USBF Board of Directors unanimously elects Maria Kivisild Ogrydziak Chairman at annual meeting
December 11, 2007
Contact: Trevor Dane
Tel: 202-785-5056
E-mail: trevor@usbaltic.org
WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, December 10, 2007, The U.S.- Baltic Foundation’s Executive Director Linas J. Kojelis announced that USBF Board member Maria Kivisild Ogrydziak, was elected unanimously as Chairman of the Board of Directors at USBF’s annual board meeting on Saturday. Effective immediately, Ms. Ogrydziak assumes the Chairmanship from William Altman, who will remain a member of the Board. In addition, Hamid Ladjevardi was re-elected as Co-Chair (Baltics), George Ramonas as Treasurer, Cindy Pasky as Secretary, and Edward Clark as Vice- Chair. Linas Kojelis was elected Vice-Chair- Programs.
“I am honored to be elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the U.S.-Baltic Foundation and I look forward to leading USBF to continue to play essential role in promoting strong ties between the U.S. and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,” said Maria Kivisild Ogrydziak
Ms. Ogrydziak, President and Founder of Maria Ogrydziak Architecture (http://www.oarch.com) in Davis, California, has been a member of the U.S.- Baltic Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2005. Ms. Ogrydziak is currently the Chair for the 2008 U.S.- Baltic Gala, which is foundation’s annual fundraiser in Washington, DC. Ms. Ogrydziak is the second Estonian- American to be elected Chairman of USBF’s Board of Directors. Ms. Ogrydziak stated that her top priorities will be to create a new exchange program for USBF, increase USBF’s visibility in the Baltic States and work with American organizations to establish a long lasting alliance between the U.S. and the Baltic States.
The U.S.- Baltic Foundation (USBF) was established in 1990 to unite all Americans who supported the aspirations of the people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for democracy and independence and are dedicated to strengthening our trans-Atlantic ties with the Baltics in the 21st century. As is described at our website (www.usbaltic.org), in the 1990’s USBF initiated a broad range of programs including municipal government development, training for independent media professionals and NGO development. As an advocate for closer U.S.- Baltic relations, USBF also initiated a broad range of cultural, government and public relations programs including a nationwide tour of Baltic modern art, our Ambassador’s Council luncheons in the U.S. Capitol and development of the Singing Revolution documentary about Estonia’s struggle for freedom (http://www.singingrevolution.com).
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