New York City – September 2, 2025 – The Global Chamber® New York City is making bold strides in 2025, curating a vibrant schedule of international business activities and welcoming a steady influx of new members. This growth is a direct result of the dynamic leadership of Executive Director Susan Gitenstein Assadi and Advisory Board Chair Charles Bernard, whose collaborative vision has energized the Advisory Board and elevated the organization’s global reach.
Together, they continue to foster meaningful connections, spotlight emerging opportunities, and position Global Chamber® NYC as a hub for cross-border innovation and influence.
Charles Bernard, Advisory Board Chair
Charles is the founder and CEO of Criteria for Success, a sales consulting firm, and Collavia, a SaaS company that brings sales strategy to life with AI.
He has spent over 20 years helping business leaders build stronger sales teams and increase revenue through practical frameworks and leadership development. Based in New York City, Charles works with clients across industries and is also a frequent speaker on sales, AI, and organizational growth.
He is the pioneer of the Selling Operating System called Enabling Buying in a World of Selling, which helps organizations move from pushing products to creating conditions where buyers buy with confidence.
Charles says:
“I joined the Advisory Board because I believe Global Chamber® brings together the right voices to make a real difference for business leaders. The collaboration and global reach align perfectly with my work helping companies grow in smarter and more human ways.”
Susan Gitenstein Assadi, Executive Director
Since stepping into the role of Executive Director in 2019, Susan has led Global Chamber® New York City through a period of strategic expansion and innovation. Under her guidance, the organization has built a diverse and engaged membership base while evolving its programming to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global business landscape.
In addition to her role at the Global Chamber®, Susan leads GA PR, a boutique firm specializing in expert-driven and thought leadership campaigns. A nationally respected media strategist, she has secured top-tier placements in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The New York Times, Barron’s, Reuters, Bloomberg, and CNBC.
Her work consistently elevates small and midsize companies to visibility typically reserved for Fortune 500 brands.
Susan is also the co-founder of Safed House, a welcoming space for refugees and immigrants to share their stories, find support, and build community—reflecting her deep commitment to empathy, storytelling, and social impact.
Susan says:
“When I assumed leadership of the chapter six years ago, we were a fledgling group with great potential. Over the past year, under Charles’s thoughtful guidance as chair of our Advisory Board, we’ve cultivated a vibrant network of global leaders. Their energy and vision have propelled our growth, fostering meaningful business synergies and unlocking new opportunities for their respective companies.”
Steven Nicokiris, Managing Director, CBIZ Advisors
Steven delivers hands-on business, audit, and tax guidance to privately held, family-owned, and private-equity-backed middle market companies, with a sharp focus on global expansion and sustainable growth.
His client portfolio spans a wide range of industries—including consumer products, apparel, retail, electronics, housewares, finance, food and beverage, professional services, and staffing—reflecting his versatile expertise and deep market understanding.
From startup strategy to complex buy/sell transactions, Steven advises clients with a global lens. He identifies tax planning opportunities to optimize outcomes, supports budgeting and cash flow forecasting, and helps structure financing arrangements to fuel long-term success.
Steven says:
“I joined the Advisory Board of the NYC Chapter of the Global Chamber® because I wanted to take a leadership role in the growth of the NYC Chapter under the guidance and vision of Charles Bernard and make a significant impact in the success of member companies with global expansion aspirations.”
Jean-Paul Richer, Port of New York and New Jersey
Jean-Paul (JP) serves as the Northeast Regional Account Manager for the Commercial Outreach Team within the Port Department of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
In this role, he builds and maintains strategic relationships with shippers and beneficial cargo owners across the Northeastern United States, while spearheading marketing programs, communication strategies, and business initiatives to drive growth at the Port of NY.
Since joining the agency in 2016, JP has established himself as a key member of the Port Operations Team.
JP says:
“I joined the Global Chamber® NYC Advisory Board not only to promote the Port Gateway but to also pursue, develop, and maintain synergies and working relationships among NYC and local supply chain professionals, transportation and logistics providers as well as shippers and manufacturers to identify opportunities to support and assist one another.”
Anthony De Filippis, Co-CEO, CargoTrans
Anthony De Filippis is the Co-CEO of CargoTrans, a family-founded logistics company dedicated to making global trade simple, visible, and sustainable.
Having grown up in the business, he brings firsthand experience from the warehouse floor to executive leadership, giving him a unique perspective on today’s supply chain challenges.
Anthony works closely with CEOs and business leaders to cut through the complexity of shifting tariffs, evolving regulations, and global unpredictability, helping them turn challenges into opportunities.
Anthony says:
“I joined the Global Chamber® NYC Advisory Board to help businesses cut through the complexity of global trade and create partnerships across the world.”
Melanie Fox, Founder, SpeechFox
As a speech coach, Melanie empowers executives and public figures to speak clear, confident English through accent reduction, interview, and presentation training. She also trains actors to master authentic English and Spanish dialects.
She is a paid public speaker who helps her audiences “Hack into Language” and hosts the podcast Hack That Accent.
Melanie says:
“I joined the Global Chamber® NYC Advisory Board to help generate synergies between businesses based in NYC who want to do business abroad and vice versa — feels like we have our fingers on the pulse of the global business vortex!”
Bernardita Calinao, Founder and CEO, Walkspan
Bernardita is the Founder and CEO of Walkspan, an AI-driven SaaS company that delivers neighborhood intelligence for real estate.
As an Environmental Planner, she has spent over 25 years directing interdisciplinary studies and formulating sustainable strategies for the urban, transportation, and energy sectors in the US and abroad.
Bernardita says:
“I joined the Global Chamber® to expose the value of Walkspan for business placemaking decisions at a global scale.”
Doug Wendt, Founder, Wendt Partners
Doug is the co-founder and Senior Partner of Wendt Partners, a global HubSpot CRM consultancy headquartered in New York with offices in Toronto, London, and Melbourne.
Doug says:
“I joined the Global Chamber® New York City Advisory Board because I believe in the power of collaborative innovation to reshape global business practices. This opportunity allows me to blend my experience with fresh ideas to drive meaningful change on the global stage.”
Monica Varas, Founder, VIB Global
Monica is the founder of VIB Global and Varas Insurance Brokerage, specializing in innovative insurance solutions for U.S. companies and international businesses entering the U.S. market.
Monica says:
“I joined the Advisory Board because I believe in building bridges for entrepreneurs. Global Chamber®’s collaborative, worldwide network aligns perfectly with my mission to help businesses grow and succeed across borders.”
Stefanie Eimesser, Coordination Manager, New York Chapter
Stefanie is the Coordination Manager for Global Chamber®’s New York Chapter, bringing over a decade of international experience in marketing, business development, and event management.
Stefanie says:
“I joined the Global Chamber® NYC because I believe in the power of global connections and want to help create meaningful opportunities for collaboration and growth across our international community.”
Chapter Meetings
Our chapter holds monthly in-person meetings, usually on the 4th Thursday of each month at 5 pm ET, and monthly online meetings on the second Monday of each month at 5 pm ET.
About Global Chamber®
Global Chamber® is a unique platform and growing community of CEOs, executives, investors, and leaders across 525 chapters and the entire world that strategically connects members anywhere for more impact and success.
We facilitate practical and strategic connections that make doing business across regions as easy as doing business across the street — simplifying trade and creating concrete value for our members.
For more information, visit www.globalchamber.org.
Global Chamber® is a registered trademark of Global Chamber, LLC since 2014.
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