Butler School, Butler Recruitment, The International Butler Academy, Instructors

Wenya Zhang from China - Graduate of The International Butler Academy

All instructors have been in private service for many years and/or held positions in esteemed households or corporations. This rare combination of comprehensive knowledge and considerable experience, coupled with a deep pride of and affection for a singular and respected profession ensures that all students will benefit from such devotion to duty.

Mereta Bailey from Jamaica - Graduate of The International Butler Academy

Our core instructors include, but are not limited to;

	Robert Wennekes CEO - Chairman of the board Robert Wennekes (Founder) is Chairman of The International Butler Academy (TIBA) and serves on the board of directors of the prestigious International Guild of Professional Butlers (Link). With 30 years of experience in private service, including 16 years as a professional butler working in the USA, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands, Robert Wennekes teaches butling plus interviewing skills & techniques.
	Drs. Gonnie Klein Rouweler Executive Director - Senior Etiquette & Protocol Instructor Drs. Gonnie Klein Rouweler (TIBA Graduate) is the Executive Director of The International Butler Academy and as such in charge of the day-to-day running of the school. She is a professional Image Consultant and one of the leading experts in "how to dress for success" in corporate business. Drs. Gonnie Klein Rouweler is also an expert on etiquette & protocol. At TIBA she teaches butling plus etiquette & protocol.
	Frank Fortgens Director - Senior House Management Instructor Before entering private service, Frank Fortgens (TIBA Graduate) spent most of his professional life in top management positions in the health care industry. He is a professionally trained butler with a great passion for modern butling and butling systems. Frank Fortgens is a member of the Confrérie du Sabre d'Or. Besides being the Director of Recruitment at TIBA, he teaches butling plus estate [house] management.
	Marc van Bergen Director - Senior Butling Instructor Marc van Bergen's (TIBA Graduate) vast experience as professional butler in public as well as private service, in combination with his pragmatic training methods plus his motivational style of teaching, are highly appreciated by the students of The International Butler Academy. Marc van Bergen teaches butling plus RMS (residential management systems).
	Sjannie Luykx Director - Senior Housekeeping Instructor Sjannie Luykx (TIBA Graduate) is a highly experienced butler, estate manager and personal assistant, with more than 30 years of experience in private service. She knows her business like no other. At The International Butler Academy Sjannie Luykx is responsible for teaching butling plus housekeeping in all of its facets, using real life settings in her hands-on training.
	Curtis Akerlind Executive Head Butler Curtis Akerlind (TIBA Graduate), born and raised in the USA, just might be one of the finest butlers you could ever meet! He is a highly experienced and professionally trained butler and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience to the benefit of the TIBA students. Curtis Akerlind teaches butling plus professional attitude and, under his professional guidance students study and work at TIBA.

Class Guardian

Curtis Akerlind, TIBA's Head Butler, is also TIBA's "class guardian". He looks after students, drives them around and does many other things for the students, including counseling. As far as we know, The International Butler Academy is the only school in the world with a full-time "class guardian" in such a fashion.

(photo right: TIBA's core trainers in the main entry hall of the Palace).

Core Trainers of The International Butler Academy

Instructors who are Recognized Experts in their Fields

Our instructors have been carefully chosen by The International Butler Academy for their field experience as well as their ability to teach.
Each instructor has a minimum of 10 years experience in his or her chosen field of work.
Each instructor must take the full eight-week course at The International Butler Academy before he or she is allowed to teach.

We are the only school with a comprehensive written syllabus that provides a framework and standard for all of our instructors to follow. The result is augmented standards of professionalism and consistency for each graduating class.