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.

Andrew Leeka - Chair
www.goodsam.org
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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Dwayne Gathers - President
www.gathersstrategies.com
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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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 Neighborhood Council for the City of Los Angeles, and past chair of the National Council for International Visitors.

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William Jerry Silva - Vice President
www.sce.com
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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Hud Warren - Vice President
www.chinawestllc.com
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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Haifa Azawi - Secretary
yourwomanobgyn.com
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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Bruce Ishimatsu - Legal Counsel
www.loeb.com
Bruce Ishimatsu is a partner in the Century City office of the international law firm of Loeb & Loeb LLP. Mr. Ishimatsu currently serves on the Board of Directors of the California Women’s Law Center in Los Angeles. He has served as a Commissioner on the California State Bar’s Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission and is the past president of the Japanese American Bar Association and the statewide Asian /Pacific American Bar of California. Mr. Ishimatsu has served on the State Bar’s Joint Minority Bar Diversity Task Force, the Ethnic Minority Relations Committee, the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Pacific Rim Committee. In 2000 he was appointed Deputy General Counsel of the Ramparts Independent Review Panel formed by the Los Angeles Police Commission.

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Sandra Jones Anderson
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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William Collier
www.kyl.com
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.edu
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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Mathias (Mal) Fobi
www.cstobesity.com
Dr. Mathias Fobi is Medical Director of the Center for The Surgical Treatment of Obesity and The Tri-City Regional Medical Center. Dr. Fobi has an international reputation for his expertise in the surgical treatment of obesity. He has provided lectures and presentations locally, nationally, and throughout the world, at various universities, meetings and congresses in Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Israel, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia and Japan. In 2001 he was awarded the Women of Los Angeles Highlight Award for his support of women and issues important to women.

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W. Guy Fox
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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Wafa Hoballah
www.middleeastlaw.com
Wafa Hoballah is an attorney at law, licensed in New York, specializing in International Business Transactions and US Immigration Laws between East and West Africa. She is an independent legal counsel with the International Finance Corporation, IFC, a division of the World Bank dealing with private project finance since December 1996. 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. Ms. Hoballah is a chartering board member of the Lebanese American Foundation “LAF". Attorney Spotlight

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Cyrus K. Mostofi
www.mostofi.com
Cyrus Mostofi is the founder of Cyrus K. Mostofi, CPA firm. He has twenty years of diversified public and private accounting experience with the Big Four accounting firms serving Fortune 500 companies. He has expertise in strategic financial structuring, SEC reporting, taxation, and information technology solutions. Mr. Mostofi has worked for Price Waterhouse Cooper as Senior Audit Manager, FSR Brokerage Inc. as the Director of Financial Information Systems and KPMG - Peat, Marwick & Co. in Los Angeles and London.

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Gary Rhodes, Ph.D
www.globaled.us
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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John V. Richardson Jr.
www.gseis.ucla.edu
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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Lourdes Saab
lacounty.info
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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Eileen Sánchez
www.cnb.com
Eileen Sánchez is vice president and international strategy development officer in City National Bank’s International Department. She provides global banking services to assist clients with their international expansions and directs several of the department’s marketing initiatives. Previously she worked as an FX operations specialist at Imperial Bank (which was acquired by Comerica Bank). Ms. Sánchez began her career as a vice chancellor with the Costa Rican Consulate. She received her bachelor’s degree in international business from Pepperdine University. She serves as public relations chair for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s World Trade Week, is active with Junior Achievement and United Way, and served as president of the Pepperdine Hispanic Council’s Board of Directors in 2004.

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Elga A. Sharpe
www.lacity.org
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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Robert James Skousen
www.skousenlaw.com
Robert Skousen is the Chairman of the Board for Skousen & Skousen, a Professional Corporation, which is a full service law firm. He serves as a member of the corporate boards of the John Adams Life Corporation and Brand 33, a branding and advertising company. He also serves on the boards of the Friends of Child Advocates and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He is a member of the Japanese Business Association and last year was a member of the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts Committee that traveled to England to bring rare photographs to the United States for the first time.

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