The Executive Board The Cabinet Staff
The Executive Board
Charles Lansden, Chair
Professional Association: Winstead PC
Personal Information: Charles Lansden was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has lived and worked abroad in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Czech Republic. He and his wife, Tammy, have two children, Sarah and James.
Professional Information: Charles Lansden is an attorney in the real estate finance practice group at Winstead PC. His practice is focused on commercial mortgage lending, property acquisitions, and commercial leasing.
Nancy Carter, Vice Chair
Professional Association: Retired
Personal Information: Nancy Carter and her husband, Dr. Coleman ("Nick"), have lived in Charlotte since 1976, making it their base for international travel. Their daughter and son-in-law, Annamarie and Dustin Dalton, live in Richmond and are in doctoral studies in Bio-Chemistry and Medicine, respectively, at the Medical College of Virginia.
Professional Information: Nancy studied Romance Philology at the University of North Carolina and served 12 years on the Charlotte City Council, representing the international Eastside. She was active on the NC League of Municipalities' and National League of Cities' Boards and on various arts, children's, transportation, environmental boards. She and Nick participated in trips to Wroclaw and Limoges, where Nancy met with many municipal departments. Nancy is currently serving as a Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor and on the Boards of Mecklenburg Ministries, WDAV, the Eastland Area Strategic Team, and the Council on Aging, and was on the Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention.
Dale Gillmore, Treasurer
Professional Association: Boatsman Gillmore PLLC
Personal Information: Dale and his wife Laurie have two children, Laila Anne and Sydney Sky. He enjoys golfing, fishing, and is a sports fanatic. Dale volunteers his spare time with the Charlotte Rescue Mission and Classroom Central. He holds membership with the Charlotte Rotary, ASAC, CFMA, and the US Green Building Council. He and his family are active members in the Methodist Church.
Professional Information: Dale is a CPA and the founding partner of Boatsman Gillmore PLLC. He leads the firm’s manufacturing and construction practices. His specialization is working with distressed companies to assess, value, and ultimately turn around nonperforming assets and operations. He has 14 years of experience supporting mid-sized corporations. Prior to starting the firm, Dale was with the Charlotte office of Ernst & Young, LLP. While at E&Y, Dale was a project manager within the tax consulting service, specifically serving manufacturing, construction, and utility clients. Dale has a BSBA from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science in Taxation from Walsh College.
Cynthia Barnes, Executive Board
Professional Association: Allen Tate Company
Personal Information: Cindy’s family includes two daughters who are married and live in Charlotte. Katie graduated from Chapel Hill, has two young sons, and runs a non-profit play group. Angie graduated from State and works for Compass Group. Aside from work and family life, Cindy enjoys travel, entertaining, music and running. She has a B.A. in English and German from Iowa State University and completed course work at the Goethe Institute in Passau, Germany.
Professional Information: A Charlotte resident for 28 years, Cindy Barnes is in the top 5% of Allen Tate real estate agents, with over 175 million in sales during her career. She represents buyers and sellers in North and South Carolina, and also trains Allen Tate agents throughout the region. In addition to her involvement with the Charlotte International Cabinet, she is currently serving on the board of the SouthPark chapter of the Chamber of Commerce. Her previous board work includes two terms as chairperson for Charlotte Chamber Music and several terms as vice-president of the Charlotte chapter of North Carolina World Trade Association.
Larken Egleston, Executive Board
Professional Affiliation: Republic National Distributing
Personal Information: Larken's main interests center around trying new restaurants and cuisines as often as possible. Traveling, playing basketball, and cheering for the Panthers, Bobcats, and Wake Forest sports teams are a few of the other activities he enjoys in his spare time.
Professional information: Larken Egleston is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University's Culinary Arts program who is originally from Winston-Salem and has lived in Charlotte since 2004. A fixture on the local entertainment scene, Larken's 10-year affair with food and beverage hot spots has landed him roles with the Charlotte Observer, Elevate Magazine and Creative Loafing, among others. He is currently employed by Republic National Distributing as the Remy Cointreau Brand Ambassador for the state of North Carolina. As founder of the Charlotte Culinary Club, he serves as the unofficial authority on dining out in the Queen City, sharing up-to-the-minute restaurant news and coordinating local culinary events. He also serves as a member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Carolinas Chapter Board of Directors, a board member for the Charlotte Taste of the Nation/Share Our Strength fundraiser, a member of the City Council's Charlotte International Cabinet, board member of Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association, and is the Vice President of the Johnson & Wales Charlotte Campus Alumni Association board.
Sean Gautam, Executive Board
Professional Association: Intelligrity Capital Management, LLC
Personal information: Sean Gautam emigrated from India and became a U.S. citizen in 2008. Sean is a graduate of Georgetown University Law School and also holds an MBA (Finance) from the University of New Orleans. Sean earned his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelors of Commerce degrees in India. Sean resides in SouthPark with his wife, Magali, a French native who holds a Ph.D. in Financial Economics. They have two American-born children, aged eight and four. Sean is an avid motorcyclist and enjoys golf, cigars, wines, painting, photography and traveling.
Professional information: Sean Gautam is the President & Founder of Intelligrity Capital Management, LLC, an investment advisory firm catering to middle-class families and professionals. Sean founded Intelligrity Capital to make professional investment management accessible to middle-class families, not just the ultra-wealthy. Sean has devised and manages risk-specific globally-diversified investment portfolios with low fees and account minimums. Prior to founding Intelligrity, Sean served as the CFO of a national financial services firm in D.C., where he devised and implemented financial strategies for a decade. Sean is also the author of the investment guide "Advanced Portfolio Strategies." Sean is FINRA Series 65 licensed and has previously held Series 7 and 6 designations. Sean has been elected to serve on the Board of Opera Carolina and is an active member of various organizations, including the Charlotte North Rotary Club, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce. Sean recently completed the Arts & Science Council's Cultural Leadership Training program.
Rory McNicholas, Executive Board
Professional Association: International Teacher Exchange Services
Personal Information: Born in England, Rory McNicholas graduated from The Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, as an officer on the British Royal Navy. He moved to Charlotte in 1999 and lives with his wife Suzi and two children, Jack and Maddy.
Professional Information: International Teacher Exchange Services (ITES) is a designated sponsor organization of the U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program. As such, ITES provides opportunities for schools across America to host highly qualified international educators. Many of these educators come to the U.S. to teach their native language in local schools as well as to share their experiences, knowledge and cultures with their students, fellow teachers and their new communities.
The Cabinet
Madelyn (Maddy) Baer, UNC Charlotte and Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Personal Information: Maddy Baer was raised on Long Island, NY. She holds a B.A. and M.B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.S. Ed. from SUNY Albany. She speaks Spanish, French and some German and has travelled throughout Europe and South America. Her rich and diverse professional experience includes international and private banking, real estate development, and the specialty field of essential oils for flavor and fragrance manufacturing. Maddy also spent several years teaching Spanish to all K-12 grade levels in public schools in Massachusetts and Charlotte. She has lived in Manhattan, Chicago and, immediately prior to moving to Charlotte nearly 10 years ago, resided at the end of a dirt road in The Berkshires. She has a passion for urban planning issues, a strong interest in the arts, and can be found most Saturday mornings at one of Charlotte’s farmer’s markets. Her immediate family resides in Ohio and NY.
Professional Information: Maddy is the International Employment Coordinator in UNC Charlotte’s Office of International Programs. Her job is supporting UNC Charlotte’s international faculty and research scholars. These outstanding members of the community are as diverse in their citizenship and cultural backgrounds as they are in their specialty research areas. Currently, international faculty work in over 35 academic departments. Their research endeavors both create, and are the result of, close collaboration with Charlotte’s expanding international resident population and business community. UNC Charlotte is North Carolina’s urban research university committed to addressing the cultural, economic, educational, environmental, health, and social needs of the greater Charlotte region. Maddy also works part-time at Charlotte Douglas International Airport as an interpreter in the International Arrivals area, assisting passengers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
Douglas C. Bowman, HSBC
Personal Information: Doug Bowman completed undergraduate studies at Penn State University and Pfeiffer University and earned his MBA from Wake Forest University. In addition to being active within several business and community organizations, Doug is the former Treasurer and current Chair-Elect at the Carolina Raptor Center and he is a member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church. Doug and Susan have been married for twelve years and have two children: Ella James (six) and Douglas “Clay” Jr. (three).
Professional Information: Originally from Rochester, New York, Doug moved to Atlanta in 1993 to help the Hyatt Regency Atlanta prepare for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. He moved to Charlotte in 1997, with his now-wife Susan, as she pursued her career with First Union. Soon after moving to Charlotte, Doug joined Nextel Communications as Commercial Account Executive. He stayed with Nextel for six years. Upon earning an MBA from Wake Forest University in 2005, he became a Business Banker with BB&T. In 2010, Doug joined 5/3 Bank as a Commercial Banker with a focus on serving Charlotte-area foreign owned companies, as well as domestic companies engaged in global commerce. In September of 2012, Doug joined HSBC as Vice President and International Banking Relationship Manager.
Maryanne P. Dailey, Better Business Bureau Consumer Foundation
Personal Information: Maryanne P. Dailey was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Social Work. She went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Human Development and Learning. Maryanne is an avid athlete who enjoys walking, weight lifting, boxing, tennis, and learning to play golf.
Professional Information: Maryanne serves as the Senior Vice President of the Better Business Bureau overseeing its Operations Department, Senior Programs, and the Latin American Outreach Program. Additionally, Maryanne manages special projects including two annual Secure ID Shredding Events, coordinating the Mecklenburg County Consumer Fraud Task Force, serving on the North Carolina’s Fraud Against Older Adult Task Force, Aging Resource Network, and volunteering for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Dr. Adelheid Eubanks, Johnson C. Smith University, Center for Integrated Studies
Personal information: Dr. Adelheid Eubanks is a native of Cologne, Germany. She is married to David A. Eubanks and has one daughter, Krista Kay Eubanks.
Professional information: Adelheid received an M.A. in Germanic Languages and Literatures and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and French from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Adelheid taught and did administrative work at Coker College in Hartsville, SC, from 1995 to 2008. She joined Johnson C. Smith University in January of 2009 to direct the Center for Integrated Studies. She has presented at conferences and published on a multitude of subjects. In addition to her education in Germany and the United States, Adelheid has worked or studied in Paris, France; Oslo, Norway; Shanghai, China; Québec City, Canada; and Rome, Italy. She regularly conducts study abroad experiences with students and teaches courses on literature, as well as German, French, Italian, and Latin.
Dr. Maha Gingrich, Central Piedmont Community College
Personal Information: Dr. Maha Gingrich is certified by the former President of India, Sri. V.V. Giri, as one of the most prominent artists of India. After training since childhood under eminent gurus in Kuchipudi, Bharatha Natyam and Kathak dance styles, Dr. Gingrich emerged as a classical dancer of repute. She was honored with the Best Dancer award by UNASCCO International, and was awarded a Certificate of Outstanding Performance by the Festival of Science at Discovery Place. She was also honored by Dr. S.S. Mathur, Minister of Education and Culture, in Washington, D.C. Her performances have received many thundering ovations in both Indian and US cities. She is known and respected for her choreography and her ability to propagate Indian culture through various schools, colleges and associations.
Professional Information: Dr. Gingrich is the Assistant to the Executive Vice President at Central Piedmont Community College. She received her Ph.D. in Education Leadership at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and also holds two Associate degrees, two Bachelor degrees, and a Masters in Business Administration. She is also a National Collegiate Computer Science Award winner. Dr. Gingrich hosts the TV show “Charlotte, a City of International Success” on CPCC’s television network and co-hosts the Indian show “Nazar." She is also a regular contributor to the “Dances of India” column in Saathee, a feature magazine for the South Asian Community of the Carolinas. She is very active in the community promoting the ‘unity in diversity’ theme.
Steve Goldberg, Strategic Consulting Services
Personal Information: Steve Goldberg is a native Charlottean with a longstanding interest in international relations. He received a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Georgia and has studied additionally in International Marketing at Georgia State University.
Professional Information: Steve has served for the past thirteen years as a Managing Director with Strategic Consulting Services, specializing in marketing, media, and public relations consulting with a focus on brand relationships with entertainment and sports properties and the disability marketplace. Steve's career in journalism and media consulting has provided him with many opportunities to work and travel internationally, including to numerous Olympic, Paralympic, and World Cup competitions. Soccer has profoundly impacted his life for the past 35 years, and he is now closely affiliated with organizations such as the International Paralympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, and FIFA.
James Jewell, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Assistant Special Agent in Charge
Personal Information: James Jewell received his undergraduate degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1987 and obtained a Masters in Accounting from Louisiana State University in 1993. Special Agent Jewell is a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy.
Professional Information: Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) James E. Jewell joined the FBI in 1996, and reported to the Charlotte Division of the FBI in January 2007 as the supervisor for the division's dedicated intelligence staff. Following his promotion in 2011, ASAC Jewell assumed executive management responsibilities for the Division's Intelligence and Administrative Programs and personnel located throughout North Carolina. Prior to his arrival in Charlotte, Special Agent Jewell served previous assignments with FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. from June 2003 to December 2006 and with the FBI's Houston Division from November 1996 to May 2003. During his time at FBI Headquarters, Special Agent Jewell served as a Program Manager within the Directorate of Intelligence's Career Management Section and as a Congressional Appropriations Liaison within the FBI's Finance Division. While assigned to the Houston Division, Special Agent Jewell served successful periods on both the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Enron Task Force. He primarily investigated matters involving financial institution fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and international terrorism. In recognition of his professional experience and leadership, Special Agent Jewell was awarded a LEGIS Fellowship in 2003 by The Brookings Institution, Washington D.C.
Prior to his employment with the FBI, Special Agent Jewell worked as a Senior Litigation Consultant within Coopers & Lybrand’s Financial Advisory Services Group in Birmingham, Alabama, from September 1995 through July 1996. He also worked as a Senior Consultant within Ernst & Young’s Dispute Resolution & Litigation Services Group in New Orleans, Louisiana, from January 1994 through September 1995. Special Agent Jewell is a former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy, having served on active duty from 1988-1992 and in the naval reserve from 1992-1996.
Candace Murray, YMCA of Greater Charlotte
Personal Information: Candace Murray was born and raised in Gainesville, FL. She moved to Charlotte, NC, on a soccer scholarship attending Queens University of Charlotte. Candace received a BSN Nursing degree in 2003 and in 2006 returned to Queens to complete a Master’s Degree in Health Administration. As a young adult, Candace lived in Finland and also traveled to 18 different countries during her twenties. She is a firm believer that travel expands one’s worldview lens and creates great respect for diverse cultures. Soccer has played a significant role in Candace’s life and she continues to give back to the global game. She is the Co-founder and Director of a non-profit organization, PeacePassers.org, which collects new & used soccer equipment and redistributes it to areas of need around the world. Candace is married to native Charlottean William Murray (a professional BMX & mountain bike racer), and they have a daughter, Mila Joy Murray, born in April 2012.
Professional Information: Candace Murray is responsible for Community Health & Global Initiatives at the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. With her Nursing background, Candace provides health education to under-served families in some of Charlotte’s most fragile neighborhoods. Working with the YMCA Parents as Teachers program, she establishes partnerships with community agencies to advocate for improved access and inclusion of health services for newcomer/immigrant families. Candace’s role at the Y includes supporting strategies to expand the YMCA’s Global Centers of Excellence initiatives. Focus is given to newcomer/immigrant engagement, global education, cultural competency and local to global philanthropy. The YMCA is a global human service organization located in 125 different countries. Candace oversees the YMCA of Greater Charlotte’s global partnership in West Africa with YMCAs in Senegal & The Gambia. In 2012, she led a group of teens and young adults on a service learning project to visit the partner YMCA in Dakar, Senegal. Candace is honored to be a member of the Charlotte International Cabinet and is excited to help uplift our local to global relationships.
Judith F. Osei Tutu, African Clothing Liberty Services & Fabrics
Personal Information: A native of Ghana, West Africa, Judith Osei Tutu graduated from University of Maryland-Baltimore County in May 1995 with undergraduate degrees in Marketing, Management & Business. Thereafter, she began her Masters in International Languages and Banking from Johns Hopkins University, where she is only a few credits shy of graduating. Her education led her to stay in the US and become the Branch Manager for the Harbor Bank of Maryland, where she worked for a few years. After marrying in 2001, she relocated to Charlotte where she looked to help and serve the community. Her support for the Charlotte community includes participation and leadership with the Kumasi Sister City Committee of the Charlotte International Cabinet and the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Toast Masters International Club. She is also currently in preparation to become an Ordained Minister.
Professional Information: Judith established her own business, African Clothing Liberty Services & Fabrics, after arriving in Charlotte. In addition to selling colorful and comfortable African clothing, Judith operates a business with prepaid credit cards, prepaid phones, home phone services, and many others. In line with her passion for service, she donates clothes for fashion shows in Charlotte and creates awareness about the African Culture and the similarities through her fashions. Her fashion shows have grown in popularity, resulting in television appearances every year.
Yolanda Perry, Manpower Professional
Personal Information: Yolanda has been heavily involved in community-based organizations, seeking to bring together people from all cultural backgrounds and assisting them with their needs, endeavors and career paths. Yolanda and her husband, Anthony, have been married for 24 years, and started a musical production company, Mixing of Souls, Inc., which incorporates individuals from various ethnicities to demonstrate all aspects of the performing arts as one body – music, poetry, dance, comedy and other areas. Yolanda and Anthony have three children, Taurean, Anthony Simone and Michaela.
Professional Information: Yolanda is a veteran in the Staffing and Recruiting industry with over 15 years of experience and has held numerous roles during her career. She began as a representative for skilled labor and light industrial positions. Her career progressed into a Regional Recruiting Manager for Southeast, followed by a corporate recruiting role for AAA Carolinas. She then returned to staffing, where she thought she would be able to assist a larger population of individuals with their career search. Yolanda sits on several committees, including the Employer of Choice Committee, was given the 10-year Service Award for community service from the Charlotte Area Fund, and currently serves as a board member for the Employer Network Roundtable and the NC Business Leadership Network, along with other agencies.
Gail VanDerVeer
Personal Information: Gail VanDerVeer was born in New Jersey and grew up in the Chicago area. Gail is married to Craig, a neurosurgeon, and is the mother of three adult children and spouses. Her interests include playing the violin in Queen City Community Orchestra, golfing, and travel. Her interest in foreign languages and cultures can be attributed to her Dutch grandparents, as well as her father's occupation of being a salesman of specialty foods and coffees imported from around the world.
Professional Information: Gail received her BA from Calvin College in German and English. As a high school teacher, she sponsored and escorted students on trips to Europe and was awarded a Fulbright Grant to study in Germany. Current volunteer activities include serving on the board of CMRW and involvement with the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and Endowment. Gail recently completed a Masters of Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary.
Hugh Wrigley, Global Endowment Management
Personal Information: Hugh Wrigley, his wife, Diana Crawford, and their two children, Jack and Tess, joined the Charlotte community in 2009, settling here after stints in Chapel Hill, New York, and London. Hugh and Diana are Australians who have lived and worked in the United States for more than 20 years. Jack and Tess are students at Charlotte Latin School.
Professional Information: Hugh obtained dual degrees in Law and Commerce from the University of Melbourne (1989) before joining the Melbourne law firm Allens Arthur Robinson as an Associate in the Securities, Mergers, and Acquisitions Group (1989-1992). Hugh then worked for the Sullivan & Cromwell and Linklaters law firms in New York and London from 1992 until 2000. He served as a Vice President in the Mergers and Strategic Advisory Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co. from 2000 until 2002 before joining the Duke University endowment as the Head of Private Investments. In 2007, Hugh co-founded Global Endowment Management, an investment firm located in Charlotte. Hugh is a member of the New York Bar Association, on the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales, and a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia.
Jian Zhang, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce
Personal Information: Dr. Jian Zhang was born in Sichuan, China. He received his B.S. in sports medicine from Chengdu College of Physical Education and M.A. in sports medicine from Springfield College, Springfield, MA. He received his Ph.D. in biomedical science from USC School of Medicine, in Columbia, SC, and postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has lived in Charlotte for 16 years and is married to Grace Xie. They have two children, Ying and Lilly.
Professional Information: Jian has twenty years of leadership experience in serving various nonprofit organizations. He served as president and board chairman of Carolinas Asian American Chamber of Commerce and just stepped down as the board chair in February of 2012. Jian also served as president of Johns Hopkins Medical Institution Chinese Student and Scholar Association and Chinese American Association of Charlotte of Charlotte, board member of American Red Cross Greater Carolinas Chapter and North Carolina China Council. He was selected as one of a few Chinese Americans, along with Chen-Ning Franklin Yang, Anna Chennault, and Ieoh Ming Pei, to meet with Chinese President Jiang Ze Min when he visited New York City in 1996. Jian is currently the board director of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce and Chinese American Association of Charlotte. As a scholar, Jian has published and presented over 100 articles in national and international journals and meetings in the area of regulation of liver microcirculation and chronic liver diseases.
John Zhang, Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, Red Bowl
Personal Information: John Zhang is married to Jun and has three children: Jade, Joyce and Jayden. They have lived in Charlotte since 1993. John enjoys playing tennis and golf.
Professional Information: John is president of Red Bowl U.S.A. He owns and operates a chain of restaurants in both North and South Carolina. With family ties and business interests in China, he travels to China regularly, as well as helps local organizations to promote commerce between the two countries. John is vice president of the Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce and is in charge of business development. He is the co-founder and president of the Carolinas EB-5 Regional Center, which actively promotes foreign investment in Charlotte and the surrounding region.
Ron Zurinskas, Bank of America
Personal Information: Ron Zurinskas was born in Connecticut and has an undergraduate degree from Villanova University in Operations Research with a minor in Geography, along with graduate degrees from Drexel University and The University of Pennsylvania. He has lived in Charlotte for 10 years, and is married to Natalie Amalong and has two children, Hannah and Julian. He is an avid cyclist, competitive runner and enjoys yoga. Ron has a special appreciation for Asia and speaks a little Mandarin.
Professional Information: Ron has twenty years of broad financial services leadership in Sales Service and Operations across private, commercial and business banking, as well as insurance and e-business. Throughout his professional career, Ron has mentored many student interns and partnered with many universities to help students prepare for the workforce. Ron has worked for the Bank of America Corporation for the past 10 years in Operations, Marketing and Strategic Relationship Capacities. Most recently, he worked within a partnership with the China Construction Bank to develop High Net Worth solutions and e-banking strategy, where he focused on Private Banking and Electronic Commerce and traveled extensively to Asia from 2008–2010. He now manages a large portfolio of global improvement projects for the Chief Financial Officer Office. Prior to Bank of America, Ron held leadership positions at General Electric, Tenant Health Care, Macy’s and JP Morgan. He is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt, has been awarded the BAC Award of Excellence, Best of Six Sigma award and the GE Everest Award.
Staff
Alexis Gordon, Program Director
Alexis Gordon is the Program Director for the Charlotte International Cabinet. Before working with the Cabinet, she lived in The Netherlands where she completed her Master in International Relations and Diplomacy at Leiden University and The Netherlands Institute for International Relations, Clingendael. Gordon’s thesis, "The Cosmopolitan Metropolis: Why Cities Vie for a Role in the International System," compares the international activities of The Hague to those of Charlotte, NC. While in the Netherlands she was a communications intern at the Global Secretariat for the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), an international organization based in The Hague. Gordon created an awareness campaign toolkit to be used by GPPAC members in 15 different regions across the globe. Prior to graduate school, Gordon worked as a television news producer in Charlotte.
Gordon, born in Honolulu, grew up in a military family. Moving from state to state and living in several foreign countries (including Germany, Japan and Italy) instilled a great love of travel and devotion to fostering a peaceful global community. This adventurous spirit led her to Antarctica where she filmed a documentary on mankind’s influence there. Her father’s work during the 2004 Tsunami relief efforts inspired her to leave her job as news producer and go back to school to become more involved in the international community. Gordon graduated cum laude from Winthrop University with a B.A. in Political Science and Mass Communication—Broadcast Journalism and quickly adopted the Carolinas as her home. In her free time she paints, reads historic fiction, and writes short stories.
Kim McMillan, City of Charlotte Staff Liason for the CIC
City of Charlotte, Director of Corporate Communications & Marketing
As Director of Corporate Communications & Marketing for the City of Charlotte, Kim McMillan is responsible for developing internal and external communications programs and handling the City’s media relations. She oversees a 19-member staff with responsibilities including strategic communications, media relations, web services, creative services, video production and GOV Channel (Cable 16) operations.
As a member of the senior leadership team, she works closely with the City Manager’s Office, Budget & Evaluation, Human Resources and City Attorney’s Office. Her major accomplishments include leading a citywide branding effort, conducting a communications audit and developing web-based communication resources for City Staff, elected officials and the community. McMillan is also proud of the media training she designed to better manage and improve the City’s media relations.
McMillan joined the City of Charlotte in April 2007. She has more than 24 years of experience in public relations, marketing and advertising. She began her career in communications with the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, History and Landmarks Foundation and worked as a copywriter and account executive in agencies in upstate New York and south Florida. In Charlotte, she has served as Director of Marketing Communications for Presbyterian Healthcare System, Marketing/Product Manager for KoSa, Vice President of Communications for the Arts & Science Council and Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations for the Allen Tate Company.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University in Athens.
McMillan is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and its Charlotte Chapter and a past president of the local Chapter. She is a member of 3CMA, an association of local government agencies. In 2000, McMillian received the Infinity Award for outstanding practice in the field of public relations from the Charlotte PRSA Chapter. She was named one of the Top 25 Executive Women by the Charlotte Business Journal in 2006, and she has received numerous awards for healthcare and real estate marketing, including a prestigious Telly Award.
She served as Co-chair for the NASCAR Hall of Fame grand opening and is currently serving on the Executive Committee and chairing the Marketing and PR Committee for Communities in Schools. She enjoys public speaking and making presentations. She lives in Charlotte with her husband, Bill, and two daughters, Carson and Shealy.
Consuls and Honorary Consuls in North Carolina
www.northcarolinaconsularcorps.org
The Cabinet also works very closely with the North Carolina Consular Corps. For more information on Honorary Consuls in our area please visit their website.