Candidate Profiles - 2014 International Board Election

2014 International Board Elections Candidate Profiles

Karen Graham Active Member Since: 1993 Local Chapter: Oregon Partners, US Region Qualifications: I am humbled by the challenges that lie ahead for Partners, yet inspired by the five decades of accomplishments that volunteers and staff have achieved. Some of the skills and qualities I would contribute as a member of the board include three years of experience serving on the current International Board, experience in bookkeeping, recordkeeping and budgeting, demonstrated financial management, grants management and grant writing skills. Additionally, I’ve designed and implemented fundraising events. Fluent in Spanish, intermediate Japanese with comprehension of French and German.

Personal Statement: Partners is at a critical stage of its life. If early leaders had not had the foresight to create a foundation, Partners would not be leading 100,000 Strong in the Americas today. I want to provide that same kind of visionary leadership so that the 100th Anniversary celebrants look back and see how our decisions made their work possible. I want to provide chapter leadership training and project support. I have proven leadership and organizational skills. I understand budgets and spreadsheets. I am a good listener to both what is said and what is unsaid. People have said that I can think both broadly and about details. I encourage others to take the lead and the spotlight. I am able to maintain a sense of humor and perspective. I share with many other the commitment to Partners and want to ensure its continued growth.

Background: Karen Graham first joined Partners in 1993. Since that time she has served as committee chair, secretary and president of the Oregon-Costa Rica Partners. She supported the wheel chair committee and artist exchange programs, developed the Chapter´s website and newsletter, as well as, created the Volunteer English Teacher and Tutors committee, which sends retired educators to teach in Costa Rica.

Ms. Graham participated in Partners´ Education and Culture Leadership workshop, attended the Belize and Medellin conventions, and received the Leadership and Service Award in 2011 from Partners´ International Office. During that same year, she was elected to the Partners International Board of Directors. Since then, she´s served on the Board Development committees, Executive Committee, Engagement Strategy committee and 50th Anniversary Planning committee. Currently, Ms. Graham is Chair of the International Board.

With a B.S. in Elementary education, M.S. in counseling, M.S. in special education and a Standard Administrative Certificate. She has lead initiatives to further education reform in her district and has taught education classes at Portland State University.

Meanwhile she has also served in many school district leadership positions - Superintendent's Advisory committee, negotiations team, committee chairs and was an instructional leader. Under her leadership the Middle School Task Force obtained a 20/20 grant.

Jhani Laupus Active Member Since: Joined Indiana Partners in 1978; Member of Washington, D.C. Partners 1981-83; rejoined Indiana Partners 1989 – present.

Local Chapter: Indiana Partners, US Region Qualifications: Portuguese and Spanish language ability and cultural understanding from first-hand experience studying, traveling working and voluntarily in Latin American and Europe.

Professional experience developing budgets and curricula, well-versed in program planning and execution, public relations and communications. Organizational management expertise in government, business, and nonprofit sectors. Legal training and experience with organizational ethics and change, as well as, fundraising training. Cross cultural connections and understanding.

Personal Statement: Partners is at a pivotal point in its existence. I want to be part of strengthening our organization and drawing new members and leaders into it for the next 50 years of our successes in improving life across the hemisphere. A specific idea that I would hope to dedicate my service to as a board member would be the establishment of a leadership training academy for our chapter leaders to offer more for our volunteer leaders to find self-improvement, stimulate and share within their chapters, and gain skills that carry over to professional advancement while making our program delivery stronger. The strength of our organization is the creativity and dynamic energy that all of us bring to our mission. I will do all I can to ensure we are accomplishing just that, rebuilding a stronger grassroots base while retaining our position at the table in the highest circles of leadership.

Background: Jhani Laupus first joined Partners in 1978, after she began working for the Lt. Governor of the State of Indiana building a program promoting Indiana's international connections and trade opportunities with Latin America. After living in Washington DC for several years, she returned to Indiana where she been an active member and leader of the Indiana-RS Partners for more than 25 years.

She has held various office within the chapter including: Member & Chair, VP for Public Relations, Board member and Chapter President from 20082013. Ms. Laupus has also served on and led a number of Chapter committees, such as ---Youth Ambassador Committee Member & Chair, Youth Ag Leadership Exchange Chair; Coaching Coaches exchange coordinator; Soccer for Youth Sport Development exchange Chair; Viva Vila and Girl Empowerment projects coordinator; Business Fellows, coordinator and host; Legislative Fellows Committee member and host; new leader training and delegate at Ouro Preto Convention; Emergency Preparedness and Security at Global Sport Events, project chair; Midwest Regional Partners Conference by Illinois Partners, coordinated Indiana delegation; Brazil Connect -Rio, chapter participant; and Raising Partners Workshop by RS Partners, collaborator.

Ms. Laupus is the founding director for the National Committee on Planned Giving (now the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning) in the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy (now the IU School of Philanthropy). She has traveled extensively throughout Latin America both personally and professionally.

Christian Stalberg Active Member Since: Joined San Francisco Partners in 1986; joined North Carolina Partners in 2010.

Local Chapter: North Carolina Partners, US Region Qualifications: Experienced with non-profit strategic planning, writing press releases, grant proposals and business plans - including five year pro forma financial projections. Expert on use of information technology for public and private organizations. Formal board training and experience serving on numerous Boards of Directors Expertise in several areas including disaster preparedness, response, recovery and hazard mitigation; information technology; telecommunications; energy efficient building design; and, agriculture. Extensive private and public sector contacts throughout the Americas. Excellent written and oral communication skills for both the public and private sectors. Cross cultural sensitivity in both professional and personal settings.

Personal Statement: Partners has implemented sweeping changes to mitigate the loss of membership and strengthen and capitalize on its amazing network. The positive benefits of these changes can be magnified through strategic use of the internet, and the organization appears committed to go down this path. While these changes are beneficial, I believe that the most important task before the organization now is to develop unrestricted sources of funding so that it can more fully leverage its impacts through expanded exchanges, projects and new initiatives. If elected I will work to develop unrestricted sources of funding for Partners, help guide its strategic leveraging of the internet, and make myself available to the Partnership’s to communicate their concerns and desires to the Board.

Background: Christian Stalberg joined San Francisco Partners in 1986, remained a member through 1992, traveled several times to Mexico City, served as executive director, Board member and Board President. He participated in Partner’s International convention in Ajijic, Mexico in 1989.

He registered the partners.net domain name and built Partners' first website. He was selected for Leadership Training, International Exchange Association, Colorado Springs, CO in 1989. He joined North Carolina Partners in 2010, serving first as chair of the Environment & Natural Resources subcommittee, then on the NC Partners Board in 2011 as Vice President/President Elect, before becoming President in 2013. He holds a BA in Environmental Studies & Planning, CSU Sonoma, has received formal Board training and served on many Boards of Directors over the last thirty years, including: San Francisco\Mexico City Partners; North Carolina\Cochabamba, Bolivia Partners; NCWARN; ACLU of North Carolina; Weaver Street Market; Sonoma County Co-op; Peace & Justice Center of Sonoma County; Cotati Food Cooperative; EcoAccess; Center for Community Alternatives; and, Carolina Living Lands.

Mr. Stalberg participated in a think tank at Apple Computer in 1985 entitled "Low-Cost Information Sharing: Where We've Been, Where We're Going". He later served as a Planning Council member for International Informatics Access, where he helped organize three conferences: 1987 (Dallas); 1993 (Budapest); and, 1997 (Singapore). He´s the founder and coordinator of International Building Performance Simulation Association, Research Triangle Park, NC chapter, as well as, founder and former Chair of the Research Triangle Park chapter of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility 2001-2004.