Board of Directors
Counterpart International's board of directors is comprised of at least five but no more than fifteen voting members, who are responsible for the legal and fiduciary operations of the organization. The full board of directors meets four times a year, and committees meet as needed to prepare recommendations for full board approval.
Officers
Jeffrey LaRiche has served as CASTLE Worldwide's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since 2000. CASTLE is one of the leading U.S. companies involved in developing and administering high-stakes examinations for trade and professional organizations.
Jeffrey's prior management experience includes: Associate Director for Finance and Administration at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; Acting President of the United States International Cultural and Trade Center Commission and Deputy Assistant Secretary for External Affairs at the Smithsonian Institution office that oversaw congressional relations, development and membership programs. Jeffrey received his B.A. in History and M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and taught in Afghanistan as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1969 to 1971.
Active in the arts, Jeffrey has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. He is a founding trustee of the Asian Heritage Foundation (New Delhi, India), and currently serves on the boards of directors of North Carolina Arts-in-Action (Chapel Hill, NC) and the American Center for Photography (Minneapolis, MN).
On why he supports Counterpart: I have always believed in “giving back,” in doing what one may to make the world a better place. Counterpart is a leader among non-profits in working with communities around the world to acquire the skills and tools they need to sustain and advance themselves. Throughout its more than forty-year history, Counterpart programs have assisted countless communities and individuals in achieving their development goals and in gaining self-sufficiency as they do so. We call it “The Counterpart Way,” and it is the best form of international development.
Deborah Nolan is a partner at the accounting firm, Ernst & Young, where she works within the firm's National Tax Department; assisting global companies develop and implement tax risk management and controversy strategies by working more effectively with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and regulators worldwide.
Having worked in public service for 34 years, Deborah most recently served as the commissioner of the Large and Mid-Size Business Division of the IRS and is passionate about leadership issues related to diversity and inclusion, mentoring, change leadership and breakthrough performance. For over a decade, Deborah has been a key leader in modernizing tax administration for large multinational corporate taxpayers. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of California and is the recipient of several awards, including the Presidential Rank Award, both Meritorious and Distinguished.
Deborah holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from California State University, Hayward. A married mother of two, she lives in Oak Hill, VA and has served on Counterpart’s Board since 2009.
On why she supports Counterpart: "I believe in its mission and vision. I have a personal desire to make a positive and meaningful difference…sounds cliché perhaps, but to be provided with an opportunity to help eliminate or minimize suffering, hunger, sadness on the part of other human beings and supporting them to be self-sufficient over the long term, is part of being a responsible member of the human race and an opportunity that I could not pass up."
Les is the founder and president of Signature Resources Inc., an international consulting firm that specializes in leadership, governance and strategy. He is also a frequent consultant and speaker on issues of organizational transformation and leadership, strategic thinking, board of directors' development and governance, coaching and team building.
Les has served as a university professor and administrator at the University of Oregon and Colorado State University, as well as serving as a hospital administrator at a large urban teaching hospital. He created the first ever quality of work life conference in the People's Republic of China in collaboration with the China Executive Leadership Academy and is on the faculty of the Institute for Global Chinese Affairs at the University of Maryland. He is active in the World Business Academy and the World Future Society. He recently served on the board of directors of Security First Bank in the Midwest.
Les obtained his Ph.D. in Communication and Organizational Behavior from the University of Oregon. He enjoys fly-fishing and spending time with his grandchildren at his home in Aurora, Colorado. Les has been a board member with Counterpart International since 2006.
On why he supports Counterpart: "Counterpart teaches people and communities to lead themselves. It allows them to make the decisions that influence their own development, which is something I strongly support."
David develops luxury resorts and wineries, such as Cali351, that stimulate economic opportunities in their communities and provide memorable experiences for guests.
David is also the Managing Partner of Alchemy Ventures Group in San Francisco, which he founded with after working in investment banking at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan. While serving as managing partner and principal for resort developments for Alchemy in Micronesia, he was involved in many aspects of development, particularly in infrastructure improvements for better schools, roads, water and sewage systems, power and airports.
David has a BA in Philosophy and Political Science, and an MBA from Columbia. He lives in Occidental, CA, located in Sonoma County's wine country and has been involved with Counterpart International since 2006.
On why he supports Counterpart: "Counterpart's work helps people to help themselves create a better life. This is a sustainable form of 'aid' to people around the world. Providing the tools for people to create better communities and lives is a wonderful way to leverage finite resources for greater good in the world."
Members
Brenda has been a member of Counterpart International's board of directors since 2009. She and her husband are founders and principals of the boutique management consulting firm, Eddy Associates, Inc.
An executive coach and career consultant working mainly with senior officers in Fortune 500 companies, Brenda worked for almost a decade under USAID funding a program that provided technical assistance in management to international NGOs. During this period, she worked with over 100 organizations, including Counterpart. Brenda was also active in the founding of InterAction, the trade association for humanitarian organizations. During her time as Executive Director at the End Hunger Network she produced the global rock concert “Live Aid” which was televised internationally and became one of the most successful charity fund raising events in history.
Brenda has an MBA from the Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree in marketing from the University of Southern California. A mother of three grown children, Brenda lives in Los Angeles, CA and is now a proud grandmother.
On why she supports Counterpart: "Counterpart has consistently helped communities build and independently maintain institutions and systems of their own choosing that allowed them to take good care of their children and families and become prosperous and self-sufficient. This is very rare, even among the best agencies. The ability to do it consistently for decades in hundreds of communities across multiple cultures on four continents is little short of amazing."
Thomas E. Lovejoy became the first recipient of the newly created Heinz Center Biodiversity Chair in August 2008. From 2002 to 2008, he served as President of the Heinz Center.
Before going to The Heinz Center, he was the World Bank’s Chief Biodiversity Advisor and Lead Specialist for Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean and Senior Advisor to the President of the United Nations Foundation. Dr. Lovejoy has been Assistant Secretary and Counselor to the Secretary at the Smithsonian Institution, Science Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior and Executive Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund–U.S. He conceived the idea for the Minimum Critical Size of Ecosystems project (a joint project between the Smithsonian and Brazil's INPA), originated the concept of debt-for-nature swaps and is the founder of the public television series Nature.
In 2001, he was awarded the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. Dr. Lovejoy served on science and environmental councils or committees under the Reagan, Bush and Clinton administrations. He received his B.S. and Ph.D. (biology) degrees from Yale University.
On why he supports Counterpart: “There is no solution to the great problems of the world without improving the quality of life for the billions of disadvantaged that need assistance. Counterpart is remarkably effective at on the ground practical improvements in human wellbeing and I am proud to support the organization.”
Washington, DC
Eric Meade is vice president and senior futurist at the Institute for Alternative Futures, a non-profit research and education organization founded in 1977 by Clem Bezold, Alvin Toffler and Jim Dator.
Meade provides a variety of facilitation and futurist consulting services for government agencies, non-profits, and foundations. His recent work includes the development of scenarios of the future of primary care in 2025 for the Kresge Foundation, as well as scenarios of vulnerability in the U.S. in 2030 for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Previously, Meade worked as a business executive and entrepreneur in Asia, where he set up the China sourcing operation of Melissa & Doug, Inc., a major U.S. toy manufacturer. He speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and has a deep understanding of Chinese culture and business practices. He also served for five years as a nuclear submarine officer in the U.S. Navy.
Meade has a Master's in Business Administration from INSEAD and a Bachelor's degree in history from the University of Virginia, where he graduated magna cum laude. He is a member of the World Future Society and the Association of Professional Futurists.
He resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
On why he supports Counterpart: "Counterpart has spent almost 50 years refining an approach to international development that is only now entering the mainstream – engaging at the community level and with a deep respect for their partners. I am thrilled to be a part of Counterpart’s cutting-edge efforts to empower communities to improve their own lives."
Washington, DC
Jennifer is the Corporate Controller at Summit Materials, an acquisition company conscious of both its environmental and social responsibilities and committed to working with established local businesses.
Jennifer brings to Counterpart an extensive background in integrated audits, including financial reporting and compliance in accordance with U.S. GAAP, SEC Rules and Regulations and PCAOB standards. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant with over 10 years of experience leading audits of government contractors in the D.C. area for KPMG and Booz Allen Hamilton. Jenn is treasurer and also sits on the board of the non-profit organization, Our Daily Bread, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities in Fairfax, VA to help individuals and families maintain self-sufficiency.
She received her BS in Finance and Accounting from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. A mother of two girls, Jenn currently lives in the Washington DC area.
On why she supports Counterpart: “To raise the standard of living for people around the world is a responsibility of not only the wealthiest nation in the world, but of its citizens. Counterpart has shown great success and enthusiasm in bettering the lives of people in diverse environments and inspiring and training individuals to achieve self-sufficiency.”
Marcia Silverman is the Chair and former Global CEO of Ogilvy PR, a renowned global public relations agency that specializes in consumer marketing, corporate, healthcare, social marketing and more.
Marcia was previously the President of the Americas for Ogilvy PR and has been described by PR Week as one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in PR” and one of the “100 Most Influential PR Professionals” of the 20th century. Marcia has also worked for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), where she was deputy director of public affairs and later director of women's activities.
Silverman has a BA and a Masters of Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2010, she was awarded the Public Relations Society of America’s prestigious Paladin Award and currently lives in the Washington DC area.
On why she supports Counterpart:
Judith H. Whittlesey is the Executive Vice President of Susan Davis International (SDI), a communications, government relations and public affairs firm located in Washington, D.C.
She has served on numerous non-profit boards and has more than 20 years of broad-based experience in strategic planning; media relations; institutional positioning for non-profit organizations and institutions; and in the organization of issue, cause and political campaigns at the national, state and grassroots levels. Some of the projects Judith has managed include the dedication and public introduction of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Japanese American Memorial. She also led the communications campaign for the Library of Congress Bicentennial celebration.
In 2007, Judith was inducted into the National Capital Public Relations Society of America’s Hall of Fame.
On why she supports Counterpart: “It has become so clear in recent years that when the right models are put in place to address the challenges faced by people and communities around the world, as well as here at home, progress can be made, more civil societies can be achieved, and more human needs met. Counterpart’s track record of building sustainable solutions for those challenges, through empowering individuals and communities is impressive and growing. I want to be supportive of those efforts.”
