Thank you to all of those who joined us for the 2016 Diplomacy Day Gala. I hope you enjoyed the international entertainment, sit down dinner, silent auction and the Hostler Diplomat of the Year Award and Partner Agency of the Year Award.

Guest of Honor: Our Keynote Speaker- Margaret Warner -Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for the PBS NewsHour
Ten years ago,  after founding the NewsHour’s Overseas Reporting Unit, she began producing in-depth reports in areas of crisis —  including  Afghanistan, Pakistan,  Iraq, Iran,  Israel, Gaza,  Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Rusia, France, Britain, Germany, China and Korea. Her coverage spanned politics and military conflicts, as well as the plight of women and refugees.

Her coverage of Pakistan in 2007 won her a coveted Emmy Award and the Edward Weintal Prize for International Reporting from Georgetown University.

She came to the NewsHour in 1993 after nearly two decades as a print reporter at the San Deigo Union, Newsweek Magazine and the Wall Street Journal.  A Yale graduate and former fellow of the Yale Corporation, she serves on the board of the Council on Foreign Relations and Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs.

 

Guest of Honor: Welcome Remarks- Congresswoman Susan Davis
She has served the heart of San Diego in Congress since 2000. Since then, she has consistently won re-election with over two-thirds of the vote. The strength of support that Congresswoman Davis enjoys can be attributed to her willingness to stand up for San Diegans, her responsiveness to their concerns, and her ability to solve problems. Susan listens carefully and is known locally and in Washington as a thoughtful, deliberative legislator who works to build consensus with her colleagues on both sides of the aisle while staying true to her core values.

 

Guest of Honor: Master of Ceremonies- Jenni Prisk
Prisk founded Prisk Communication in 1990 with the mission to provide exemplary public speaking and communication skills. She had coached hundreds of corporate executives and corporate teams in the United States and internationally. She has provided communications training skills to Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, Sony, and serves as a presentation training coach to the United States Navy’s Special Forces Seals teams.

 

Awards

Ambassador Charles W. Hostler – Citizen Of The Year Award: Silvia Mah
Dr. Silvia Mah is the CEO/Founder of Hera Fund and Hera Angels, as well as the CEO of Hera Labs. Through these three endeavors, her primary focus is on empowering, nurturing, and sustaining women-owned businesses in San Diego and nationwide and investing in socially relevant new ventures that will allow women to break through barriers in order for the next generation of women entrepreneurs to grow even more.

Silvia Mah’s contributions to the San Diego Diplomacy Council have been immense. She has coordinated countless meetings with a number of visiting delegations, and over the last year alone she has mentored 4 international fellows at Hera Labs. Silvia even took her support a step further when she visited the Russian Federation this October on a reciprocal U.S. State Department exchange program to teach and foster female startups internationally.

Citizen Diplomat Partner Of The Year Award: Port of San Diego
The Port of San Diego is the fourth largest of the 11 ports in California. It has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in public improvements in its five member cities – Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego. The port of San Diego is an economic engine, an environmental steward of San Diego Bay and the surrounding tidelands, and a provider of community services and public safety.

The Port of San Diego has been a strong long-time partner of the San Diego Diplomacy Council, coordinating high-level meetings and tours for their international counterparts. Additionally, the San Diego Harbor Police -also under the jurisdiction of the Port- have met with countless delegations over the years, providing a very thorough overview of operations and almost always providing delegations with a tour of San Diego Harbor by boat.

 

Entertainment

Entertainment
San Diego-based performers showcased their dance and culture from around the world.

Daniel Giaconi – Argentine Guitarist
Argentinian composer and guitarist Daniel Giaconi runs a comprehensive teaching & performing program. His repertoire is characterized by a fusion between funk, jazz and tango that reflects his roots. Daniel has composed music for theater and short films and has recorded a solo album and supported many artists at local and international venues.

Bollywood Steps – Indian Dancers
Bollywood dancing is a fusion of various dance styles encompassing western and eastern dance elements. It is a melting pot of Indian dances like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchupudi, Odissi, Folk, western dances like Salsa, Hip Hop, Ballet and various fitness dances like Zumba. In 4 studios across San Diego, Bollywood Steps offers great opportunities o become involved in cultural events throughout the community.

 

Teye Sa Thiosanne – African Drumming
Teye Sa Thiosanne, “Keepers of the Tradition”, African Drum and Dance Company is a San Diego-based 12 member non-profit organization currently providing performances and programs in African music and dance. The company has been in existence since 1988 and has been consistent in providing the community with cultural expression. The members of Teye Sa Thiosanne hail from dance companies throughout the country and Africa.

 

Sponsors

Our evening would not have been possible without the in-kind support of many individuals and businesses in the community including:

Major Gifts

Many thanks to AeroMexico for its major gift

 

Auction Donors

Many thanks to all of the local individuals and businesses who donated silent auction items.