HEC Director – Deena Spivak
From the busy city of Toronto to the quiet starry nights of Hokkaido, Deena is excited to take on the position as HEC Director this year! She is passionate about getting students to practice their English inside and outside of the classroom. After experiencing HEC Camp the last two years, her main goals this year are to get more students and ALTs involved with HEC, and make sure HEC stays around for many more years to come! If you have any questions about HEC, want to get involved, or simply want to chat, reach out any time!
Get in touch with Deena: hajet.hec.director@gmail.com
HEC Co-Director – Ashley St. Charles
If she’s not sipping on an Oat milk latte to keep warm, you can find Ashley returning to HEC as Co-Director! She loves establishing deep connections with students and ALTS through a fun and immersive environment! She loves to see students put their all into challenging themselves in English and hopes that camp will provide the perfect opportunity for everyone to have fun, learn, and grow!
HEC Camp Coordinator – Gabriel Kossovan
All the way from snowy Calgary, Canada, Gabriel is thrilled to be joining the HEC team as one of the camp coordinators. With years of experience running camps back in Canada, Gabriel can’t wait to put his expertise to use to deliver an unforgettable summer camp experience. When not teaching, Gabriel loves cooking, hiking, biking, and trying as many new foods and restaurants as possible
Get in touch with Gabriel: hajet.hec.camp@gmail.com
HEC Test Co-Committee Chair – Reina Liska
Nebraska, the land of beef, corn, and baseball. Hokkaido feels like home to Reina, a Nebraskan, Lincolnite. When she’s not traveling around Hokkaido, you can find her teaching English to the kids of Minamifurano. This is her first year in the HEC team and she can’t wait to create a welcoming environment for kids to use their English with native speakers. There is truly no other English camp like HEC, so she hopes that many kids will challenge themselves and join the camp of a lifetime!
HEC Test Committee Chair – Joshua Martin-Corrales
Originally from Philadelphia, Joshua came over to Japan in 2021 and has been an ALT in Biei ever since. He’s been teaching for nearly a decade and loves seeing students grow into lifelong learners. In his free time, Joshua is often seen with a bucket of popcorn, heading into the theater.
Get in touch with Joshua: hajet.hec.test@gmail.com
HEC Treasurer – Jennifer Kwong
From rainy Seattle, USA to snowy Hokkaido, Jenny is excited to return to the HEC team as Treasurer! She is passionate about fostering students’ relationship with English in a positive way. She is looking forward to supporting the team to make the test, camp, and events a success.
HEC Graphic Designer – Abby Capati
From sunny San Diego, Abby is an illustrator, graphic designer, and an ALT who brings sunshine into the classroom on the coldest of Hokkaido winters! They are passionate about the importance of cross-cultural communication through language and visual media, and hope to bring that to the HEC community and their students.
HEC Social Media Manager – Emily McNab
Dawning from the ‘Land Down Under’ of adorable koalas, kangaroos and of course surfing Santa, Emily has been living the opposite life of ice and snow in Hokkaido. Emily’s new found hobbies discovered include hiking, travelling, and taking a dip in an onsen! Her passion for teaching English grew even more after her first HEC camp in 2024. During her time in class, she loves to engage with her students with fun English activities and having a good laugh together.
HEC Translator – Lilli Hanik
Lilli is a 2022 CIR from Kentucky, USA. She enjoys reading, singing, playing ukelele, and long walks on the beach. She is looking forward to meeting new students and helping them learn to express their ideas in English while building connections that will last a lifetime. ENG/JP
HEC Events Coordinator
Seeking out EVENTurists who enjoy being a PARTy!
You’re deFUNitely the one we’re looking for~
HEC Media Manager
Camera shy? I feel you.
Instead, take A SHOT at being behind the lens!