75 C E L E B R AT I N G
YEARS 1945–2020
MEMORANDUM OUTLINING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF SWITZERLAND, INC. SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON MAY 1, 1945
Congratulations! On behalf of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), I would like to extend our congratulations to the American Swiss Foundation for the 30th anniversary of its flagship program, the Young Leaders Conference. Since its beginning in 1990, SWISS, and before it, Swissair, has been a proud sponsor of this program, connecting and inspiring more than 1,300 emerging leaders from both countries by flying almost 700 Americans to Switzerland for the conference. In 1989, Ambassador Faith Whittlesey worked closely with board member Peter Luethi, then head of Swissair North America, to refocus the organization’s mission and concentrate efforts where the Foundation could be most effective. After considerable discussion, the Board decided that the future should be to inspire the next generation of U.S. and Swiss citizens. And thus, the Young Leaders Conference was born. Ever since, SWISS and the American Swiss Foundation have upheld their partnership, even in the most challenging economic environments. As I am writing this, SWISS is caught in the perfect storm that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought upon us. But even in this survival mode, it is crystal clear to me that we want to continue our partnership. I am convinced that strengthening the ties between young leaders in the US and Switzerland will be as important after Covid-19 as it was before. I look forward to our continued partnership with the American Swiss Foundation as your Preferred Carrier, helping to connect and engage Swiss and American leaders through the innovative and inspirational Young Leaders Conference. Tamur Goudarzi Pour Chief Commercial Officer Swiss International Air Lines
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CONTENTS
Chairman’s Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Letters from our Leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Greetings from the U.S. Ambassador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Greetings from the Swiss Ambassador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 List of U.S. and Swiss Ambassadors 1945 – 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 American Swiss Foundation History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 List of ASF and SAC Chairmen 1980 – 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Young Leaders Conference Class Portraits 1990 – 2019 . . . . . . . . . . 27 Board of Directors, Advisory Councils, and Alumni Organization . . . . . 90 Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
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Robert J. Giuffra, Jr. Chairman American Swiss Foundation Young Leader 1996
In 1996, Ambassador Faith Whittlesey changed my life. She invited me to be a Young Leader. In one short week, I fell in love with Switzerland—a land of beautiful mountains, rivers and lakes, cosmopolitan and vibrant cities, four official languages, and some of the most entrepreneurial and charitable people on earth. Few countries are as interconnected as the United States and Switzerland. The founders of our two nations looked to each other in forming their political unions. Americans took the idea of the Swiss confederation of cantons and turned 13 colonies into the United States. And the Swiss looked to the U.S. Constitution in drafting their own constitution. Switzerland and the United States—the “sister republics”—are the two oldest continuous democracies in the world. The American Swiss Foundation was founded in New York City on May 1, 1945. As the Second World War was ending, our founders saw the need to build bridges between the United States and Switzerland. Today, the American Swiss Foundation serves to preserve and strengthen the historic friendship between our two nations. As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, Switzerland is one of the most important friends of the United States. Remarkably, with less than nine million people, Switzerland ranks as the 7th largest investor in the United States. We have had many great leaders—most notably, Ambassadors Shelby Cullom Davis and Faith Whittlesey. In 1990, Ambassador Whittlesey transformed the American Swiss Foundation by founding our signature Young Leaders Conference. Each year, we bring together the next generation of leaders of our countries. Thirty years later, our more than 1,300 Young Leaders include the current U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, members of the U.S. and Swiss Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Swiss National Council, former Governors of Florida, New Jersey, and North Carolina, entrepreneurs, CEOs and senior business executives, distinguished columnists, writers, scholars, scientists, and community leaders.
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Our programs would not be possible without the steadfast support that we receive from our devoted sponsors and our Board in the United States and the Swiss Advisory Council in Switzerland, chaired by my good friend Markus Diethelm. I am also indebted to our president, Patricia Schramm, for her leadership, and the past chairs of our Foundation, particularly my predecessor, Steven Hoch, who steered us through the financial crisis. In our rapidly changing world, with many challenges and opportunities, our mission of building bridges between the United States and Switzerland is more important than ever. We must continue to promote and celebrate our shared values of liberty, the rule of law and free enterprise. I look forward to celebrating the 100th anniversary of the American Swiss Foundation in 2045. With your continued support, we will be an even stronger and more vibrant organization—and America and Switzerland will continue to lead and prosper, for the benefit of our world.
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Markus U. Diethelm Chairman Swiss Advisory Council
Since the founding of the American Swiss Foundation in 1945, it has provided a forum for the exchange of views among high-level personalities and promising future leaders from both countries, who are engaged in business, politics, culture, science, and the media. Switzerland and the United States of America have enjoyed a historic friendship based on shared values and common interests and there is no doubt in my mind that the American Swiss Foundation has made a major contribution towards preserving and strengthening that relationship. The evidence speaks for itself: in many regards relations between our two countries have never been better than they are today! As Chairman of the Swiss Advisory Council, I have now for a number of years had the honor to contribute to that endeavor. The Council provides guidance and financial support to the American Swiss Foundation and ensures that the Swiss perspective is adequately reflected in all activities of the Foundation. It is composed of representatives of international firms or organizations headquartered in Switzerland, but with strong interests in the U.S. It is these firms that enable our flagship event, the Young Leaders Conference, every year through their generous sponsorship, for which we are very grateful. In recent years, collaboration between the Swiss and U.S. leadership has grown ever closer, resulting in the creation of a Leadership Council. It is my conviction that this integrated leadership approach, together with the ongoing strategic work, will set even stronger foundations for the American Swiss Foundation, paving the way for another successful 75 years and beyond.
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Steven G. Hoch Chairman Emeritus American Swiss Foundation Young Leader 1990
During this 75th anniversary year, I have reflected on the enduring importance of the American Swiss Foundation, and how my life has been intertwined with it. Of all my non-profit roles, the ASF is the most long-lasting and the most personal. I was born in the U.S. of Swiss parents, and we have always maintained strong roots in both countries. Representing the fifth generation of a family that has been active in business and diplomacy in both countries, I feel the ASF is the ideal organization for me to have an impact. In the prior generation, my father was a member of the board and my parents were friends of Ambassador Shelby Cullom Davis and his family, now represented at the ASF by his daughter, Diana Spencer Davis, and granddaughter Abby Moffat. When Ambassador Faith Ryan Whittlesey became the President in 1989, I remarked that the programs could use a little “refreshing”. We looked at the idea of a Young Leaders Conference that several other European countries already conducted. Why couldn’t Switzerland have one, we asked? So Faith, in her inimitable way, masterminded the program and launched the pioneering conference in 1990. I was proud to be a member of that class, which was made up of a handful of Swiss and American Young Leaders who were selected by senators, governors, and other high-ranking officials. I am also pleased to recognize that our wonderful President, Patricia Schramm, was there and helped run the conference. We are fortunate to have among the alumni an ever-increasing number of former Young Leaders, who have become influential senior leaders willing to share their perspective and inform policy. I am grateful to those who have helped make this a truly long-term, sustainable, and engaging bilateral community that fosters friendship and dialogue between our two countries.
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Bettina Schaller President Young Leaders Alumni Foundation Young Leader 2011
This year is a milestone year for the American Swiss Foundation: we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the organization, and the 30th anniversary of the Young Leaders Conference. The dialogue between and among our leaders remains crucial to the continued success of the two “Sister Republics.” Discussion and debate are at the heart of all human interaction. They are also at the heart of every thriving democracy. Thanks to the engagement of senior leaders of business and government in Switzerland and the United States, the American Swiss Foundation has been able to build a program and a network that now connects over 1,300 leaders in both countries. The Young Leaders Conference, the signature program of the Foundation, is the shared experience that connects these leaders to one another. To continue our exchange of ideas and cultivation of friendship between our two nations, the Foundation recently launched new programs in the virtual realm. The ASF CONNECT series has enabled alumni of the Conference to come together and connect in new ways regardless of their physical location. From the Virtual Class Reunions to the Conference Call series with leading experts, we continue to exchange ideas and remain in dialogue with one another. The Young Leaders Alumni Foundation will continue to provide support for such initiatives, maintaining and building on the momentum generated over the years. To my fellow alumni: I thank you for your active engagement in our vibrant alumni community, your dedication to the friendship between our Sister Republics, and your strong commitment to our shared values of liberty, free enterprise, and the rule of law.
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Patricia Schramm President American Swiss Foundation Young Leader 1999
The anniversary year 2020 was scheduled to be filled with opportunities to join together to celebrate the strong and fruitful relationship between Switzerland and the United States. The coronavirus pandemic brought these plans to an abrupt halt, but it did not halt the mission of the American Swiss Foundation. We discovered new ways to bring together our members, leaders from both countries, and 1,300 alumni of the Young Leaders Conference through virtual events that mirror our regular programs. Young Leader reunions took place on Google Meet, panel discussions were held on Microsoft Teams, and keynote speeches were delivered via conference calls. Only the Young Leaders Conference, our flagship program, and the Annual Gala Dinner could not be replicated virtually. We look forward to hosting these again in person as soon as possible. The American Swiss Foundation could not have navigated the challenges of these times without the friendship and support of our members, leaders, and staff. This booklet, and all the programs of the American Swiss Foundation, are made possible by a small and dedicated team. I would like to thank Vanessa Beary, Margaret Fahey, and Anna Render for keeping the Foundation running by working tirelessly from their home offices. Thanks also to our newsletter editor, Karina Rollins, who seeks out relevant news for our members each week. I am especially grateful for the deep engagement of our chairman, Robert Giuffra, and the active leadership of Markus Diethelm, chairman of the Swiss Advisory Council. As we continue to connect and engage the leaders of our two countries, we rely on the steadfast support of our members and directors. With your help, we will expand our membership, increase knowledge of the importance of the American-Swiss relationship, and inspire American and Swiss leaders to improve the world.
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Edward T. McMullen, Jr. a m b a s s a d o r o f t h e u n i t e d s tat e s o f a m e r i c a to switzerland and liechtenstein
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Congratulations on the Occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the American Swiss Foundation My trip to Switzerland in 1995 as an exchange participant in the American Swiss Foundation Young Leaders conference changed the course of my life. Although I had visited Switzerland before, it was on that program when I began to grasp the tremendous diversity of this country – its geography, its industries, and its people. In the decades that followed, I stayed informed of the issues between our countries through the alumni association and through the former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and creator of the Young Leaders Conference, Faith Whittlesey. Serving as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland is truly a culmination and convergence of many threads, bound together by my participation in the Young Leaders conference. Our diverse nations share a commitment to the values of democracy, longstanding traditions of innovation, and an entrepreneurial spirit which has made Switzerland the seventh largest foreign direct investor in the United States, and our leading partner in research and development. I am proud to see the United States and Switzerland working in harmony to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Switzerland has also provided extraordinary service for the last 40 years as our protecting power in Iran, recently facilitating the release of two Americans from detention in that country. At its creation, the American Swiss Foundation sought to strengthen the friendship between the United States and Switzerland. Today, the strength of our relationship continues to grow, and the group can build upon our foundation of friendship to expand opportunities in apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, and free enterprise. Now, more than ever, we need programs like the Young Leaders conference to help build a safer and more prosperous world.
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Jacques Pitteloud ambassador of switzerland to t h e u n i t e d s tat e s o f a m e r i c a
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Embassy of Switzerland in the United States of America
Washington, D.C., June 2020
Congratulations on the 75th Anniversary of the American Swiss Foundation! Since the 19th century, Switzerland and the United States have enjoyed a close relationship, founded on the shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. Switzerland and the United States are two highly intertwined nations from a historical, societal and economic standpoint. Close diplomatic ties have further shaped the unique relationship between the two nations. Switzerland has a long tradition of representing the United States’ interests abroad, which is proof of a long standing mutual trust and a fruitful relationship, which, frankly, has never been better than today. The United States is also one of Switzerland’s key economic partners. In terms of trade in goods, the United States is Switzerland’s second largest trading partner. The bilateral trade in services between the two nations has increased by a factor of four over the last 15 years and within the services sector, Switzerland is now the United States’ 6th largest trading partner. Switzerland’s comparatively small size would make it only the 42nd largest U.S. state, and yet Switzerland is the United States’ 6th largest foreign investor. With a population of only 8.6 million, cumulative Swiss direct investment amounts to over $309 billion, rivaling or surpassing most other major European economies. Both the United States and Switzerland consistently top the rankings as two of the most innovative and competitive economies in the world and once again this year, Switzerland is the number one foreign investor in research and development (R&D) in the United States. I wish to congratulate the American Swiss Foundation for 75 years of connecting and engaging Swiss and American business, political, and cultural leaders through innovative and inspirational programs to strengthen the shared values of liberty, the rule of law, and free enterprise. Given the opportunities and challenges of today’s world, the partnership between the U.S. and Switzerland will continue to play a vital role in advancing peace, security, development and economic growth around the globe. I am hopeful that with our sustained cooperation we can successfully continue to cultivate the Swiss-U.S. relationship and build sustainable bridges between our two democracies toward an ever-brighter future. The Ambassador of Switzerland
Jacques Pitteloud
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U.S. Ambassadors to Switzerland F RO M 1945 TO P R ESE N T
Leland B. Harrison (1937 – 1947)
John Davis Lodge (1983 – 1985)
John Carter Vincent (1947 – 1951)
Faith Whittlesey* (1985 – 1988)
Richard Cunningham Patterson, Jr. (1951 – 1953)
Philip D. Winn (1988 – 1989)
from Illinois appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt from Georgia appointed by President Harry S. Truman
from New York appointed by President Harry S. Truman
Frances E. Willis (1953 – 1957)
from California appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Henry J. Taylor (1957 – 1961)
from Virginia appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Robert M. McKinney* (1961 – 1963) from New Mexico appointed by President John F. Kennedy
W. True Davis, Jr. (1963 – 1965)
from Missouri appointed by President John F. Kennedy
John S. Hayes (1966 – 1969)
from Maryland appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson
Shelby Cullom Davis* (1969 – 1975)
from New York (ASF Chairman 1983 – 89) appointed by President Richard Nixon
Peter H. Dominick (1975)
from Colorado appointed by President Gerald Ford
Nathaniel Davis (1975 – 1977)
from New Jersey appointed by President Gerald Ford
Marvin L. Warner (1977 – 1979)
from Ohio appointed by President Jimmy Carter
Richard David Vine (1979 – 1981) from California appointed by President Jimmy Carter
Faith Whittlesey* (1981 – 1983)
from Pennsylvania appointed by President Ronald Reagan
from Connecticut appointed by President Ronald Reagan from Pennsylvania (ASF Chairman 1989 – 2008) appointed by President Ronald Reagan from Colorado appointed by President Ronald Reagan
Joseph Bernard Gildenhorn* (1989 – 1993) from District of Columbia appointed by President George H. W. Bush
M. Larry Lawrence (1994 – 1996) from California appointed by President Bill Clinton
Madeleine M. Kunin (1996 – 1999) from Vermont appointed by President Bill Clinton
J. Richard Fredericks* (1999 – 2001) from California appointed by President Bill Clinton
Mercer Reynolds* (2001 – 2003)
from Ohio (ASF Chairman 2008 – 2011) appointed by President George W. Bush
Pamela Willeford* (2003 – 2006)
from Texas appointed by President George W. Bush
Peter R. Coneway (2006 – 2008)
from Texas appointed by President George W. Bush
Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (2009 – 2013)
from Virginia appointed by President Barack Obama
Suzan G. LeVine* (2013 – 2017)
from Washington appointed by President Barack Obama
Edward T. McMullen, Jr. (2017 – present) from South Carolina (YL 1995) appointed by President Donald J. Trump * Former Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation
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Swiss Ambassadors to the United States F RO M 1945 TO P R ESE N T
Carl Bruggmann* (1939 – 1954) Henry de Torrenté* (1955 – 1960) August R. Lindt (1960 – 1963) Alfred Zehnder (1963 – 1966) Felix Schnyder (1966 – 1975) Raymond Probst (1976 – 1980) Anton Hegner** (1980 – 1984) Klaus Jacobi (1984 – 1989) Edouard Brunner (1989 – 1993) Carlo Jagmetti (1993 – 1997) Alfred Defago** (1997 – 2001) Christian Blickenstorfer (2001 – 2006) Urs Ziswiler (2006 – 2010) Manuel Sager (2010 – 2014) Martin Dahinden (2014 – 2019) Jacques Pitteloud (2019 – present) * Swiss Minister ** Former Member of the U.S. or Swiss Advisory Council
We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the U.S. and Swiss Ambassadors as hosts and speakers at many of the American Swiss Foundation’s key programs in both countries.
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A M E R I C A N S W I S S F O U N D AT I O N 1945 – 2020 The American Swiss Foundation was created 75 years ago in response to World War II. Then as now, our mission is to connect and engage Swiss and American leaders through innovative and inspirational programs to strengthen our shared values of liberty, the rule of law, and free enterprise.
Rebuilding the Relationship: The Aftermath of World War II The American Swiss Foundation’s roots go back to 1945 and the end of World War II. The transatlantic relationship had been badly damaged during the war and needed repair. Against all odds, Switzerland managed to maintain a neutral stance throughout the armed conflict, and that position was frequently misunderstood, if not resented, in the United States. As a result, there was work to be done for the American businessmen who founded the organization—then called American Friends of Switzerland—who knew and valued the common democratic values that are at the core of both countries. Over the years, the group changed names, and at various times was known as Friends of Switzerland and the American Swiss Association, mirroring the change in focus and priorities of the leadership of the day. In the first few decades, the activities of the organization were centered on bringing members together for annual gala dinners and occasional gatherings. In these early years, CBS broadcast the galas nationally to 800,000 homes. In 1970, a short write-up of the 25th anniversary dinner dance appeared in The New York Times. The event featured Governor Stanley K. Hathaway of Wyoming as the guest speaker. DINNER DANCE, NEW YORK, 1980s
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The end of the 20th century brought a new focus to the forefront, one centered on leadership. After having served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland under both Presidents Nixon and Ford, The Honorable Shelby Cullom Davis became chairman and helped to usher in a new era for the small organization. In fall 1988, Davis, along with top leadership of the American Swiss Association, asked then-U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland Faith Whittlesey to take on the mantle of chairman.
The Young Leaders Conference: Investing in the Next Generation In 1989, Ambassador Whittlesey became chairman and president of the newly renamed American Swiss Foundation. After two tours as Ambassador to Switzerland, no one was better suited to breathe new life into the binational group. She brought her signature person-to-person diplomacy as well as the experience and skills she developed during her time in government to create a model of bilateral cooperation through the private sector. Ambassador Whittlesey took the organization from being social in nature, to one that focused on nurturing and investing in rising leaders from the business, political, and academic worlds, as well as in the media and nonprofit sector. She believed that bringing together the next generation of leaders was critical to revitalizing the organization. Her personal experience with exchange programs as a student contributed to her drive to establish the Young Leaders Conference for the American Swiss Foundation in 1990.
THE FIRST YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE, WOLFSBERG, ERMATINGEN, 1990
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RINGING THE OPENING BELL AT THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, 2015
After consultation with leaders of the board and Swiss Advisory Council, Ambassador Whittlesey initiated a week-long series of events, panel discussions, speakers, and excursions in Switzerland to stimulate conversation and friendship between young Swiss and American leaders from a variety of backgrounds. The idea was to generate a fuller, more meaningful understanding of the two countries among their future leaders. The first Young Leaders Conference took place in Switzerland in August 1990. Speakers were invited, Young Leaders were nominated by senior government and business officials, and sponsors lined up to provide lodging, meals, and airline tickets for the participants. Swissair, UBS, Credit Suisse, Schindler, and Nestlé sponsored the earliest conferences and continue to support the annual program to this day.
Building Bridges: Extending the Conversation through Leadership and Book Program In response to renewed U.S. interest in Switzerland’s role in World War II in the mid-1990s, the American Swiss Foundation initiated a book distribution program, delivering recently published books about Switzerland to hundreds of libraries across the United States. This program was expanded in the early 2000s to include additional topics, among them the excellence of Swiss higher education and the Swiss Vatican Guard. — 21 —
The Honorable Mercer Reynolds, former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, succeeded Ambassador Whittlesey as chairman in March 2008, navigating the Foundation through the storm of the global financial crisis. During this period, early plans were made for a joint U.S.-Swiss reunion of Young Leaders, which eventually came to fruition with the first Building Bridges Conference in September 2012. The triennial event features panels, speakers, and a gala dinner in an institution of prominence in Washington, DC. In 2011, the American Swiss Foundation elected its first Young Leaders Conference alumnus as chairman. Under the leadership of Steven Hoch (YL 1990), the Foundation expanded its outreach to the now 1,300 alumni through the addition of reunion events—notably the launch of the Building Bridges Conference and Gallatin Forum discussion series in Washington, DC, as well as social media channels. Two new alumni organizations were founded to advise the board and broaden the financial base of the Foundation. The Young Leaders Alumni Foundation was co-founded in Switzerland by Gabriela Lippe-Holst (YL 2005), and is now headed by Bettina Schaller (YL 2011). The Young Leaders Alumni Council was co-founded in the U.S. by Charlie Gerow (YL 1998), then chaired by Joe Hurd (YL 2008) and Kent Anker (YL 1994), and, in 2020, merged with the American Swiss Foundation to form a single 501(c)3 organization. In 2016, Robert Giuffra (YL 1996) was elected chairman. Since that time, the American Swiss Foundation has significantly expanded its digital presence and program offerings to include, for the first time, virtual programs. The Building Bridges Leadership Conference series was expanded to include regional reunions, most notably the Tech Tour in Silicon Valley (2019); an apprenticeship retreat in Chatham, MA (2018); and an apprenticeship and entrepreneurship conference in Ruschlikon (2017). In addition, the Foundation increased its membership outreach by launching a weekly newsletter and monthly briefings in 2016, and a password-protected Young Leaders Directory on its website.
SILICON VALLEY TECH TOUR, 2019
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BUILDING BRIDGES CONFERENCE, WASHINGTON, DC, 2018
ASF CONNECT: Connecting and Engaging Leaders in 2020 In 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the American Swiss Foundation created a new series of virtual programs—the ASF CONNECT conferences— featuring experts from business, government, and healthcare addressing the response to COVID-19. In addition, virtual Young Leaders Reunions via video conference were initiated and continue to be held on a regular basis. The alumni of the Young Leaders Conference have proven to be vocal and effective advocates for the Foundation, encouraging their companies to sponsor or support the annual conference and nominating new Young Leaders to participate in the program. Today, thanks to the vision of Ambassadors Davis and Whittlesey, the momentum generated by Chairmen Hoch and Giuffra, the steadfast support of the Swiss Advisory Council, now chaired by Markus Diethelm, and the careful stewardship of President Patricia Schramm (YL 1999), the American Swiss Foundation has become a driving force in U.S.-Swiss relations.
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Ambassador Shelby Cullom Davis 1909 – 1994
The Honorable Shelby Cullom Davis served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland from 1969 to 1975. He was appointed by President Richard Nixon and continued to serve under President Gerald Ford. Upon his return to the U.S., Ambassador Davis assumed the leadership of the American Swiss Association, as the organization was then called, serving as honorary chairman until the end of his life. Ambassador Shelby Cullom Davis had a remarkable career as a scholar, public servant, and businessman. He developed deep and personal ties to Switzerland early in life, even meeting his future wife on a train ride to Geneva where they both obtained doctorates from the Graduate Institute of International Studies before returning to the United States. In 1933, Davis became an economist for his brother-in-law’s firm, Investment Corporation in Philadelphia. His 1940 book, America Faces the Forties, caught the attention of New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, who ultimately hired Davis as his economic adviser and speechwriter. In 1944, Governor Dewey appointed Davis as the first deputy commissioner of insurance in New York. After World War II, Davis founded Shelby Cullom Davis & Co., an investment banking firm specializing in insurance securities. He served as managing partner of the firm until 1969, at which time he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, a position he held with distinction until 1975. One of Ambassador Davis’s defining successes during his tenure in Bern was the negotiation of the 1973 Treaty between the United States and Switzerland on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, which passed unanimously in both the Swiss Parliament and the U.S. Senate. Upon his return to the United States in 1975, he assumed an active leadership role with the American Swiss Foundation, serving as chairman and president until 1989, and as honorary chairman until his death in 1994. Throughout his life, Ambassador Davis remained passionately committed to the notion that the health of a nation depends on its citizens’ intellectual vigor, selfdiscipline and self-reliance, respect for the law and private property, and above all else, unselfish concern for the public good.
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Ambassador Faith Whittlesey 1939 – 2018
The Honorable Faith Whittlesey served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland from 1981 to 1983 and again from 1985 to 1988. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan. In 1989, she was invited to serve as chairman and president of the American Swiss Association. She initiated the annual Young Leaders Conference in 1990 and served as chairman emeritus until the end of her life. Ambassador Faith Whittlesey was the Grande Dame of American-Swiss relations for nearly four decades. She served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland for five years in two tours under the Administration of President Ronald Reagan. She also served on the White House Senior Staff (1983 to 1985) as Director of the Office of Public Liaison. Upon her return from Switzerland, Ambassador Whittlesey was invited to serve as chairman and president of the American Swiss Foundation in 1989. She initiated the annual Young Leaders Conference the following year. Over the ensuing three decades, she guided the conference planning and recruitment process of U.S. Young Leaders and attended every Young Leaders Conference through 2017. The conference program bore the unmistakable stamp of her knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. As chairman and, later chairman emeritus, she touched the lives of 1,300 conference alumni in Switzerland and the United States in a deeply personal way. She formed and fostered friendships with Foundation board members, as well as with members of the extended community of business, media, and educational leaders and public servants, always mindful of the significance of American-Swiss relations. A book about her life and career, Backwards in High Heels: Faith Whittlesey, Reagan’s Madam Ambassador in Switzerland and the West Wing, by Thomas Carty (YL 2005), was published in 2012. A graduate of Wells College, Ambassador Whittlesey earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She was the recipient of four honorary degrees, and received a Ford Foundation grant to attend the Academy of International Law in The Hague, Netherlands. Among other awards, she received the Reagan Revolution Medal of Honor, the Congress of Racial Equality’s Public Service Award, Christian Freedom International’s Freedom Award, the Friends of Switzerland’s Stratton Prize, and the Swiss Embassy’s William Tell Award. — 25 —
Chairmen of the American Swiss Foundation 1980s TO P R ESENT
Ambassador Shelby Cullom Davis (1983 – 1989) Ambassador Faith Whittlesey (1989 – 2008) Ambassador Mercer Reynolds (2008 – 2011) Steven G. Hoch1 (2011 – 2016) Robert J. Giuffra, Jr.1 (2016 – present)
Chairmen of the Swiss Advisory Council 1980s TO P R ESENT
Dr. Louis von Planta (late 1970s – 1987) Hans J. Bär (1987 – 1992) Dr. Rudolf W. Hug (1992 – 1997) Alberto Togni (1997 – 2006) Dr. Marcel Rohner1 (2006 – 2009) Dr. Andreas Beerli (2009 – 2017) Dr. Markus Diethelm (2017 – present)
1. Young Leaders Conference Alumnus — 26 —
YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE 1990 – 2019
The innovative Young Leaders Conference was initiated by Ambassador Faith Whittlesey, former chairman and two-time U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland. Over the past thirty years, more than 1,300 alumni have participated in the Young Leaders Conference.
DIESSENHOFEN WOLFSBERG, ERMATINGEN ZURICH RUSCHLIKON
BASEL
HORGEN LUCERNE GERZENSEE
BAD RAGAZ
THUN VEVEY MONTREUX
GENEVA
CONFERENCES LISTED ALPHABETICALLY BY LOCATION
Bad Ragaz: 2001 Basel: 1998, 2010, 2016 Diessenhofen: 1992 Geneva: 1996, 2008 Gerzensee: 2009, 2019
Horgen: 1994, 2006 Lucerne: 2003, 2018 Montreux: 2011 Ruschlikon: 2014 Thun: 1991, 1995, 2007 — 27 —
Vevey: 1991, 1999, 2004 Wolfsberg, Ermatingen: 1990, 1993, 2005, 2017 Zurich: 1997, 2000, 2002, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017
1990
W O L F S B E R G , E R M AT I N G E N
To select the first class, Ambassador Whittlesey solicited nominations from senators, governors, and other high-ranking officials, including then-Senators Malcolm Wallop, Bill Bradley, Trent Lott, David Boren, Claiborne Pell, Richard Shelby, and Jesse Helms. Twenty-two Young Leaders from Switzerland and the United States were invited to participate, and the Young Leaders Conference was successfully launched at the UBS training center at Wolfsberg, Ermatingen. Alumni recall that Queen’s “We are the Champions,” a top hit in 1990, played over and over on the radio throughout their conference—quite fittingly as the participants still believe today.
main sponsors
Union Bank of Switzerland and Swissair
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Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
John Barrasso, Washington, DC Cardell Cooper, Herndon, VA A. Craig Haskins, McComb, MS W. H. Helmerich, Tulsa, OK Steven Hoch, Boston, MA1 Felicia Lee, Sacramento, CA Nisa Miranda, Tuscaloosa, AL Art Pope, Henderson, NC Annie Presley, Village of Loch Lloyd, MO Michael Smerconish, Villanova, PA Julia K. Sutherland, Alexandria, VA
Patrick Amschwand, Gachnang Daniel Arnet, Tennwil Otto Bruderer, St. Gallen Rolf Doerig, Zurich Odette Dupont, Bex Bruno Hauser, Zug Dieter Kiefer, Wilen Elisabeth Kilian-Hochuli, Baden Bernard Küng, Verbier Jean-Marc Reichenbach, Sion Urs Rohner, Zurich
1. Chairman Emeritus of the American Swiss Foundation — 29 —
1991
THUN & VEVEY
The second Young Leaders Conference was the one of two conferences to be based in two locations (the other being the class of 2017). Participants from this class enjoyed experiencing the cities of Thun and Vevey. Thirty-three participants, some of whom had been nominated by then-Senator Al Gore, then-Governor of California Pete Wilson, as well as political and economic luminaries David Gergen, George Voinovich, Connie Mack, Steve Forbes, and Ted Kennedy, met in Switzerland for ten days. Alumni remembered “picture perfect” weather. To date, it was the longest conference (the standard conference lasting a week).
main sponsors
Swiss Bank Corporation, Nestlé, and Swissair
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Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Donald Baer, Washington, DC Thomas F. Birmingham, Boston, MA Melanie H. Bowen, Salt Lake City, UT Mona Charen, Washington, DC Patricia T. Clarey, Woodland Hills, CA Charlie Crist, Washington, DC Jeffrey M. Cunningham, Phoenix, AZ Nancy-Ann DeParle, Chevy Chase, MD William Grumbles, Chapel Hill, NC Timothy A. McKeever, Anchorage, AK William C. Myers David Rainbolt, Oklahoma City, OK Darrell R. Sawyer, Rapid City, SD Steven O. Williams, Lancaster, OH Peter Wood, New York, NY Cate Zeuske, Green Bay, WI
Francis Amar, Collonge-Bellerive Werner Bonadurer, Scottsdale, AZ Eric Cornut, Binningen Catherine Däniker Furtwängler, Kilchberg1 Philibert Frick, Vessy Isabel Garcia-Gill, Geneva Esther Girsberger, Zurich Benedikt Hänggi Balz Hösly, Zurich Iris Klimczuk Massion, North Saanich, Canada Hans-Jakob Mosimann, Winterthur Christian de Preux, Rocafort, Spain Jean-François Schwarz, Lausanne Daniel Stirnimann Ursula Trunz, St. Gallen Amedeo Claudio Vaccani, Zurich Rolf Watter, Zurich2
1. Former Secretary of the Swiss Advisory Council 2. Former Member of the Board of the Young Leaders Alumni Foundation — 31 —
1992
DIESSENHOFEN
The third Young Leaders Conference was held in Diessenhofen, a village located on the south shore of the Rhine River on the border with Germany. Attendees remember jumping off the bridge and swimming in the river—the same spot where their very dignified class photo was taken.
main sponsors
Winterthur Swiss Insurance Company and Swissair
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Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Carliss Y. Baldwin, Brookline, MA Larry Benoit David Brooks, Washington, DC Taylor Brown, Billings, MT Stephen M. Conway, Washington, DC Joshua Gilder, Washington, DC Carol Graham, Washington, DC Bobby Grisham, Dallas, TX Thomas Jipping, Fairfax, VA Paul E. Johnson Laura J. Meadows, Atlanta, GA Walter K. Olson, Washington, DC Thomas A. Pugel, New York, NY Dane Starbuck, Carmel, IN Robb R. Thomson, Wolfeboro, NH Joseph M. Torsella, Flourtown, PA Kay Alison Wilkie, Albany, NY
Franz Albers, Zurich Lukas Apafi, Kuesnacht Hugo A. Bigi, Thalwil Carlo Conti, Basel Andreas Dettwiler, Geneva Thomas H. Duermueller, Zurich Michael H. Eggenschwiler, Hamburg Germany Luciano Gabriel, Zurich1 Roland R. Haag, Loerrach Monica Hegglin Brunner, Zurich Heinz P. Jacobi, Zurich Martin I. Kleiner, Winterthur Philippe Merk Martin A. Messner, Feldbach Herbert Oberhänsli, Blonay Eric Sarasin, Basel Marco Stalder, Forch Eric Stupp, Zurich Brigitte G. Weber, Zurich Monika Young, Zurich
1. Member of the Swiss Advisory Council — 33 —
1993
W O L F S B E R G , E R M AT I N G E N
The fourth Young Leaders Conference was held, for a second time, at the UBS training center in Wolfsberg, Ermatingen. Alumni remember Swiss army maneuvers, Americanstyle debates, and late-night cigar smoking in the “Remise” lounge.
main sponsors
Union Bank of Switzerland and Swissair
— 34 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Michael Barone, Washington, DC Kathy Peterson Damron, Topeka, KS Lynn Vivian Dymally, Long Beach, CA Daniel J. Fessenden, Auburn, NY John Fund, New York, NY Mark R. Garrett, Ventura, CA Van D. Hipp, Jr., Washington, DC Derek Q. Johnson, New York, NY William T. Kennedy, Billings, MT Jeffrey N. Leath, Philadelphia, PA Terrence Lyons, Washington, DC Grover G. Norquist, Washington, DC Drew Onufer, Washington, DC Benjamin W. Patton, New York, NY Michael Polak, Atlanta, GA Paul G. Rowan, Boise, ID Frank Schramm, Upper Montclair, NJ Eric J. Sorscher, Atlanta, GA Patrick Takasugi
Raymond J. Baer, Zurich Christoph Biedermann, Altendorf Walter Born, Bern Aleidus Bosman, Zurich Stephan J. Egli, Cointrin Andreas G. Keller, Zurich Daniel M. Laetsch, Jona Christian A. Lüscher, Geneva Denis Mathieu Felix K. Meyer, Binningen Charles Schlumberger, Washington, DC Jean-Philippe Tissières, Oslo, Norway Eduard R. Tschan, Meggen Birgit Voigt, Zurich Esther von Ziegler-Steinfels, Rapperswil
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1994 HORGEN
The fifth Young Leaders Conference was held at the beautiful country estate “Bocken” in Horgen, high above Lake Zurich. Hard hats were required for a visit to a Holcim cement plant. Alumni remember the boat trip on Lake Lucerne hosted by Alfred N. Schindler, a crossbow competition led by a William Tell impersonator, the trips to the cement and chocolate factories, and afternoon hikes and late-night pool games (featuring prizes of “total control of the planet”).
main sponsors
Credit Suisse and Swissair
— 36 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Kent Anker, New York, NY1 Joshua A. Berger, London, United Kingdom Gale A. Brewer, New York, NY Mark Burkhalter, Alpharetta, GA Jeffrey J. Carneal, Washington, DC Conna Craig, Monterey, CA John N. Doggett, Austin, TX Joseph F. Farah, Centreville, VA Michael P. Farris, Purcellville, VA Mary Laurence Flynn Martin B. Hayden, Alexandria, VA Douglas Hopkins, Buffalo, NY Brian Jones, New York, NY Daryl L. Jones, Davie, FL James E. McGreevey, Jersey City, NJ Ruben Navarrette, Jr., Carlsbad, CA Patrick L. Patterson, Glen Mills, PA David S. Points, Detroit, MI Kermit D. Williamson, Clinton, NC Mark E. Wojcik, Chicago, IL Patricia A. Woodworth, Washington, DC
Martin Eberhard, Waedenswil German Egloff Lorenzo E. Emma, Vezia Marco Anton Feuerstein, Birchwil Lorenz Flückiger, Oberwil Rolf A. Furter, Lenzburg Markus Gisler, Rapperswil-Jona Bernhard Jucker, Wettingen Alberto E. Romaneschi, Neuchatel Thomas Röthlisberger Ruth E. Rutman, Pfaeffikon Christoph Schärer, Zurich Eric F. Stauber Jürg Vonwil, Zug Reto Wilhelm, Brutten Stefan Wolfensberger, Zurich
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation — 37 —
1995 THUN
The sixth Young Leaders Conference was held in Thun at the distinguished Hotel Seepark. This conference was especially notable, as the current U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, Edward T. McMullen, Jr., was selected to participate in 1995. He is the first U.S. Young Leader to be appointed Ambassador to Switzerland. Alumni remember the impressive visit to a cement factory, thought-provoking debates with classmates, and a savory (and massive) cheese wheel.
main sponsors
Ciba-Geigy, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, and Swissair
— 38 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Jonathan H. Adler, Cleveland, OH Jesse R. Arreguin, Fresno, CA Sharon Weston Broome, Baton Rouge, LA Steve Edwards, Penacook, NH Doug Hamilton Susan Hirschmann, Alexandria, VA Kathryn Hohmann, Silver Spring, MD Edward Hudgins, Arlington Heights, IL Clark Hunt, Kansas City, MO Grindly R. Johnson, Richmond, VA Brian Kurtz, Westport, CT John C. Liu John W. Marriott, Gaithersburg, MD Edward T. McMullen, Bern, Switzerland James Mason Merchant, Burlingame, CA Sandra B. Nichols, Dallas, TX Kevin C. Pritchett Harris Sondak, Salt Lake City, UT Don Wesely, Lincoln, NE
Martin Bachem, Bruetten Curt Blattner, Mollie-Margot Gaétan B. Bordier, Nyon Urs Bucher, Bern Bernhard Fibicher, Lausanne Willy Graf, Teufen Charles Peter Greuter Daniel M. Hofmann, Kuesnacht Hans-Peter Matt, Unterehrendingen Alain M. Ritter, Schaffhausen Regine Sauter, Zurich Roland Schürmann, Luzern Felix Stutz, Thalwil Alois Zwinggi, Cologny
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1996 G E N E VA
The seventh Young Leaders Conference was held at the picturesque Hotel Beau Rivage on the shores of Lake Geneva. Among the participants was Robert Giuffra, the current chairman of the American Swiss Foundation. Alumni remember the fabulous accommodations at Hotel Beau Rivage, the visit to the Rolex factory and conversation with the CEO, a tented dinner on Lake Geneva, late night guitar sing-a-longs, and running in the mountains for fitness in between conference sessions.
main sponsors
Union Bank of Switzerland and Swissair
— 40 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Michael E. Box, Satsuma, AL Mary Larson Diaz, San Antonio, TX Richard A. DiLiberto, Wilmington, DE Robert J. Giuffra, New York, NY1 Stephen D. Hickman, Richmond, VA Craig A. Huff, New York, NY Randall Lane, Jersey City, NJ Tod Lindberg, Washington, DC Kevin D. Lum, San Francisco, CA Patrick L. McCrory, Charlotte, NC Nathaniel C. Moffat, Bowie, MD Deroy Murdock, New York, NY David Nunes Randall Phillips, Newport Beach, CA Jeffrey A. Rosensweig, Atlanta, GA Joel H. Rosenthal, New York, NY Robert A. Sirico, Grand Rapids, MI R. Scott Zimmerman, Marblehead, MA
Markus Braun, Winterthur Claudia Grassi, Carouge Markus Gygax, Weisslingen Stefan U. Helsing, St. Gallen Ralph Henn, Zurich Roger Höhener, Pfäffikon Amaury Jordan, Zurich Jörg Kaufmann, Wallbach Hanna Kudelski, Zurich Lionel Lechot, Vevey Dominique Astrid Lévy, New York, NY René Schwok, Geneva Daniel Andreas Sigg Alexandre Zeller, Geneva
1. Chairman of the American Swiss Foundation — 41 —
1997 ZURICH
The eighth Young Leaders Conference was the first to be held in the city of Zurich. The class was the largest at the time, with 44 participants. Ambassador André Schaller, who later became Swiss Consul General in New York City, was a member of this class. Alumni remember dancing excursions in Zurich, stimulating conversations on bus rides between conference visits, self-introductions and “tokens of appreciation,” hikes in “Heidiland,” and a meal in a cow barn.
main sponsors
Zurich Insurance and Swissair
— 42 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Carol Barnett, Evanston, IL Paul Behrends, Potomac Falls, VA Kirt B. Bennett Brian Brown, Walnut Creek, CA Deborah Stone Colloton, Des Moines, IA Andrew J. Cowin, Greenwich, CT Clark Kent Ervin, Washington, DC Gigi Georges, Boston, MA Paul D. Golob, New York, NY William R. Grace, New York, NY Douglas Jennings, Bennettsville, SC Thomas L. Kelly, Denver, CO Michael W. Lynch, Shelton, CT Michael G. Maness, Odenton, MD Kris Mauren, Grand Rapids, MI John S. Meroney, Los Angeles, CA Richard W. Painter, Mendota Heights, MN Peter A. Pappas, Charlotte, NC Richard D. Perkins, Henderson, NV Mary Humes Quillen, London United Kingdom David M. Wagner, Alexandria, VA Armstrong Williams, Washington, DC
Luc Baehni, Romainmotier Steve Bernard, Geneva Thomas Bernauer, Zurich Riccardo Biffi, Lucerne Orlanda Buchmann, Bruetten Michèle Burger, Vevey Andreas Eggenberg, Panama City, Panama Hanspeter Faessler, Bergdietikon Daniel Forcart, New York, NY Alain Freymond, Geneva Thomas Gugler, Zollikon Jürg Hauswirth, Zurich Philippe Hofer, Geneva Jürg Huber, Basel Doris Pfister, Geneva Charles W. Reber, Zurich Marcel Rohner, Aarau1 André Schaller, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Jean-Paul Schweizer, Sao Paulo, Brazil Christina Spoerry, Rueschlikon Pierre Weill, Basel
1. Former Chairman of the Swiss Advisory Council — 43 —
1998 BASEL
The ninth Young Leaders Conference was the first to be held in Basel, Switzerland’s thirdlargest city. Alumni recall the dinner on the terrace at the Hotel Trois Rois, thoughtful panel discussions throughout the conference, the memorable introduction of the president of Swissair at the gala dinner in Bern, and opportunities to learn from senior executives, such as Novartis Chairman Alex Krauer.
main sponsors
Pharma/Chemical Industry and Swissair
— 44 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Heather E. Barry, Brookhaven, NY Albert Chandler, Louisville, KY Mike Davis, Los Angeles, CA Jane Difley, Webster, NH John Gardner, Alexandria, VA Tyrone Garrett, Washington, DC Charlie Gerow, Harrisburg, PA1 Paul C. Harris, Hampton, VA Robert L. Hedlund, Weymouth, MA Leslie Hom, San Francisco, CA Jeff Jacoby, Brookline, MA Mark M. Klugmann, New York, NY Laura Leonard Steve Mariotti, Princeton, NJ Douglas Mills, Alexandria, VA Amy Mullin, College Park, MD John Podhoretz, New York, NY David A. Ridenour, Washington, DC Nouriel Roubini, New York, NY Marty Saggese, Washington, DC Tavis Smiley, Los Angeles, CA
Andreas Berger Nicolas Brühl, Bern Thomas Buchmann, Aarau Laurent Chaix, New York, NY2 Patricia Faller, Zurich Horst Fischer Yves O. Gloor, Geneva Robert Gremli, Zurich Eric Lanz, Rupperswil Michèle Leuenberger-Morf, Basel Daniel Maurer, Zurich Toni Neuhaus, Brugg Christian Sartorius, Rueti Christoph F. Schaer, Buenos Aires Argentina Hans Schneeberger, Zurich Robert N. Suter, Uetikon am See Walter Thoma, Zurich Daniel J. Weber, Cham Peter Zutter, Zurich
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation 2. Member of the U.S. Advisory Council — 45 —
1999 VEVEY
The 10th Young Leaders Conference was hosted in Vevey, one of five to be held along the shores of Lake Geneva. The conference venue was Rive-Reine, Nestlé’s training center in La Tour-de-Peilz near Montreux. Alumni include the current president of the American Swiss Foundation, Patricia Schramm. Participants remember a spectacular helicopter ride over the Alps, an emotional tour of the Red Cross Museum, a trip to Bern visiting the bears and the Münster, driving tanks on an army base, and late-night discussions under the chestnut trees at Rive-Reine.
main sponsors
Nestlé and Swissair
— 46 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
John A. Barnes, Houston, TX Jamal-Harrison Bryant, Baltimore, MD Iris Chang Sheila Cole, Ithaca, NY Matthew Daniels, Washington, DC Jamie Dupree, Washington, DC Christopher H. Foreman, College Park, MD Alison Franklin, Cambridge, MA John C. Geragosian, New Britain, CT Jonah Goldberg, Washington, DC J. Bishop Grewell, Highlands Ranch, CO Conrad Kiechel, Santa Monica, CA Daphne Kwok, Washington, DC Angela Logomasini, Washington, DC Carlo LoParo, Dublin, OH Todd Malan, Washington, DC James O’Toole, Pittsburgh, PA Ramesh Ponnuru, Alexandria, VA Matthew Rees, McLean, VA Michael J. Ryan, Washington, DC Patricia Schramm, New York, NY1,2 James Smith, Columbia, SC Christopher L. Smith, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Saundra Smokes Stephen Spinelli, Jr., Babson Park, MA Robert A. Straniere, New York, NY Lisa S. Thayer, Alexandria, VA
Marcel Abegg, Wiesendangen Markus S. Bachmann, Aeugst am Albis Alois F. Bättig, Kuesnacht José Antonio Blanco, Zurich Alain M. Cahen, Uitikon Waldegg2 Vinicio Cellerini, London, United Kingdom Bernard Condrau, Seoul, South Korea Cédric Dupont, Geneva Lukas Epple, Luterbach Matthias Huenerwadel, Unterboezberg Stephan Jezler, Gansingen Marcel Kaufmann, Biel-Benken Christian Kessler, Zurich Jean-Louis Lovisa, Volketswil Hanspeter Mock, Colombo, Sri Lanka Oliver Montani, Kilchberg Markus Spillmann, Zurich Balthasar Staehelin, Geneva Martin Sutter, Zurich Guillaume Taylor, Geneva Roland Tschanz, Lausanne Silvia von Ballmoos, Frauenfeld
1. President of the American Swiss Foundation 2. Member of the Board of the Young Leaders Alumni Foundation — 47 —
2000 ZURICH
In 2000, the Young Leaders Conference was held for the second time in Zurich. Alumni remember an incredible helicopter ride over the mountains; a visit to the opera; learning about reinsurance (for the Americans); spending a half day on a Swiss military base, dressed in fatigues and “competing” in an obstacle course (with some class members choosing to go through the course twice!); and late-night discussions at the bar.
main sponsors
Swiss Re and Swissair
— 48 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
David G. Argall, Mahanoy City, PA Jenny Attiyeh, Boston, MA Lily Awad, Cambridge, MA Doug Bandow, Springfield, VA David Birdsell, New York, NY Kenneth Brown David Corbin, Canyon Lake, TX Nancy Donnelly, Silver Springs, MD Tamala Edwards, Philadelphia, PA Jessica Gavora, Washington, DC Javier Gonzales, Santa Fe, NM Laura Pincus Hartman, Chicago, IL John C. Hulsman, Ansbach, Germany Niger Innis, Las Vegas, NV Edward S. Jerse, Cleveland, OH Clay Landry, Boise, ID Chuck McCutcheon, Washington, DC Brian Morris Andrew T. Purkey, Portland, OR Kevin A. Ross, Los Angeles, CA Douglas Sears, Boston, MA1 Scott A. Sherman, Houston, TX Walter J. Sullivan, Hingham, MA James Taranto, New York, NY Chui L. Tsang, Santa Monica, CA Daniel Weber John Zmirak, Dallas, TX
Roger Dusel, Frauenfeld Jörg Eggenberger, Zurich Walter A. Fuellemann, Geneva Peter Guggenbach, Zurich2 Martin Hatebur, Champfer Beat Herger, Birsfelden Daniel Horat, Aarau Otmar Hübscher, Sao Paulo, Brazil Christoph K. Kopp, Zurich Rudolf Maeder, Paris, France Myriam Meyer, Birchwil Severin Moser, Wallisellen Patrick Raaflaub, Zurich2 Patrick Ramsey, Collonge-Bellerive Ivo Schillig, Disentis/Muster Rolf Schönauer, Zurich Esfandiar Sorouchyari, Lausanne Suzanne Thoma, Bern Arno Wicki, Las Condes, Chile Pius Widmer, Buchrain
1. Member of the U.S. Advisory Council 2. Member of the Swiss Advisory Council — 49 —
2001 BAD RAGAZ
The 12th Young Leaders Conference was hosted in Bad Ragaz, a picturesque village in the Graubünden Alps, less than 10 kilometers from the border with Liechtenstein. Alumni remember a visit to the Gotthard Tunnel construction site, a breathtaking helicopter ride from the mountains to Lucerne, a visit to a cement factory, the well-utilized Bad Ragaz pool and spa, and hands-on mentoring from our beloved Ambassador Faith Whittlesey.
main sponsors
Holcim and Swissair
— 50 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Jeremy Arkes, Monterey, CA Farai Chideya, New York, NY Gregory Conko, Arlington, VA Jaime T. de la Vega, Woodland Hills, CA Jason Forrester, New York, NY Robert A. George, New York, NY Rebecca Hagelin, Placida, FL Thor Halvorssen, New York, NY James Hauslein, Hobe Sound, FL1 Andrew Hutchinson, Washington, DC1 John S. Lapinski, Philadelphia, PA Todd W. Leavitt, Davidsonville, MD Andrew Lih, Potomac, MD Scott McLucas, Washington, DC Joshua Mitchell, Cambridge, MD James S. Nolan, Richmond, VA George E. Norcross, Camden, NJ Louise Oliver, London, United Kingdom Vincent Palmiere, Gaithersburg, MD Michael Rau, McLean, VA Kimberly Reed, Washington, DC2 Darla Romfo, New York, NY Christopher Ruddy, Boca Raton, FL Michael A. Sullivan, Woburn, MA Ron E. Thornburgh, Olathe, KS
Thomas Aebischer, Houston, TX Martin Bina, Geneva Luca Borlini, Vevey Thomas Bucher, Olten Edouard Cuendet, Geneva Daniela Decurtins, Zurich Matthias Draeger, Uster Lukas Gähwiler, Langnau Urs Erwin Gribi, Baden Adrian Gröbli, Zurich Peter M. Grütter, Sachseln Ralf Heckner, New Delhi, India Armin Marti, Zurich Giovanni Pagani, Lugano Lara Rée, Meilen Max Schönholzer, Zurich Martin Schreier, Basel Susanna Swann, Le Vaud Vincent de Vallière, Zurich Martin Vogel, Horgen
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation 2. Former Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation — 51 —
2002 ZURICH
In 2002, the Young Leaders Conference was held for the third time in Zurich; this time at the Hotel Atlantis, set at the foot of the city’s Uetliberg mountain. Alumni remember the extraordinary hospitality of Novartis, inspirational conversations late into the night, and quality time spent with cows in the mountains.
main sponsors
Novartis International AG and Swiss International Air Lines
— 52 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Benjamin Balint, Jerusalem, Israel Byron W. Brown, Buffalo, NY Vincent J. Cannato, Framingham, MA Jennifer C. Cohen Sam Dealey, Washington, DC Brian C. Deese, Washington, DC Julie Denton, Louisville, KY Gerry Dickinson, Columbia, SC Karen Dybis, Grosse Pointe, MI Sonya Grier, Washington, DC Jeffrey Ian Johnson, Baltimore, MD Brian P. Kavanagh, New York, NY Drew Ladner, Washington, DC Andrew McMillan, Shepherdstown, WV Bradford S. Mead, Jackson, WY Brian Murphy Col. Suzanne C. Nielsen, Newburgh, NY Jacob Novak, Merrick, NY Brandt Pasco, Bethesda, MD Sean M. Reilly, Bala Cynwyd, PA Steve Schley, Bangor, ME1 Christina R. Sevilla, Arlington, VA Tyson Slocum, Bladensburg, MD S.E. Specter, Beverly Hills, CA Lawrence Stratton, Waynesburg, PA Van Tran, Newport Beach, CA Ian Vásquez, Washington, DC Michael Waller, Washington, DC
Peter Boesch, Zug Chantal Bourquin, Geneva Thomas Brüderlin, Basel Daniel Duvillard, Geneva Dieter Fischer, Zurich Béatrice Fischer, Erlenbach Christoph Haller, Pfaffikon Stefan Hostettler, Bern Peter Huessy, Ormalingen Daniel Hug, Vaduz, Liechtenstein Olaf Kjelsen, Bern Daniel König, Paris, France Peter A. Labhart, Schindellegi Andrea Martel, Zurich Sonia Megert Marshall, Preverenges Jost Sigrist, Schaffhausen André Wyss, Dietlikon
1. Former Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation — 53 —
2003 LUCERNE
In 2003, the Young Leaders Conference was hosted for the first time in Lucerne, at the glorious Palace Hotel directly on Lake Lucerne. Alumni remember the visit to the Schindler elevator factory, granite souvenirs from the Gotthard Tunnel construction site, and a nerve-wracking bus ride to dinner on a mountain (or hill, depending on your perspective/ nationality).
main sponsors
Schindler Holding Ltd. and Swiss International Air Lines
— 54 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Kenneth Adams, Bronx, NY Michelle A. Adams, New York, NY Michael J. Conallen, Yardley, PA Anisa Kamadoli Costa, New York, NY1 Joseph Patrick Cryan, Elizabeth, NJ Eric Egland, Reston, VA Matthew Gardner, Washington, DC Crister S. Garrett Shanthi Kalathil, Washington, DC Stephen R. Maitland, Alpharetta, GA Matthew S. McCaulley, Sioux Falls, SD Dan Mitchell, Fairfax, VA Chris Mooney, Los Angeles, CA Ron Nehring, El Cajon, CA Hans Nichols, Bethesda, MD Rose Razaghian, New York, NY Chris Redfern, Columbus, OH Hans Riemer, Rockville, MD Antonio Riley, Chicago, IL David Rivera, Miami, FL Karina Rollins, Washington, DC Peter Tedeschi, New York, NY Julia Algya Warton, Colorado Springs, CO William M. Webb, Arlington, VA Alvin Williams, Washington, DC David Zipper, Washington, DC
Silvio Bonaccio, St. Gallen René P. Buholzer, Basel3 Cristina Dall’Oglio, Eglisau Christoph Eisenring, Potsdam, Germany Patric Franzen, Tbilisi, Georgia Bernhard Gisler, Ebikon Bruno Giussani, Faido Kurt Habersatter, Bern Patrick Jordi, Muri Peter Kornicker, Basel Patrick L’Hôte, Chene-Bougeries Christian Mumenthaler, Zurich Felix Reiff, Basel Christian Ribet, Geneva Philippe Rudloff, Geneva André Rüegg, Thalwil Marcel Scheiwiller, Bottmingen Ralf C. Schlaepfer, Schluein Alexander Siegenthaler, Aarau Michael Stucky, Zurich2 Florian Treu, Zurich Ivo Zimmermann, Zurich Marc Zuber, Vevey
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation 2. Vice President of the Young Leaders Alumni Foundation 3. Member of the Board of the Young Leaders Alumni Foundation — 55 —
2004 VEVEY
In 2004, the Young Leaders Conference was held for the second time near Vevey at Nestlé’s beautiful Rive-Reine conference center (where it also took place in 1999). Alumni remember the day spent at Nestlé’s headquarters and the presentation by the (Greekspeaking) CFO, late-night conversations over cigars and cognac, a boat ride on Lake Geneva, and a fiery (but respectful!) U.S. election debate.
main sponsors
Geneva Private Bankers Association, Nestlé, and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 56 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Charles M. Arlinghaus, Canterbury, NH Scott Beason, Gardendale, AL Paul J. Bonicelli, Grand Rapids, MI F. Huntley Bossong, Asheboro, NC Timothy P. Carney, Silver Spring, MD Andrea K. Cerwinske, Gainesville, VA Glenn Coffee, Oklahoma City, OK Gretchen Slease Davis, Arlington, VA Andrew C. Eggers, Oxford, United Kingdom Christine Estereicher, Auburn Hills, MI Francis J. Frisoli, West Hartford, CT Joe García, Miami, FL Gabrielle Giffords, Tucson, AZ Joe Hagan, Tivoli, NY Amy Keller, Winter Garden, FL Nicolas Maduros, Sacramento, CA Daniel McCarthy, Alexandria, VA Mark C. Newhouse, Brooklyn, NY Andrea Nuciforo, Boston, MA Soren G. Peters, Santa Fe, NM Cassandra Pye, Sacramento, CA Zachary Reed, Cleveland, OH April Ryan, Randallstown, MD Robert Schlesinger, Alexandria, VA Jim Schmit, Boise, ID Preston W. Smith, Atlanta, GA Bret Swanson, Zionsville, IN Mark M. Walker, Washington, DC
Balz Abplanalp, Muscat, Oman Rolf Blatter, Aesch Barbara Brauchli Rohrer, Zurich Matthias Casanova, Bad Vilbel, Germany Hermann de Ciutiis, Winterthur Bertrand Demole, Geneva Oliver Eugster, Wetzikon Beat Fellmann, Seuzach Eftychia Fischer, Zurich Gian Paul Ganzoni, Horgen Thomas Hefti, Ph.D., Windisch Laurent C. Kramer, Lausanne Ralph Müller, Zurich Christof Münger, Untersiggenthal Karin Oertli, Zurich Christine Palladino Sandström, Geneva Aris Prepoudis, Zurich Nicolas Spillmann, Horgen Markus Studhalter, Zurich Philippe Zell, Cobham, United Kingdom Joerg von Allmen, Basel
— 57 —
2005
W O L F S B E R G , E R M AT I N G E N
In 2005, the Young Leaders Conference was hosted for a third time in Wolfsberg, Ermatingen, at the UBS training center. Alumni remember lessons in dinner etiquette from Ambassador Whittlesey, tastes of Absinthe, and a hike in Appenzell wearing blue-beige sun hats that they still wear today.
main sponsors
UBS AG and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 58 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Mario Armstrong, Baltimore, MD Thomas J. Carty, Springfield, MA Jamie S. Dailey, Brentwood, TN Ryan Deckert, Crabtree, OR Christopher M. Field, Pomeroy, WA Steven L. Frick, Stanford, CA Stephanie Genkin, Brooklyn, NY Kevin Gentry, Arlington, VA Craig Gilbert, Arlington, VA Robert Goodwin, New York, NY Siobhan Gorman, Washington, DC Christopher Hahn, Lebanon, OH Matt Hancock, Casco, ME Adam Hasner, Deerfield Beach, FL William Anthony Hay, West Point, MS Charles J. Hurchalla, Chester Springs, PA Andrés F. Irlando, Atlanta, GA Brian Keefe, Durham, NC Adrian R. King, Philadelphia, PA Frank Lasee, Arlington Heights, IL Diana Marrero, Silver Spring, MD Scott Y. Nishimoto, Honolulu, HI Patrick C. Ortega, Camarillo, CA Jorge Alberto Ramirez, Lubbock, TX Jenny Rode Bower, East Grand Rapids, MI Michael Sullivan, Austin, TX Carson Walker, Sioux Falls, SD Raymon White, Atlanta, GA
Stefan Altner, Zurich Roland Altwegg, Bottmingen Alex Astolfi, Lausanne Robert Flatt, Zurich Christian Frutiger, Bern Dominik Geller, Paris, France Kurt Haerri, Ebikon Werner Halter, Fribourg Lukas Heusler, Zurich Roland Kasper, Schlieren Susanne Lauber Fürst, Brent-Montreux Gabriela Lippe-Holst, Wollerau1,2 Martina Ludescher, Zollikon Marc Pictet, Geneva Gian A. Rossi, Zurich Yves A. Sarasin, Zurich Rolf Schafroth, Gachnang Gabriele Schreier, Bern Judith Wittwer Herter, Zurich
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation 2. President Emerita of the Young Leaders Alumni Foundation — 59 —
2006 HORGEN
In 2006, the Young Leaders Conference was held for the second time at the beautiful country estate “Bocken” in Horgen, high above Lake Zurich. Alumni of this conference remember great weather, early morning mountain-bike excursions, late-night political discussions, a night out in downtown Zurich, and the “Engimatt 11.”
main sponsors
Credit Suisse and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 60 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Andrew Franklin Alexander, East Nashville, TN Thomas C. Brockwell, Delray Beach, FL Drew Clark, Washington, DC Michael Crowley, Washington, DC John DeJoie, Concord, NH Steve Driehaus, Cincinnati, OH Todd Gillenwater, Kensington, MD Daniel R. Green, Washington, DC Peter Hazelrigg, Greensboro, NC Christine Dunn Henderson, Singapore Lawrence D. Jacobs Patrick Radden Keefe, Larchmont, NY Adam Keiper, Washington, DC Kris William Kobach, Topeka, KS Charles W. Larson, West Des Moines, IA John C. Liu, Flushing, NY Daniel McAdams, Lake Jackson, TX Kel McClanahan, Washington, DC Dann Mead Smith, Seattle, WA Alex X. Mooney, Washington, DC Donald Norcross, Washington, DC Connie Correll Partoyan, Alexandria, VA Daniel Rickenmann, Columbia, SC John D. Rogers, Akron, OH Tracie Sharp, Arlington, VA Michael Bryan Stuart, Charleston, WV Mark R. Tayler, Clarence, NY Michael L. Williams, Oak Park, CA
Félix Baumann, Bern Markus Binkert, Zurich Stefan Brupbacher, Zurich Philipp Felber, Ebikon Martin Hirzel, Zumikon Sascha Hümbeli, Vienna, Austria René Kissling, Basel Oliver Kuonen, Geneva Claudio Kuoni, Vevey Urs Langenegger, Villigen Andreas H. Leu, Nussbaumen Andreas Lüthi, Zurich Christa Markwalder, Burgdorf2 Pascale Meige, Petit-Saconnex Nicole Pauli, Meggen Prisca Peyer, Thalwil Marco Schaller, Zurich Angel Serna, Zurich1 Andreas Staubli, Zurich2
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation 2. Member of the Swiss Advisory Council — 61 —
2007 THUN
In 2007, the Young Leaders Conference was held for a third time in Thun, where participants experienced the beauty of Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region. Alumni of this conference remember the beautiful hike to the Kleine Scheidegg mountain pass, special visits to the Swiss Parliament and the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, and latenight drinks overlooking Lake Thun.
main sponsors
UBS AG and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsors
Julius Bär, Kuoni, Swatch Group, and Switzerland Tourism
— 62 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Terry Babcock-Lumish, West Point, NY André Bauer, Charleston, SC Robert A. Bauer, San Francisco, CA John Stuart Beauchamp, San Antonio, TX Michele Boyd, Washington, DC Colleen Carroll Campbell, St. Louis, MO Brad Cole, Carbondale, IL John W. Diamond, Houston, TX Tim Dickinson, Portland, OR Leif Dormsjo, Washington, DC Dane Eagle, Cape Coral, FL Adam H. Edelen, Frankfort, KY Bay Fang, Washington, DC J.P. Fielder, Washington, DC John Gallagher, Alexandria, VA David W. Holt, Indianapolis, IN Kristina Kendall, Brooklyn, NY Shane M. Langland, Anchorage, AK Justin Logan, Washington, DC Scot Medbury, Glen Ellen, CA J. Jioni Palmer, Washington, DC Dan Quiggle, Ponte Vedra, FL Tim Rave, Baltic, SD Geronimo M. Rodriguez, Austin, TX Matthew Sheffield, McLean, VA Anna Soellner, San Francisco, CA Matt Stearns, Bethesda, MD Tri Ta, Westminster, CA Anand Vaishnav, Seattle, WA
Matthias Benz, Vienna, Austria Marc Büdenbender, Erlinsbach Patricia Danzi, Geneva Michael Escher, Thun Alex Flückiger, Basel Hubert Frund, Basel Jacqueline Hess, Kuesnacht1 Frank Meyer, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Nicolas Mirabaud, Geneva Pietro Mona, Bern Franco Monti, Zurich Martin Müller, Zurich Thomas Mike Peyer, Zurich Olivier Quillet, Pully Peter Spirig, Zug Lukas Studer, Schoenenwerd Alexandre Torti, Vufflens-le-Chateau Stéphane M.G. Tourette, Geneva
1. Member of the Swiss Advisory Council — 63 —
2008 G E N E VA
In 2008, the Young Leaders Conference was held for a second time in Geneva, on the shores of beautiful Lake Geneva. Alumni remember the visit to Rolex’s high-tech headquarters, hiking along the “Toblerone” fortification dating back to World War II, and enjoying the city’s nightlife til dawn.
main sponsors
Rolex and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 64 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Gregory R. Ball, Fredericksburg, TX John C. Bear, Harrisburg, PA Laricke Blanchard, Washington, DC Laura Brod Hameed, Plymouth, MN Brian M. Carney, New Paltz, NY Fergus Cullen, Dover, NH Brandie Davis, Washington, DC Kelly DiNardo, Washington, DC Michael Geisen, Sisters, OR Keli Goff, New York, NY Christopher Hayes, New York, NY Joe Hurd, Los Altos, CA1 Neil Irwin, Washington, DC Drew Johnson, Las Vegas, NV Kristin J. Kara, Westwood, MA Jack F. Maxey, West Palm Beach, FL Ryan Sager, Brooklyn, NY Justin Sayfie, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jason A. Springs, Notre Dame, IN Justin Stebbins, Arlington, VA Katherine Taylor, Los Angeles, CA David S. Tukey, New York, NY Matthew Yglesias, Washington, DC
Claudia Aebersold Szalay, Zollikerberg Alexandra Baumann, Bern Luzia Bertogg, Zurich Stéphane Bonamy, Amman, Jordan Pascale Bruderer Wyss, Nussbaumen Christoph Bürki, Basel Monica Cohen-Dumani, Geneva Jürg Dinner, Zurich Annabelle R. Hett-Essinger, Wollerau Claudia Koenig, Miami, FL Roger M. Levola, Baech Konstantin von Radowitz, Zurich Reto Rothenbühler, Ebikon Manuel Rybach, Zurich2 Christoph Schaltegger, Lucerne Thomas Schnyder, Vevey Tobias Siegfried, Zurich Roman Stein, Zurich Ivan Walter, Wilen bei Wollerau
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation 2. Member of the Swiss Advisory Council — 65 —
2009 GERZENSEE
The 20th Young Leaders Conference was held in Gerzensee, at the beautiful Hotel Schloss Gerzensee. Alumni remember hiking in the snow in the Bernese Oberland, fiery debates about Obamacare and cross-border tax issues, and enlightening visits to Novartis and Syngenta.
main sponsors
Swiss National Bank and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsors
Julius Bär, Kuoni, Novartis, Syngenta, and Switzerland Tourism
— 66 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
David Abraham, Ubud, Indonesia Hector Balderas, Santa Fe, NM John Berlau, Washington, DC Aaron Bouska, Bronx, NY Kevin L. Boyce, Columbus, OH Tarren R. Bragdon, Naples, FL Matthew Burton, Marietta, GA Kelly Cobb, Royal Oak, MI Karen Davenport, Washington, DC Amanda Engstrom Eversole, McLean, VA Michelle Gonzalez, Palo Alto, CA Stuart Harris, Memphis, TN Gene Healy, Washington, DC Bill Huizenga, Washington, DC Rodney Jamil, Lancaster, PA Nicholas Johnston, Washington, DC Anne Jolis, New York, NY Jesse Laslovich, Helena, MT Mark Lenssen, Seattle, WA Anthony Mazzarelli, Camden, NJ Julie Huffines O’Connor, New York, NY Joshua Schultz, Jamaica Plain, MA Mark W. Smith, New York, NY
Rita Adam, Rome, Italy Robert Bichsel, Bern Andreas Bohrer, Schaffhausen Catherine Burger, Zurich Christoph Casparis, Zurich Patric Deflorin, Bern Reto Gerber, Bellmund Rebecca Guntern Flückiger, Bern Hans Hermann, Glattbrugg Shazia Islamshah, Zurich Rolf Johner, Bern Philippe Knüsel, Rueschlikon Simone Lauper, Zurich Michael A. Marty, Lachen Gordana Mijuk, Zurich Daniel Möckli, Bern Christophe Oggier, Lviv, Ukraine Gian Raffainer, Mexico City, Mexico Reto Savoia, Zurich Michael Syz, Zurich Filippo Taddei, Zurich Barbara Vannotti-Holzrichter, Zurich Alain Zucker, Zurich
— 67 —
2010 BASEL
In 2010, the Young Leaders Conference was held for the second time in Basel, Switzerland’s “city of museums.” Alumni recall vivid memories of Basel (including many late-night conversations at the bar), a behind-the-scenes visit to the Zurich Airport, and dinner with the CEO of Swiss International Air Lines.
main sponsors
Novartis AG and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 68 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Ravi Belani, San Francisco, CA Michael Border, Hong Kong Joaquin Castro, Washington, DC Kevin Conroy, Madison, WI James Cote, Augusta, ME Tara Dowdell, Jersey City, NJ Larisa Epatko, Arlington, VA Jason Fields, Milwaukee, WI Nathan George, Bethesda, MD Ross Hammond, Washington, DC Michelle Hanlon, Cambridge, MA John Kartch, Washington, DC Dominique Ludvigson, Alexandria, VA Jason Mattera, Washington, DC Bill McQuillen, Washington, DC John O’Hara, Hudson, OH Eric Patterson, Virginia Beach, VA Bryan Pedersen, Cheyenne, WY Dana Redd, Camden, NJ Anthony Svanascini, Des Plaines, IL1 Robert Thompson, Memphis, TN Raymond Welder, San Antonio, TX2 Mike Wierusz, Seattle, WA Gregory Witkowski, Indianapolis, IN Chris Young, Marietta, GA
Meret Baumann, Vienna, Austria Mathias Bopp, Thalwil Thierry Cagianut, Zurich3 Nicolas de Skowronski, Zurich Patrick Deucher, Aarau Daniel Frank, Bern Simon Hauswirth, Zurich Patrick Heiz, Toronto, Canada Arthur Honegger, Zurich Pascal Kalbermatten, Meggen Dagmar Maria Kamber Borens, Zurich Didier Manzoni, Aigle Bryan Niggli, Zurich Reto Nyffeler, Bern Philipp Oberson, Olten Sven Probst, Zurich Nicolas Roduit, Ittigen Michel Schoch, Zurich Ranjit de Sousa, Zurich Niklaus Traber, Zurich Camille Vial, Geneva Daniel Weber, Zurich
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation 2. Former Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation 3. Member of the Swiss Advisory Council — 69 —
2011
MONTREUX
The 22nd Young Leaders Conference was held in Montreux, known for its world-famous Jazz Festival every July. Alumni remember skiing at Glacier 3000, a tour of Nestlé’s headquarters and presentation about the company’s sustainability programs, an elegant dinner at Chateau Chillon, the sampling of chocolates at Cailler, their time together on Lac Léman, and remarkable self-presentations of fellow classmates.
main sponsors
Nestlé and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 70 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Robert Agresta, Englewood, NJ1 Anders Blewett, Great Falls, MT Mark Bradshaw, Chestnut Hill, MA Joel T. Brennan, Milwaukee, WI Avery Capone, Brookline, MA Paul Fleming, Seattle, WA Devin Foley, Bloomington, MN Kmele Foster, Brooklyn, NY Chris Frates, Washington, DC Jeffrey Frederick, Woodbridge, VA Jim Harper, Washington, DC Jordan Harris, Philadelphia, PA Terry T. K. Huang, New York, NY Elif Izberk-Bilgin, Dearborn, MI Frank LaRose, Columbus, OH Ryan Mackenzie, Emmaus, PA Tamika Mallory, New York, NY Kathryn Shively Meier, Richmond, VA Nicole Neily, Arlington, VA Vincent Sheheen, Camden, SC John Tuttle, New York, NY1 Matt Welch, Brooklyn, NY
Andreas Akeret, Zug Markus Anderrüthi, Zug Christophe Beaud, Zurich Philippe Bera, Hong Kong Manuela Bernasconi, Lausanne2 Alexis Burckhardt, Basel Anne-Lise Cattin Hennin, Bern Sandra Caviezel, Zurich Martina Gmür, Zurich Raphael Gübelin, Luzern Marco Hasler, Shanghai, China Gregor Koncilja, Zurich Mario Lampert, Zurich Alexis Lombard, Conches2 Michel Moser, Midlothian, TX Stephan Andreas Müller, Hong Kong Roland Müller, Zurich Michel Ott, Zurich Andres Pfister, Zurich Bettina Schaller, Zurich3,4 Martin Steger, Baar Benjamin Wepfer, Emmen Daniel Wüest, Arbon
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation 2. Member of the Board of the Young Leaders Alumni Foundation 3. President of the Young Leaders Alumni Foundation 4. Member of the Swiss Advisory Council — 71 —
2012 ZURICH
In 2012, the Young Leaders Conference was held for the fourth time in Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and global center of finance and banking. Alumni have lasting impressions of Swiss federalism; the delicious food, both the healthy meals and Swiss chocolates; “Gangnam style” dancing; and a memorable visit to the spa on Mount Rigi with rentable speedos.
main sponsors
Zurich Insurance Group and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 72 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Adam Andrzejewski, Hinsdale, IL Guha Bala, Troy, NY Josh Barro, Sunnyside, NY Binta Niambi Brown, Gainesville, VA William Cole, Baltimore, MD Shawn Cordes, Austin, TX Curtis Dubay, Washington, DC Ryan Ellis, Alexandria, VA John Farrar, Chicago, IL Brian T. Fitzpatrick, Nashville, TN Justin Hollis, Lakeland, FL Valarie Kaur, Gaithersburg, MD Ann Lee, New York, NY Erin McPike, Washington, DC Heath Mello, Lincoln, NE Eric Pierce, McLean, VA Jonathan Quarles, Grosse Pointe Farm, MI Ryan Radia, Washington, DC Taylor Rhodes, Chicago, IL Samuel Ryan, Washington, DC Jimmy Soni, Brooklyn, NY Amanda Williams, Bishop, CA Eli Winkler, Camden, NJ
Christian Akeret, Winterthur Peggy Bächli, Zurich Ines Barnetta, Washington, DC Michel Beutler, Aesch Alain Chisari, Singapore Benedict Götte, Baar Stefanie Granado, Madrid, Spain Michael Hilb, Burgdorf Oliver E. Hohermuth, Palm Beach Gardens, FL Alexander Kettenbach, Zurich Manuel Meier, Zurich Serge Meunier, Zurich Christina Oberli, Geneva Fabian Pfortmueller, Brooklyn, NY Christine Schmid Frey, Zurich Luc Schulthess, Geneva Franz-Xaver Simmen, Altdorf Alexandre Sonnay, Vevey Patrick Stapfer, Aarau Sandro Streit, Zurich Ueli Studer, Zurich Karine Szegedi, Geneva Sergio Uldry, Geneva
— 73 —
2013 ZURICH
In 2013, the Young Leaders Conference was held for the fifth time in Zurich. Alumni have vivid memories of their week together in Switzerland, to include Andreas and Andrew rapping on a cogwheel train, wearing orange safety vests around the city, Faith Whittlesey’s passion and energy for connecting people, a day spent in Bern at the Parliament building, and the final fondue dinner.
main sponsors
Holcim and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 74 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Dave Aronberg, West Palm Beach, FL Christina Bellantoni, Los Angeles, CA Greg Cangialosi, Baltimore, MD William Castner, Trenton, NJ Nate DaPore, Sullivan’s Island, SC1 Cara Dingus Brook, Nelsonville, OH Anna Edney, Washington, DC Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee, FL Casey Guernsey, Bethany, MO Steve M. Haener, Rochester Hills, MI Michael Lake, Boston, MA Amanda Martinez, La Jolla, CA Rupa Mohan, New York, NY Gabriela Mosquera, Laurel Springs, NJ Kevin Norton, Belcamp, MD Jamey Nye, Sacramento, CA Jose Perez-Riera, Guaynabo, PR Jamie Radtke, Mechanicsville, VA Manu Raju, Washington, DC Daniel Rothschild, Arlington, VA Thomas Sanderson, Vienna, VA Matt Schultz, Winterset, IA Mark Vlasic, Washington, DC Brian Weiss, Dunwoody, GA Eric Wohlschlegel, Washington, DC
Martin Arregger, Bern Patrick von Arx, Kloten Andreas Bach, Zurich Cedric Baecher, Paris, France Alexander Braendle, Bad Zurzach Philippe Brauchli, Stans Lukas Burkhardt, Shanghai, China Tiffany J. Gerber-Tresch, Zurich Luca Graf, Basel Matthias Hégelé, Zurich Tobias Hestler, Holzkirchen, Germany Boris Hrubesch, Zurich Marcel Langenegger, Zurich Niklaus Nuspliger, Brussels, Belgium Carolyn Olsburgh Lacerda Soares, Cologny Bruno Patusi, Zurich Tiziano Pelli, Zurich Valerie Petitpierre, Geneva Manuela Renz, Pratteln Yves Richardet, Drogenbos, Belgium Remo Schmid, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Benno Suter, Seuzach Karen Tan, Singapore Markus Unternährer, Rapperswil
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation — 75 —
2014
RUSCHLIKON
The 25th Young Leaders Conference was held for the first time in Ruschlikon, at the Swiss Re Centre for Global Dialogue, a premier conference facility overlooking Lake Zurich. Alumni remember tremendous weather, after-hour conversations at the bar, the lively election panel that required a call-to-order whistle from moderator Beat, and refreshing hikes in the mountains.
main sponsors
Swiss Re and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 76 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Zachary Cherry, West Palm Beach, FL Huey-Min Chuang, New York, NY Christopher Nixon Cox, New York, NY Ryan Coyle, Ferndale, MI Matthew D’Lando, West Palm Beach, FL Kenneth Ebie, Brooklyn, NY David Foster, Havertown, PA Grant Garrison, Brooklyn, NY Jon Godfread, Bismarck, ND Riki Meyers Hale, Littleton, CO John Hammond, Indianapolis, IN Paul Hartman, Clarksville, NY Amy Holmes, New York, NY Lincoln Hough, Springfield, MO Brian Kelsey, Nashville, TN Jesse Kimball, New York, NY1 Erik Leklem, Oakland, CA Hadley Heath Manning, Denver, CO William McBride, Washington, DC Matthew McKnight, Boston, MA Svante Myrick, Ithaca, NY Daniel Oliver, New York, NY1 Julian Sanchez, Washington, DC Derek Wallbank, Singapore Reid Wilson, Washington, DC
Nicole Aerni Schlatter, Muenchringen Thomas Aeschi, Allenwinden Matthias Albrecht, Dubai United Arab Emirates Anne-Marie Altherr, Trogen Angela Barandun, Zurich Matthias Bellwald, Baar Andrin Bernet, Zurich Sven Bisang, Basel Benjamin Boesch, Zurich Stefan Buckenmaier, Zug Reto Giger, Bertschikon Stéphane Hanselmann, Sevelen Patrick Hess, Ebikon Patrick Heymann, Zurich1 Genevieve Hubert, Basel Beat Kramer Mölbert, Zurich Pascal Küenzi, Zurich Christian Scharninghausen, Zurich Stefan Marc Schmid, Zurich Florian Schwab, Zurich Markus Weber, Zurich Simon Weiner, Basel René Wiedemann, Zurich Oliver-Jan Zwemmer, Basel
1. Member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation — 77 —
2015 ZURICH
In 2015, the Young Leaders Conference was held for the sixth time in Zurich. Alumni remember the scavenger hunt, the heated election-panel discussion, phenomenal food, a much-appreciated visit to the Lindt chocolate factory, a tour of the Parliament in Bern, and a picturesque trip to the mountains.
main sponsors
Credit Suisse and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 78 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Jerome Adams, Washington, DC Cristobal Alex, Washington, DC Philip Bednarczyk, New Haven, CT Niraj Chokshi, Brooklyn, NY Brendan Connell, New York, NY Laura Curtis, Washington, DC Jon DeWitte, Alexandria, VA Ryan Dodge, Brooklyn, NY Richard Fowler, Washington, DC Marilinda Garcia, Salem, NH Daniel Garza, Mission, TX Patrick Gleason, Washington, DC Daniel Hodge, Austin, TX Hudson Hollister, Joliet, IL Brenda Kessler, Miami Beach, FL Kate Klunk, Hanover, PA Chris Larson, Milwaukee, WI Conrad Lucas, Huntington, WV Michael Maitland, Washington, DC Laura McNeal, Louisville, KY Sasha Orloff, San Francisco, CA Jacki Pick Deason, Dallas, TX Frank Sensenbrenner, Park Ridge, IL David Simnick, Washington, DC Amie Stepanovich, Washington, DC
Marco Amato, Basel Guillaume Barazzone, Geneva Christian D. Baumann, Gebenstorf Ivan Breiter, Singapore Christoph Burckhardt, Basel Fabian Chiozza, Sao Paulo, Brazil Thomas Fritz, Zurich Bernhard Gippert, Emmen Adrian Glatz, Zurich Catherine Graf, Zurich Matthias Gschwend, Zurich David Hesse, Zurich Simon Kronenberg, Madrid, Spain Martin Osinga, Zurich Christian Rigert, Zurich Philippe de Saab, Rueil Malmaison, France Jonas Theiler, Zurich Christoph Ulrich, Andermatt Domenica Ulrich Gruenenfelder, Zug Christian Waldner, Sterrebeek, Belgium Martina Walt, Zurich Markus Widmer, Basel Frank Wilper, Magden Stefan Wunderlich, Zurich Yann Wyss, Vevey
— 79 —
2016 BASEL
In 2016, the Young Leaders Conference was held for the third time in Basel, home to Switzerland’s global chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Alumni remember vehement disagreements about the U.S. election results, after-hours adventures in Zurich, and serendipitously hailing down President Johann Schneider-Ammann at the Bundesplatz Bern for their group photo.
main sponsors
Syngenta and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsors
The Adecco Group, Novartis, and Switzerland Tourism
— 80 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Nicole Alexander-Scott, Providence, RI Jason Andris Emma Ashford, Reston, VA Vanessa Beary, Alexandria, VA Romina Boccia, Clinton, MD Jason Browne, Galloway, NJ Daniel Cevallos, New York, NY Gray Delany, Charlottesville, VA Julie Emerson, Carencro, LA Randal Hartmann, Bellevue, WA Darren Kerr, Belton, TX Nomiki Konst, Lancaster, NY Ajay Kori, Washington, DC Art Linares, Stamford, CT Ying Ma, Arlington, VA Bob Murphy, Lansing, MI Ian Northon, Grand Rapids, MI Dayo Olopade, London, United Kingdom Russell Ott, St. Matthews, SC William Pitman, Boston, MA Ryan Quarles, Frankfort, KY James Reardon, Geneva, Switzerland Wes Ward, Little Rock, AR Paul Young, Memphis, TN Julie Zann, New York, NY
Patrick Ballmer, Wellesley, MA Sascha Georg Beer, Zurich Remo Bretscher, Royal Oak, MI Marc Brülhart, Aesch Fabien Bryois, Geneva Sandor Frei, Basel Dieter Geering, Zurich Claudio Grisch, Zurich Jan Jacob, Zurich Silvan Jampen, Vevey Georg Jenni, Ebikon Mathias Jungen, Larchmont, NY Susanne Knorr, Zurich Franck Mouriaux, Oberglatt Amit Nastik, Basel Christine Rauh, Zurich Alain Schmid, Zurich Christian Sigg, Zurich Laurent Sigismondi, Zurich Caroline Wagner, Basel Johannes Wettstein, Milan, Italy Alexander Wuethrich, Moenchaltorf
— 81 —
2017
ZURICH AND WOLFSBERG
The 28th Young Leaders Conference was held in two locations: Zurich and Ermatingen. Alumni fondly remember engaging conversations on the bus rides, playing in the snow and riding sleds, a Michelin-star-rated gourmet meal in a country inn, and “superlatives” at the farewell dinner.
main sponsors
UBS and Swiss International Air Lines co-sponsor
Switzerland Tourism
— 82 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Levi Bachmeier, West Fargo, ND Chad Barefoot, Raleigh, NC Dominique Bolliger, Alexandria, VA Aisha Bowe, Washington, DC Alison Centofante, Alexandria, VA RaShelle Davis, Olympia, WA Luisa del Rosal, Dallas, TX Matthew Denhart, New Albany, OH Mike DeVanney, Pittsburgh, PA Ryan Gensler, Denver, CO Brett Gibson, Arlington, VA Jim Irwin, Atlanta, GA Lauren Jones, Dorchester, MA Niccole Larsen, Bedford, MA Kent Lassman, Washington, DC Martin Mayerhofer, Washington, DC Cory McCray, Baltimore, MD Will Rahn, Washington, DC Josiah Ryan, New York, NY Caroline Simmons, Hartford, CT Jordan Vaughn, Brooklyn, NY Philip Wegmann, Washington, DC Eboni Williams, New York, NY
Gian Reto à Porta, Zurich Ronald Abegglen, Zurich Matthias Bammatter, Zurich Emmanuelle Bays, Basel Roman Berlinger, Zurich Luca Christen, Basel Philipp de Boer, Zurich Alexis Favre, Geneva Felix Gey Jauffret, Vevey Robert Hartmann, Winterthur Marcel Imfeld, Ebikon Bettina Kallenbach, Holderbank Silvan Kühne, Zurich Sibylle Martinis, Zurich Michèle Meier-Thoma, Zurich Philippe Niquille, Zug Martin Oberholzer, Zurich Marco Peyer, Zurich Lionel Serex, Zurich Nicole Stuber-Berries, Zollikerberg Daniel Stutzman, Zurich Samuel F. Vonrueti, Aarburg
— 83 —
2018 LUCERNE
In 2018, the Young Leaders Conference was held in Lucerne for the second time. Alumni have vivid memories of their week in the capital of central Switzerland, including visits to Franke and Schindler, a concert in the famous KKL hall, and the election of host Michael Pieper as the honorary 51st member of the class of 2018.
main sponsors
Artemis/Franke and Swiss International Air Lines supporters
Autoneum, Bucherer, Feintool, Forbo, Gübelin, Schindler, Sika, Switzerland Tourism, UBS, and Victorinox
— 84 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Guy Benson, Arlington, VA Aaron Bernstine, Harrisburg, PA Terri Burns, San Francisco, CA Matthew Crommett, Dallas, TX Oliver Darcy, New York, NY Timothy D. Doescher, Washington, DC Jason Emert, Knoxville, TN Kyle Ensley, Valliant, OK Markus Fischer, New York, NY Patty Garcia, Cicero, IL Alexander Hendrie, Washington, DC Adam Hitchcock, Chicago, IL Kate Hunter, London, United Kingdom Manny Lamarre, Las Vegas, NV Harrison Marks, New York, NY Dianne McKeever, New York, NY Sean Memon, Arlington, VA Daniel Rasmussen, Cambridge, MA Peter Ryan, Washington, DC Brian Stewart, Brooklyn, NY Simon Tafoya, Denver, CO Nahmyo Thomas, Washington, DC Maxeme Tuchman, Bay Harbor Islands, FL Mary Wagner, Germantown, TN Alison Williams, North Little Rock, AR
Sebastian Bättig, Zurich Yves Berger, New York, NY Dominik Birrer, Lucerne Nina Blaser, Zurich Henry Bodmer, Zurich Angelo Candreia, Zurich Brandi Caruso, Zurich Tobias Häckermann, Zurich Marco Hutter, Zurich Rouven E. Lochmüller, Vevey Luca Marotta, Winterthur Manuel Meier, Zurich Nike Moehle, Zurich Philipp Müller, Zurich Pascal Prinz, Toronto, Canada Alexander Salzmann, Thalwil Thomas Saner, Zurich Markus Sartori, Kilchberg Sophie Steiner-Kernen, Bern Roman Studer, Zurich1 Daniel Thüring, Basel Zeynep Waelchli, Zurich Mirjam Wiget, Zurich
1. Secretary of the Swiss Advisory Council — 85 —
2019 GERZENSEE
The 30th Young Leaders Conference was held in Gerzensee. This was the second conference to be held at the Swiss National Bank’s beautiful conference center in the foothills of the Bernese Oberland. Alumni recall a lively preview of the U.S. presidential election in 2020, a visit to a watch factory, spending time in French-speaking Fribourg, wrestling in the snow, and an “Oscars” award ceremony and all-night dance party on the last evening of the conference.
main sponsors
Swiss National Bank and Swiss International Air Lines supporters
Bayer, Breitling, Credit Suisse, Novartis, Switzerland Tourism, and Young Leaders Alumni Foundation
— 86 —
Members of the American Swiss Foundation can log in to the Young Leader Alumni Directory to see contact information and biographies. www.americanswiss.org/directory
U.S. Participants
Swiss Participants
Alexander Alden, Arlington, VA Sam Baker, Washington, DC Andrea Catsimatidis, New York, NY Erin Delmore, New York, NY Jose Felix Diaz, Miami, FL Peter Dodd, Burbank, CA Chris Fong, San Francisco, CA Marie Harf, Washington, DC Kashmir Hill, Brooklyn, NY Joseph Howell, Washington, DC Adam Jones, Brooklyn, NY Ian Kullgren, Washington, DC Tina Liu, Cambridge, MA Jesse MacLachlan, Westbrook, CT Joseph Malchow, Portola Valley, CA Maxwell B. Markusen, Washington, DC Bronwen McShea, Princeton, NJ Matthew Mulder, Washington, DC Marc Scribner, Washington, DC Chris Sprowls, Tallahassee, FL Colin Tarbert, Baltimore, MD Chris Walker, Brentwood, TN Sarah Weldon, Kenmore, WA Cameron Wendt, San Jose, CA Vera Zakem, Walnut Creek, CA
Mirko Bischofberger, Zurich Michael Breitenstein, Zurich Caroline Christen, Bern Fiona Endres, Zurich Florian Erny, Reinach Nicole Faessler, Zurich Carin Gantenbein, Zurich Sunnie Groeneveld, Ottenbach Matthias Gubler, Zurich Gieri Hinnen, Zurich1 René Hintermann, Zurich Thomas Hutter, Zurich Marco Issenmann, Riehen Christian Koller, Rotkreuz Marie-Astrid Langer, San Francisco, CA Lisa Moser, Holderbank Stephan Odermatt, Zurich André Odermatt, Sursee Tobias Schaffner, Zurich Simon Schmid, Basel Tamara Soyka-Maeder, Meilen Kathrin Wehrli, Zurich Michael Werder, Kilchberg Simon Wuethrich, Bern
1. Member of the Swiss Advisory Council — 87 —
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Main Sponsors of the Young Leaders Conference
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Union Bank of Switzerland Swiss Bank Corporation and Nestlé Winterthur Swiss Insurance Company Union Bank of Switzerland Credit Suisse Ciba-Geigy and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Geneva Private Bankers Association and Rolex Zurich Insurance Pharma/Chemical Industry Basel Nestlé Swiss Re Holcim Novartis Schindler Geneva Private Bankers Association and Nestlé UBS Credit Suisse UBS Rolex Swiss National Bank Novartis Nestlé Zurich Insurance Group Holcim Swiss Re Credit Suisse Syngenta UBS Artemis/Franke Swiss National Bank
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AMERICAN SWISS FOUNDATION Chairman of the Board Robert J. Giuffra, Jr., Esq. (Sullivan & Cromwell LLP) Chairman Emeritus Steven G. Hoch (Brown Advisory) President Patricia Schramm Board of Directors Robert Agresta, Esq. (Agresta Acquisitions) Kent K. Anker, Esq. (Democracy Prep Public Schools) Michael Bickel (Schindler Elevator Corporation) Dan Casserly (Novartis) Anisa Kamadoli Costa (Tiffany & Co.) Nate DaPore (Acertitude) Patrick Ferriere, Esq. Charles Gerow (Quantum Communications) James Hauslein (Hauslein & Company, Inc.) Patrick Heymann (Swiss International Air Lines Ltd.) Steven G. Hoch (Brown Advisory) Jan Hofer (Nestlé USA, Inc.) Joseph K. Hurd III (Katama Group) Brig. Gen. Andrew Hutchinson (Pennsylvania National Guard, ret.) Hans F. Kaeser, Esq. (Culhane Meadows PLLC) Jesse Kimball (Windswept Royalties) Eric LeVine (CellarTracker) Gabriela Lippe-Holst (Acqupart) H. Scott Miller (Miller Investment Management) Tom Naratil (UBS AG) William C. Nixon (UBS Financial Services Inc.) Daniel Oliver, Jr. (Committee for Monetary Research) Patricia Schramm (American Swiss Foundation) Angel Serna (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.) J. Eric Smith (Swiss Re Americas) Anthony Svanascini (Americaneagle.com, Inc.) John Tuttle (New York Stock Exchange)
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Markus Diethelm (Chairman, Swiss Advisory Council) Robert J. Giuffra, Jr. (Chairman, American Swiss Foundation) Bettina Schaller (President, Young Leaders Alumni Foundation) Patricia Schramm (President, American Swiss Foundation)
U.S. ADVISORY COUNCIL
Diana Davis Spencer (Chairman) Laurent Chaix (Sweetwater Partners LP) Abby S. Moffat (DDS Foundation) Roland Puton (Rolex Watch USA, ret.) The Honorable Mercer Reynolds (former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland) Elisabeth Schneier (Appeal of Conscience Foundation) Dr. Douglas Sears (Boston University) — 90 —
SWISS ADVISORY COUNCIL Chairman Markus U. Diethelm (UBS Group AG) Executive Committee Adrian T. Keller (Diethelm Keller Holding AG) Dr. Manuel Rybach (Credit Suisse Group) Bettina Schaller (Alumni Foundation) Members Regina Ammann (Syngenta AG) Peter Bergsma (Schindler Holding Ltd.) Annabelle Bryde (Bank Vontobel AG) Thierry Cagianut (Baldi & Caratsch) Dr. David P. Frick (Nestlé SA) Dr. Luciano Gabriel (PSP Swiss Property AG) Dr. Peter Guggenbach (RUAG) Dr. Paul Hälg (Sika AG) Jana Herrmann (F. Hoffmann La-Roche AG) Jacqueline Hess (Deloitte AG) Dr. Gieri Hinnen (Swiss International Air Lines Ltd.) Stephan Howeg (The Adecco Group) Marco Huwiler (Accenture AG) Daniel Kessler (Boston Consulting Group) Dr. Matthias Leuenberger (Novartis International AG) Hon. Christa Markwalder (Zurich Insurance Group) Martin Naville (Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce) Michael Pieper (Artemis Holding AG) Dr. Patrick Raaflaub (Swiss Re) Patrick Schwaller (Ernst & Young AG) Andreas Staubli (PricewaterhouseCoopers AG) Kaspar Wenger (LafargeHolcim Ltd.) Secretary Dr. Roman Studer (UBS)
YOUNG LEADERS ALUMNI FOUNDATION
Bettina Schaller, President (The Adecco Group, YL 2011) Michael Stucky, Vice President (ETH Zurich, YL 2003) Manuela Bernasconi (Nestlé Nespresso SA, YL 2011) Gabriela Lippe-Holst, President Emerita (Acqupart, YL 2005) Dr. René Buholzer (Interpharma, YL 2003) Dr. Alain Cahen (Evalueserve AG, YL 1999) Alexis Lombard (Banque Landolt & Cie, YL 2011) Patricia Schramm (American Swiss Foundation, YL 1999)
Please note all lists were current as of September 1, 2020.
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Acknowledgments
The American Swiss Foundation wishes to extend special thanks and our heartfelt appreciation to the staff, volunteers, and trusted friends who have contributed to this booklet and made our programs possible through the years.
Volunteers
Dr. Thomas J. Carty (Young Leader 2005) Catharine P. O’Neill Nancy Price Frank Schramm (Young Leader 1993) Dr. Doug Sears (Young Leader 2000) Isabelle Bodmer Silverman Gene Waering Céline Yousefzai
Secretariat of the Swiss Advisory Council
Catherine Däniker Furtwängler (Young Leader 1991), 1997 – 2009 Dr. Urs Leimbacher, Swiss Re, 2009 – 2016 Dr. Roman Studer, UBS (Young Leader 2018), 2017 – present
Staff
Dr. Vanessa Beary, Vice President (Young Leader 2016) Margaret Fahey, Program Manager Anna Render, Program Assistant Karina Rollins, Editorial Consultant (Young Leader 2003) Sue Tomkin, Design and Printing
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Sponsors and Supporters
Artemis Group | Credit Suisse | DDS Foundation LafargeHolcim Ltd. | Nestlé | Novartis Roche | Rolex | Schindler | Sullivan & Cromwell Swiss International Air Lines | Swiss National Bank Swiss Re | Syngenta | UBS Zurich Insurance Group
Abegg & Co. | Accenture | The Adecco Group Americaneagle.com | Baldi & Caratsch Boston Consulting Group | Deloitte AG Diethelm Keller Holding AG | Ernst & Young Patrick Ferriere | Robert J. Giuffra, Jr. | Steven G. Hoch Miller Investment Management | PricewaterhouseCoopers AG PSP Swiss Property | RUAG AG | Sika Finanz AG Switzerland Tourism | Tiffany & Co. | Vontobel Young Leaders Alumni Foundation
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www.americanswiss.org