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Scotty · Mon 27-Feb-06, 11:15 AM

Dear Readers

Just some People Who Have Dealt With Smith's

This is a simple list and simple description of people etc who were/are affiliated with the issues of Smith, either directly or indirectly. Use this as needed as a reference for information mentioned in previous entries and those to come. Email contacts for these people can be requested by sending email to me to avoid spammers picking up their addresses.

Larry King

Former member of Smith. Bought a master franchise scheme from Smith in the Tokyo area (meaning he could sell rights to franchises to others in that area) and started with Smith around the same time as Scott Spargo (Late Spring/early summer). Followed litigation against Smith for breaches of the agreements made with Smith (involving Smith taking sales and sales leads from him). Awarded approximately $50,000 dollars. Larry now runs his own school in Tokyo called Larry King's School of English.

Larry King
Odyssey International, LLC
81-042-253-7882
(EMAIL AVAILABLE ON REQUEST)

__________________________________________________ __________________________

Scott Spargo:

Ex manager of Smith who lasted just shy of a year with Smith. Has a plethora of information about Smith for him time with Smith. Was a member of Smith's mentoree program called "Friends of Smith" and one of the few members who were not a franchisee. Even after years of being out from Smith's he is still trying to collect from Smith the money lost while with him. Ask him about what Smith did to him around the time of his exiting the group. His testimony of that occurence may appear on here as an entry at a later date. Scott helped to confirm aspects of Smith's past covered in the Who is Mark John Smith entry.

Scott also has posted frequently on many forums and thread that readers will be able to see at a later date on here.

__________________________________________________ _______________________

Paul Hackshaw:

Paul is a teacher at a University in the Kyoto area and is currently working on his Phd in Linguistics through the University of Birmingham, England. He is a member of JALT and known on many EFL forums in Japan as Paulh.

Paul has been a staunch supporter and go between for many people who were involved with the group (Paul linked me and Scott for example). Paul is also a moderator on ELT News. He was one of the first to expose Smith about his curriculum. Paul has actually met Smith many many years ago and can vouch for the depths of Smith's snake oil salesmanship. Paul has also contributed to explanations of the poor quality of Smith's curriculum and laughable training.

http://www.teachinginjapan.com/paul.html

http://www.eltnews.com/community/?ac...username=paulh

__________________________________________________ ________________________

Miles Zonkin:

Ex partner/member of Smith's group. Even still Smith owes him money. Makes no bones about telling someone his feelings or history concerning Smith and can detail about the time Smith was put in the hospital by some guys he bilked and refused to pay. He can also tell you about other aspects of Smith's early days. Miles also helped to contribute information concerning Mark Smith's past in the Who is Mark John Smith entry.

__________________________________________________ ________________________

Donovan Reimer:

The right hand man of Smith for many years up until his leaving and Scott's taking over of the same in the summer of 2004. Don knows a tremendous amount of information about Smith, but is selective about who he gives it to. He too was exploited and used by Mark Smith and has lost money to him. Don is also working with Larry's Lawyer Jiri. Don, unlike other managers, was given the title of CEO for a time with Smith and as well was one of Smith's "school brokers".

Don was usually sent to handle "issues" of franchisees or run schools that were abandoned or wouldn't sell. Ebie School was one such example in Osaka. Personally, I do not like Donovan and I keep my correspondence with him to a minimum. Scott is more friendly and communicative with him than I am. My reason for this is that during Don's time with Smith, he was just as guilty as Smith for some of the abuses and exploitation and coersion of others visited upon people. He as well still tries to maintain a small line of communication directly with Smith and for this I do not entrust him 100% with some information(such as that of people who have contacted me under promises that Smith will not know that they are communicating with me for the purposes of this blog and getting information out to the public. Some of those people I've not mentioned with Scott either. Exiting Smith has a way of making folks less trustworthy of others as I hope readers will come to understand.

__________________________________________________ ________________________

Mark McBennet:

Essentially, he runs ELT New's Forums etc. One of the few moderators to have let stand (with editing and a locking) a thread inwhich he cites Smith having threatened him over a forum thread concerning him and his group. Evidence of the threat can as well be seen in said thread.
(EMAIL AVAILABLE ON REQUEST)

Thread in question:
http://www.eltnews.com/community/?bo...num=1097972222

__________________________________________________ ________________________

Ben Pittman:

A member of Smith's from 06/02 to 01/04. Now an ex member. Can tell you his negativer dealings with Smith as well.

(EMAIL AVAILABLE ON REQUEST)
__________________________________________________ _________________________

Clint Wilson:

He and his wife were looking into buying a Smith's School that was for sale (November 2004). They contacted me after seeing information shown in the net about Smith on a forum. After getting a small amount of what is shown on this blog, and knowing the right questions to ask Mark Smith, they realized they had almost wasted alot of money. I have their email correspondences from Smith (theirs and Smiths). They of course can tell you how Smith easily takes people on while playing on their ignorance and trust of what Mark says to them.

Mon 27-Feb-06, 11:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
Scotty Guru Join Date: Feb 2006 Nationality: Aussie Occupation: Teecha Location: Posts: 82	Smith's School Franchise Japan Jobs in Japan? Dear Readers Just some People Who Have Dealt With Smith's This is a simple list and simple description of people etc who were/are affiliated with the issues of Smith, either directly or indirectly. Use this as needed as a reference for information mentioned in previous entries and those to come. Email contacts for these people can be requested by sending email to me to avoid spammers picking up their addresses. Larry King Former member of Smith. Bought a master franchise scheme from Smith in the Tokyo area (meaning he could sell rights to franchises to others in that area) and started with Smith around the same time as Scott Spargo (Late Spring/early summer). Followed litigation against Smith for breaches of the agreements made with Smith (involving Smith taking sales and sales leads from him). Awarded approximately $50,000 dollars. Larry now runs his own school in Tokyo called Larry King's School of English. Larry King Odyssey International, LLC 81-042-253-7882 (EMAIL AVAILABLE ON REQUEST) __________________________________________________ __________________________ Scott Spargo: Ex manager of Smith who lasted just shy of a year with Smith. Has a plethora of information about Smith for him time with Smith. Was a member of Smith's mentoree program called "Friends of Smith" and one of the few members who were not a franchisee. Even after years of being out from Smith's he is still trying to collect from Smith the money lost while with him. Ask him about what Smith did to him around the time of his exiting the group. His testimony of that occurence may appear on here as an entry at a later date. Scott helped to confirm aspects of Smith's past covered in the Who is Mark John Smith entry. Scott also has posted frequently on many forums and thread that readers will be able to see at a later date on here. __________________________________________________ _______________________ Paul Hackshaw: Paul is a teacher at a University in the Kyoto area and is currently working on his Phd in Linguistics through the University of Birmingham, England. He is a member of JALT and known on many EFL forums in Japan as Paulh. Paul has been a staunch supporter and go between for many people who were involved with the group (Paul linked me and Scott for example). Paul is also a moderator on ELT News. He was one of the first to expose Smith about his curriculum. Paul has actually met Smith many many years ago and can vouch for the depths of Smith's snake oil salesmanship. Paul has also contributed to explanations of the poor quality of Smith's curriculum and laughable training. http://www.teachinginjapan.com/paul.html http://www.eltnews.com/community/?ac...username=paulh __________________________________________________ ________________________ Miles Zonkin: Ex partner/member of Smith's group. Even still Smith owes him money. Makes no bones about telling someone his feelings or history concerning Smith and can detail about the time Smith was put in the hospital by some guys he bilked and refused to pay. He can also tell you about other aspects of Smith's early days. Miles also helped to contribute information concerning Mark Smith's past in the Who is Mark John Smith entry. __________________________________________________ ________________________ Donovan Reimer: The right hand man of Smith for many years up until his leaving and Scott's taking over of the same in the summer of 2004. Don knows a tremendous amount of information about Smith, but is selective about who he gives it to. He too was exploited and used by Mark Smith and has lost money to him. Don is also working with Larry's Lawyer Jiri. Don, unlike other managers, was given the title of CEO for a time with Smith and as well was one of Smith's "school brokers". Don was usually sent to handle "issues" of franchisees or run schools that were abandoned or wouldn't sell. Ebie School was one such example in Osaka. Personally, I do not like Donovan and I keep my correspondence with him to a minimum. Scott is more friendly and communicative with him than I am. My reason for this is that during Don's time with Smith, he was just as guilty as Smith for some of the abuses and exploitation and coersion of others visited upon people. He as well still tries to maintain a small line of communication directly with Smith and for this I do not entrust him 100% with some information(such as that of people who have contacted me under promises that Smith will not know that they are communicating with me for the purposes of this blog and getting information out to the public. Some of those people I've not mentioned with Scott either. Exiting Smith has a way of making folks less trustworthy of others as I hope readers will come to understand. __________________________________________________ ________________________ Mark McBennet: Essentially, he runs ELT New's Forums etc. One of the few moderators to have let stand (with editing and a locking) a thread inwhich he cites Smith having threatened him over a forum thread concerning him and his group. Evidence of the threat can as well be seen in said thread. (EMAIL AVAILABLE ON REQUEST) Thread in question: http://www.eltnews.com/community/?bo...num=1097972222 __________________________________________________ ________________________ Ben Pittman: A member of Smith's from 06/02 to 01/04. Now an ex member. Can tell you his negativer dealings with Smith as well. (EMAIL AVAILABLE ON REQUEST) __________________________________________________ _________________________ Clint Wilson: He and his wife were looking into buying a Smith's School that was for sale (November 2004). They contacted me after seeing information shown in the net about Smith on a forum. After getting a small amount of what is shown on this blog, and knowing the right questions to ask Mark Smith, they realized they had almost wasted alot of money. I have their email correspondences from Smith (theirs and Smiths). They of course can tell you how Smith easily takes people on while playing on their ignorance and trust of what Mark says to them.