There are four experienced Community Counselors supporting Host Families and Au Pairs in Washington, DC.
Melli Bennett
For the past 20 years, Melli has been helping her host families and au pairs in the Washington, DC area have successful matches together. She is originally from Estonia and is a mom of two adolescent children. After earning a journalism and public relations degree from the University of Tartu, Melli worked for different newspapers and magazines in Estonia as a writer, editor, and editor-in-chief. Coming from a small country, Melli loves to meet new cultures and have first-hand experience with them. In addition to traveling, she likes to spend her free time reading, gardening, and hiking.
Natalie Skidmore
Natalie has a degree in Mass Communications from the University of California, Berkeley. She worked in television news and public relations before coming to Au Pair in America. In her free time, Natalie enjoys time outdoors with her family as well as trapeze and Italian language and culture.
Maria G. Clements
Maria is originally from Ohio and holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She has lived all over the US as well as in Europe and Asia. Maria provided social work services through several DC area nonprofits before joining Au Pair in America. The cultural exchange process is of great interest to Maria, who is studying Italian and dreams to one day own a home in Northern Italy.
Ariel Rubin
Ariel Rubin has been a community counselor since 2017. Ariel has a degree in history and lived abroad in both Europe and North Africa before settling down in Washington, DC. She loves working with families who need childcare and support Au Pairs from around the world as they embark on the adventure of moving to Washington, DC. Ariel has had four incredible Au Pairs for her own four children.