Consular Corps College Symposium 2023
Little Rock, Arkansas
November 1 - 3
Cost:
Symposium Registration: $750
Registration includes CCC dues to 12/31/24 and access to all CCC Symposium events, not including the gala dinner)
Gala Dinner: $100
Gala dinner not included in registration costs
Hotel Information:
If you have not already reserved your hotel room at Little Rock Marriott Hotel, please note that the last day to reserve a hotel room at the special reduced rate of $169 per night is Monday, October 16. Please call 877.759.6290 and ask for rooms reserved for the Consular Corps College 2023 or Click Here.
About Little Rock
This year’s Consular Corps College Symposium 2023 will be held Little Rock, the capital city of Arkansas from November 1st through November 3rd , 2023, at the Little Rock Marriott Hotel located along the banks of the beautiful Arkansas River. Walking through Little Rock is like strolling through history from the Central High School National Historic Site, where you can follow the bravest Arkansans, on the state capitol grounds where you will see the bronze statues of the nine students that integrated Central High School, and the Historic Arkansas Museum where the traditions of the Quapaw, Osage, and Caddo Indians are celebrated. During your short stay in our city, you will visit the museum of the 42nd President William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library & Museum. You will hear from key individuals from Arkansas and across the country, Ms. Mary Jean Eisenhower, Founder; CEO MJ. Eisenhower & Associates, LLC & Chair Emeritus of People-to-People and the granddaughter of former president Dwight D. Eisenhower at the Gala dinner and Desmond Alufohai, Director, Protocol & International Affairs Division- Miami-Dade Aviation Department, our keynote speaker at our Friday luncheon on November 3rd.
The diverse population that calls Little Rock home helps make it a progressive destination offering a wide variety of attractions for its ever-growing population. Come on down to Little Rock and experience its diversity and attend a symposium that is guaranteed to expand your knowledge of national and global topics. When Arkansas native Maya Angelou said that “there was strength in diversity", Little Rock listened. Our city leaders, both appointed and elected, truly reflect the makeup of our city. SO, COME TO LITTLE ROCK, and enjoy our beautiful city, its history, culture, and some good ole southern style eats.
About Our Speakers:
Comm. Stefano (Steve) Acunto
Former Honorary Vice Consul of Italy
Comm. Stefano (Steve) Acunto, Hon Vice Consul of Italy 2002 – 2015 is Chairman of Beacon International Holdings, private group of companies in media, insurance and merchant banking. Beacon is among the leading financial publishing companies in the world in insurance and risk management operating from media offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Singapore, Amman, Rome and Milano. Beacon’s Measure Media division produces cable television programming, including the upcoming series Back from the Brink on Discovery.
Mr. Acunto is a Director of Credit Global, Ltd., through which PRGN long term financing for sovereignties is arranged. He serves on several corporate boards, including NYREX, the New York Risk and Insurance Exchange, MAYA Insurance Company, , Credit Global, and, formerly, Atlanta Financial Insurance. He serves as Trustee of John Cabot University of Rome (since 2002) and is Trustee of the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York (since 1997).
For his work as Honorary Vice Consul and his extensive promotion of Italian cultural realities, he was decorated with the rank of Commendatore, Order of Merit, Republic of Italy, and, in 2010, received Italy’s Star of Solidarity, (Stella della Solidarita) among its highest awards. He is a Commendatore in the Dynastic Order of the House of Savoy.
Mr. Acunto holds his B.A. and M.A. degrees in classical philology (Latin and Ancient Greek) from New York University. He was graduated from Mt St Michael Academy in New York. A passionate opera fan, Mr. Acunto is President of the American Society of Friends of Teatro alla Scala, a patron of the Metropolitan Opera, and proprietor of the famed Bel Canto Society archives.
He is an active participant in the Path to Peace Foundation directed by the Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the United Nations and is an active member of the Union League of New York. He and his wife, Carole Haarmann Acunto, divide their time among their homes in Greenwich, Connecticut, Palm Beach, Florida and Rome.
U. Desmond Alufohai
Director, Protocol & International Affairs Division, Miami-Dade Aviation Department
U. Desmond Alufohai is the Director of Protocol and International Affairs Division, Miami International Airport (MIA), Miami-Dade Aviation Department. MIA’s Office of Protocol and International Affairs Division was created in 1988 to facilitate the movement of diplomats, dignitaries, elected officials, and VIPs through MIA and to support the airport’s international programs and initiatives. MIA was the first airport in the U.S., and one of the few major airports in the world, to offer a full array of protocol services, including a diplomatic lounge. Mr. Alufohai leads the largest protocol office of any airport in the United States.
Prior to joining Miami-Dade Aviation Department, Mr. Alufohai served as Senior International Trade Coordinator and head of the International Trade Programs for Miami-Dade County’s Economic Development and International Trade Agency. He also served as Executive Director and head of membership services & training department for Junior Chamber International (JCI) as well as JCI’s Director for Growth & Development for Africa and the Middle East.
Mr. Alufohai has worked as a leader in the international community for more than 30 years. He continues to travel extensively throughout the world, conducting trade missions, workshops, organizational fieldwork, and essential professional development training. He has visited more than 90 countries and made notable contributions during his tenure at JCI as the liaison to the following organizations: United Nations Agencies (UNICEF & UNESCO); World Health Organization [WHO]; and the African Union (AU). He was a delegate to the International Model United Nations (IMUN) in New York (1991).
Mr. Alufohai obtained a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Anna Maria University in Paxton, Massachusetts, USA.
Kathleen Blakely
Honorary Consul of Japan in Las Vegas
Secretary, Consular Corps College
Born in Sendai, Japan & settled in Las Vegas Valley in 1991
Honorary Consul General/Honorary Consul: Appointed 2008; renewed 2013, 2018, 2023 (5-year terms)
Career and personal accomplishments
Education: BA / Psychology from University of Arizona, Tucson
Employment:
· Federal government (Social Security Administration) in northern and southern California
· Private sector (Kelly Services) in Portland, Oregon
· County government (Clark County Personnel; Clark County Parks & Recreation, retired 2017)
Community Service:
· Joined Japan America Society of Nevada (JASN) in 1996; elected to the Board of Directors in 1998; elected Secretary in 1999; served as President 2001-2009; elected as Chair of the Board from 2009-2016
· Implemented numerous cultural outreach and educational presentations in the Las Vegas Valley with performing arts & art exhibits from Japan in conjunction with local non-profit organizations or as Honorary Consul General/Honorary Consul beginning in 1996; these art exhibits and performances focused on Japan’s rich cultural history of arts, crafts and performing arts
o Special events including the Aki Matsuri (Japanese Fall Festival) & Journey Through Japan outreach events in partnership with Atomic Museum (formerly National Atomic Testing Museum)
o Collaborations with the Atomic Museum began in 2005, with annual outreach events for cultural education and outreach such as “Japan Culture Day”, “Drawings for Peace” and “Journey Through Japan” held regularly from 2008 to the recent “Journey” event held on August 19, 2023
· Instrumental in fund raising activities with local Japan Volunteers Team and JASN, raised over $70,000 for the March 11, 2011 Tohoku Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami relief efforts, with funds donated via Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco to the Japan Red Cross
· Member of the Nevada Consular Corps (joined 2009; Dean 2021/2022; currently serving as Secretary)
· Chancellor on the Board of the Consular Corps College, Washington D.C. (joined 2013; Secretary, 2018 to present)
· President/Chair of the Japanese Festival Association of Nevada (January 2020 to present), presenters of Aki Matsuri Japanese Festival
o Aki Matsuri Japanese Fall Festival first presented by JFAN in 2010; volunteer member of organizing team each year
· Negotiated title sponsorship funding from MGM Japan for Aki Matsuri 2018 & 2019 ($20,000 in each year)
o Aki Matsuri 2019 held October 26, 2019 at The Park/NYNY on The Las Vegas Strip; estimated attendance 30,000-35,000
· Aki Matsuri 2020 presented as a “virtual festival” due to the COVID-19 pandemic; live-streamed on Facebook October 17-18, 2020; reached an estimated global audience of 12,000
· Aki Matsuri 2021 – 2023 in partnership with the City of Henderson
o Negotiated & awarded co-sponsorships from the City of Henderson for October 23, 2021 festival (12,000+ attendance); October 22, 2022 (5,000+ attendance due to adverse weather); and currently planning 3rd year with City co-sponsorship for October 21, 2023 festival
· Member of the Kizuna Japanese Society (serving on the Spring Festival planning team)
· Member of the Japan Global Festival Federation
· Member of World Affairs Council Las Vegas
Sherman Banks
Honorary Consul of Ghana
With over 40 years of experience in International Economic and Tourism Development, Sherman Banks has dedicated his life to helping develop sustainable economic and cultural channels that can help bridge educational and cultural divides among nations. “One individual, one community at a time.”
Founder & CEO of Banks International, LLC, Sherman currently serves as Honorary Consul to Arksanas and the dElta Region, USA for the Republic of Ghana and as President Emeritus of Sister Cities International.
A Charter member of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, he is an active member of the American Legion, The Human Rights Campaign, and the Little Rock Air Force Community Council. He is also the past Honorary Commander of the 34th Combat Training Squadron.
Fluent in English and Italian, Sherman spoke on Citizen Diplomacy, Islamic Relations and Economic and Tourism Development in twelve foreign countries and to various educational, civic and government organizations across the United States.
He has authored educational programs for and hosted leaders from such countries as Japan, Ghana, Nigeria, Italy, Australia, France, Spain, Morocco, Mexico, New Zealand, Korea, Russia, China, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Portugal, Brazil, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Netherlands and Ireland.
Over the years, he has been appointed to various positions by government officials to serve his home city of Little Rock, the state of Arkansas and the United States.
Elizabeth L. Bowles
CEO, Aristotle Unified Communications
L. Elizabeth Bowles is CEO of Aristotle Unified Communications L.L.C., a broadband internet service provider headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. In that position, Elizabeth guides the strategic direction and vision of Aristotle and is integral to the development of Aristotle’s business relationships, including partnerships, investment strategies, and joint ventures.
A passionate advocate for the expansion of affordable broadband services in rural and underserved areas, Elizabeth has testified before Congress and the FCC and served two terms as Chair of the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee, which is an independent advisory body tasked with making policy recommendations for eliminating the digital divide. A past President of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA), Elizabeth currently serves on WISPA’s Policy Committee and is its Arkansas State Coordinator and Regional Ambassador for the Southeast Region.
Elizabeth is licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C. and Arkansas, as well as before the Supreme Court of the United States and a number of U.S. Courts of Appeals. Prior to joining Aristotle’s leadership team in 2000, Elizabeth was an attorney with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter, where she practiced in the fields of intellectual property and commercial litigation with an emphasis on international and technology law.
Elizabeth graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a B.A. in International Studies and obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1993, where she graduated first in her class, Order of the Coif, and was awarded the Founder’s Medal. Elizabeth also received the top score on the 1993 bar exam.
Elizabeth has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Arkansas State Bank Board, Better Business Bureau of Arkansas (past President), Rotary Club 99 (Communications Chair), Central Arkansas Executives Association, City Year Little Rock/North Little Rock (Founding Board Member), YPO Chapter Chair and Regional Education Chair, Arkansas’ Quality Digital Learning Study Committee, the Arkansas Broadband Council, and Arkansas’ FASTER committee.
Ingrida Bublys
Honorary Consul of Lithuania for Ohio
Ingrida Bublys is the Honorary General Consul of the Republic of Lithuania for the states of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky for the past 25 years promoting friendly relations between Lithuania and United States. She has established good relations with city and state officials, educational institutions and US corporations. Active networker through various organizations in developing contacts. Instrumental in connecting Ohio Universities with Lithuanian Universities and various exchange programs. On the State level a relationship with Department of Agriculture of Ohio and the Ministry of Agriculture in Lithuania. Organizer of trade missions. Successfully bringing cultural events and providing access for Lithuanian government officials to key US decision makers and people of influence.
Secured and established contacts for trade development for various Baltic companies, as well as US companies; has developed a strong network across diverse commercial and government interests. Organized the World Lithuanian Economic Conference in Chicago. Instrumental assisting Akron with Technology Bridge.
Active member of various business organizations in the US and serves on various boards. She has been awarded “The Order of Grand Duke Vytautas the Great” by the Lithuanian government, the American Nationalities Movement’s “Eagle Award”, and the International Rotary Club of Cleveland’s “International Service Award”, inducted into the “Cleveland International Hall of Fame in 2019 , Crain’s Cleveland Business chosen as” Notable Immigrant Business Leader” as well as various other recognitions.
President of IB International Inc., with offices in Cleveland, Vilnius, Lithuania and Buchholz, Germany. Shares over 30 years in business development and company representation between the Baltic States and the US and lately has expanded business development to other surrounding countries. Company specializes in manufacturing outsourcing in the Baltics, company relocation and acquisitions as well as business and project consulting. IBInternational represents several US companies in various industry sectors, while also representing and opening doors for a diverse range of Lithuanian companies in the US.
TH Asif A. Chowdhury
Vice President of FICAC
Honorary Consul of Chile in Bangladesh.
Mr. Asif A. Chowdhury has dedicated the better part of his 30 years career pursuing and accelerating progress in international business and trade. In 2014, Mr. Chowdhury received the Bernard O'Higgins Award, the highest Chilean Civilian Distinction given to a foreign national by the President of the Republic of Chile, for his contributions and two-decade-long commitment to the areas of international business and trade. He is also the recipient of 2017 GUSI Peace Prize Award for his untiring effort, working for people’s amelioration, to find peaceful solutions for people’s welfare by promoting peace through Economics and Humanitarianism. Mr. Chowdhury has given CONSULAR MERIT of ORDER (CMO) by Brazil in January 2018.
The FICAC Medal of Honor in Prague, and The Financial Mirror- Robintex Business Awards are a few of the many ‘earned’ distinctions Mr. Chowdhury has received over the course of his career. However, what he is most notably recognized for is his strong analytical and business acumen complemented by demonstrated proficiencies in relationship building, key stakeholder influencing, and direct negotiation strategies.
R. Scott (Scotty) Colson
Honorary Consul for Ukraine to Alabama
OCCUPATION:
Director of Community Relations Jimmie Hale Mission (Aug. 2018-present)
Administrative Assistant to the Mayor, 1983 -2018
Attorney 1983-present
EDUCATION: West End High School, 1976
UAB, Criminal Justice/Political Science, B.S. 1980
(honors scholarship)
Cumberland Law School, 1983
(honors scholarship)
PROFESSIONAL:
Member, Alabama Bar Association, 1983-Present
Member, Birmingham Bar Association, 1983-Present
Member, American Society Public Administrators, 1989-Present
Chairman of Alabama Bar Association Committee on Lawyer Public Relations, Information and Media Relations 2000-2008
Designated as Honorary Consul General for Ukraine by the Ukrainian Embassy
Winner of 2018 Samuel Ullman Award for promoting Japanese/Alabama relations
PERSONAL INTERESTS: Bicycling, family activities, reading science fiction/history/current events/Christian studies, UAB sports and community service.
T. (Teo) Forcht Dagi, MD, DMedSc, DHC, FRCSEd
Honorary Consul of Lithuania
Teo Forcht Dagi serves as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania to Massachusetts.
Teo is the Enterprise Vice-Chair and Professor of Neurosurgery at the Mayo College of Medicine and Science, Honorary Professor at Queen’s University Belfast and at the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute in Northern Ireland, and an International Surgical Advisor at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He serves as the ambassador for the Royal College in the United States. Previously, he served as chairman of both the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences and of the School of Management at Queen’s University Belfast. He was also CEO of Boston Neurosciences, Inc., and a director of privately held and publicly listed biomedical companies in the UK, Canada and the US. He directed the Harvard-MIT Program in Biomedical Entrepreneurship and has lectured at Harvard Business School, Wharton, and the Georgia Institute of Technology on innovation policy and investment. He is currently the senior advisor to CURAM, at the National University of Ireland in Galway, and to the Leducq Foundation, which focuses on cardiovascular and neurovascular disease.
Teo received an AB from Columbia College, MD and MPH from Johns Hopkins, MTS from Harvard and MBA from Wharton. He trained in Neurosurgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital and at the Maudsley, Guy’s and King’s College Hospitals in London. He served as a combat neurosurgeon in the US military, is currently Deputy Command Surgeon in the National Guard. He holds the US Humanitarian Service and the Dixon Medals among other decorations. He is an Overseer of the Beth Israel Lahey Hospital in Boston, a past Director of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and a director of Mission Brain, a charitable organization focused on bringing advanced neurosurgical care to underserved populations.
Richard Duda
Director, U.S. Department of Commerce Service Office Little Rock, Arkansas
Richard Duda is the director of the U.S. Commercial Service office in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Richard began his experience in economic development with SBA right out of college underwriting and servicing SBA commercial loans in middle Georgia. He went on to start up 7(a) loan programs with local and national lenders in Atlanta and packaged loans for banks in North Carolina with an expertise in franchising and franchise development. Richard has over 30 years marketing, sales, business, and economic development experience and has owned and operated several small businesses of his own. He joined SBA through the Office of Disaster Assistance assisting small businesses impacted by hurricane Harvey and Maria to access capital to rebuild. In 2018, Richard joined the SBA Arkansas District office as the International Trade Officer assisting small businesses to export and has recruited and trained SBA lenders on loan eligibility, underwriting, proper servicing, and compliance regarding SBA loan programs. He performed annual compliance reviews with Arkansas Small Business Technology and Development centers, microlenders, conducts multicultural and rural outreach initiatives and served as the Program Manager for the Emerging Leaders Streetwise MBA Program, an intensive seven-month CEO leadership cohort.
Edward L. Fanucchi
Former Honorary Vice Consul for Italy in California
Edward L. Fanucchi is an AV Rated trial attorney who began his practice in 1967. He has extensive experience in Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Workers Compensation, Agricultural Law, Estate Law, Wills, Probate, Trusts, contracts, real property, conservatorships, guardianships, and health care directives.
Mr. Fanucchi has been a member of the State Bar of California, and the Fresno County Bar Association since 1967. He counsels families on estate planning, wills, trusts and through is an expert in the probate process. As a farmer, he is an active member of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, Raisin Bargaining Association, and the California Raisin Marketing Board. Because he understands and is well experienced with the needs, and the challenges of the farming community, he is able to provide sound counsel as well as favorable results. Mr. Fanucchi is peer rated at the highest level of professional excellence and was given the "AV Rating" in 2007. This rating reflects a combination of achieving a very high General Ethical Standards rating and Legal Ability.
EDUCATION
Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fresno State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Romance Languages (1958)
Juris Doctor from Hastings College of Law (1967)
Graduate study in economics from the Universita Commerciale "Luigi Bocconi", Milan, Italy (1958-1959)
MEMBERSHIPS
State Bar of California
Fresno County Bar Association
Fresno County Farm Bureau
Raisin Bargaining Association
California Raisin Marketing Board
Director, Hastings College of Law Foundation
Chancellor, Board of Chancellors, Consular Corps College, The National Association of Foreign Consuls in the United States
AV Rated Attorney (2007)
Director, Property-Based Business Improvement District for Downtown Fresno 2011 to 2013
Honorary Vice Consul of Italy from 1975 to 2008
Served as a Lt. Colonel in the California Air National Guard from 1961 to 1981
Brenda Frinks
Past President, Jacksonville Sister Cities and Chair Mandela Bay Sister Cities, South Africa
Brenda Frinks is Sister Cities International’s (SCI) Volunteer of the Year (2022-23), she also serves as the Vice President of Florida Sister Cities International and the Africa Summit (Cape Town) Special Events Chair. She is the Immediate President of Jacksonville Sister Cities Association, JSCA, Board of Directors. She has been a member for over 25 years serving in various capacities. In the role of JSCA President working in tandem with the JSCA Executive Board, she coordinated the existing relationships between Jacksonville and international cities in eight countries: Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Puerto Rica, Russia, South Africa, and South Korea. Ms. Frinks is an original charter member of Jacksonville Sister City Association Africa Committee that led the way in the twinning with Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa 2000.
She is the president of Sun City Entertainment, LLC, a family owned and operated business, which produces and manages numerous major productions, conventions, concerts, meetings, and festivals. Additionally, the company conducts trainings, conferences, tradeshows, summits, and business expositions. Joyous Journeys, a travel agency that books travel for individuals and groups and conducts tours and mission trips on a global scale, is the latest addition to the services provided under the auspices of Sun City Entertainment, LLC.
Ms. Frinks facilitates Lay Pastoral Care sessions for African American Alzheimer’s Caregiver Training and Support through Florida State University. She also serves as an ambassador for the Community Advisory Committee of Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville). Her memberships include the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and the Association for the Study of African American Life and Heritage (ASALH). A United States Navy veteran, she is a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
Ms. Frinks holds an Associate Degree in Radiology Technology from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Edward Waters College. She also has several certifications in Business Development, Hospitality, Youth Prevention, and Healthcare.
Ms. Brenda Frinks is the daughter of the late Allen and Essie Strother Patterson of Abbeville, SC. and was. She is the widow of the late Jimmy L. Frinks and is the proud mother of two children, Syrita and Javan (Ellen) Frinks, and one granddaughter.
Mark Grobmyer
Chairman, Global Solutions Institute and Managing Director P80 Group Foundation
Mark Grobmyer, graduated from Washington and Lee University and the University of Arkansas School of Law where he was awarded his Jurist Doctor Degree and was Managing Editor of the Law Review. He also studied international law and business at the University of Exeter in England.
In private law practice, Mr. Grobmyer served as Chairman of an American Bar Association Committee on Financial Services. He also served for many years as Senior Partner of a commercial law firm where his legal practice focused on International and Financial Services Law.
He has served as a Senior Advisor to the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, the American Society of Association Executives, The World Trade Association, the International Center for Sustainable Development, the Congressional Awards Foundation and Chief Executive Magazine, the “Club Journal” of Fortune 500 CEOs.
Mr. Grobmyer helped to organize and coordinate a joint meeting of the Club de Madrid (more than 115 former Presidents and Prime Ministers of more than 80 nations) and the P80 Group Foundation (works with large pension, and sovereign wealth funds). This conference led to the signing of the Little Rock Accord, an agreement to help accelerate the deployment of technologies which can help address growing shortages of global resources related to energy, water, environment, food and medical services.
Mr. Grobmyer currently serves as a Managing Director of the P80 Group Foundation, which has established a Joint Task Force and Planning Committee work to implement the Accord, including the formation of the Global Solutions Institute/GTED2 Project which he Chairs.
Cynthia Contreras Gutierez
Honorary Consul of Brazil to South Texas
Vice Dean, Consular Corps College
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Cynthia began working in commercial, banking, administrative, employment, and corporate law immediately after earning her law degree. Over the years, Cynthia has represented both foreign nationals and foreign corporations in the United States, and vice versa. She has overseen mergers and acquisitions, the protection of assets and estates, and the facilitation of foreign direct investment. For ten years, TV Channel 48 KNVO Univision tapped her to serve as a Spanish-speaking commentator for a weekly legal program called “Conozca Sus Derechos” (Know Your Rights), where she discussed such topics as constitutional, family, immigration, criminal, and corporate law for which she received two Texas Gavel Awards from the Texas Bar Association. Cynthia is also a mediator. Cynthia’s involvement in her community is important and she has served on various boards including the Easter Seal Society of the Rio Grande Valley, Leadership McAllen, Mujeres Unidas and the McAllen Boys and Girls Club. She is a member of the Hidalgo County Bar Association, Texas State Bar Association, American Bar Association and Texas Bar College. Recently she was appointed to the Senior Advisory Board of Directors of Texas Regional Bank. As a result of her representation of Brazilian nationals in the State of Texas and assisting with foreign direct investment of Brazilians in Texas, since 2017 she has been appointed by the President of Brazil as Honorary Consul of Brazil to South Texas. She joined the Consular Corp College in 2018. She is a Chancellor of the Consular Corp College and was elected to the position of Vice-Dean in March of 2020.
Edward Haddock
Senior Vice President, Small Business Lending, FNBC Bank
Edward Haddock Senior Vice President Small Business Banking, at FNBC a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) where he leads the delivery of financing products for FNBC’s small business community. As a CDFI, FNBC is a mission-driven financial institution that creates economic opportunity for individuals and small businesses, quality affordable housing, and essential community services in across their Arkansas and Missouri service area.
Formerly Edward Haddock lead the Arkansas District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration where he was responsible for the delivery of all SBA programs and services across the state which include the loan guaranty program that delivered over $6 billion in small business COVID relief funding across.
As an Air Force Veteran, Edward served twelve years on active duty that included work in over 32 countries supporting both humanitarian and combat operations.
Edward has been recognized as Arkansas Business 40 under 40, and one of Arkansas’s 250 Most Influential Leaders in Economic Development in 2020 and 2021. Mr. Haddock holds an MBA from Rutgers University and Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from John Brown University. He is married, and lives in Little Rock, AR.
Prince Kwame Kludjeson
Founder, President, Chair of Global Cities Africa Sister Cities
Prince Kwame Kludjeson is the founder and President Chair of the Global Africa Sister Cities (GA:SC). A nonpartisan 501 (c)(3) International Non-Profit Citizen Diplomacy, People to People Network Organization with mandate to create, strengthen and promote sister cities partnership between African Cities and cities aboard.
Through his tireless efforts, he has established GA:SC into a major force in Africa and as a result got charter by sister Cities International on 12 th May, 2008.
In the year 2000, he was appointed to the Chicago Sister Cities International Board by the then, Mayor Richard M. Daley to serve as an advisory director on Africa Affairs.
In 2009, he worked closely with the then SCI President & CEO, Patrick Madden to secure and implement the first ever Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant of US$7.5m to help alleviate Urban Poverty in African Cities.
Having also presented a motion to the Arkansas Municipal League USA, the President, Hon. Rick Elumbaugh and his Vice came to Ghana on a Diplomatic Protocol. This culminated into a sister cities agreement between the Volta Region of Ghana and Arkansas USA, which aimed at promoting synergies for accelerated Economic Development in Ghana.
In July 2020, he got appointed by the Governing Board of Sister Cities International as its first Ghana’s Country Representative for the SCI Global Outreach Pandemic Program, A position he holds till date.
At the just ended February 2023 Sister Cities Africa Region Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, Prince Kwame served as an Operational Planning Committee Team member and delivered his services diligently.
Dr. Jonathan A Laryea
Professor of Surgery, and Chief of the Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Dr. Jonathan A. Laryea is a Professor of Surgery in the Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He holds the Nolie & Norma Mumey Endowed Chair in Surgery.
He completed his medical training at the University of Ghana Medical School in 1998. He completed an additional semester of research training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Afterwards, he completed his internal medicine internship and general surgery residency at a Yale University Affiliate, Waterbury Hospital Health Center in Waterbury, Connecticut. Before joining UAMS, Dr. Laryea also completed a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at Georgia Colon and Rectal Surgery Clinic in Atlanta.
Dr. Laryea is board certified in general surgery, colorectal surgery and clinical informatics. He also has a Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics. He is a member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the Society of Black Colon & Rectal Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery and the West African College of Surgeons.
Dr. Laryea is the division chief of colorectal surgery and he is the medical director of the cancer service line at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. His clinical interests are in minimally invasive surgery including advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery for colorectal cancer and other colorectal diseases. His research interests include racial disparities, biomedical informatics and machine learning/artificial intelligence.
Steve Menzies
Founder and Chairman, Applied Global
For Steve Menzies, there is an easy commerce between his leadership in the corporate world and his dedicated philanthropy. A lifelong entrepreneur, Steve’s achievements include the creation of Applied Underwriters in 1994 and North American Casualty Company in 1998, today global risk services firms that help businesses and people manage uncertainty through business services, insurance, and reinsurance solutions. Among his accomplishments, Steve created a top-rated US nationwide insurer providing tens of thousands of employers and their hundreds of thousands of employees with coverage to become the only such specialist ever to achieve an AM Best A+ rating. Between 2006 and 2019 Steve was partners with Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway— the youngest CEO ever within the Berkshire organization — and in 2019, because the only CEO to buy his business back from Berkshire Hathaway.
As a CEO dedicated to positive social outcomes and serious corporate responsibility, Steve has been cited repeatedly for his care for injured claimants, for setting high risk management standards in the workplaces his companies insured, and giving business owners a financial benefit for their observance of best practices. Steve was the first CEO to establish a direct-to-claimant pharmacy within the insurance industry to monitor the prescription, provision, and use of opioids for injured claimants, identifying the opioid crisis a decade before it became a recognized worldwide epidemic.
This thoughtful and philosophical approach has afforded Steve commercial success while achieving a careful balance of the various ethical considerations between obligations to people in need while still addressing the many offsetting issues such as recidivism. For the exemplary work he has done on behalf of injured workers and for his provision of insurance in inner city neighborhoods, Steve was presented the St. Vincent De Paul medal, the highest award of the College of Mount St. Vincent and the Guarini Medal from John Cabot University in Rome, Italy. He has received numerous commendations from many insurance and financial entities, including top recognition in the insurance and financial services industries leading publications, most recently awarded the Worker’s Compensation Exemplar from Work Comp Central in 2023 and also the Free Enterprise Award from the Insurance Federation of New York in 2021.
Steve is equally invested in his employees and takes a personal interest in enriching the communities in which they work and live. Steve is currently developing a new home for his company’s operations campus in Omaha, Nebraska (in the center of the US) with room for up to 2,000 of his employees. The 500-acre mixed-use development known as Heartwood Preserve is among the largest urban developments in the United States, and will offer a one-of-a-kind destination for its residents to live, work, shop, and enjoy many recreational and cultural facilities. Unique concept and design, Heartwood Preserve has won seven distinguished awards for innovation.
Steve has long recognized the importance of philanthropy and is deeply committed. Steve has chosen to apply his accumulated resources, entrepreneurial skills, and connections to form the Steve Menzies Global Foundation to solve complex social problems facing people across the globe. Starting with an emphasis on his observations of the shortcomings of ever-growing governments that are inconceivably large and mired in their own bureaucratic processes, Steve’s foundation works to uncover the root of problems — problems that others are unable to perceive or just find too difficult or too overwhelming.
Beginning in 2019, Steve’s foundation has worked to liberate American citizens wrongfully imprisoned, either as political hostages or for ransom by terrorist organizations or criminal gangs. After several years of immediate success, Steve consolidated these efforts into a new dedicated foundation, The Global Reach Task Force, which has attracted the best individuals and organizations in the field. Global Reach provides needed financial, intellectual and operational support to proven individuals and other non-profits. In the past 18 months alone, acting as a center for coordination of intelligence and operational activity, Global Reach has freed Britney Griner and Taylor Dudley from Russia, James Frisvold from Mexico and dozens of undisclosed individuals held for ransom by terrorist organizations. Steve has been and continues to be, directly involved face-to-face on the ground, in the higher-profile, in-country negotiations.
Beginning in 2021, Steve formed a partnership with Pope Francis for Steve’s foundation to create and manage a number of new global foundations under Pope Francis’ patronage that will address what Steve perceives as a worldwide social crisis induced by the misuse of social technology.
Steve is a graduate of Columbia University in New York with an engineering degree in mathematics.
Jennifer Peper
VP Operations, Aristotle Unified Communications
In her role as VP of Operations, Jennifer Peper has her finger on the pulse of the health and growth of the Aristotle Fixed Wireless Broadband network. Jennifer directs and trains the residential and business installation teams, coordinates the tower climbing and networking teams, and she collaborates with the customer service department on messaging related to the growth and health of the network.
Jennifer has worked in many industries to build a career as a profit-oriented leader driven by active compassion. She is known as an organized, award-winning technology executive with a record of accomplishments including: streamlining international operations for Fortune 500’s, healthcare, non-profit, manufacturing, and CPG companies while increasing company profits and maximizing market strength. She is an #emotionalintelligence focused team builder - promoting improvements, tech solutions, and a positive corporate culture.
A Golden Key Scholar, Jennifer has been a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, Executive Women International, and the Public Relations Society of America. She has served on boards for STEM, teen advocacy and the performing arts. In her spare time, she coaches children in Future Business Leaders of America on Stage Presence. She is a mother, a cyclist, and a trained Reiki professional.
Dr. Alan Storeygard
Professor, Baptist Health Family Medicine Residency Program
Alan Storeygard is a Board-Certified Family Physician and a Fellow in the American Board of Family Medicine, and he is a long term member of the Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians.
He is currently on the faculty of the Baptist Health Family Medicine Residency Program in North Little Rock, Arkansas- teaching residents for the last 3 years.
He was in private group practice in Family Practice in Jacksonville for 4 decades after finishing his Family Practice Residency at Duke University in North Carolina. He is from Minnesota and went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for Medical School, graduating in 1977.
After marrying an Arkansan his practice in Jacksonville, Arkansas included clinic and hospital medicine and obstetrics for his first 13 years, delivering over 1000 babies in a town without obstetricians until 1994.
He was invited to teach at the newly expanded Family Medicine Residency Program 3 years ago and is very glad to do that, recognizing the increasing need for primary care physicians in Arkansas. He’s happy that half of the recently graduated Family Practice residents from his residency program will be practicing in Arkansas.
He’s also acutely aware that Arkansas is currently rated as the worst state in the nation in maternal mortality, 50th, 49th in infant mortality, 49th in Public Health, 44th in Health Care Quality, 40th in Health Care Access, 13th worst nationally in Diabetes mortality, 6th worst in obesity, 7th worst in COVID Vaccination, 13th worst in the nation in COVID mortality.
Lots of work to do here in Arkansas. And he came here from a state, Minnesota, with some of the very best rankings in all of these areas.
Dr. Storeygard’ s passions are his family, medicine, and music.
You’ve heard about medicine. His wife Paula is an attorney in North Little Rock and they have 2 children.
As far as music- he has played in Carnegie Hall 4 times, is currently finishing and releasing his 6th jazz piano album in 20 years, entering it into the Grammy Competition, and was a winner in Jazz Piano Composition in the IBLA Grand Prize International Piano & Voice Competition in 2002.
Denise Thomas
CEO of the World Trade Center Arkansas
A respected business strategist in Arkansas and globally, Denise Thomas has more than 25 years of experience in international trade. She is a 16-year veteran of the World Trade Center Arkansas, Denise was named CEO of the WTC in 2021, becoming the first Black woman to lead a World Trade Center in the U.S.
With her high degree of understanding and intelligence in cultural fluency, Denise found her calling in global trade. Guided by her steadfast focus on ethical, sustainable, and responsible sourcing, Denise has spent her career advancing international trade by connecting people and products. She is passionate about helping Arkansas businesses grow through access to global markets.
Before Denise’s position as CEO, Denise served as the WTC’s director of Africa, European, and Middle Eastern trade; before that, she was the Center’s director of marketing and communications.
Denise came to Arkansas in 2003 when she joined Walmart as a recruiter for executive recruitment. Before coming to Arkansas, Denise worked at the Jacksonville Florida Chamber of Commerce, where she partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration to create a center that housed several chambers and centers under one roof. The location became a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs.
Denise holds a B.A. in Marketing & Fashion from The American College for the Applied Arts in Atlanta Georgia, and an Associates Arts Degree in Fashion from Brooks College in Long Beach, California.
She is a member of the board of the Little Rock Office of the St. Louis Federal Reserve, and Arvest Bank, and is an ex officio board member of the Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Bentonville Chamber of Commerce. As well, she has also served on numerous community development boards and for-profit businesses in Arkansas and Florida
Louis J. Vella
Honorary Consul for the Republic of Malta
Dean, Consular Corps College
Louis Vella was born and raised in Malta. He received his High School education in Valletta and later at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology in the fields of civil engineering and architecture. He started working at his family business, a leading land development and construction company in Malta. In 1980 Louis moved to California USA where he settled with his family in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Louis’s professional career in California began at the City of Redwood City as an Engineer Technician, Assistant Civil Engineer, Fire Prevention Supervisor, Fire Marshal, Administrative Chief, and Interim Fire Chief. After retiring from public service, he was appointed Hon Consul of Malta in 2009. The government of Malta later designated Mr. Vella to the Council of Maltese Living Abroad. He dedicates most of his time overseeing his private property investment business, consular duties and philanthropic/community work.
Louis graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management in California and completed all core classes of the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy-Maryland. He is fluent in Maltese, English, Italian, and has some knowledge of German and Spanish.
Louis Vella has been involved in philanthropic, charitable and community work for most of his adult life as president of the Local County Fire Prevention Officers; Neighborhood association; Maltese Cross Foundation of California; and Maltese Heritage Association; Maltese Historical Society; a local Municipal Water District; Maltese-American Social Club; Sister Cities Commission; Maltese Community Network; Stars & Stripes-Malta.
In 2018, Mr. Vella received the Medal of the Republic from the President of Malta for his services towards the Republic of Malta. Louis Vella has been a member and chancellor of the Consular Corps College for almost a decade and in 2019 he was elected Dean of the Consular Corps College.
Louis is married to Lillian and has two adult children.
Dr. Nickolas Zaller
Professor for Medical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Dr. Zaller is a Professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health and founding director of the Southern Public Health and Criminal Justice Research Center (S-PAC). Dr. Zaller’s research focus is the overlap between behavioral health disorders, including addiction and mental illness, infectious diseases and incarceration both in the United States and internationally. He earned his bachelor's degree in microbiology and East Asian Studies from Kansas University. After graduation, he lived in China for a year as a Fulbright Scholar and then earned a doctorate in public health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. After his PhD training, Dr. Zaller completed an NIH post-doctoral fellowship in HIV and Other Infectious Consequences of Substance Use at The Miriam Hospital and the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where he served as a faculty member for 10 years prior to moving to Arkansas.
Mary Zunick
Coordinator, Sister Cities, Hot Springs, Arkansas & Honorary Consul of Japan
Mary Zunick is the Cultural Affairs Manager for Visit Hot Springs. Her job responsibilities include working with the Hot Springs arts community and the wide array of arts activities, businesses and organizations in Hot Springs. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Hot Springs Sister City program.
In 2013, Mary was instrumental in reorganizing an arts group into the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance, which promotes, advocates and celebrates the arts and culture of Hot Springs. She works with HSACA as well as numerous other arts organizations to promote Hot Springs as a thriving community for creative economies and a destination for cultural tourism.
Through her work with the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation and the community, the sister city message of tolerance and promoting peace through people-to-people relationships is shared. The Hot Springs Sister City Program was recently awarded the Best Overall Program for cities with populations 25,000 – 50,000 for the second time by Sister Cities International. Mary has served as the Honorary Consul of Japan for the State of Arkansas, a position appointed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since 2018.
Mary is a founding board member of the newly organized Hot Springs Women’s Leadership Alliance and serves at the Vice Chairserves as Vice Chair of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Board of Directors and the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, is a member of Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club and Hot Springs Downtown Association. In 2020 she was appointed Governor Hutchinson to the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Board of Visitors. Governor Hutchinson appointed Mary to the Governor's Advisory Commission on National Service and Volunteerism in 2022.
Mary is an Arkansas native with a degree in Communication from University of the Ozarks. She is married to Robert Zunick and has two children, Belle, 22, who is a senior at Hendrix College and Robert, 19, a sophomore at Arkansas State University.