Team & Leadership | Brand USA

Potomac, Maryland

Christopher L. Thompson

President & Chief Executive Officer

Christopher L. Thompson

President & Chief Executive Officer

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Community Service

Chris gives back through service on the Federal City Council in the District of Columbia.

Travel in the USA

In the USA, Chris has visited 44 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Favorite Travel Destination

A three-generation family cruise through Alaska that proved Mother Nature is truly in command.

Staci Mellman

Chief Marketing Officer

Staci Mellman

Chief Marketing Officer

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Miami, Florida

Donald F. Richardson, CPA

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Donald F. Richardson, CPA

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer

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Hometown/Home State

Apex, North Carolina

Community Service

DC Public Library Board of Trustees

Favorite Travel Destination

Miami, Florida and New York City, New York

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Aaron Wodin-Schwartz

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

Aaron Wodin-Schwartz

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

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Favorite Travel Memory

I spent a year as a high school exchange student in San Cristobal, Venezuela. Nearly every single day was an exhilarating adventure.

Travel in the USA

Anywhere with fields and ponds to explore, where day-hikes can be capped with a surprisingly good meal.

Something Interesting

Kids in my town spent our summer working at a blueberry farm starting at age 11 or 12: boys picking in the fields and girls working the sorter belts in the barn.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Cassady Bailey

Vice President, Partner Engagement & Marketing

Cassady Bailey

Vice President, Partner Engagement & Marketing

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Something Interesting

I used to work as a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas.

Hometown/Home State

Charleston, West Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

I enjoy white water rafting on the New and Gauley rivers near Fayetteville, WV (have been over 30 times) and for a more relaxing getaway, I love Sonoma, CA.

Washington, DC

Jake Conte

Vice President, General Counsel

Jake Conte

Vice President, General Counsel

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Favorite Travel Memory

If you don’t say your honeymoon, you’re in trouble right? Honeymoon eating, swimming, and sailing on the Croatian coast.

Something Interesting

In my misbegotten youth I once ate nine hot dogs at a baseball game.

Favorite Travel Destination

New England has it all. Four seasons: Beach, skiing, fall foliage, clam bakes and Sunday suppers. There’s only one Fenway Park.

North Rim, Grand Canyon

Jackie Ennis

Vice President, Global Trade Development

Jackie Ennis

Vice President, Global Trade Development

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Favorite Travel Memory

Circling the Statue of Liberty for first time.

Community Service

Delivering Meals on Wheels in remote northern Vermont homes.

Hometown/Home State

Stowe, Vermont

Fairfax, Virginia

Mark Lapidus

Vice President, Product & Technology

Mark Lapidus

Vice President, Product & Technology

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Favorite Travel Memory

North Carolina’s Outer Banks! If you love quiet beaches with amazing sunsets and fishing, Route 12 is the place!

Something Interesting

Mark was the final Program Director for one of the USA’s most iconic disc jockeys, the late Wolfman Jack.

Hometown/Home State

Arlington, Virginia

New York City, New York

Jessie Newcomb, CPA

Vice President, Finance & Accounting

Jessie Newcomb, CPA

Vice President, Finance & Accounting

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Something Interesting

I love to read and listen to stories about history, people and cities.

Hometown/Home State

Taipei, Taiwan and have been in the states over a quarter of century.

Favorite Travel Destination

Crete Island, so much so, that my ideal post retirement career is to be a tour guide there.

Portland, Oregon

Rosina Barbastefano

Sr. Director, Research & Analytics

Rosina Barbastefano

Sr. Director, Research & Analytics

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Favorite Travel Memory

First trip to Naples, Florida with my wife.

Hometown/Home State

Cali, Colombia

Favorite Travel Destination

Portland, Oregon

Pittsburg, PA

Kathrin Kush, CPA

Senior Controller

Kathrin Kush, CPA

Senior Controller

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Favorite Travel Destination

Outer Banks, NC

Hometown/Home State

Sussex, New Jersey

Something Interesting

Completed a month long outdoor survival class (still would rather a hotel to camping though!)

Aspen, Colorado

Cat Reith

Sr. Director, Partner Marketing Programs

Cat Reith

Sr. Director, Partner Marketing Programs

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Favorite Travel Memory

Going to Niagara Falls as a child.

Hometown/Home State

New York, New York

Favorite Travel Destination

Snowmass, Colorado

Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

Brian Watkins

Sr. Director, Information Technology

Brian Watkins

Sr. Director, Information Technology

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Favorite Travel Memory

For Spring Break 2015, taking my family (wife and 4 daughters) to Cancun, Mexico. Kids were old enough to appreciate a different culture.

Something Interesting

Played in a semi-pro Spanish soccer league for 4 years.

Favorite Travel Destination

Outer Banks, North Carolina. Vacationing in the 4x4 beach area and waking up to the wild horses roaming around outside the house.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Susan Zachar

Sr. Director, Integrated Marketing

Susan Zachar

Sr. Director, Integrated Marketing

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Favorite Travel Memory

Visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands via sailboat.

Hometown/Home State

Chicago, Illinois — The Windy City!

Favorite Travel Destination

Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado - the most beautiful hiking and camping I've ever experienced.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Alexis Adelson

Director, Marketing Operations & Special Projects

Alexis Adelson

Director, Marketing Operations & Special Projects

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Favorite Travel Memory

Skydiving on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with my younger brother and summer camp colleagues.

Something Interesting

My secret talent is that I am licensed to drive motorcycles and school buses. However, these days I stick to my car!

Hometown/Home State

Potomac, Maryland

Victoria, British Columbia

Chelsea Benitez

Director, Consumer Research

Chelsea Benitez

Director, Consumer Research

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Hometown/Home State

Los Angeles, California

Skylar Clark

Director, Partner Marketing

Skylar Clark

Director, Partner Marketing

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Favorite Travel Memory

As a child, my family loved to take cruises down to U.S. Virgin Islands. I have the best memories exploring the different islands and swimming with dolphins!

Hometown/Home State

Solomon’s Island, Maryland. It’s popular for its sailing, seafood, and beautiful sunset views.

Favorite Travel Destination

I love the beauty and culture of San Diego, California. Plus, the beaches are great for surfing and have my favorite animal: seals!

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Casey D'Ambra

Director of Content

Casey D'Ambra

Director of Content

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Favorite Travel Memory

Almost trampled by a black rhinoceros in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Something Interesting

Appeared in an episode of the TV show, Burn Notice

Hometown/Home State

West Palm Beach, Florida

Taj Mahal

Chris Ellis

Director, Partner Engagement

Chris Ellis

Director, Partner Engagement

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Favorite Travel Memory

Watching the sunset over the Gulf Coast while in Sanibel Beach, Florida.

Hometown/Home State

Born in the United Kingdom but lived most of my life outside of the U.K.

Favorite Travel Destination

Denver, Colorado

Craters of the Moon Monument, Idaho

Luke Hennig

Director, Partner Operations

Luke Hennig

Director, Partner Operations

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Favorite Travel Memory

I got the travel bug early when my family lived in India for five months and I spent half my eighth grade year at an international school!

Community Service

As co-chair of Brand USA’s Corporate Social Responsibility committee, I am honored to help shape Brand USA’s approach to giving back.

Hometown/Home State

I’m proud of my home state of Minnesota for its many “hidden gem” experiences for visitors, especially in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).

Richmond, Virginia

Colleen Mangone

Director, Executive Communications and Operations

Colleen Mangone

Director, Executive Communications and Operations

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More About Colleen

Favorite Travel Memory

Celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary as a family in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Hometown/Home State

I split my growing up between Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Community Service

I volunteer at my church.

Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon

Jennifer Ross

Director, Media & In-Kind Planning

Jennifer Ross

Director, Media & In-Kind Planning

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More About Jennifer

Favorite Travel Memory

Family vacations to the Great Smoky Mountains growing up

Community Service

Community Outreach for Capital Rowing Club

Hometown/Home State

Charleston, South Carolina

New Orleans, Louisiana

Suzy Shepard

Director, Global Trade Development (Asia Pacific)

Suzy Shepard

Director, Global Trade Development (Asia Pacific)

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Something Interesting

I’ve been doing Krav for about 5 years now and am Level 4.

Hometown/Home State

San Jose, Costa Rica

Favorite Travel Destination

Somewhere new that I have never been to before.

Sade Smith

Director, Human Resources

Sade Smith

Director, Human Resources

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Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland

Craig Ashby

Sr. Manager, Business Processes & Financial Analytics

Craig Ashby

Sr. Manager, Business Processes & Financial Analytics

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Favorite Travel Memory

Visit to George Washington National Forest in West Virginia. The Dark skies show the Milky Way and it was one the most beautiful sites I have seen.

Community Service

Habitat for Humanity rebuild in New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. I also volunteer for church projects to assist the elderly.

Favorite Travel Destination

There are many. My favorite destination in the U.S. would be the Rocky Mountains; Puerto Rico for magnificent scenery, beaches, and musical nightlife: and New Orleans for the jazz music.

Atlanta, Georgia

George Bansah

Sr. Manager, Budget & Forecast Liaison

George Bansah

Sr. Manager, Budget & Forecast Liaison

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Travel in the USA

I've been to ten states and Washington, DC.

Something Interesting

I was voted "Nicest Guy" and "Nicest Smile" in high school.

Hometown/Home State

Ghana, West Africa and Woodbridge, Virginia

Colorado River

Aila Bereznak

Sr. Salesforce Administrator

Aila Bereznak

Sr. Salesforce Administrator

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Favorite Travel Memory

Paddleboarding among bioluminescence algae followed by a winter solstice bonfire on the beach in Mexico.

Hometown/Home State

Oak Creek, Colorado

Favorite Travel Destination

Istanbul

White Mountains, New Hampshire

Casey Canevari

Sr. Manager, Global Trade Development (Canada)

Casey Canevari

Sr. Manager, Global Trade Development (Canada)

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Favorite Travel Memory

Seeing elephants for the first time on a safari in Africa.

Something Interesting

Casey once got lost hiking on a volcano in Guatemala and missed the last bus out for the night, so he had to spend the evening with an indigenous family who took him in as one of their own family members.

Hometown/Home State

Warwick, New York

Vail, Colorado

Amanda Davis

Sr. Manager, Global Trade Development (UK, Europe)

Amanda Davis

Sr. Manager, Global Trade Development (UK, Europe)

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Favorite Travel Memory

My favorite trip was a family road trip throughout Arizona, including stops in Sedona, Scottsdale, and the Grand Canyon.

Hometown/Home State

Richmond, Virginia

Favorite Travel Destination

The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. It's a hidden gem!

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Peter Dodge

Sr. Manager, Public Affairs

Peter Dodge

Sr. Manager, Public Affairs

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Favorite Travel Memory

When I was a kid, my family took a cross-country trip from Massachusetts to New Mexico and I remember being amazed realizing how unique the United States is.

Travel in the USA

I’ve lived in six states and Washington, DC and love exploring the diverse landscapes and cultures in each region of our great country.

Hometown/Home State

Charleston, South Carolina