Indianapolis Global Advisory Board

GC INDIANAPOLIS         

Indianapolis Global Advisory Board

Global Chamber® Indianapolis Advisory Board consists of insightful business leaders advising on related strategies to help companies, especially SMEs grow globally.  The board functions as a Global Business Development Coalition (the Coalition) which serves as the first step to improving accessibility and education for businesses looking to expand internationally through coordinated programs and services.   

Dr. Toby Malichi, Hon. D. Bus., Executive Managing Director and Licensed Operator for Global Chamber® Indianapolis. Global Advisor and Global Mentor for Global Chamber®.

Hear Dr. Toby speak on the relaunch of Global Chamber® Indianapolis HERE.

Dr. Malichi is an internationally-recognized, and highly-acclaimed trade advisor, thought leader, influencer, speaker, strategist, global executive coach, and expert deal facilitator. His hard-earned wisdom, sage advice, deep insights, and global business diplomacy expertise on trade and free trade agreements is highly sought after by Multinational small-and-medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), C-level executives, private-sector global business leaders, government officials, and investment groups around the globe. Dr. Malichi dubbed the "Go-To-Guy" for "All Things Trade" by his contemporaries. Former U.S. Chamber of Commerce board director, international policy committee member, and small business council board member).    Dr. Malichi is federally appointed by the U.S. Commerce Secretary, (spanning, four White House Administrations, including present), to the Indiana District Export Council, which is closely affiliated with the U.S. & Foreign Commercial  Service. Dr. Malichi is the immediate-past Vice Chairman (2011-2020). Dr. Malichi was appointed to serve as a U.S. SME Delegate, Advocate, Spokesman and/or Representative for multilateral free trade agreements, dialogues, and roundtables around the globe including over 90% of U.S. Free Trade Agreements to APEC (SME Ministerial Meeting, Canada), ASEAN, WTO, TABD, USTR, and Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), World Economic Forum (WEF), (former board director & executive committee member). Dr. Malichi is a board advisor to the Indiana University (Bloomington) Institute of International Business - Center for International Business Education Research (CIBER). During his tenure at Chevrolet Motor Division, General Motors Corporation. Dr. Malichi as an executive, earned the coveted and prestigious 'GM Corporate Leadership Ring' for the top 2% performer nationally. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute, an internationally-recognized 'Think Tank' headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

"Dr. Malichi you are such a great business person and moreover a great Ambassador for Indianapolis and Indiana." We appreciate you!" ~ The Honorable James A. Schellinger, Indiana Secretary of Commerce.

Alice Watson

President Elect , Indiana Black Expo, Inc./Indiana IBE Business Conference

Ms. Watson is currently the Vice President of Operations and Project Management for Indiana Black Expo, Inc. (IBE).  She advises and makes recommendations to the President/CEO regarding industry best practice policies related to project management and operational efficiencies. As Former Deputy Commissioner of Indiana Department of Administration, Minority and Women-owned Businesses Enterprise Division Ms. Watson, was responsible for overseeing the State’s certification of minority and woman-owned businesses, and the utilization of those businesses on State contracts. Under her direction the division achieved significant increases in MBE/WBE participation goals, improved reporting processes, conducted the largest disparity study in the history of the state, and for the first time secured a pay-audit system to formally track prime vendors payments to MBE/WBE businesses.

Ms. Watson held the position of National Account Sales Manager for Prima Technology (XOCECO) a major Chinese global manufacturer of flat panel LCD and plasma displays located in Seattle, Washington and various managerial roles at Thomson Consumer Electronics (formerly RCA) at the National Account level. Responsibilities included but not limited to achieving revenue and margin objectives with National Accounts such as Sears, Best Buy, and Kmart. Ms. Watson was responsible for developing strategies to maintain business in a competitive market by leveraging expertise in advertising, marketing and financial planning. Ms. Watson currently serves on The City of Indianapolis Equal Employment Opportunity and Contract Compliance Advisory Board.

Joseph Q. Luten  

President and Co-founder of Importin' Joe's Ethiopian Coffee

  Joseph Q. Luten is the charismatic President and Co-founder of Importin' Joe's Ethiopian Coffee is
  a South Bend native and serial entrepreneur. Being no stranger to adversity, Joseph and wife Afomia launched their                 current endeavor with coffee mid-pandemic in October of 2020. An international citizen and aspiring philanthropist, Joseph has spent the better portion of the last 6 years globe trotting to nearly 20 various countries engaging in missions and     humanitarian
  aid.

  Independently observing, analyzing and partaking in foreign customs, culture, and cuisine,
  Joseph's most impactful and life changing moments came while in Ethiopia where he met current
  wife, co-founder, and inspiration for Importin' Joe's Ethiopian Coffee, Afomia Luten.
  Spending most of his time in poverty stricken communities within developing 3rd world
  countries, Joseph's heart grew with compassion as he encountered and interacted with several
  youth whom had been met with the worst of predicaments, childhood homelessness.
  Joseph and wife Afomia have committed their livelihoods to helping with the eradication of this
  global epidemic.

  As of recent Joseph and Importin' Joe’s Ethiopian Coffee have had the opportunity to grow and
  evolve with counsel from the Notre Dame Idea Center and Notre Dame Innovation Lab as the
  University makes intentional efforts to reach back into the community and invest into the fabric
  of our local society.

Andrea Richter

Senior Advisor for International Engagement at Indiana Economic Development Corporation

As senior advisor to the secretary of commerce for international engagement, Andrea Richter supports the state’s foreign affairs and global economic outreach efforts. She previously held the role of advance lead to President Barack Obama at the White House, where she led teams to prepare the logistical, security and communications aspects for his foreign and domestic travel.

Richter began her government career at the U.S. Department of State in 2009 and honed an expertise in economic statecraft and international summit development. While holding the role of chief of staff of the Bureau of Energy Resources within the Department, she shaped foreign policy engagement at the critical nexus of energy and national security.

Richter completed her B.A. in Political Science, Global Studies and German at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota and received her M.A. in European Studies from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.  She is a founding board member of Ready to Run Indiana.

Ava Taylor

Policy and Busines Manager at City of Indianapolis-Office of Women and Minority Business Development

Christine Everett

Christine Everett has been with the Kelley School of Business since 1991 and in her current position as Director of Programs at the Institute for International Business (IIB) since June 2010. She is responsible for the development and management of a wide variety of international programming as well as the design, execution, and evaluation of programming for the IU Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). In her time with the IIB, Christine conceived and developed the summer Business Is Global institute for high school students to expose them to the global scope of business. The pilot program was presented to the US Department of Commerce for inclusion in the joint development agreements for trade, economic development, and education programs. She also developed and launched a preparatory program to help prepare international students for PhD and MBA Program enrollment; a new business model in the higher education field. In 2012, Christine developed and executed a four-week intensive and immersive entrepreneurship preparatory program for 100 Middle East and North African (MENA) college students in partnership with the Coca-Cola Export Corporation of Dubai and US Department of State; program alumni have launched more than 100 startups in their home countries.

Before joining the IIB, Christine held a number of roles in the KSB MBA Program, including her most recent position serving as the Director of Operations and Diversity. In this role, she was responsible for delivering a series of leadership skill development modules for the first year MBA students, evaluating the curriculum offerings of the MBA Program, and leading the organizational effectiveness efforts for MBA Program office. She also developed and fostered an all-encompassing support system for under-represented minority students that resulted in improved group cohesion and student satisfaction. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Business Economics and Public Policy from KSB and a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from IU.

Colin Renk

Executive Director at America China Society of Indiana

Mr. Colin Renk serves as Executive Director of the America China Society of Indiana (ACSI), a membership-based, non-profit which promotes bilateral business exchanges between Indiana and China. Having previously served as Operations Manager, Mr. Renk has overseen the company’s growth into an independent and self-sustainable organization while raising more than a half-million dollars towards Indiana-China business initiatives. Prior to joining ACSI in 2013, Colin served at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and was a Governor’s Fellow for the Office of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Mr. Renk graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Public Management in 2011.

Duchess Adjei, M.S.C., M.A.

Dale Stackhouse

Partner at Ice Miller LLP

Dale Stackhouse chairs Ice Miller's International Group and co-chairs its Regulatory Compliance Group. His practice focuses on international trade, regulatory compliance, investigations, commercial agreements and foreign investment. In addition, Stackhouse handles a variety of general business, corporate and transactional matters for domestic and international clients.

Dale has done extensive work for clients in various manufacturing industries, including steel, automotive, inks and printing, glass, plastics, chemicals, films, industrial and agricultural machinery, military parts and equipment and medical devices. He also has a number of not-for-profit clients and clients that are involved in various service industries, such as software, sports and entertainment, distribution and logistics, higher education and scrap processing.

Dale is the author of numerous publications on international law issues, and he has addressed groups throughout the country on topics related to international trade, commercial agreements, customs, anti-boycott, export compliance, sanctions and licensing (including International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Bureau of Industry and Security, and Office of Foreign Assets Control), North American Free Trade Agreement, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anticorruption, antidumping, relocating employees internationally and foreign investment. He also helps clients manage the tax, employee benefit and employment law issues that arise when they hire employees in foreign countries or move employees across borders. Dale joined Ice Miller in 1989 and began full time work at the Firm after one year of practice with a Japanese law firm located in Tokyo.

Donald Cassell

Senior Fellow at Sagamore Institute

Donald L. Cassell, Jr., as Sagamore Senior Fellow and Director of the Liberian Initiative in the Africa portfolio, has spearheaded several projects, including a case study on the Liberian Philanthropy Secretariat, a database listing connections between the State of Indiana and Africa, the annual publication of the newsletter-journal Marketplace Liberia, and various papers on African growth and development. He have recently launched the ISOKO Leadership Workshop in Liberia. Additionally, he serves as co-host of Sagamore’s internship program and an Adjunct Professor at Anderson University. Previous to his role at Sagamore, Mr. Cassell spent 20 years working as an architect in Indianapolis. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Construction Specification Institute (CSI). A native of Liberia, Mr. Cassell graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts where he took undergraduate degrees in Architecture Engineering Technology.  Mr. Cassell also studied at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he received his Master of Divinity.

Doris Anne Sadler

President, World Trade Center Indianapolis

Doris Anne manages the overall business strategy and operations of the organization. Doris Anne graduated from Louisiana State University earning a degree in Political Science prior to attending the University of Leningrad in St. Petersburg, Russia and Oxford University’s Institute on International and Comparative Law in the United Kingdom. Upon returning from abroad, Doris Anne continued her education receiving a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University School of Law, specializing in international law. Doris Anne has served in numerous leadership roles since 1996 including Deputy State Auditor and Legal Counsel, Chairman of the half billion dollar Indiana Deferred Compensation Plan and the elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Marion County. Doris Anne also founded and headed the Feinstein Initiative for the Preservation of the Great American Songbook from 2007 through 2012. Beyond these leadership roles, Doris Anne works to improve the lives of residents of Indiana by serving on numerous philanthropic boards throughout the State.

Gina Sheets  

Senior Fellow at Sagamore Institute

Gina recently transitioned back to Indiana after living five years in Liberia with her husband. There they built the School of Agriculture and Liberia’s first Agriculture Research Center on the campus of Liberia International Christian College, where she served as Vice President, the Administrator, and instructor of agriculture, business, math and development courses. Prior to Liberia, Gina was the first appointed Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) for now Vice-President Mike Pence. Gina has worked in economic development for over 20 years on large international deals, and has owned many small businesses with her husband, including the farm where they live. She is now Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute.

Jennifer Pearl

President, Bloomington Economic Development Corporation

Jen most recently has been the Indy Chamber’s Director of International Programs, responsible for overseeing implementation of the Metro Indianapolis Global Trade & Investment Strategy for the nine-county metro region. Released in 2016, the trade and investment plan raises Indy’s international profile while increasing regional exports and foreign direct investment. It was developed through the Global Cities Initiative, a joint project of the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase. Pearl was most recently based in Beijing, China as a Senior Consultant with North Head, a public affairs and strategic communications agency headquartered in Beijing. She conducted policy analysis and public affairs campaigns for multinational clients doing business in Asia and trade across international markets.

Her clients included Fortune 500 multinational corporations, trade associations, healthcare companies, education firms, and public agencies. Pearl has strong ties to Indiana, having managed global partnerships for five years at the Indiana University School of Public Health. She began her career at National Public Radio in Washington, DC.

Pearl is an alumna of Indiana University, where she received her Masters of Public Affairs and Master of Arts in East Asian Studies, and of Syracuse University. 

Kyle Cline

Regional Development Manager at National Association of Counties

Kyle Cline serves as FSC’s Regional Development Manager. He supports the NACo/U.S. Communities program including marketing, promotions, driving sales and serves as the regional liaison responsible for building and maintaining state relationships in the Midwest, Southeast and East Coast.

Before joining NACo, Kyle served as National Policy Advisor and head of federal government relations for the Indiana Farm Bureau in Indianapolis. Prior to that, he was awarded the prestigious Robert Bosch Fellowship and lived/worked in Germany for one year focusing on clean technology and renewable energy policy, innovation and entrepreneurship. Before that, Kyle was General Manager of the Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy at Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Kyle holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Affairs (MPA), both from Indiana University where he graduated as Outstanding Master of Public Affairs.

Larry Ingraham

President at Ingraham & Associates, Inc.

Larry Ingraham has been a leader in Indiana’s economic development outreach in Asia since the early 1980s.  Indeed, as a top aide to Governor Robert Orr and Lieutenant Governor John Mutz, he played a crucial part in Indiana’s successful efforts to build a bridge for Japanese investment, which has resulted in over 250 Japanese firms now operating in our state employing over 45,000 Hoosiers at a total investment of over $10 billion.  As Hoosiers build a new bridge for Chinese investment, Larry’s insights and experiences will be invaluable.  His thirty-year involvement in Asia began while he was based in Taiwan and Japan with the U.S. Air Force.  Larry continued his work in Japan as director of the State of Indiana’s East Asian Office in Tokyo from 1983-1986.  Not surprisingly, Larry has organized, led or participated in scores of Indiana-Asia trade missions since 1983.  For example, he traveled to China and Zhejiang Province with Governor Orr in 1987 when the Indiana-Zhejiang sister-state relationship began.  Then in June 2012 he accompanied Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman and a large Hoosier delegation to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this important sister-state relationship.  Since then he has led two Indiana community business delegations to China in 2013.   To date, he has also facilitated:  an "Indiana Mayoral Roundtable on China" program at Purdue University featuring the Chinese Consul General from Chicago and 22 Indiana mayors, four sister-city relationships between communities in Indiana and Zhejiang Province, eight sister-school relationships between Logansport and Jinhua, the trip by three Logansport high school teachers who taught English in Jinhua in June 2013, and the sending of the Logansport High School Girls basketball team on a trip to China in October

Martin Baier

President and CEO at The International Center

Honorary Consul of France to Indiana

Martin joined The International Center in 2011 as VP, Programs and Services before he became the organization’s President and CEO in 2017. He is a retired German Air Force (GAF) Lt. Colonel and has lived in Germany, Great Britain, Italy and the United States. Martin possesses senior management skills combined with more than twenty years of public service. His background includes extensive cross-cultural experience with liaison functions to U.S. companies and other NATO forces. Between 1999 and 2002, Martin was stationed in New Mexico and was promoted into the position of senior project manager. As liaison to the U.S. Air Force, he worked on combined projects at the staff and command level. During his military career, he obtained bachelors and master's degrees in Military Science (Aviation and Business). In addition, Martin attended the University of Duisburg and Essen, Germany to earn a bachelor's joint degree in economics, business, English and cultural studies. After his move to Indiana, Martin started his own business, "All German Solutions LLC", to provide project and program management, as well as cross-cultural training.

Martin is also an active member in his community. He is on the Indianapolis International Airport ‘Air Service Task Force’, a member on the Indy Chamber’s ‘Global Indy Council’, member and immediate past chair of the Indianapolis-Cologne Sister-City Partnership Committee, and on the Advisory Council of the Alliance Française d’Indianapolis.

Melissa Proffitt

Office Managing Parter at Ice Miller LLP

Melissa Proffitt is the office managing partner of the Indianapolis Office of the Firm, former Managing Partner of the Firm, chairs the Agribusiness Group, co-chairs the Employee Benefits Group, chairs the Energy Group, and is responsible for business development initiatives for the Firm. She concentrates her practice in employee benefits with a focus on welfare benefit plans and qualified plans. She counsels regional and international clients on benefit issues, including plan formation and design.

Melissa is an accomplished attorney and community leader. She is active in politics and the Republican party, from the community to a national level. She is often invited to share her knowledge at speaking events for a wide variety of professional organizations and has been recognized in a number of business journals and community publications as an outstanding leader and attorney. Melissa also participates on the boards of many community organizations and volunteers her time for causes supporting economic development, diversity, and women's issues.

Raju Chinthala

Founder & President at Indiana India Business Council

Founder and President of the Indiana-India Business Council, a nonprofit business advocacy organization with the mission to promote trade and investments between the State of Indiana and India. Interfaced with the Governor of Indiana, Mike Pence, the Indiana Secretary of Commerce, and other senior State of Indiana officials in 2016 to establish the council and promote its activities and functions. IIBC functions include assisting Indiana companies to establish their presence and expand their customer base into Indian markets; facilitating trade missions from India visiting Indiana to identify and connect with Indiana-based suppliers; and providing a forum for members to understand, develop, and promote constructive Federal, State and local policies critical to the advancement of international trade.

Shola Ajiboye

Chief Executive Officer, African Community International

Shola Ajiboye was formally educated in Africa and Europe in Journalism and Social Sciences respectively. He attained his Master’s degree in Community Psychology with special interest in Culture and International Relations in United States.

Ajiboye started his career as a financial analyst, then a Management Development columnist for the Business Times and the managing editor of the African Motorist Magazine with the opportunity to cover the Indy 500 Race for three years. He also produced weekly television programs “Images of Africa” for Comcast and Time Warner Cables’ local program segments for two years. He was a recipient of 2003/2004 Creative Renewal Arts Fellowshipwith the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Ajiboye worked for the African Concern for Refugees as the director of research; served at Laure Carter Memorial Hospital as Psychologist intern and five years; and worked as transitional coordinator for Offender Aid and Restoration of Marion County.

Currently, Ajiboye is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the African Community International (The African Center) in Indiana and the National President of United States Coalition of African Organizations in Washington, DC.

John Y. Musiine 

John Y. Musiine is a Department Chair and Assistant Professor at Martin University Department of Business in Indianapolis.He is also a Faculty Advisor and a Sam Walton Fellow at the Student In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Enactus -a global student organization that champions home-based enterprise solutions to eradicating poverty, and creating long-term economic-sustainability for millions through the positive power of business. He also serves as an Advisory board member for the Oklahoma Christian University Emerging Leaders and Entrepreneurs ELE Rwanda, a group of young Rwandan Presidential Scholars rebuilding a nation through innovation. He is a graduate from University of Indianapolis and holds a B.A in Economics and Finance and an M.B.A and currently a candidate of a Project Management Certificate at Cornell University.

Mr. Musiine is a strong advocate for championing Rwanda’s progress within the diaspora and presided over H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda’s visit to Chicago 2011 for Rwanda Day as a Master of Ceremony. He is also the Executive Director of the Young Patriots of Africa, a coalition of the African Renaissance that wants to devote time and energy to the welfare of their home continent.

Mr. Musiine’s presented a paper on Teaching and learning from a Simulation- Based Perspective at the 2010 International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) annual Meeting at Robert Morris University in Chicago. His presentation has become an important part in the approach and style of simulation based teaching and learning for IACBE. Mr. Musiine also serves as a board member of Inyarwanda Limited, The Bishop John and Harriet Rucyahana Ministries Inc. and was a business competition Judge in the 2012 NBMBA/Chrysler Competition, He is a member of Project Management Institute(PMI), Center of International Business Education and Research ( CIBER) as well as the African Finance and Economics Association (AFEA) a US- Based Association that bring top African Economists together to foster a brighter future for the African Continent through research and policy recommendation.

This son of Rwanda continues to model and wear his unquestionable and genuine patriotism at heart with honor and pride .His tireless great zeal and determination in championing the greatness of Rwanda has made him a shining pillar among Rwanda’s young leaders both at home and in the Diaspora. He has been nominated for several Awards and has moderated, presented, facilitated and participated in over 100 conferences.

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