Joseph Brett, President:
BS St. Bonaventure University, MPA John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Worked in Indonesia; Project Manager for programs in democratic institution building in Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine & Kazakhstan. Past President and founder of the Show Low – Slovakia Sister City Association.
Neil Ciarfalia, Vice President:
BA & MBA Stanford University. Former CFO of Aztar Corp, ran worldwide customer finance function for SAAB Aircraft.
George Hartz, Treasurer:
BA Georgetown University, Retired Senior Vice President of CIGNA where he managed international reinsurance business with clients in over 120 countries. He currently provides expert witness consulting for international disputes. George is Chairman of Scottsdale’s Historic Preservation Commission and is involved with other civic organizations.
Edie Brouhard, Secretary:
MA from ASU and teacher for 32 years in Arizona public schools. Active in Scottsdale civic activities for 35 years.
Ambassador Sharon Wilkinson:
BA Brown University, MAT- University of Chicago. Retired Foreign Service Officer and former Assistant Dean for Global Engagement at ASU. President of the World Affairs Council of Arizona.
Honorary Consul Max Haechler:
Immigrant to the US from Switzerland in 1962 with his wife Elsbeth. Created Max of Switzerland automotive dealerships. Appointed Honorary Consul of Switzerland in 1978. Initiated the Sister- City relationship with Interlaken in 1999. Charter President and Founder of Scottsdale Papago Rotary Club, Member Scottsdale Charros, Board Member Arizona World Affairs Council, past Director of Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, Founder and Chairman Arizona Swiss Foundation.
Samad Benzrioual:
Immigrant to the US from Morroco. MBA from CNCD, Casablanca. CPA in Arizona for the past 7 years.
Judson Booth:
BBA, Pace University, graduate studies Wharton, retired Sr. VP, Morgan Stanley, Board member Australian/New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Army veteran, Armed Forces Radio and Television, Korea.
Frances Burruel:
Founder and Chairperson of the Scottsdale-Alamos, Mexico Sister City program. With her husband, Jose, recently completed a book on the history of Mexicans in Arizona. Member of The World Affairs Council and active in many charitable and civic causes
Lance DiRanna:
BA Communications, Arizona State University w/minor in Sociology, 10 year Postal Service employee and US Navy Gulf War Veteran. Former intern for the Marrakech Sister City Project and World Affairs Council member.
Patricia Goubeaux, PhD:
President of her own consulting company specializing in organization and community development with extensive experience in non-profit management and development. Initiated a Sister City relationship between Toledo, Ohio and Banja Luka, Bosnia and lived in Bosnia for seven months to facilitate the project.
Suzanne Klapp:
MBA, Southern Methodist University. President/owner of FastFrame in North Scottsdale. Arizona Regional Developer for FastFrame USA. Involved in Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, Rotary of Pinnacle Peak and several civic and political organizations.
John Liffiton:
MA, ASU. ESL coordinator for Scottsdale Community College. Work experience includes France, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland & Zaire, Current Member of World Affairs Council and Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations.
Joel (Jo-Elle) Martin, PhD:
President of Triad West, Inc., a consulting and training company that focuses on diversity and leadership development. She has provided international facilitation as a trainer across the US, Puerto Rico, China, South Africa, The United Kingdom, France, Malaysia, Russia, Taiwan and Finland.
Roger Nelson:
President of Scottsdale Sister Cities Association from 2003-2008. Former Executive with Petrolite Corp. serving clients in the Middle East, Africa, South America and South East Asia. Lived abroad for five years and traveled extensively during a 30 plus year career. Member of World Affairs Council and Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Ellie Richer:
Attended Arizona State College, former program director for the YMCA. The longest serving Board member and long time volunteer for civic activities and charitable causes. She is a founding board member and co founder of the relationship with Alamos and a champion for their cause.
Max Rumbaugh Jr.:
BS Engineering, US Military Academy at West Point; MS Engineering and Business, Purdue University. Former Executive VP & General Manager of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He led expansion of SAE into Brazil, India, Russia and China. He is currently a volunteer for Rotary International and Scottsdale Sister Cities as the coordinator for Student Exchange programs.
Doug Sydnor, AIA:
Bachelor of Architecture, ASU; Master of Architecture Harvard University. Involved with many civic organization including Scottsdale Leadership and Friends of the Library. Travel to Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and India.
Therese Tendick:
BS, University of Iowa (Spanish/Education) and MA, ASU (International Education). Current Director, International Education Programs at Scottsdale Community College. Former Associate Dean of Admissions (Thunderbird: Graduate School of International Management) and International Graduate Admissions Coordinator (ASU). International travels as recruiter include Latin America and Asia. Interested in student/faculty exchanges and cultural events for the college and community. Speaks Spanish and some German.
Doris Torres:
BA, Washington State University. She is a native of Switzerland and former exchange student to Australia. She has traveled to over 65 countries and speaks six languages fluently. She is currently an Associate Broker for REMAX Elite and President of the Arizona Swiss Society.
Lisa White:
BA from ASU, MAE in Counseling from NAU. Taught English and Social Studies for 27 years in Scottsdale including a Fulbright Exchange in Interlaken, Switzerland. Currently substituting and teaching Homebound students for Scottsdale Schools.
Khalid Madih, Webmaster:
Born and raised in Casablanca - Morocco, Khalid moved to the US in 2004. He graduated in 1998 with a Bachelors of Business Administration from ‘‘Institut Supérieure Internationale du Tourisme" in Tangier, Morocco. He is former Project Manager for a Destination Management Company in Casablanca where he spent six years managing big events in Morocco. He was one of the founders of the “Association of Moroccans in Arizona” also known as AMAZ in 2007.