Lester L. Wolff (1919 – 2021)

Chairman, Lester L. Wolff Enterprises, Ltd.

Washington D.C.

  • Served as Representative in the US Congress for 16 years (8 terms) and held a variety of positions, including:
    • Chairman, Asian and Pacific Affairs Committee
      • Brokered with Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping the breakthrough that established formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China
    • Chairman, Foreign Policy Planning
    • Chairman, Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control
    • Ranking Member, Banking and Currency Committee
    • Ranking Member, Science and Aeronautics Committee
    • Ranking Member, Veteran Affairs Committee
  • Appointed by President Johnson as US Representative to the OECD
  • Appointed by President Kennedy to serve on numerous trade missions to The Philippines, Hong Kong and Malaysia
  • Appointed by President Carter as Deputy and Chief Delegate to the 32nd General Assembly of the United Nations with the rank of Ambassador
  • Currently:
    • Chairman, Lester L. Wolff Enterprises, Ltd.
    • Chairman, International Trade and Development Agency, Inc.
    • Chairman, International Information Agency, Inc.
    • Chairman, American International Learning Corp.
    • Chairman, Pacific Community Institute, a non-government body of prominent Asian and US personages dedicated to improving relations among the nations of the Pacific Basin
    • Serves on the Board of Directors of a number of US industrial firms
    • Produces and moderates the award-winning half-hour weekly PBS TV programme Ask Congress, which is telecast nationally on satellite

Roman Murashkovsky – Senior Advisor, Politics, International Business, Sport

  • Served in the Kremlin as Presidential Advisor
  • Member, Board of Directors, International Tennis Federation (ITF), the governing body of world tennis, wheelchair tennis, and beach tennis, 2009 to 2015
  • Chairman of the ITF Seniors Committee
  • Native Russian, fluent English
  • Organized Round Tables on International Security between the US Congress and the Russian Duma after 9/11
  • Senior International Advisor to the Russian Government on the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi
  • Vice President of the Russian Tennis Federation
  • International Advisor to Mayor Bloomberg and New York City’s Olympic Bid NYC2012
  • Began advising the Soviet government in 1989
  • Living and working between NYC and Moscow since 1991

Suzanne Stafford – Senior Advisor, International Business, Russia and Former Soviet Republics

  • Ph.D. Program in International Business,  UC Berkeley, USA
  • MBA, UC Berkeley, USA
  • Masters in International Relations, VA Tech, USA
  • Native English, reasonable Russian
  • Began working with the Soviet Union while at Bank of America in 1978
  • Consults with Gazprom’s Reforms Conference Committee
    • Presented annual invited papers at Gazprom’s Reforms Conference·        Liaised with EXXON and Conoco Phillips
  • Works closely with the US Congress’ Open World, including hosting Open World delegations to the US from Russia and the CIS
  • Co-wrote op-eds with ESC colleague Ian Pryde, including “Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Need Not Invest Here” on Moscow’s bureaucratic hurdles to foreigners working in Russia, The Moscow Times, 24 August 2010
  • Conducts training programs in Moldova through Open World and George Soros lecturing
  • Consults with Moldova’s Association of Small Wine Producers
  • Conducts International Economics and Business Training with Moldova, Germany, Russia via teleconferencing
  • Advises companies and several emerging market governments on strategic development issues and opportunities
  • Senior Trade Consultant for the State of North Carolina under Governor Martin
  • Expedited the first Soviet Management Training Programs in the US with Duke University and Wake Forest University in 1988
  • Assisted several Soviet Ministries in reaching out to their western counterparts in setting up trade and joint production.
  • Worked with the Soviets in introducing their furniture into the world’s annual wholesale furniture market in High Point, North Carolina
  • Represented the Russian couturier The House of Zaitsev in entering the US market
  • Worked closely with Soviet Trade Representative Igor Bassos and the USSR in establishing its Trade Office in Washington, D.C.
  • Developed the close relationship between the United Methodist Church and the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox University in Moscow
  • Formed her own company, Stafford Holding Company, INC. to assist western companies and organizations in establishing operations and joint ventures with the Soviet Union
  • Worked at the East European-Soviet Division of Bank of America from 1977, concentrating on developmental loans, including loans to the Soviet Union for developing pipelines in the oil and gas industry
  • Conducted exploration, negotiations and laid foundation for Project Agape
  • Worked with the Soviet Peace Fund on developmental work in Belarus, Tajikistan and Armenia
  • Assisted Malawi in establishing its International Trading Association
  • Consulted with the New Zealand Department of Education and the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce

Jonathan Steinberg, Senior Advisor, Strategy, Politics, Economics, Finance (1934 – 2021)

  • Walter H. Annenberg Professor Emeritus of Modern European History, University of Pennsylvania
  • Reader in Modern European History, University of Cambridge
  • Visiting Lecturer at the Universities of Harvard, Sienna, Western Australia, Pennsylvania State University and in Lithuania the Universities of Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda
  • Emeritus Fellow, Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge
  • Ph.D. in History, University of Cambridge
  • M.A. in History, University of Cambridge
  • B in Economics, Harvard University
  • Expert in European, US, Jewish history, politics, economics and finance
  • Native command of German and Italian
  • Market analyst, foreign exchange dealer and portfolio adviser at M.M. Warburg & Co., Hamburg and E. M. Warburg & Co., New York
  • Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, Techne (Cambridge) Ltd., a world leader in the design and manufacture of temperature control equipment
  • Author of several books, including:
    • Bismarck: A Life, Oxford University Press, 2011
    • Bismarck
      • is “the best study of its subject in the English language,” Otto von Bismarck, Master Statesman, Henry A. Kissinger, The New York Times Book Review, 31 March 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/03/books/review/book-review-bismarck-by-jonathan-steinberg.html
      • was shortlisted for the BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for non-fiction in July 2011 and for the Duff Cooper Prize for biography in February 2012
      • has been translated into German, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Romanian, Danish and Portuguese.
    • Why Switzerland?, 2nd Edition, 1996
    • European History and European Lives, 1715 to 1914, a 36-part series of biographies produced by The Teaching Company, 2003
    • “Yesterday’s Deterrent: Tirpitz and the Birth of the German Battle Fleet
    • All or Nothing: The Axis and the Holocaust 1941-43
    • The Deutsche Bank and its Gold Transactions during the Second World War (1999)
      • Report commissioned by the Historical Commission of the Deutsche Bank.
  • Author of numerous articles and book reviews on politics, economics and history for The Financial Times, The London Review of Books, The Evening Standard, and The Times Literary Supplement
  • Author of numerous TV and radio documentaries, including, Secure in their Persons, a BBC Radio 4 series on the US Constitution
  • Member of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets
  • Conducted seminars/conferences for leading German and Swiss companies seeking to improve their market position in the USA, including Zurich Financial Services, 2005
  • Conducted seminars for senior executives at IBM
  • Conducted summer schools for senior officers in the British Armed Forces

Fred Mostoller – Senior Advisor, Finance, Politics, International Business

  • B.Sc. in Economics (honors), University of Washington, Seattle, USA
  • B.A. in International Trade & Finance, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
  • CFA, Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA Institute
  • PMP, Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute (PMI)
  • English, native, working knowledge of Russian, Spanish, French
  • Nine years of international experience as financial director, project manager, technical advisor, management consultant. Central government financial, economic, and regulatory policy reforms, and capital markets institutional development. Guest university lecturer in finance, government policy, and international affairs
  • Eleven years’ experience in U.S. capital markets. Senior financial/operations manager, and head of regulatory compliance in investment banks. Senior regulatory auditor
  • Public sector institutional reform expert with an emphasis in organizational restructuring and process re-engineering; strategic planning, financial planning, and budgeting; governance and risk management.
  • Private sector specialist in corporate/project finance; financial/operational management; organizational restructuring and process re-engineering; strategic planning, financial planning, and budgeting; governance and risk management.
  • Director of Corporate Finance and Management Consulting, Deloitte Touche; Elite Consulting; Horwath International; PricewaterhouseCoopers, Yemen/Middle East. (Followed same Managing Partner to successive firms.)
    • Management Consulting: Developing and presenting business cases for major management consulting projects, including enterprise restructuring; strategic budgeting process; performance measurement and reporting. Drafted business plans, policies and procedures.
    • Corporate Finance: Co-led assignments to raise capital for major projects (e.g., steel mill, oil refinery, oil tanker) by developing feasibility and valuation models. Mediated in negotiations between borrowers and lenders. Performed share valuation for a ‘PIPE’ in an Indian pharmaceuticals company and enterprise valuation for an international hotel. Conducted due diligence for MBO (MENA division of a global chemical company). Authored Business Valuation Guide for Deloitte, Middle East.
    • Training & Development: Built firms’ regional consulting knowledgebase. Raised professional standards through training and mentoring junior consultants. Authored Business Valuation Guide for Deloitte M.E.
  • Country Manager, IMF Reforms in Yemen (SEFM-III 2001 – 2004) Sponsors: U.K. Government (DFID); International Monetary Fund (IMF); United Nations Development Program (UNDP); Contractor: WSPimc, Sana’a, Yemen
    • The SEFM-III program (Strengthening Economic and Financial Management, Phase III) was the IMF’s country program for Yemen to modernize financial and operational management across seven central government ministries. (Ministry of Finance; Central Bank; Tax Authority; Customs Authority; Central Statistics Organization; Public and Private Pension Funds.)
    • Managed USD 20 million budget. Proposed revisions to strategic program plan and budget to meet contingencies and maximize project impact. Presented and defended changes for approval by U.K. government sponsors and regional IMF leaders.
    • Led multiple, cross-functional teams and coordinated international inputs. Fostered collaborative linkages between various national and international organizations to drive project objectives.
    • Implemented modern information systems and financial management systems and controls. Restructured operations. Developed policies and procedures.
    • Guest lecturer, Kyrgyz State National University, Kyrgyz International University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  • USAID Capital Markets Development Project, Cairo, Egypt
  • USAID Capital Markets Development Project, Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Advisor, Development of Global Gateway Program – Private Enterprise Support Project (PESP) World Bank Kyrgyzstan
  • Advisor, USAID Capital Markets Development Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan, Almaty, Bishkek
  • Financial Systems Consultant, Morgan Stanley & Co, New York, USA
  • Financial Systems Consultant, American Futures Group, New York, USA
  • Chief Operating Officer, Strategic Resource Management, New York, USA
  • Manager, Operations & Accounting (Needham & Co.; Whale Securities LLP, New York, USA
  • Operations/Compliance Consultant (Joseph Stevens, LLP, New York, USA
  • Controller/Director of Compliance (Whale Securities LLP, New York, USA
  • Senior Auditor, NASD, New York, USA
  • Unit Trust Administrator, U.S. Trust Co, New York, USA

Alla Groshenkova – Senior Advisor, Branding, Sport, Marketing, Business

  • MBA (summa cum laude), Global Management with Specialization in Marketing & Strategy, Thunderbird School of Global Management
  • B.S. with Distinction in Business Administration & Management, Touro College New York
  • Native Russian, native fluency in English, conversational Ukrainian; five years living, studying and working in the USA
  • Customer Manager, Sneaky Big Studios, Arizona, USA
  • Freelance Account Executive, BIG YAM, The Parsons Agency, Arizona, USA
  • Founder, Mom On Life
  • COO, La Familia
  • Brand Creative Project Manager & Brand Project Coordinator, GoDaddy.com
    • Managed the Go Daddy Productions department (team of 10), responsible for video/audio, design production and all event support.
    • Coordinated commercial projects for 3 Super Bowl games
  • Marketing Communications Consultant, David and Sam PR, Phoenix, AZ, USA
    • Collaborated on public relations, advertising, promotional campaign development, and strategic account management for current and prospective clients including Lemonade Day, Serenity Hospice, Cypress HomeCare Solutions and My Sister’s Attic.
    • Consulted Harrison Hurwitz Photography to successfully adapt its business model and brand positioning to the new market trends, and developed new online and PR strategies that doubled the number of bookings.
    • Spearheaded creative concept development “Sell your Ghosts” for print ad campaign for My Sister’s Attic in Phoenix Home & Garden magazine resulting in 25% increased sales revenue in the first month.
    • Audited business development procedures at David and Sam PR and devised strategic and tactical solutions that have increased revenue by 10%.
  • Helped found in 2005 and operated a profitable event management company in Moscow, Russia – Matrix4
  • Extensive experience in leading branding, advertising, promotional projects and entertainment events with up to 10,000 guests, including DirolCadbury, BAT, Sony Pictures Russia, Central Partnership, SP2, Nutricia, CBSD/Thunderbird Russia, etc.
  • Created and managed production of radio, outdoor and print advertising campaigns; as well as had some hands on PR experience.
  • Eli Lilly and Company: International Marketing Internship in Indianapolis, IN, USA
    • Conducted primary and analyzed secondary market research data for a six country product launch.
    • Created a tool for selecting optimal marketing channel mix for PCPs applicable for future drug launches.
  • Director’s Assistant on the documentary film about Russia “Models, not Missiles”, New York and Moscow, 2005-6
  • Joint Organiser of the International Conference / Training by Harvard Professor John P. Kotter: Leading Change – What Leaders Really Do, September, 2004
  • Joint Organiser of the International Conference: «Talking Together: Business, Culture and Friendship» Shanghai, China, October, 2003
  • Training Program Manager on exclusive training programmes for top executives, including:
    • Looking Glass, the market leader in the training industry in Russia
  • Professional training at the Center for Business Skills Development, Moscow, including:
    • Building lean organisations and project leadership

Annemarie O’Brien, Senior Advisor, International Business, Pharmaceuticals

  • MIBS International Business, The Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, cum laude
  • BBA Marketing, Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, cum laude
  • Eta Sigma Phi Honor Society
  • MFA Writing, Vermont College of Fine Arts
    • Awarded Houghton Mifflin Clarion award for best manuscript
  • Native English, good German and Russian
  • Author of Lara’s Gift, published by Penguin/Random House, 2014:
    • “Compelling historical fiction” – Starred Review, School Library Journal, September 2013
    • “Engrossing and powerful” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, May 2013
  • Member, eMarketing Association
  • Member, Public Relations Society of America, San Francisco Chapter
  • 10 plus years of Pharma sales, marketing and PR experience with Pfizer, Eli Lilly and GlaxoSmithKline
  • Principal Consultant, Change Management, PricewaterhouseCoopers
    • Co-advised government on country-wide mass privatization program and its national PE/PR campaign in Kyrgyzstan
    • Set up 3 stock exchanges in Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgzystan
    • Advised, led and conducted first international tender of strategic companies in Kyrgyzstan and managed its national and international PE/PR campaign
    • Project CFO on USAID projects in Bosnia & Russia
    • Managed the DC-based/USAID funded Privatization Center
    • Editor, Privatization Press Clippings
  • VP of New Business Developments, The Atrun Group
    • Managed investor relations program for our oil & gas project in western Siberia
    • Established market for Bill Blass menswear – earned speaking engagements to across America (New York City, Atlanta and Los Angeles) organized by KPMG and the International Trade & Development Office for Apparel & Textiles to promote US exports
  • Adjunct Writing Faculty, UC Berkeley & Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Workshop
  • Market Research Analyst, Market Street Research
    • Conducted market research surveys in the banking, healthcare and entertainment industries