After a bachelor's degree in International Economics with a minor in Spanish and then an MBA from Columbia University with an emphasis in International Finance, Barry Hoffner lived and worked overseas, learning languages and taking a strong interest in foreign cultures. From 1985 to 2002, he had assignments with some of the leading global financial institutions, mostly with JP Morgan, in Argentina, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore, Zurich, London, Moscow, and Mexico. After 2002, he switched gears to develop and farm wine grape vineyards, growing for both Francis Ford Coppola and Benziger Family Wineries from 2005 to 2016. In 2010, he followed up on a bucket list trip for his 50th birthday in Timbuktu, Mali, West Africa, to start Caravan to Class to invest in education in rural villages near the fabled Timbuktu. Since 2010 Caravan to Class has built 14 French-based schools in the region of Timbuktu, bringing education to thousands of deserving children. Today, Barry continues to volunteer his time as Executive Director of Caravan to Class