Global Ties Network Decade of Impact Leadership Award Winners

Each year at the National Meeting, Global Ties U.S. recognizes outstanding individuals whose service and contributions exemplify citizen diplomacy. In honor of our 60th anniversary, we are recognizing six professionals who, since 2011, have been both pillars in our community and have helped to chart the path for the next 10 years.

The Global Ties Network Decade of Impact Leadership Award celebrates these dedicated individuals who have provided outstanding leadership within the Global Ties Network, and contributed to the success of the International Visitor Leadership Program and other exchange programs.

Global Ties U.S. received nominations from across the United States, with many nominating individuals outside of their organizations—a testament to our community and our celebration of one another. In deciding the winners, a selection committee, comprised of leadership from Global Ties U.S. and the Office of International Visitors at the U.S. Department of State, assessed the nominees across three areas:

• The nominee’s impact on their local community and / or organization
• The nominee’s impact within the larger Global Ties Network and international exchange field
• The nominee’s overall exemplary commitment to citizen diplomacy

Congratulations to the Global Ties Network Decade of Impact Leadership Award winners:

Annette Green Alvarez
Executive Director
Global Ties Miami

Annette is a mentor to many in the Network. Colleagues call her a “resource” for executive-level training and credit her for helping them to grow professionally. “She comes to the table with a collaborative attitude and … always with the best interest of the network and visitors in mind, …making it clear what a wonderful and welcoming experience IVLP visitors will have when they arrive in her care.”

Janine Branch
Program Officer
FHI360

Janine is a community builder who’s “passion for the International Visitor Leadership Program and for young professional development is infectious.” Colleagues call her a “force for positive change in the IVLP community,” and credit her innovative strategies of professional development, mentorship, and commitment to uplifting future generations of IVLP leaders and programmers.

Susan Cabiati
(Retired) Senior Vice President
Meridian International Center

Susan’s commitment to citizen diplomacy and the IVLP spans more than half of the IVLP’s 80-year history. Colleagues credit her “steady and informed leadership,” and the positive impact she brought to her work and on international visitors. At her retirement, IVLP alumnus Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former Secretary General of NATO and Prime Minister of Denmark, called Susan “the embodiment of American global leadership,” and thanked her for “the countless friendships…built during a life of service to your country.”

Peggy Parfenoff
President
WorldChicago

Peggy “offers excellence,” say colleagues in describing Peggy’s abilities to always ask the right questions, help build community, and make an event, program, initiative, conference a huge success. Whether programming for small events or large entrepreneurship initiatives, colleagues call Peggy “a leader, mentor, and colleague who everyone in the Network knows and appreciates.”

Jacquelyn Shipe
CEO
Global Ties Alabama

Jacquelyn (Jacqui) is committed to service-leadership. Her “spirit of personal engagement” and work to professionalize board management training and grant coordination were among the many achievements cited by colleagues. Jacqui’s “encouragement and example have developed a corps of over 500 volunteers at Global Ties Alabama,” who support the organization as hosts, donors, and citizen diplomacy ambassadors.

Wendy Williams
Board Member
Citizen Diplomacy International

Wendy is a citizen diplomacy ambassador who “leverages her platform as a company owner to promote and elevate women entrepreneurs internationally on her company newsletter and social media channels. Most importantly, she always goes the extra step to thank international guests for coming to Philadelphia personally and intentionally mentors past exchange participants.”

We also want to acknowledge the scores of colleagues from the Office of International Visitors, Community-Based Members (CBMs), and National Program Agencies (NPAs) who are celebrating 10 or more years of service to the International Visitor Leadership Program in 2021.

• 40 OIV colleagues
• More than 75 CBM leaders, programmers, and Board Members
• And more than 20 NPA colleagues

Thank you for your outstanding contributions. Global Ties U.S. will be celebrating you throughout this anniversary year

NETWORK COLLEAGUES WITH 10 (OR MORE) YEARS OF IVLP SERVICE*

Office of International Visitors

Community-Based Member Network

National Program Agency Network

*Please note this was reported as part of a survey sent to Community-Based Member and National Program Agency leaders the week of March 15. If you have names you would like to add, please do so via this survey.

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