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Directors on the IVCLA Board are elected by the membership to serve
two three-year-terms. After serving six years, Directors must retire
from the board, but may return after at least one year’s absence.
Directors are elected by the IVCLA membership at the Annual Meeting
held each year in October. Officers are elected by the Directors at
the first board meeting of the new term.
Dwayne Gathers - Chair
Gathers Strategies
Dwayne Gathers is President and Chief Executive Officer of Gathers Strategies,
Inc., an independent business development/ government relations/international
consulting practice, based in Los Angeles. Dwayne most recently served
as Regional Manager for the Los Angeles County Economic Development
Corporation (LAEDC). In that role, he directed the LAEDC’s business
attraction, expansion and retention efforts over a diverse region, encompassing
a substantial portion of the City of Los Angeles. Prior to joining the
LAEDC, Dwayne developed an extensive background in international affairs,
trade and business development. He opened and managed the State of California’s
Office of Trade and Investment in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1995
to 2000. Previously, he was a senior staff member at the US Department
of State in Washington, DC having served as Special Assistant to the
Assistant Secretary for African Affairs. Dwayne has participated in
various leadership, democracy building and education exchange missions
internationally, including to Morocco, Viet Nam, Jordan, Haiti and South
Africa.
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Hud Warren - President
China West LLC
Hudson R. Warren Jr. is co-founder of China West LLC, providing services
facilitating international trade and cultural ventures. The mission
of China West is to bring together businesses and cultural opportunities
to and from Asia, the United States and the world.
Mr. Warren has more than 30 years experience in the international logistics
arena. He previously served as Vice President of Global Distribution
& Transportation at a multi-billion dollar multinational corporation
where he successfully built a global network to serve the company’s
distributors in over 60 countries. In addition to global distribution
his responsibilities included overseeing customs compliance and a leadership
role in the company's global operations team. Earlier in his career
he was the CEO of Thompson Shipping Company Ltd in the Western Caribbean.
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 W. Guy Fox - Vice President
W. Guy Fox is president of Guy Fox & Associates, Inc., an international consulting firm specializing in supply chain management, contract negotiations, structuring strategic alliances, and infrastructure analysis. Fox was formerly Chairman of the Board of Global Transportation Services, Inc., an International Freight Forwarder for both Air & Sea freight, NVOCC & Licensed Customhouse Broker. He has over 35 years experience in the logistics industry and is considered to be one of the most influential individuals in international trade in Southern California.
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Alan Kumamoto - Vice President
Alan Kumamoto is a partner of Kumamoto Associates, a marketing, management
and communications general partnership. With 40 years experience in
management consulting, fundraising, and human relations, he has presented
seminars in Australia, Canada, Ghana, Japan, Ukraine and Turkey. He is a planning
consultant to Union Bank of California and numerous businesses and foundations.
He serves on the boards of many civic and nonprofit organizations and
as Chair of Youth Opportunities United, Japanese American Community
Services and is First V.P. of the Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council for
the City of Los Angeles, and past chair of the National Council for
International Visitors.
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John V. Richardson Jr. - Vice President
UCLA
Dr. John V. Richardson Jr. is Professor of Information Studies at UCLA
and from 2002-2007 served a five-year term as Associate Dean in UCLA’s
Graduate Division. During his time at UCLA he has served as Chair of
the Graduate Council and Chair of the Privilege and Tenure Committee.
He serves on the National Postdoctoral Association’s International
Postdoc Committee and consults with the U.S. Department of State on
matters of national security with developing nations. He has a strong
interest in international students inbound as well as international
exchanges. He therefore has worked to increase awareness of the F-1
and J-1 visa situation, to raise the TOEFL standard on the UCLA campus
and to work closely with the visiting Fulbright, DAAD and Luce scholars.
He received the 2007 UCLA Graduate Students Association’s James
LuValle Award for Distinguished Service.
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Bruce Ishimatsu - Treasurer
Bird Marella
Bruce Ishimatsu is a civil trial attorney and partner in the Century City law firm of Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks & Lincenberg, P.C., which specializes in civil and criminal law. Mr. Ishimatsu is a past President and Chairman of IVCLA. He also serves as Vice Chair of Inside Out Community Arts, a non-profit organization in Venice, California which serves at-risk youth in inner city schools in Los Angeles by using the arts as a vehicle to help them develop into productive adults. Mr. Ishimatsu is also a long-time advisor to Women at Risk, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and consulting with women afflicted with HIV and AIDS. Mr. Ishimatsu is a leader in the legal profession and is a past President of the Japanese American Bar Association, the California Asian Pacific Bar of California and currently serves as the Chair of the global Partners Committee and is a member of the board of the Law Foundation for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
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Haifa Azawi - Secretary
New Women Medical Center
Haifa Azawi is a Medical Doctor board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.
Though her New Woman Medical Care she fulfills her career desire to
help women understand their conditions and provide for their best possible
care. Her practice includes the ProHealth Multi-Specialty Network, a
group of primary care physicians and specialists throughout the greater
Long Beach area and surrounding communities. She received her medical
certification at the Royal College of OB/GYN in London and a Fellowship
from the California Medical Center in 1984. Her hospital affiliations
include St Mary Medical Center, Lakewood Regional and Los Alamitos Medical
Center. She lectures on issues of OB/GYN internationally. She lives
in Long Beach with her husband, who is a surgeon.
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Sandra Jones Anderson - Legal Counsel
Sandra Jones Anderson is an attorney with offices in downtown Los
Angeles at the Biltmore Court. Ms. Anderson's firm specializes in
probate and trust law, estate planning, elder law, and dependency law.
She is also counsel to nonprofit organizations and foundations. Ms. Anderson
has an impressive background in community fiscal and legal
matters. She successfully managed staff and expenditures exceeding $40
million monthly and developed new programs, budgets, and departments
during her tenure with Los Angeles County.
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 Ginger Barnard
Ginger Barnard was previously Deputy Chief of Protocol for the County
of Los Angeles since 1983. Her responsibilities included maintaining
liaison between the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the
Los Angeles Consular Corps representing 80 countries. In addition to
extending official courtesies to chiefs of state and other high ranking
visitors, the mission of the Protocol Office is to promote Los Angeles
County as a hospitable destination for business and tourism to the international
community. Ms. Barnard is involved with many local organizations including:
World Affairs Council, Town Hall, Los Angeles County Museum of Art,
Natural History Museum and Autry Museum of Western Heritage.
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 Michael Bautch
Fedex
Michael Bautch is Managing Director of International Sales for FedEx Services with responsibilities for export and import business development in the Western U.S. states from Texas to the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii and Alaska. His Western Region International team works in partnership with U.S. customers and FedEx support teams globally to expand sourcing points, seize new market opportunities and accelerate the flow of goods to market. Michael earned his Bachelors degree in Marketing from the University Of Wisconsin – La Crosse and started his logistics career in 1988. Michael joined FedEx Corporation in 1997 and is currently serving on the board with the World Trade Center of San Diego. Prior to his promotion to California he was an active board member of the District Export Council for the state of Michigan.
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 William Collier
Keesal, Young & Logan
William Collier joined Keesal, Young & Logan in 1980 and became a shareholder in 1984. He heads the firm's trade and transportation group from the firm's Long Beach office. Mr. Collier primarily practices in the area of civil litigation and represents multinational companies involved in international trade and marine transportation as well as oil and refining companies and marine and energy underwriters in connection with commercial disputes, casualties, personal injuries and environmental matters. He has significant trial experience in both the state and federal courts of California, and is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
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Lanie Denslow
FIDM
Lanie Denslow is the International Director of FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.
In that role she develops and manages the school's international study programs and worldwide exchange relationships. She is also the founder of World Wise Intercultural Training & Resources whose mission is to enable people to bridge cultural differences
and create rewarding relationships and results. A frequent speaker in the United States, her extensive experience
includes a presentation for IVCLA in Pskov, Russia. She is the author of World Wise: What to Know Before You Go (Fairchld Books, 2006), a guide to the
global business world and the co-author of Working with Americans (Prentice Hall Business, 2002), a look at American business culture.
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Wafa Hoballah
Middle East Law
Wafa Hoballah is an attorney at law, licensed in New York, specializing
in International Business Transactions and US Immigration Laws between
the U.S., the Middle East and West Africa. Ms. Hoballah’s National
practice focuses on assisting Lebanese and Arab nationals with family,
probate and estate matters as they relate to religious & civil laws
and their compatibility with U.S. laws. She is a founding member and current president of the Los Angeles Beirut Sister City Committee and is also a chartering
board member of the Lebanese American Foundation.
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Albert Huang
Mr. Albert Y.M. Huang is the principal and an executive officer of Los Angeles-based real estate development, construction, and design companies - Richmont Development Corporation and Studio R Inc. Huang has overseen the development of single-family and multi-family homes, mixed-use buildings, private schools, community centers, industrial warehouses predominantly located in Southern California. The projects total over 500,000 square feet and exceeds $200 million in property value. Huang was previously affiliated with Robbin Hayne Architects, Andrew Sussman’s Siti Studio Architects and Paul R. Tang & Architects. Aside from the real estates industry, Huang also serves on the Board of Directors for American Plus Bank and Advisory Board for reRubber.
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 Melissa Kelley
Magnetic Sky
Melissa Kelley is President and Co-founder of Magnetic Sky, a strategic brand marketing agency in Los Angeles. Ms. Kelley is an award-winning marketing leader with over 18 years of client-side and agency experience transforming sales, marketing and branding goals into strong revenue and great communications. Magnetic Sky has a global track record in 59 countries and 33 languages for category leaders and start-ups alike.
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 Michelle Kezirian
BET TZEDEK LEGAL SERVICES
Michelle Kezirian is a Directing Attorney at Bet Tzedek Legal Services. Previously, Ms. Kezirian served as a senior staff attorney with Inner City Law Center in Los Angeles. She also worked as an associate at Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May and as an adjunct faculty member at Santa Clara University School of Law. Michelle is a board member of Downtown Women's Center, a past president of the Junior League of Los Angeles, and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy.
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Andrew Leeka
Good Samaritan Hospital
Andrew Leeka is President and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital. He is
an innovative healthcare expert in strategic planning, and operations
management for medical centers, research institutes and specialty networks.
Mr. Leeka previously worked for City of Hope National Medical Center
where he was responsible for the financial performance and operations
of two healthcare corporations. Mr. Leeka is the Honorary Consul General
of Palau where he has spearheaded several humanitarian efforts.
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 Jim MacLellan
Port of Los Angeles
Jim MacLellan is Director of Trade Services for the Port of Los Angeles. He oversees the Port of Los Angeles’ relationship with beneficial cargo owners and promotes business opportunities in key commodity areas to advance the Port’s relationships with its customers and increase its business outreach opportunities. Prior to holding his current position, MacLellan was the director of marketing for the Port. Prior to joining the Port of Los Angeles, MacLellan spent more than 20 years working in the international shipping industry. A member of several local and international organizations, MacLellan currently serves as director of the Pacific Chapter of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Foreign Trade Association, Los Angeles Harbor College Foundation and the California Council for International Trade.
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 Michael McDowell
L.A. Inc., The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau
Michael McDowell is Senior Director of Cultural Tourism for L.A. INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. There, McDowell promotes Los Angeles as one of the world’s premier cultural destinations to international and domestic visitors, travel industry professionals and area residents. Tourism is LA’s largest industry, and it attracts more than 26 million visitors to the region who spend $14 billion in the local economy each year. Prior to his current position, McDowell was Associate Vice President for Public Affairs at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), the nation’s leading laboratory for the arts. Before that, he was Director of Marketing and Publications at the University of Southern California.
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 Wilma Pinder
Wilma Pinder was previously Assistant City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles since 1987. A consummate attorney with 30-years experience as a top-litigator for the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney, Ms. Pinders' extensive litigation skills produced favorable civil jury verdicts and equitable settlements for the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Water and Power. She has served on the Board of Directors for the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, Children’s Collective and Women and Philanthropy at UCLA.
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Gary Rhodes, Ph.D
Center for Global Education
Gary Rhodes is Director of the Center for Global Education and an Affiliated
Faculty Member of the School of Education at Loyola Marymount University.
He received his Ph.D. and MS.Ed. in Education and his M.A. in International
Relations from the University of Southern California (USC), and his
B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He has published
articles, been cited, and presented widely at conferences across the
U.S. and around the world. He received Fulbright Grants to India (2002)
and South Africa (2001).
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Lourdes Saab
County of Los Angeles
Lourdes Saab is Deputy Chief of Protocol for the County of Los Angeles.
In her position she represents the L.A. County office of Protocol on
the IVCLA board and serves as the liaison between the protocol office
and the county’s international community. In addition she aids
foreign missions in the county by coordinating visits for dignitaries.
Lourdes served as Chief of Protocol of the City of Los Angeles from
1993 to 1997. She previously worked in Mayor Yorty’s Office of
Latin American Affairs and in the offices of Mayors Bradley and Riordan.
She was a founding member and has served as executive director of the
Hispanic Women’s Council, Inc. She was Commissioner for the County
Department of Children’s Services and has been recognized for
her work with community based health organizations.
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Elga A. Sharpe
City of Los Angeles
Elga Sharpe is Chief of Protocol for the Mayor of Los Angeles. One of
Ms. Sharpe’s main duties is to serve as the liaison between the
Office of the Mayor and the Los Angeles’ Consular Corps, consisting
of Consulates General from 80 countries. She is highly skilled in all
aspects of international communications, business relations, corporate
development, translation, international marketing and related multinational
business applications. Ms. Sharpe is multi-lingual in English, Spanish,
French, German, Dutch and Papiamento.
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William Jerry Silva
Southern California Edison
Jerry Silva is Project Licensing Manager at Southern California Edison.
He manages and implements economic and political projects on a regional
basis, establishes and builds relationships with key governmental officials
and business leaders. Mr. Silva has been involved with many business
organizations and recognized for his contributions in government affairs.
Jerry Silva has served the last three years as a Regional Judge for
the prestigious White House Fellows Program.
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James Santa Maria
Santa Maria Group
James Santa Maria is President of the Santa Maria Group, a government relations firm that provides a full range of consulting services. Mr. Santa Maria brings more than 15 years of government and public affairs experience to the Santa Maria Group. He specializes in local government, including the City and County of Los Angeles as well as other cities, counties and public agencies throughout Southern California. James founded the Santa Maria Group following a ten-year career in Los Angeles City government as Chief of Staff to former Councilmember Rudy Svorinich and former Councilmember Nick Pacheco. He also was a Deputy to Mayor Richard Riordan.
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 Richard St. John
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Richard St. John is a Partner with Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, including representation of financial institutions, telecommunications carriers, private equity firms, and government contractors in courts across the United States. Mr. St. John is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy.
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