2016 ANNUAL REPORT LEADERS PARTICIPATED IN MERIDIAN’S COUNTRIES LEADERSHIP EXCHANGES, FORUMS, CULTURAL LEADERSHIP EXCHANGES, FORUMS, CULTURAL REPRESENTED IN DIPLOMACY INITIATIVES, AND TRAINING DIPLOMACY INITIATIVES, AND TRAINING PROJECTS MERIDIAN PROJECTS PROJECTS PRODUCED BY MERIDIAN ABOUT MERIDIAN ADVANCING EFFECTIVE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SINCE 1960 Meridian International Center is a nonprofit, global leadership organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. OUR VISION We envision a more secure and prosperous world characterized by mutual understanding, innovation, economic growth, and inclusion. The path to realizing this vision is through more effective and connected public and private sector leadership at all levels. OUR MISSION To create innovative exchange, education, cultural, and policy programs TRILATERAL TRAINING PROGRAM that advance three goals: FOR AFGHAN DIPLOMATS • Strengthen U.S. engagement with the world through the power of exchange. • Prepare public and private sector leaders for a complex global future. • Provide a neutral forum for international collaboration across sectors. SINCE 1960, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO IMPLEMENT THE INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH HAS WELCOMED AND TRAINED: GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, DIPLOMATS, NOBEL HEADS FORTUNE 500 EXECUTIVES, AND OTHER PRIZE OF EMERGING LEADERS WINNERS STATE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DELEGATION TO CUBA OUR LEADERSHIP Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday Henry Collins President and CEO Vice President and Deputy, Professional Exchanges Division Lee Satterfield Executive Vice President and Gretchen Ehle Chief Operating Officer Vice President, GlobalConnect Division Susan Cabiati Theresa Furman Senior Vice President, Vice President, Finance and Accounting Professional Exchanges Division Terry K. Harvey Bonnie Glick Vice President, Senior Vice President, Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy GlobalConnect Division Frank Justice Dr. Myra Best Vice President, Convening Vice President of Administration, Professional Exchanges Division Amy Selco Vice President, Development BUILDING A 21ST CENTURY DIGITAL Kelly Campagne Vice President, GOVERNMENT Human Resources and Administration OUR CAMPUS Meridian’s campus features two historic buildings, Meridian House and White-Meyer House. Surrounded by gardens, it forms a city block of historic and architectural interest. The campus is the residential jewel of John Russell Pope, architect of the Jefferson Memorial, the National Gallery of Art, MERIDIAN HOUSE WHITE-MEYER HOUSE and the National Archives. Meridian House was built between 1921 and 1923 by Home to Meridian’s Cafritz Galleries, White-Meyer House Both houses are listed on Ambassador Irwin Boyle Laughlin, U.S. Ambassador to was built between 1910 and 1912 by Ambassador Henry the National Register of Greece (1924-1926) and Spain (1929-1933). White, U.S. Ambassador to Italy (1905-1906) and France Historic Places. Photo credit: Egomedia Photography (1906-1909). Photo credit: Rodney Bailey LEADERSHIP MESSAGE DEAR MERIDIAN FRIENDS, In an environment rife with polarization and conflict, we all must work harder than ever to collaborate for solutions to global challenges. To this end, Meridian is advancing cross-sector leadership, diplomacy, and mutual understanding every day, in every corner of the world. Meridian offers an unparalled platform to advance public and cultural diplomacy initiatives. Through exchange, training, cultural, and convening programs, Meridian utilizes an integrated approach to strengthen U.S. engagement with the world to expand economic development opportunities, protect national and international security interests, and prepare leaders for a complex global future. For example, 2016 was the year of exploration into U.S.-Cuba Relations as diplomatic tensions between our countries began to thaw. While many were questioning what government policy shifts meant, Meridian launched an integrated approach to bilateral relations. First, Meridian’s Center for Cultural Diplomacy sent Michelle Angela Ortiz, a visual artist and community arts educator, to the island on an exchange to work with the local community on creating a mural in the Regla neighborhood outside Havana. Bringing together artists, students, and other community members, the mural served as a call to action for community inclusivity and local pride. Then, Meridian led a high-level Cultural and Economic Development Delegation on a mission to explore Cuban culture, architectural heritage, politics, and spirit. And finally, Meridian’s inaugural Cultural Diplomacy Forum on Cuba brought Cuban culture, society, historic preservation, and economic opportunities to DC leaders. The Forum, attended by over 100 cross-sector leaders featured keynote remarks from H.E. José Ramón Cabañas Rodríguez, Ambassador of Cuba to the U.S., and Ben Rhodes, then Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications. Together, these programs welcomed a new chapter of U.S.-Cuban relations focused on economic networks and cultural ties by leveraging Meridian’s public and cultural diplomacy tools. Entrepreneurship training continues to be a cornerstone of our work, as a critical tool for empowering women, developing youth, creating sustainable jobs, and promoting wealth and prosperity for all. Meridian launched the inaugural cohort of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI). Two hundred fifty young technology and social entrepreneurs utilized Meridian’s entrepreneurship framework, leadership development curriculum, and month-long mentorships with U.S. counterparts to strengthen and scale their ventures. Through programs like these, Meridian provides emerging leaders with the know-how, resources, and invaluable networks to succeed. In October, Meridian launched the Digital Finance Future: Inclusive and Global Economic Growth Initiative, which convened the diplomatic corps, members of the media, and other influencers with information and resources about the opportunities for digital financial services to alleviate poverty around the world. A series of intimate roundtables explored regulatory frameworks, cultural barriers, costs, risks, and benefits of digital financial services. Building on these roundtables, a working group of international leaders will continue the in-depth dive into this subject matter and carry forward policy solutions. Meridian is using its neutral platform and historic campus to convene with a purpose and drive towards tangible conclusions. In the pages that follow, you will learn more about the impact and outcomes of Meridian’s innovative exchange, cultural, training, and convening programs for emerging and established leaders around the world. In 2016, our team had many great successes. But, as proud as we are of our work, none of it would have been possible without the sustained dedication of our partners and supporters. Now more than ever, we must come together as a global community to advance effective leadership for a more secure and prosperous world. Thank you for your support and commitment to our mission. We look forward to all we can accomplish together this coming year. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MERIDIAN STAFF – THANK YOU! Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday Chairman President & CEO MERIDIAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES 01.01.2016-12.31.2016 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TRUSTEES Hon. Carlos M. Gutierrez Hon. Ann Stock Hon. Meredith Attwell Baker Dr. Neal R. Goins Michele A. Manatt Chairman Vice Chair and Co-Chair President and Chief Vice President, Founding Member, Meridian Chair, Albright Stonebridge Group of Development Committee Executive Officer, International Government Council on Women’s Leadership CTIA - The Wireless Association Relations, ExxonMobil Corporation Art Collins Drew Maloney David Metzner Co-Chair of Board Secretary Janet Blanchard Hon. David A Gross Managing Partner, Development Committee Vice President, Founding Member, Meridian Partner, Wiley Rein LLP American Continental Group Council on Women's Leadership Managing Partner, theGROUP Government Maria Pica Karp Lisa B. Nelson and External Affairs, Jon Clifton Vice President and Hon. Alonzo L. Fulgham Hess Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Chair of Governance and Managing Partner, General Manager, Chevron American Legislative Exchange Council The Gallup Organization Nominating Committee Hon. Laurie S. Fulton Janet Lamkin Scott Parven President, Chair of Global Engagement Matthew T. Echols California State President, Partner, Galileo Energy Partners, BV Senior Vice President, Bank of America Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Hon. Stuart W. Holliday Coca-Cola North America Public Steve L. Lebling President and CEO Affairs & Communications, Stanley S. Litow Michael Pickrum Chair of Facilities & The Coca-Cola Company Vice President, Corporate Chief Strategy Officer, Everfi Preservation Committee Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, Owner, The Lebling Companies Hon. Laurie S. Fulton IBM and President, Hon. Rodney E. Slater U.S. Ambassador, Retired IBM International Foundation Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, LLP Jeffrey Malinak Chair of Finance & Hon. Patricia Hongxia Liu Audit Committee de Stacy Harrison Associate Vice Chancellor, Government & Community Deborah Taylor Ashford, Esquire Managing Principal, President and Chief Executive Legal Counsel Analysis Group Inc. Officer, Corporation for Public Relations, Broadcasting New York University Shanghai Hon. William F. McSweeny Trustee Emeritus Hon. Walter L. Cutler President Emeritus HONORING THE 2016 TRAFFICKING