JAN ROBERT POLATSCHEK

Summary

Thirty years of broad education experience in a variety of institutional and industrial settings with solid background instructing adults, children, and multi-cultural groups. Extensive international travel.

Experience

1965-1968:
Board of Education, New York, New York:
High School Teacher of English.

  • Taught Language Arts in urban location to high school students from Afro-American, Latin American, European and Asian heritage.
  • Taught English as a Second Language to international students.
  • Published high school yearbook.

1968-1974:
The Plaza Hotel, New York, New York:
Director of Training.

  • Designed and conducted training programs for hotel management and hourly staff.
  • Wrote training manuals for hotel and restaurant operations.
  • Coordinated high school diploma equivalency program.
  • Taught Hospitality Management and Study Skills at New York Community College.

1974-1981:
The Sheraton Corporation, Boston, MA:
Director of Training - North America Division.

  • Established Sheraton Training Center. Trained management and sales candidates from the USA, Europe and the Middle East.
  • Managed staff orientation and training for new hotel openings.
  • Trained hotel training directors in curriculum development and presentation techniques.
  • Designed and conducted seminars and conferences across the US for hotel executives and managers.
  • Management Seminars were awarded college credit from American Council on Education.

1982-1986:
Howard Johnson Company, Boston, MA:
Director of Headquarters Personnel.

  • Managed Human Resources and Hotel Training Departments.
  • Conducted outplacement seminars for executives and hourly staff.

1986-1996:
The Personnel Collaborative, Boston, MA:
Founder and Owner.

  • Advised hospitality and industrial companies on organization development and training issues.
  • Published Guest Relations Program.
  • Wrote and conducted Employee Attitude Survey.
  • Taught English as a Second Language at Vietnam Society.

1996-2004:
Piano Teacher, Miami, Florida.

  • Taught Children and Adults – ages 5 – 82.
  • Arranged and rehearsed student musical recitals.
  • Volunteered at fundraising events for public radio station WLRN FM.

2001-2010:
Travel Writer, Miami and Bangkok.

  • Contribute essays on Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, India and Thailand to travel guides published by www.thingsasianpress.com.
  • Publish travel letters and photographs on personal website: www.travelwithjan.com.
  • Travel experience in Western, Central and Eastern Europe, The Middle East, Southeast Asia, East Asia, India, and Central and South America.

 

Education

The City College of New York
B.A. English Literature, 1964

Graduate Study in English Literature and Secondary Education

I was born in New Rochelle, New York, USA.


Re-Inventing

Jan,

How I admire that you are basically re-inventing yourself and others through your travel!!

Keep on enjoying because when you enjoy, we vicariously enjoy, too.

The photographs of your precious parents, sister, former wife and all are very wonderful! So meaningful!! Thanks for keeping me on your mailing list!!

Marian


Person I Admire

Dear Mr. Jan!

I am so happy to receive your letter. Thanks for your good wishes.

You know that I like Mathematics but at the university, I have no chance to study it. My specialty is Chinese. .But I hope when I graduate I can study math again.

Oh, I have something to tell you. Next week I will have an English test.  One of the topics is "Talk about the person who you admire."   I will write about you because I really admire you.  I hope I will have good mark with my topic.

I wish you a great week.

Minh Ngoc

Hanoi, Vietnam


A new fan in Hanoi (this week)

Hi Jan,

I met you at the ThingsAsian gathering at Nomad recently.

Just wanted to say your website is great!  It's candid and insightful and curious: all the best qualities of a travel-writer.

Looking forward to more,

Elizabeth


Hello ^_^

You really are an impressive man. I am happy to know you. Cherry

Impressive CV

Hello Jan, I'm impressed by your rich experience in various types of work. Keep up the good work. R.C.O.

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