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Swiss Center Appoints Two New Board Members
April 1, 2010
The Swiss Center of North America, announces the appointment of Keri Douglas and Ed Brand to its Board of Directors.
“Passion and expertise are two words I can use to describe our new Board members. Keri is a communications expert and has worked with the Swiss Embassy in Washington, D.C. Ed not only works for an international company, he cherishes his Swiss heritage by singing and playing the alpenhorn in local organizations,” says Beth Zurbuchen, President, Swiss Center of North America.
Keri Douglas is a communications, international relations and legislative affairs expert. She has worked at the White House, the Voice of America and at the Swiss Embassy as press secretary and legislative liaison.
While at the Embassy of Switzerland, Ms. Douglas served as Press Secretary during an international communications crisis. Douglas initiated the Swiss Embassy’s annual congressional staff educational program – the first ever for the Swiss government. She also designed and produced an ongoing series of delegation visits to Switzerland for U.S. media, American business leaders and local, state and federal political officials. She also assisted in establishing the Swiss Congressional Caucus.
Ed Brand is director of Sales for Unfors Instruments, Inc., New Milford, CT. He brings sales and marketing expertise as well as his love of his swiss heritage. At Unfors he is responsible for the sales of state-of-the-art X-Ray test equipment comprising 65% of North American sales.
Ed's heritage is all Swiss. His grandparents on his father's side of the family came from Gondiswil, BE in the early 1900's. His ancestors on his mother's side came from Linthal, GL and settled in New Glarus, WI in the mid-1800's.
These additions increase the number of Swiss Center directors to 12. In addition to Keri and Ed, the members of the Swiss Center’s board include:
• Chair, Brenda Blanchard, VP Public Affairs, Novartis
• Duane Freitag, Retired, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Tom Hefty, Retired, CEO Cobalt Corporation
• Tom Kuhne, CEO WSI
• Todd Larson, Senior Counselor, World Intellectual Property Organization;
• Giambattista Mondada, Consul General of Switzerland
• Ann Sheffels, Physician
• Frimmel Smith, Author, Photographer and Professional Training
• Donald Tritt, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Denison University
• Russell W. Whitacre, Business and Marketing Professional
