BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTOR
John Despic
John was born in
Canada and received his B.A. degree in French and Philosophy from the
University of Massachusetts. He went on to earn a Canadian Securities
Certificate and participated in the International Banking Management
internship program with the Toronto Dominion Bank.
His banking and financial career took him to management positions in London, New York City, Montreal, Dallas and Vancouver, B.C. John is currently Vice President, International Trade Banking Group with Sovereign Bank in Boston. This business experience has provided him with a strong background in operations management, business start up efforts, financial analysis and overall business acumen.
During his professional career John also developed a desire for public service and work within non-profit organizations involved in international environments. This desire led him to the study of public policy affecting humanitarian issues and the effects of global policies on third world nations.
John's business experience and capabilities provides AMCIPS with the necessary guidance to meet our mission statement, achieve our stated goals, establish good corporate governance and adhere to the highest ethical standards for fiduciary responsibility.
Vice president and chairman of advisory board
Colonel Joe Henderson (Ret.) United States Air Force
While in the service of the United States Air Force, Col. Henderson's
primary focus was in the area of Logistics and Aircraft Maintenance. His
duties included stations in Egypt, Viet Nam, Laos, Singapore, Enewetak
Atoll, and Germany, as well as numerous other duty locations overseas and
the US, including the Air Staff in the Pentagon. He is a past Director of
Continuing Education for Grayson County College and was also an instructor
in Manufacturing Technology and Corporate Problem Solving.
Col. Henderson has authored numerous military writings and historical
references and has served as Director of International Service for the
Rotary Club, as well as President of the local chapter. He has been
selected to be the Rotary Group Study Exchange Team Leader to South Africa
and Namibia. The team's focus will be AIDS/HIV awareness and water well
development projects. Colonel Henderson's training and educational
background includes degrees from the University of North Texas, University
of Southern California, and Grayson College. His doctoral studies were
taken at Texas A&M. He is also a graduate of the United States Air Force
War College. Other achievements include certification as a Professional
Logistician and Achieve Global Facilitator.
His additional certification as a Professional Building Contractor, as
well as an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Viticulture & Enology,
provides the Center with professional support in the area of sustainable
development goals. His skill as an educator will assist the Center in
meeting AMCIPS goals of providing educational services to immigrants and
facilitate opportunities provided to women of developing nations.
Presently he is the AMCIPS Vice president and Chairman of the Board of
Advisors.
president
Susie L. Hoeller
Susie L. Hoeller, President and Co-Founder of
AMCIPS, is an international business attorney with over thirty years
experience. She has represented companies in the banking, employee
benefit, high technology, and retail business sectors. She
was previously a partner at a prominent Texas law firm. Along with
handling her duties as President of AMCIPS, Susie heads up the Hoeller
Law Firm which has a practice focusing on food safety, product safety
and international contracting and compliance, as well as training module
consulting.
Ms. Hoeller has been recognized by bar associations and legal
publications for her pro bono legal work on behalf of refugees, overseas
war victims seeking medical treatment in the U.S. and victims of human
trafficking and abused mail order brides. She traveled to Bosnia and
other Eastern European countries in connection with her refugee work.
Ms. Hoeller has published legal articles and been a speaker at legal and
public policy conferences in the U.S. and Canada. She has been an
instructor and guest lecturer at colleges and universities and a guest
on national and local TV and radio programs discussing a wide range of
legal and international policy issues.
Ms. Hoeller is currently an outside director of corporate and non-profit
organizations, has received leadership awards and has served on a Board
of Directors appointed Ethics Committee for a Fortune 100 company.
Ms. Hoeller received her law degree from Vanderbilt University in
Nashville, Tennessee and her B.A. cum laude, in history and government
from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She was born in Chicago,
Illinois and was raised in Baie D’Urfe´, Quebec, Canada.
Ms. Hoeller was also a pioneer in opening up new opportunities for girls
and women in sports in the 1960s and 1970s. She was one of the first
girls to play on a boy’s hockey team in Canada; started the women’s
hockey team at Colby College; won the Quebec Junior Sailing
Championship, when she was the only girl in the regatta; and was a
student leader at Vanderbilt University, who championed more access to
college athletic facilities and programs for women.
DIRECTOR
Jeffrey Lamb
Jeffrey's
career and interests have focused on International Business,
Humanitarian Assistance, and Development in both the private and public
sector.
Currently, Jeffrey holds the position of Trade Development Consultant with the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) in their New York office. NZTE is New Zealand's Government Trade and Economic Development Agency with a global network of 48 offices around the world.
Prior to joining NZTE, Jeffrey served as Intl. Business Development and Protocol Officer for the City of Fort Worth, Texas, and previous to that, as a Latin American Sales & Marketing Manager for a Texas based consumer products distributor.
Jeffrey earned both a Master's degree in International Management and a BA degree in Government and Politics from the University of Texas at Dallas. Additionally, he holds a Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from Hunter College (NY).
In addition to his position with AMCIPS, Jeffrey has served as a Director for the World Affairs Council of Greater Dallas and for Refugee Services of Texas. He also is a member of the University of Texas at Dallas' National Alumni Council.
His professional, educational, and personal interests have taken him to more than 25 countries, primarily in Asia and Latin America.
His long term ambitions are focused on improving the economic and social conditions of the developing world.
director
Alexandria Hien Nguyen
Alexandria Hien Nguyen has advised clients on corporate, securities, emerging technology and health care matters. As Associate General Counsel for Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, Texas, she presently handles operational, regulatory compliance and contractual issues for Baylor-affiliated hospitals and facilities.
She also serves as legal advisor on hospital Institutional Ethics Committees. Ms. Nguyen was formerly an associate in the business transactions section of Haynes and Boone, LLP, Dallas and Richardson offices from 1998-2001. She received her Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 1998 and interned for Chief Justice Linda Thomas of the Court of Appeals of Texas, 5th District, Dallas in 1997.
During law school, she worked as a research assistant for internationally recognized Professor Ndiva Kofele-Kale. She graduated cum laude and with distinction in History from The Colorado College in 1995. She also minored in Contemporary French Studies and studied literature, Renaissance art and Italian through the Associated Colleges of the Midwest semester in Florence, Italy program. Ms. Nguyen is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Gamma Mu, Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Delta Phi honor societies.
DIRECTOR
David A. Robinson
David A. Robinson is currently Senior Partner of the Enterprise Counsel Group and has more than 20 years’ experience as a complex business litigation attorney. He is a member of the Board of Counselors at Whittier Law School, serves on the American Arbitration Association’s Commercial Dispute Resolution Panel, serves as a Judge Pro Tempore to the Orange County Superior Court, and is special trial counsel to the Orange County Bar Association. Mr. Robinson was a Litigation Partner with the Century. City-based firm of Wyman Bautzer Kuchel & Silbert, 1989-1990, and was Litigation of Counsel at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue in its Irvine, Los Angeles and Dallas offices, 1990-1995.
Mr. Robinson graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Riverside in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Law and Society. Mr. Robinson earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1982, and is a former intern to Associate Justice Joseph R. Grodin, California Supreme Court, 1982-1983.