HEATHER WEAS
Montana State University, B.A., Global Multicultural Studies and Francophone Studies

At Montana State University, Heather studied abroad in Morocco and France and worked in the study abroad office as an advisor to outgoing exchange students. While in Morocco, Heather received a grant to conduct linguistics research in an Amazigh (Berber) village. In the wake of Arab Spring reforms, which made their language, Tamazigh, an official national language, she studied the impact this new codification had on everyday oral usage. Before she came to work full-time for Putney Student Travel, Heather lived and worked in China and the U.S., leading outdoor education programs. A certified Wilderness First Responder, she oversees Health and Safety at Putney and organizes programs in China, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Heather is proficient in French and has led student travel programs in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Morocco.

RAVI CHHATANI
Loyola University of Maryland, M.B.A., Finance
University of Maryland, B.S., Finance & International Business

While at school, Ravi focused on microfinance and the effects of global migration in the economy. After working for two years in investment banking and corporate finance, Ravi decided to sell everything he owned, pack only the necessities, and embark on a seven-month trip to Latin America. There, he focused his efforts on improving startup projects in Ecuador, Brazil, and Colombia. In his travels he discovered the virtues of panela sugar and then founded Nela Nature, a startup company that sources panela cane sugar directly from farmers in Colombia and imports it to the U.S. Ravi has grown his company to reach more than 50 clients in the D.C metropolitan area. For 10 years he has coached youth soccer, and he has also volunteered with youth in Baltimore, teaching English to teenage immigrants. Ravi is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, and Sindhi, and is proficient in French. This fall, he will start a new venture involving a panela-based line of drinks, in collaboration with a local kombucha company.