BUILDING COMMUNITY, GLOBALLY & LOCALLY
PART OF THE LARGEST AND OLDEST CITIZEN DIPLOMACY NETWORK OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IMPLEMENTING EXCHANGE PROGRAMS ACROSS ALL 50 U.S. STATES.
Who We Are
Global Ties Alabama is a 501c3 nonprofit that promotes global peace and understanding through citizen diplomacy.
GTA carefully designs personalized programs of study for emerging international leaders selected by American embassies around the globe and sent to Alabama by the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Congress. The programs reflect the professional and cultural interests of the visiting leaders, while supporting the foreign policy goals of the U.S. Department of State.
These programs and services are designed to connect the diverse sectors of Alabama such as business, education, government agencies, and non-profit organizations through face-to-face interactions and meaningful cross-cultural exchange. These programs educate and inform foreign visitors and local residents of the many similarities they share, as well as many of the differences that make our 21st century world such an interesting place.
Global Ties Alabama’s portfolio includes fee for service customized cultural competency training that is designed to improve communication and collaboration between customers, constituents, and colleagues as well as refugee resettlement initiatives.
When business, non-profit, government, and academic leaders from around the world connect with their counterparts in the U.S. through international exchange programs, the relationships they forge become a powerful tool for addressing some of the biggest global challenges. For over 50 years, Global Ties Alabama has been making these connections possible.
History
GTA was founded as The International Services Council of Alabama in 1965 as an outreach of the Huntsville Rotary Club to welcome international military trainees to Redstone Arsenal and connect them with the community. GTA also coordinated multicultural events in the Huntsville area.
GTA is a non-profit partner of the U.S. Department of State and member of Global Ties U.S. Network, it coordinates international exchange programs and brings current and future leaders from around the world to communities throughout the United States.
Our goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are integrated—they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.
OUR IMPACT
Our organization has continually grown our Diplomatic Corps of Volunteers over the past several years. We have expanded into providing programming for additional industries and academic and professional fields that we have not traditionally had the capacity for. With the emergence of Covid-19, Global Ties Alabama has also developed a robust toolkit for virtual exchanges.
119+
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS
650+
VOLUNTEERS
34000+
HOURS OF SERVICES
Through our growth over the years, Global Ties Alabama has continually worked to provide well-planed, efficacious programming that works to develop an increasingly global and interconnected society in Alabama and provide a foundation through which people-to-people ties can better the lives of our volunteers, resources, and participants and promote peaceful exchange across borders.
GTA 45TH ANNIVERSARY
The International Services Council of Alabama has been in existence in Huntsville since 1965, helping international military trainees at Redstone Arsenal feel at home, coordinating multi-cultural events in the Huntsville area, providing information about immigration and naturalization services to area residents, and hosting international visitors traveling to Alabama under the auspices of the U.S.Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program.
MEET THE TEAM
JACQUELYN SHIPE
Chief Executive OfficerJacquelyn Gates Shipe is the CEO of Global Ties Alabama and President/CEO of SOARing, LLC, specializing in global leadership development consulting. She has worked with notable clients such as the International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, Jacobs ESTS, and Nationwide. With a background in ethics and compliance, she has held positions at Duke Energy, Bell Atlantic/Verizon...
ANNETTE PHILPO'T
Program ConsultantAnnette Philpo’t, Program Consultant for Global Ties Alabama, has developed international exchange programs for professionals and youth for eleven years with experience in virtual programming since June, 2020 including virtual student simulation programs.
KEZIA DANIEL
Senior Operations LeadA native of Huntsville, AL, Kezia is well known in her community. Kezia served as one of Global Ties Alabama’s first outbound Central American Youth Ambassadors in 2014. She credits that experience for beginning her journey as a global citizen and love for the Spanish language.
JACOB INGLIS
Program AssociateJacob Inglis is a graduate student pursuing a degree in Public Affairs and Policy at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He completed his undergraduate degree in International Relations at the University of Alabama with a specialty in Korean and Asian studies.
JESSICA FISCHLE
Operations AssociateJessica Fischle is a graduate of the University of Alabama in Huntsville with a Bachelor’s in Communication Arts and a minor in Psychology. As a Huntsville native, being able to attend school in the area and find a job that works with the Huntsville community has been a privilege of hers.
RAVEN JULES
University InternFILIP STELLBERG
University InternMICHAEL MEEHAN
Operations AssociateMichael Meehan is a graduate student at the University of Alabama Huntsville, pursuing a master’s degree in History. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham-Southern College. Michael values the opportunity to serve the global community while advancing his academic studies in History.
BOARD MEMBERS
Composed of leaders from diverse backgrounds and experiences, members of the Board of Directors are dedicated to propelling Global Ties Alabama's mission forward.
Board Of Directors
- John Davis, Board Chair
- Albert (Al) Allenback, Governance Chair
- Olga Osadcii, Development Chair
- Zeke Anders, Treasurer
- Helen Fischle, Secretary
- Serge Braylyan
- Ivan Brezovich
- Pamela Foster
- Verna Gates
- Ken Hines
- Dr. Jenny Hite
- Tae Lee, Esq
- Glen McCord, Esq
- Micah Wells, Esq
- Dr. Libby Parker
- Foster Perry
- Bernard Simelton
© 2024 Global Ties Alabama.
All Rights Reserved.
HUNTSVILLE OFFICE
Oakwood Industries
4920 University Sq, Suite D
Huntsville, Alabama 35816
10:00AM - 4:00PM, Mon - Thu
MONTGOMERY OFFICE
Troy University - Call for Appointments Whitley Hall Rm. 312, 231 Montgomery St., Mongomery, AL 36104
*By appointment only