2011 Speakers
Alma R. Candelaria, Director International Visitors Leadership Program/Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Alma R. Candelaria serves as the Director of the International Visitors Leadership Program at the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The International Visitor Leadership Program annually brings to the United States approximately 5,000 foreign nationals from all over the world to meet and confer with their professional counterparts and to experience America firsthand. The visitors, who are selected by American Foreign Service Officers overseas, are current or emerging leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, business and other fields.
Prior to joining the Department of State, Ms. Candelaria enjoyed a long and varied career in the non-profit world, and the executive and legislative branches of government. Early in her career, Ms. Candelaria ran two national leadership programs training high school and undergraduate students on the intricacies of public policy-making at the state and national level. She served in the Clinton Administration at the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Executive Director for the US House of Representatives at the Office of Compliance (OOC). The OOC is an independent non-partisan agency established in the legislative branch to administer and enforce the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA). Ms. Candelaria helped design and implement the Office’s statutory responsibilities to educate Members of Congress, their staffs and other employing authorities of the legislative branch on the CAA.
After nearly 20 years in the federal government, Ms. Candelaria left the public sector to become President of 11i Networks Inc., an information technology and security company. In 2008, she launched Candelaria & Associates, LLC—a management and government affairs company based in Washington, DC. The connective tissue throughout her professional career has been public policy. A problem-solver at heart, Ms. Candelaria enjoys finding solutions, capturing lessons and teaching others.
In her down time, Alma trades stock options, gardens organically and writes. She has recently authored a children’s book on success principles.
Martin Babinec is both a noted Silicon Valley entrepreneur and a native/current resident of Upstate New York. He is the founder and Chairman of Upstate Venture Connect which he launched as an outgrowth of his vision and commitment to accelerate transformational change across the Upstate region.
Mr. Babinec’s citizen diplomat roles have included entrepreneurial program development with international non-profit Food For The Poor, leadership in the international Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Policy Summit and advancement of a sister city relationship with a community in Eastern Europe.
In 1988, Babinec founded TriNet HR Corporation, a provider of payroll, benefits and human resources outsourcing solutions that has grown to serve more than 8,000 small businesses customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. He served as CEO from the company’s inception until 2008, and Chairman through January 2010. He remains active in the company as a Director and industry advocate.
Babinec has published more than 30 articles and given an even greater number of public presentations on topics ranging from entrepreneur and company development, leadership, human resources management, outsourcing and regional economic development to name a few. He is an active Angel investor, a member of the international Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) network, and a recipient of the Silicon Valley Entrepreneur of the Year award. He served for five years on a Kauffman Foundation Advisory Board and also been a guest lecturer at the University of California-Berkeley, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, which has profiled TriNet in a case study for academic research into high-growth, equity-financed companies.
Prior to founding TriNet, Babinec enjoyed a successful career in human resources management with the Navy Exchange, an international retailer. During that time he resided in Japan and Italy where he managed all facets of human resources with an emphasis on international labor relations.
Richard Kaplan, CEO Torvec, Inc.
Richard A. Kaplan is currently CEO of Torvec, Inc an industry leader in the design and development of patented technology used primarily in the automotive industry. He is the former President and CEO of Pictometry International Corp., and former President of Richland Industries, Inc.
He has an extensive background in economics., accounting, management and executive leadership that has benefitted many corporations, start-ups, universities and other organizations. Kaplan has done private consulting and guest lecturing on marketing, economics and organizational development at universities and many business groups.
Kaplan serves on numerous advisory boards including Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Vice President of the Rochester Angel Investment Network, a board member of the High Tech Incubator (Venture Creations) at RIT, Board of Trustees at Nazareth College and RIT and a member of the University of Rochester Venture Development Advisory Board.
He is the creator of a new and unique theory, regarding social remediation in democracies, called C.A.R.I.N.G. Kaplan has written a book and lectured on the causes of and the solutions to poverty and other problems facing our society.
Ms. Heidi Hu Ames, President, Myland USA
Ms. Heidi Hu Ames, President of Myland USA is recognized as an authority on conducting business in China. She assists companies with their export and market development there. Heidi has held a number of roles including University Professor, Public Relations Officer, Mediator and Negotiator. She has many years of successful business experience.
Marlene Blocker, Principal
Rochester Early College International High School, Rochester, NY
Emily Carpenter, Web Whiz, Blogger, Speaker, Writer, Editor, Social Media Evangelist, WhizBang! Web Solutions LLC
Emily Carpenter is the owner of WhizBang! Web Solutions and is a Web Whiz, Avid Networker, Blogger, Speaker, Writer, Editor, and Social Media Evangelist. As an extension of her web design business, she is the Rochester Personal Brand Examiner at www.Examiner.com and has built her own personal brand through networking, blogging, speaking, and social media. She is the cofounder of FreeNet and past President of Rochester Professional Consultants Network.
Emily is passionate about teaching the value of Social Media to area businesses and watching them light up as they discover the power of joining in the conversation. She created a video explaining the basics of Twitter that you can view at http://bit.ly/TwoTwitties. Connect with Emily via Twitter (EmilyCarpenter) and at http://www.EmilyCarpenter.net.
Emily Craft, Assistant Director Center for International Education, Nazareth College of Rochester
Jeffrey W. Cox, Director, International Student Services, RIT
Jeff Cox has worked in the field of international education for 17 years. He lived overseas for ten years, has been a Peace Corps Volunteer, and Chair for NY/NJ of NAFSA: National Association of Foreign Student Advisors.
Rohan Krishnamurthy, Doctoral Student Ethnomusicology, Eastman School of Music
Rohan Krishnamurthy is considered a young musical ambassador with multifaceted accomplishments as a performer of South Indian drum, mridangam, composer, educator, researcher, and entrepreneur which earned him an honor of performing for the President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam. He participated in cross-musical ventures with well-known symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles, and distinguished musicians including Grammy Award-winners Glen Velez and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Anoushka Shankar, and Ayano Ninomiya. Currently he is pursuing doctoral program at Eastman School Music.
Richmond Kwesi, Graduate Student from Ghana, University of Rochester
Richmond Kwesi is pursuing a masters degree in Philosophy at the University of Ghana and currently doing his second year at the University of Rochester. His research interests are in figurative language, particularly metaphor, as well as multi-culturalism and philosophic issues bordering on cultural diversity. His first degree was in Linguistics and Philosophy obtained from the University of Ghana and Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada.
Junjie Liang, International Exchange Student, Osaka University/Nazareth College
Junjie Liang is currently an international exchange student at Nazareth College. He grew up in China, and studies at Osaka University in Japan, thus giving him a unique perspective which he will share with participants.
Timothy J. McCall, Director, U.S. Export Assistance Center
Tim McCall is the Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center in Rochester. He helps companies in nine Rochester-area counties to enter new export markets and is an international trade resource.
Tim has an extensive international business background in both the public and private sectors.
Educational background:, BS in French & German; Russian linguist in US Army; Masters in International Relations from USC; MBA in International Business & Finance from Minnesota State University.
Tim spent almost 20 years in international sales and marketing, as well as sales management in the Fluid Power/Hydraulics industry. He also spent six years as an International Trade Representative at the Kansas Department of Kansas as their Europe Office liaison. There, Tim specialized in helping Kansas manufacturing and services companies in international trade.
Now with the U.S Department of Commerce as an International Trade Specialist for the last 2 ½ years, Tim assists Rochester-area companies to enter and/or grow their export markets, by using the services that the U.S. Department of Commerce provides.
Amar Mehta, President, Indi-Genius Consulting
Dr Amar Mehta, President at Indi-Genius Consulting Inc., Toronto, is a Chartered Accountant (India) with about 20 years of professional experience. Amar is a former tax partner at Ernst & Young in India and a former Senior Manager at Ernst & Young in Toronto. He has advised numerous companies from North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific on international business transactions in India including setting up foreign joint-ventures, subsidiaries, mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure and hospitality projects and other financial transactions of diverse nature.
Amar is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from University of Mumbai, a Master’s degree from an American law school and Ph.D.in international taxation from University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Josephine M. Perini, Board President & Director, International Visitor Leadership Program, Rochester International Council
Josephine is a retired Guidance Counselor from the West Irondequoit Central School District, a member of the Hamamatsu-Rochester Sister Cities committee, Vice President of the Board of Directors of the William Warfield Scholarship Fund, served on the Frederick Douglass International Underground Railroad Conference and Freedom Festival Planning Committee, and Director of the Rochester International Film Festival. She is on the board of Delta Kappa Kappa -Beta Eta chapter and docent at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film. She volunteers for various organizations including Monroe Community Hospital, RPO, Nazareth College Arts Center and, GEVA Theatre Center. Josephine chaired the planning committee for the RIC DOS Town Meeting in 2003, served on the planning committee for Rochester Summit on Citizen Diplomacy in 2006, co-chaired the planning committee for the NCIV Northeast Regional Meeting in 2007, chaired the steering committee for 2008 Rochester Summit on Citizen Diplomacy, and is currently the chair of the 2011 Rochester Summit on Global Citizen Diplomacy. In addition to receiving the RIC Outstanding Volunteer Award for Leadership in 2004, the Distinguished Volunteer Award in 2006 and the Outstanding Volunteer for Service in 2010, she received an “Unsung Hero Award” from Mayor Johnson and the first Ambassador of the Year award from the RPO.
Josephine is currently Board President and Director of the International Visitor Leadership Program for RIC, a position she has held since 2002.
After traveling to many corners of the world, Josephine now has the world come to her by hosting international visitors to Rochester here for professional and cultural appointments.
Kristin M. Sampson, Director Global HR Services, Providium Consulting Group
Kristin’s expertise is in the field of Global HR Management with over 25 years experience in International business and finance. This includes knowledge of global compensation and benefits, competitive practices, strategic planning, as well as cost-effective solutions for managing international assignments. Prior to joining Providium in 2007, Kristin was responsible for developing and managing Bausch and Lomb’s international relocation and global mobility program.
Thomas Warfield, Senior Lecturer Cultural and Creative Studies, NTID, RIT
Thomas Warfield is a senior lecturer and director of dance at National Technical Institute for the Deaf at RIT. He has performed from stage to screen to television and radio in more than 100 cities around the world. As Founder/Artistic Director of PeaceArt International, a local-global outreach project fostering world peace through the arts. He has presented workshops, talks, seminars, and performances on a variety of topics including : conflict resolution, self esteem development, community building, and creativity. He is the recipient of numerous national and international awards and sits on the boards of various arts, social empowerment, and civic organizations.
