City of Greer Event Hall & The Cannon Center
The 2023 Global Upstate Conference on International Business and World Affairs, presented by the World Affairs Council Upstate and hosted at the City of Greer Event Hall and the Cannon Centre, is an interdisciplinary event that will bring scholars and leaders together for serious and thoughtful discussions about the most pressing issues and opportunities facing the world.
Over the course of two days in October 2023, the conference will host representatives of different international companies, government agencies, national think-tanks, universities, the military, non-governmental organizations, and many more.
From ambassadors to Foreign Service officials to presidential speechwriters, the Global Upstate Conference on International Business & World Affairs is bringing movers and shakers with worldwide impact to the Upstate of South Carolina to share their insights, tell their stories, and shed light on international trends.
Giving you details and context and personal experience which can’t be gleaned from newspaper headlines or cable news talking heads, the conference speakers and panelists listed below will give you a front seat to the most important trends, deals, and conflicts taking place in the world today.
Frank Davis represents both publicly and privately held companies, including family businesses, in acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, strategic alliances, economic development transactions and general contract negotiations. He has particular depth of practice in representing companies based outside of the U.S. in connection with U.S. transactions and operations, and coordinating multi-discipline teams. He holds an LL.M.…
David Snepp, Senior Director, Head of Defense, Intelligence & Law Enforcement – Americas Moody’s Analytics David Snepp heads the Defense, Intelligence & Law Enforcement security subsegment for Moody’s Analytics Global Government practice. Previous to joining Moody’s, David was a subject matter expert for the US Army Mission Command Training Program based at Ft. Leavenworth,…
Matthew Placek is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of South Carolina Upstate. His research focuses on the influence of social media and the internet on political attitudes in new democracies and non-democratic regimes. His work has been published in Democratization, East European Politics, the International Journal of Communication, and The Washington…
Sonata Coulter is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State overseeing policy toward Russia and Central Europe. Immediately prior to assuming her duties, she served as Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. Previously, Ms. Coulter served as Deputy Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow,…
Srikanth Kodeboyina, Founder and Managing Partner, Blue Eye Soft/Blue Space Blue Eye Soft/Blue Space founder Srikanth Kodeboyina came to the United States from rural India to pursue his education. After earning a master’s in computer and electrical engineering, he quickly transitioned to project manager roles for Fortune 100 companies and became an American citizen after…
Maggi Whiston is a dynamic Double Degree Master of International Business candidate at the University of South Carolina, with plans to spend her second academic year at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. Her fascination with international cultures began in her youth through a Spanish immersion program, and she continues to broaden her linguistic…
Dr. mutindi mumbua-kiluva ndunda (Spelt in lowercase), Ph.D. I am Dr. mutindi ndunda, an Associate Professor in the Teacher Education Department at the School of Education, College of Charleston. My academic journey in a small village in Kenya and has since spanned multiple continents and Disciplines. Educational Background I earned a Bachelor of Science degree…
Hannah Terpack is the Director of Career Management at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg. Most recognized for her work in career development for students, Hannah previously held positions in TRiO working with first-generation college students and in academic advisement for business students. Her passion for teaching and coaching is never more evident…
Aaron S. Brickman, Senior Principal, U.S. Program Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) Aaron has been successful as an entrepreneur, problem-solver and leader in public and private sector roles, with 25 years of experience building and leading investment, trade and competitiveness programs in government and beyond. He currently serves as Senior Principal in RMI’s U.S. Program,…
Tony Bartelme, a four-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, is a senior projects reporter for The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina. Over the past 30 years, his investigative work has exposed government corruption and explored diverse issues ranging from changes in ocean plankton to the global shortage of doctors. He has received…
Susan Marx was appointed Director of the Human Rights Program for the Carter Center in May 2022. Prior to this, she worked as Project Director for the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, combating anti-human trafficking in the Southern Africa Development Community and implementing women’s economic empowerment and gender-based violence reduction initiatives in Eswatini. …
Lida Nadery Hedayat is a distinguished international development expert and dedicated women’s rights activist. She currently holds the position of Associate Director at Counterpart International. Lida previously served as the Chief of Party for the Women’s Leadership Development (WLD) Program, the largest initiative funded by USAID, aimed at fostering personal growth and leadership acumen among…
Bob Scalise, CPA, CISSP, CISA, CISM Managing Director, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC Risk & Accounting Advisory Services As Managing Director in Cherry Bekaert’s Information Assurance & Cybersecurity practice, Bob works with clients in all industries and of all sizes to help them identify and remediate their cybersecurity risks. He helps clients improve their cybersecurity and…
Charles Dunst is deputy director of research & analytics at The Asia Group and an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is the author of Defeating the Dictators: How Democracy Can Prevail in the Age of the Strongman (Hodder & Stoughton, February 2023), a Financial Times Best Book of the…
Marie Yovanovitch is the author of a best-selling memoir, Lessons from the Edge, and a non-Resident Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University and a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. During her thirty- three-year diplomatic career, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and Ukraine. …
Lee Ferrell, BMW Prinicipal Lecturer of German, has been with the Department of Languages at Clemson since August 2003. Having completed his degree in Economics, he worked in the private sector for several years before completing his MA in German and his Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language at the University of…
Kacie Jackson specializes in industrial sales and leasing in Cushman & Wakefield’s Greenville office. Kacie is a trusted and sought out partner to her clients and is well versed in all aspects of industrial real estate with a specialty in delivering integrated solutions to corporate occupiers and institutional landlords. Kacie has 10 years of brokerage…
Oliver Bilstein is responsible for logistics and production control operations for BMW’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which is the OEM’s largest factory by volume globally. He oversees inbound logistics, plant logistics and material control across the plant’s multiple warehouses, press, body, and paint shops and battery assembly, with additional responsibility for outbound logistics, shipping,…
A proactive leader with business acumen and understanding of technology to convert “big picture” vision into implement able business plans. With over 34 years of combined sales, operational and management experience, Agnihotri has worked within a wide range of industries including Consumer non-durables, custom software & technology solutions, advance manufacturing & automation, Franchising & Business…
Maurie Lawrence currently serves as VP Sustainability, Associate General Counsel of Milliken & Company, headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Maurie works with cross-functional teams to enable sustainability in Milliken’s business strategy. Milliken is one of only seven companies to earn World’s Most Ethical Companies® designation every year since the honor’s inception, one of the companies…
Tom Tyra joined the GSP Airport District in June 2018. Tom is responsible for management of all airport communications and marketing programs, airline recruitment, cargo marketing, advertising, customer experience, and the development of corporate and leisure travel programs for GSP. Tom has over 30 years of experience in airport management and has previously led marketing,…
James is an Industry Practice Lead and sales manager in the Global Risk Solutions practice, specializing in credit and climate risk analytics. He is responsible for solutions in credit, climate and ESG that relate to scoring, loss accounting, and stress testing in the Americas, Europe, and Africa. James regularly contributes thought leadership in a variety…
Brian Shea is a principal and co-founder at Simon Everett, Ltd., where he leads research and analysis projects and provides strategic advisory services to government agencies, state and local leaders, and businesses across a wide range of industries. He is currently leading a statewide initiative on behalf of the Office of the Governor and the…
Dr. Rachel Vanderhill is associate professor of International Affairs and Chair of the Department of Government and International Affairs at Wofford College. From 2021-2022, she was a Council on Foreign Relations’ International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured IR Scholars recipient and Senior Advisor on authoritarianism in the Center for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG Center)…
Byron Miller leads all sales, marketing, and business development efforts at SC Ports, growing and diversifying South Carolina’s cargo base. Byron joined SC Ports in 1993 and worked in many leadership positions across the organization. Since he joined the commercial group in 2012, the Port of Charleston earned the title of the nation’s fastest growing…
A former professor, Lisa taught and researched in the field of cross-cultural communication for 16 years before coming to Hofstede Insights as an Associate Partner in 2017. Now as the Managing Director and CEO of Hofstede Insights USA, she works with the Associated Practitioners in the country to design and deliver exceptional consulting services in…
Jacob Olcott is Vice President of Government Affairs for BitSight, a cybersecurity ratings and analytics company. He previously served as legal and policy advisor on cybersecurity issues to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee. Prior to BitSight, he advised Fortune 1000 executives on cybersecurity governance and technology issues.…
John Ling is a Chinese native and a naturalized US citizen. After graduate school, Mr. Ling worked as managing director for a U.S./China joint venture, Metallic Building Systems (Asia) Inc. He worked with home appliances maker-Haier, to set up the first Chinese green-field manufacturing operation in Camden, South Carolina in 1999. He moved to Shanghai…
Senior Executive with over 28 years of progressive experience in Global Supply Chain, Strategic Business Development and North American Transportation. I have been consistently recognized as a multifaceted visionary leader with international expertise and development of multinational markets. Forging strong business and interpersonal relationships, developing successful global strategies and developing creative supply chain solutions have…
Katie Ovenden (Holba) serves as the Field Marketing Manager – Southern Region for Volvo Car USA based in Ridgeville, SC at the Volvo Cars’ US-based production site. In her role, Katie works cross functionally to implement Volvo’s global brand and product marketing strategy for the Southeast USA, including 13 states, 7 markets, 10 metro area…
Jennifer spent over 20 years with a multinational leader in the power and automation industry, selling engineered systems and solutions to original equipment manufacturers for applications all over the world. Taking the reigns of an early career rotational program, she spent seven years recruiting and developing talent, where she fell in love with the opportunity…
Elizabeth Watson – Director of Research and Strategic Initiatives, Upstate SC Alliance Elizabeth Watson joined the Upstate SC Alliance in 2011 after 11 years with GSA Business. As director of research and strategic initiatives, she is responsible for directing and executing the organization’s research efforts as well as leveraging relationships and resources to position the…
Chief Supply Officer (CSO) and member of the executive management team for AFL.
Clinical Professor of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science at University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia
Vice President Technical Planning BMW Group Americas, South Africa
8:00 | Registration check-in, doors open, City of Greer Event Hall Lobby
8:30 | International Trade Breakfast Buffet, seating opens Cannon Centre – The conference opening event is an International Trade Breakfast with opening speaker then discussion with table leaders. (C suite executives and international consular corps representatives)
9:00 – 10:15 AM | International Trade Breakfast begins
10:30 – 11:45 AM | Morning Panel Sessions
12:00 – 1:45 PM | Special Lunch Panel, Cannon Centre
Company Culture and its Impact to Productivity
2:00 – 3:15 PM | Afternoon Panel Sessions A
3:30 – 4:45 PM | Afternoon Panel Sessions B
5:00 – 7:00 PM | Keynote Dinner, Cannon Centre
Truly Human Leadership: The Skills & Courage to Care
Bob Chapman, CEO of Barry Wehmiller Companies
8:00 | Registration check-in, doors open, coffee
9:00 – 10:15 AM | Morning Panel Sessions A
10:30 – 11:45 AM | Morning Panel Sessions B
12:00 – 1:45 PM | Special Lunch Presentation, Cannon Centre
Visionary Leadership with Lawrence Wilkinson, Chairman of Heminge & Condell
and Co-Founder of the Global Business Network
2:00 – 3:15 PM | Afternoon Panel Sessions A
3:30 – 4:45 PM | Afternoon Panel Sessions B
5:00 – 7:00 PM | Keynote Dinner and Networking Reception, Cannon Centre
Global Instabilities and Opportunities
Sponsoring this event will not only allow your company to have a powerful local and global impact, sponsoring the Global Upstate Conference will expose your company to hundreds of the most globally connected business people and leaders in the region.
Tuesday & Wednesday Lunch Available
City of Greer Event Hall and The Cannon Centre
301 E Poinsett St, Greer, South Carolina
The Global Upstate Conference on International Business & World Affairs, co-sponsored by the World Affairs Council Upstate, is an interdisciplinary event that will bring scholars and leaders together for serious and thoughtful discussions about the most pressing issues facing the world.
For general conference inquires, please contact the Upstate International Office: 864-631-2188
For sponsorship information, please contact:
Putting on an event like this requires all kinds of skills and contributions. Whether you are student looking for an internship opportunity or whether you are a working professional simply wanting to help, we’d love to have you on board.
Email Tracie@upstateinternational.org with a description of how you’d like to contribute and include a copy of your resume, and we’ll reach out to discuss volunteering opportunities.
Sponsorships not only help bring world leaders to the Upstate of South Carolina, enabling South Carolinians to build connections across the globe, but they also expose business leaders and deal makers to your company’s name and mission.
You can download the sponsorship packages and benefits by clicking here.