Check out other international
activities in the region!
IVC Staff, Interns & Sister City Fellows
Scroll down for photos & info on our current and former
in-house citizen diplomats who make IVC run so smoothly
Nancy J. GILBOY, IVC President & CEO
"I've got the best job in the city - it's diverse, a challenge and never dull! My role is to make you aware that you play an important role in international relations when you do business abroad and every time you travel, interact with a tourist or an exchange student. I've been at IVC since 1990 and have created new programs and opportunities for IVC's members to become citizen diplomats and meet our distinguished State Department guests and provide positive American experiences for them. This includes member programs such as First Thursdays, Conversations With, Discover Philadelphia, International First Friday, and Doing Business Abroad. I work with IVC's staff to market the region's professional resources so we're competitive with the other 92 IVCs across the country. I'm responsible for keeping IVC financially strong and work with our dedicated Board of Trustees to raise funds as well as to identify new, diverse and interesting resources to support our international visitors' program themes. I also speak to civic and business groups about how we combine IVC's mission of international understanding with internationalizing the Philadelphia region's businesses and institutions. I am working on making Philadelphia the "easiest city in the U.S. for non-English speakers to visit, live and work" and invite you to join me in the effort. I'm pleased to work with a skilled and dedicated staff who make every day and every visitor program they arrange better than the last. And, last but not least, I get to meet some of the most interesting people in the world - established and emerging leaders who are destined to make their countries better - and our members, who show the generous and unique volunteer nature of our country and their pride in being Philadelphians and Americans."
Ann L. STAUFFER, ExecutiveVice President & Project Director, Discover Philadelphia Ann (center) is surrounded by Discover Philadelphia program participants.
"I have been affiliated with IVC for many years, and involved with all aspects of its operations! I am a great supporter of IVC's mission and proud of its accomplishments in the international relations and international leadership exchange fields. In addition to my Executive Vice President duties, I supervise our involvement in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program and have managed several major projects for IVC. Since 2005, I have been the Project Director for Discover Philadelphia: Attracting, Engaging and Retaining Philadelphia's International Graduate & Professional Students, which provides professional, social, cultural and networking opportunities for a select group of international graduate students at Philadelphia universities. From 1997 to 2005, I managed one of our most successful training projects, Community Connections - Linking Philadelphia with Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan & the Kyrgyz Republic, which was a collaborative effort between the State Department and countries of the former Soviet Union. It established and strengthened ties between business entrepreneurs, women leaders, local government officials, Muslim religious leaders and other professionals and their American counterparts. (Since 2005, we have continued involvement in this project under the auspices of the U.S. Agency for International Development.) Also, I have had the great opportunity to lead American delegations to Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan for the State Department and the Philadelphia Sister Cities Program. I strongly encourage you to support IVC and get involved in our many programs and events!"
Matthew L. DREXLER, Program Officer
Matt took over our core program, the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program, when Ron retired at the end of June, 2009. Matt had been in training for several months for this challenging position and when July 1st came, he hit the ground running - and hasn't stopped since. His programming is creative and the visitors love it when he joins them in the evening for dinner.
Colleen HARDIMON, Director of Administration
Colleen Hardimon joined us at the end of April 2009 as IVC's Administrative Director after fourteen years with Philadelphia Hospitality in a similar position. She handles our financials, photography, is a wiz with the computer and is often the first friendly voice you'll hear when you call our main number.
C. Alan HATFIELD, Director of Development, Membership and Special Events
"I enjoy being the liaison between the members and IVC. My position involves maintaining member and donor data and transactions and coordinating special events such as our First Wednesday @ the Courtyard International Salon Series,International First Friday networking sessions, Conversations With panel discussions,the Philadelphia Discovery Series, and Champagne Trolley Tours. All of the projects are designed to inspire dialogs and relationships between our international visitors, IVC members and Trustees. I also coordinate the Annual International Barbecue and many other international events throughout the year to which you are all invited. If you are interested in joining IVC, making a donation to our important work, or attending an event, I'm your first point of contact and look forward to hearing from you!"
Jennifer McGinn, Director of Sister Cities and Special Projects
"I administer Philadelphia's 'Sister Cities' program, where every day we facilitate cultural and professional exchanges between Philadelphia and its partners worldwide. I design programs for delegations that may include technical visits, one-on-one professional appointments, city tours, dinner hospitality and more. I strongly believe in Citizen Diplomacy and enjoy bringing our visitors and members together for mutually beneficial exchanges."
Stephen J. FORTE - Database Manager
Steve has been a loyal friend and true to IVC for more than a decade, starting as a volunteer and then transitioning to a part-time staff member in spring 2007. He is responsible for managing and updating our membership database as well as assisting our full-time staff with mailings and special events, such as First Thursdays and our Annual BBQ.
When not helping out at IVC, Steve contributes his time and expertise to the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, where he provides administrative support to the staff and management. Prior to that, he had also served as a consultant to Urban Industry Initiative and the Women’s Business Development Center. He also volunteers for WXPN and is a great sports “enthusiast”. Steve would amaze you with his knowledge of Philadelphia's sports teams! Steve is a native Philadelphian, residing in South Philadelphia and is an active member of Saint Monica Parish.
Ron D'ALONZO, Former Senior Program Officer, International Visitors Leadership Program
Ron retired on June 30, 2009 after 15 years.
FALL and WINTER 2011 Interns Watch IVC interns in action here.
Nicolas Cervantes-Intern-Senior Program Associate, Fall and Winter 2011.
Mariana Fernandez-Intern-Program Associate, Fall and Winter 2011.
Carlos R. Hernandez-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Fall and Winter 2011.
Kiyana Neil-Intern-Assistant to the President, Fall and Winter 2011.
Ashley Youwakim-Intern-Assistant to the President, Fall and Winter 2011.
Fellows & Intern Hall of Fame! Picture gallery of past interns studying abroad here.
Sophia Abud-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Spring and Summer 2011.
Amanda Good-Intern-Assistant to the President, Spring and Summer 2011.
Roxanne Indelicato-Intern-Assistant to the President, Spring and Summer 2011.
Michele Jaspan- Intern-Assistant to the Executive Vice President, Spring and Summer 2011.
Jessica Magaziner-Intern-Senior Assistant to the Executive Vice President, 2011.
George Payne-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Summer and Spring 2011.
James Dobrowolski-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Fall and Winter 2010
Mohamed Kashmola-Intern-Assistant to the Executive Vice President, Fall and Winter 2010
Francesca Martelli-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Fall and Winter 2010
Emily Vulcano-Intern-Assistant to the President, Fall and Winter 2010
Chelsea Williams-Intern-Assistant to the President, Fall and Winter 2010
Ali Allen-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Spring and Summer 2010
Reina Baldwin-Intern-Assistant to the President, Spring and Summer 2010
Paul Crane-Intern-Assistant to the President, Summer 2010
Stephanie Demora-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Spring and Summer 2010
Jessica Drake-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Summer 2010
Rosetta Dweh- Volunteer 2009-2010
Shannon Fromm-Intern-Assistant to the President, Spring and Summer 2010
Elizabeth Fields-Intern-Community Connections Senior Program Associate and International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Fall and Spring 2009-2010.
Michael Hess-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate and Community Connections Program Associate, Fall and Spring 2009-2010.
Renee Merritt-Intern-Assistant to the President, Fall and Spring 2009-2010.
Sabeen Kalyanmasih-Intern-International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Fall and Spring 2009- 2010.
Sister City Fellow (June-July 2009) Hu "Meller " Pengfei came to IVC from Tianjin, our Sister City in China. He works for the Foreign Affairs Office, which is our liaison with Tianjin. Nancy met him in Tianjin in May, 2009 and learned he was on his way to Temple Law School for two months as part of his LL.M. program in Beijing and Philadelphia. His Sister City Fellowship included shadowing IVC, City and State officials to their appointments, scouting Penn Charter as a potential Sister School for exchanges, visiting Daroff Design to discuss their current and potential work in Tianjin, enjoying American experiences, including the BBQ (where he met Mayor Nutter), and getting to know his Sister City.
Alexandra Forlini – Intern – Community Connections Program, Discover Philadelphia and Special Projects, Spring & Summer 2009
Tiffany Kurokawa – Intern – International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Spring & Summer 2009
Steve O’Connor – Intern – International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Spring & Summer 2009
Shadi Vahidi - Intern – Assistant to the President, Spring & Summer 2009
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John Bernhardt – Intern – Development, Membership & Special Events, Summer 2009
Andrew Ergemlidze - Intern – Community Connections Program, Discover Philadelphia and Special Projects, Fall & Winter 2008
Kaitlin Morrissey – Intern – Assistant to the President, Fall & Winter 2008
Stephanie Toronidis – Intern – International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Community Connections Program and Special Projects, Fall & Winter 2008
Liam Corr - Intern - Discover Philadelphia, International Philadelphia Project, International Visitor Leadership Program, and Special Projects,
Spring & Summer 2008
Sister City Fellow - Dr. Yun-Hwan KO - Senior Government Official from Incheon, Republic of Korea, Fall 2007- Summer 2008
Kate FRUHMAN - Intern - International Visitor Leadership Program Associate, Spring & Summer 2008
Juliana LINDGREN - Intern - Discover Philadelphia, International Philadelphia Project, International Visitor Leadership Program, and Special Projects, Spring & Summer 2008
Theodora MARCANTONIS – Intern – Assistant to the President,
Spring & Summer 2008
Elsy ESCALON - Intern - IVLP Program Associate, Development, Membership and Special Events Winter 2006, Summer, Fall & Winter 2007
Amanda McARTHUR – Intern – Assistant to the President, Fall & Winter 2007
Chelsea RAWLS -Intern - Discover Philadelphia and International Philadelphia Project, Fall & Winter 2007
Nora McLAUGHLIN -Intern - Discover Philadelphia and International Philadelphia Project, Fall & Winter 2007
Nicholas MULCH - Intern - International Philadelphia Project, Fall & Winter 2007
Rachel Chilkotowsky - Intern - International Visitors Leadership Program Summer 2007
Beni Curley - Intern - Discover Philadelphia and International Philadelphia Project Summer 2007
Janeile Johnson - Intern - International Visitors Leadership Program Summer 2007
Kathleen Ludgate - Intern - Assistant to the President Summer 2007
Christopher LeGoff - Intern - International Visitors Leadership Program Summer 2007
Citizen diplomacy engages citizens in international relations. Meeting counterparts and experiencing everyday American life provides an authentic & more accurate view of the "real" U.S.
