Executive Team
Who Are We
Bridges International Student Services is an international collaboration of:
- Parents – over three centuries of cumulative parenting experience!
- Students – ourselves and were(are) parents of students who went through the process of going to US or International universities and attended secondary school in the United States, United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan and others
- Educators & High School/Secondary school counselors both in the US and Internationally
- Founders of US domestic, international and vocational schools
- Highly active in various humanitarian organizations, including facilitating the starting of orphanages and schools.
- World class Web and software developers
- International Business leaders
The BISS team has over a century of experience in education, starting schools, student placement and secondary school counseling both Internationally and in the US.
Our executive team has well over a century of international business experience, both as startups and in management in a variety of fields
- Founder / Team Leader
- Chief Educational Officer
- Executive Vice President
- Chief Technical Officer
- Chief Legal Officer
Greg Bancroft
After graduating from Texas A&M with a BS in Physical Education and History, Mr. Bancroft worked as a teacher and coach in both private and public secondary schools in the U.S. He was later instrumental in facilitating the start up of a private school in India (that was eventually integrated into a large private Indian school network). He is also the founder of a US based Humanitarian nonprofit through which he was instrumental in the startup of an award-winning orphanage in the Philippines, as well as the starting of sustainable organic farms and training programs in Asia and Africa. Greg was also one of the founding directors of the award-winning International Center of Culinary Arts in Dubai, UAE, Internationally recognized as one of the top ten vocational culinary institutes in its class in the world.
Mr. Bancroft has lived with his wife Ann and family in India, Japan and the UAE and has lived overseas for more than 18 years. All four of his children have attended either public or private schools in Japan, UAE, and the USA. All four attended US universities with two of them graduating with high or highest honors. Three of them have various “VoTech” certificates as well.
Dr. Brita Nash
Dr. Nash brings over 35 years of experience in education, 20 years as a college guidance counselor for secondary/high school students. Dr. Nash has counseled hundreds of families coming from over 95 countries helping them find the right post-secondary school educational solution. Brita has worked for many reputable international schools within 6 different countries besides the USA. She’s worked in Bahrain, Jordan, UAE, Turkey, Holland and Thailand, as well as 17 years with the USA private and public-school systems. She enjoys working with all clients through every step of admissions process whilst assisting student’s exploration of various options in universities and institutes. Brita is a graduate of Gwynedd Mercy University, Texas A&M University and Concordia University and the mother of two adult daughters, one of which is living overseas in the Middle East.
Dr. Nick Marianos
Dr. W. N. (Nick) Marianos, Jr. is a structural engineer, adjunct engineering professor, and aspiring homesteader. He has more than 30 years of experience in bridge design and construction. Since receiving his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 1992, he has taught as an adjunct faculty member at several universities. He is currently an instructor and course developer for an on-line Masters in Civil Engineering program. The Marianos have lived in Turkey and worked internationally there and in Central Asia.
Dr. Marianos and his wife have adopted two children internationally. Their family has a strong interest in vocational training for orphans and has been involved with several humanitarian agencies to help in this work.
Dan Anderson
Dan Anderson is the owner of NetProfits Internet Consulting, a full-service web design and web development company started in 1998. Over the past 21 years, they have designed and built over 450 web sites and web applications for a variety of businesses and industry specialties. Although they have focused on small to medium sized businesses and school districts, they have also built web applications for much larger companies including AT&T, Black & Decker, Wachovia, Conoco Philips and others. Dan graduated from Penn State in 1984 with a degree in computer science. He was a senior developer and project manager for Dezine Health Care Solutions for ten years before starting NetProfits in 1998. Dan and his wife Kathy have three adult kids, one adopted from Russia and another who designed the BISS logo. He has been very active in a number of humanitarian based organizations.
Brian Andrews
Brian Andrews has worked for over ten years in private practice and as in-house counsel in the engineering and oil and gas industries. His responsibilities have included contract negotiation, litigation, advising on corporate transactions, and corporate governance. Throughout his career Brian has successfully defended various claims and negotiated favorable settlements worth several million dollars and has advised on projects worth up to USD $2 billion.
Brian has a Master of Professional Accountancy degree from Louisiana Tech University and graduated from Duke University School of Law in 2008. He is licensed by the State Bar of Texas. Brian has also been active helping International humanitarian organizations and along with his wife Kathryn is the proud parent of 4, the latest 2 being twins.
BISS Support Team
Support Team Lead
…
Web Design & Content Editing Support
Rachel Dickerson is the founder and lead designer of Declaring Vision, a web development, digital design, film post-production editing, and digital marketing company started in 2012. Rachel Graduated from Antioch College in 2016 with a degree in Media Art. After several years of blog article writing, Rachel published her first book titled, “The Dedicated Heart” in 2015 and since 2017 has been a work from home mom with her two young children.
Rachel has many years of experience with domestic humanitarian organizations (including Teen Challenge, Forgotten Children Inc, Glen Helen Nature Preserve, ect…) that focus on empowering children and their families through education access. Because of her husband Philip’s experience as a child doing international humanitarian work in Bangladesh for 2 years and Rachel’s short international humanitarian work in Swaziland Africa in 2009, they have developed an interest in future international humanitarian work for their family.
International BISS Representatives
Pakistan – Aleem Ashraf:
Aleem is the exclusive representative for BISS in Pakistan. He is also the founder and owner of Cornerstone Trading, an import an export company based in Dubai UAE for thirteen years. Aleem has an MBA in marketing and recently received his LLB from Punjab University in Lahore. Aleem has known Mr. Bancroft for 8 years and through this relationship, introduced the educational problems students face from his native country and was therefore one of the original idea developers for the Bridges concept. He lives in Pakistan.
Why BISS Began
The BISS story really begins in Mumbai in 1988 with a group of desperate Indian parents…
Strategic partners
After graduating from Texas A&M with a BS in Physical Education and History, Mr. Bancroft worked as a teacher and coach in both private and public secondary schools in the U.S. He was later instrumental in the start up of a private school in India (that was eventually integrated into a large private Indian school network). He is also the founder of a US based Humanitarian nonprofit through which he personally facilitated the startup of an award-winning orphanage in the Philippines, as well as the starting of sustainable organic farms and training programs in Asia and Africa. Greg was also one of the founding directors of the award-winning International Center of Culinary Arts in Dubai, UAE, recognized as one of the top ten vocational culinary institutes in its class in the world.
He has lived with his wife Ann and family in India, Japan and the UAE and has lived overseas for more than 15 years. All four of his children have attended either public or private schools in Japan, UAE, and the USA. All four attended, or are attending, US universities with two of them graduating with high or highest honors. Three of them have various “VoTech” certificates as well.
Dr. Brita Nash
Brita brings over 35 years of experience in education, 20 years as a college guidance counselor for secondary/high school students. Dr. Nash has counseled hundreds of families coming from over 95 countries helping them find the right post-secondary school educational solution. Brita has worked for many reputable international schools within 6 different countries besides the USA. She’s worked in Bahrain, Jordan, UAE, Turkey, Holland and Thailand, as well as 17 years with the USA private and public-school systems. She enjoys working with all clients through every step of admissions process whilst assisting student’s exploration of various options in universities and institutes. Brita is a graduate of Gwynedd Mercy University, Texas A&M University and Concordia University and the mother of two adult daughters one of which is part of the BISS Team.
Dr. Nick Marionos
Dr. W. N. (Nick) Marianos, Jr. is a structural engineer, adjunct engineering professor, and aspiring homesteader. He has more than 30 years of experience in bridge design and construction. Since receiving his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering in 1992, he has taught as an adjunct faculty member at several universities. He is currently an instructor and course developer for an on-line Masters in Civil Engineering program. The Marianos have lived in Turkey and worked internationally there and in Central Asia.
He and his wife have adopted two children internationally. Their family has a strong interest in vocational training for orphans and has been involved with several humanitarian agencies to help in this work.
Dan Anderson
Dan Anderson is the owner of NetProfits Internet Consulting, a full-service web design and web development company started in 1998. Over the past 21 years, they have designed and built over 450 web sites and web applications for a variety of businesses and industry specialties. Although they have focused on small to medium sized businesses and school districts, they have also built web applications for much larger companies including AT&T, Black & Decker, Wachovia, Conoco Philips and others. Dan graduated from Penn State in 1984 with a degree in computer science. He was a senior developer and project manager for Dezine Health Care Solutions for ten years before starting NetProfits in 1998. Dan and his wife Kathy have three adult kids, one adopted from Russia and another who designed the BISS logo. He has been very active in a number of humanitarian based organizations.
Brian Andrews
Brian Andrews has worked for over ten years in private practice and as in-house counsel in the engineering and oil and gas industries. His responsibilities have included contract negotiation, litigation, advising on corporate transactions, and corporate governance. Throughout his career Brian has successfully defended various claims and negotiated favorable settlements worth several million dollars and has advised on projects worth up to USD $2 billion.
Brian has a Master of Professional Accountancy degree from Louisiana Tech University and graduated from Duke University School of Law in 2008. He is licensed by the State Bar of Texas. Brian has also been active helping International humanitarian organizations and along with his wife Kathryn is the proud parent of 4, the latest 2 being twins.
Net Profits.
a full-service web design and web development company started in 1998.
Declaring Vision
A web development, digital design, film post-production editing, and digital marketing company started in 2012.
It Is Finished
Graphics Design