I love to travel, play poker, walk my dog (a standard poodle!), watch K-dramas, read books and speak French.  I’ve taken classes at La Causerie for 5 years and I’m very excited to serve on the Board and help the organization continue to thrive!

Hello and welcome to La Causerie! Learning about language and culture has been such a rewarding experience for me. My love for French started with a replica of a Champs Elysees street sign my Dad brought home for me from a business trip when I was a little girl. Now that street sign reminds me of so many moments in a beautiful culture like collecting hazelnuts on a friend's driveway, discovering Nutella, shopping end-of-summer sales where things get cheaper every week, wearing scarves all the time, and little dogs in ladies purses. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I had the unique opportunity of serving an 18 month mission all around France when I was in college. The culture shock lasted a few months to be honest, but what came out of so much dedicated time in a new country was a gratitude for expressions of connection that flower out of culture. There is something so familiar in all the new ways of speaking and interacting that bring connection. Now, as a busy mom of two cute kids who are growing up way too fast (ages 8 and 13), I realize how rusty my French has become. Joining La Causerie has been great for my French, but wouldn't you know the most amazing thing has been the expressions of connection that have flowered from this school as well. I am one of those Disney patrons that cry every time I go on the "It's a small world" ride, you can ask my kids, but this is why I love La Causerie so much. I hope this year here is one of your favorites, I look forward to "chatting" with you! 

I worked for 38 years as a medical technologist and lab manager in various medical labs.  I have 3 children and 5 grandkids.  My youngest son and his family live in NYC, so I try to visit as much as possible.  I studied French over 55 years ago in high school and for one semester in college. My daughter took classes at Lacauserie and encouraged me to enroll.   I have enjoyed my French journey and I have made many new friends.   I just completed my fourth year here and my friend, Lisa Chase, encouraged me to serve on the board. 

I spent a decade working as a high school physics teacher, then another decade working as a data scientist. I began taking classes at La Causerie in 2024, when my schedule became more flexible. Now I divide my time between multiple part-time commitments: data consulting, accounting work, volunteering, and learning Spanish! 

Following my love of Italy, my husband and I opened La Bella Cucina Italian Market. Our  Italian Market in quaint Weston, Mo  specializes in imported pastas, sauces, charcuterie, wines, liqueurs, ceramics, Murano Glass, and linens imported from Italy. Feed the Italian in your soul!

I am just beginning at La Causerie in Italian, of course!  I love and support this school and encourage learning a second (or third) language!

I’m married this June for 44 years to Bill Quatman. We have three children and in September we will have our ninth grandchild.  I’m a retired school teacher of about 40 years. I retired seven years ago and that was when I was able to delve into learning Spanish. I’ve been at Lacauserie for probably seven or eight years. I began with Graciela, then some online classes through Lacauserie, and then Christy Schmidt and Irene Schmidt. I have enjoyed every minute of it.  Along with studying Spanish in my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, taking walks with my dog, reading, and traveling.

I’ve been involved with Lacauserie probably 9 to 10 years and have enjoyed each and every class I have taken. I have three married children and four grandchildren, and I have been married to my husband, Doug for 42 years this August. I love to spend my free time playing golf, playing pickleball and tennis, and walking my two Golden Retrievers, who are Gibson and Gabriel. Also, I love to read, and of course, study Spanish. We love to get away to a small place we have at the lake for golf, lots of walks, and time with our family. I feel like Lacauserie has given so much to me over the past years that I look forward to being able to give back. Thank you for this opportunity.

I am from KCMO (Brookside) but have lived in Weston the past 13 years. We are building a log cabin in the country ourselves (mostly my husband!)...slow-going! We have 3 boys, a Bernese Mountain Dog (our 5th!), and I used to show dogs in obedience & agility. I studied my last semester of college in Scotland, and then backpacked in Europe for 2 years, earning money by working at a Swiss ski resort (where I barely learned some French!). I took 4 years of Latin in high school and 2 years of Spanish at KU, and in 2022 my teen boys and I spent a month in Peru which included Spanish classes. I took 2 years of Italian at La Causerie but I'm back trying to learn Spanish! I have also started a Spanish conversation group in Weston where we fumble around trying to speak Spanish! And finally, my favorite job ever: I am an Area Representative for International Student Exchange (ISE). I recruit host families for high school foreign exchange students, and then supervise the students throughout the year, plan events with the students and families, and generally provide support. Our family has hosted 8 students from Spain, Italy, Russia, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. It's an amazing experience, and they are like my own kids! We've gone to visit them, and several have visited us. My dream is to rent a castle in France and have all of us together for a week!