Staff
Meet some of the
key people that keep the World Affairs Council running smoothly.
| Chairman | Vice Chairman | President | Assistant Director | Interns |
Mr.
Fred Monk
Chairman Emeritus of the Board
Mr. Fred Monk currently serves as the Chairman Emeritus of the Board of the World Affairs Council, which he helped to create in 1993. It is the only council of its kind in South Carolina. Currently, Mr. Monk is President of the South Carolina Export Consortium. Previously, he was the business editor of The State, South Carolina's largest newspaper.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he graduated from the University of South Carolina College of Journalism in 1971. He has attended the Wharton School of Business program for business writers and was one of five journalists selected in 1982 to tour Japan under a program sponsored by the Keizai Koho Center in Tokyo.
He has been active in professional journalism organizations. He was the 1986-87 president of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, which consists of more than 1,500 business editors and writers from across the United States. He served on the society's board of governors from 1978 to 1989. Mr. Monk is a past president of the Central South Carolina Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
He graduated from the Leadership South Carolina program in 1992. In 1994, he was selected as a fellow of the Atlanta-based Society of International Business Fellows and is South Carolina chairman of that organization. In 1994, Mr. Monk was named International Ambassador of the Year by Columbia's Committee of 100 for his work in the international area.
He is chairman of the St. Martin's-In-The-Fields Episcopal Church Foundation. He is a major in the South Carolina Air National Guard, where he serves as a public affairs officer. He also serves on the boards of the Dreher High School Foundation and the Capital City Club.
Mr. Monk has worked with a number of foundations and organizations that have brought international visitors to South Carolina, including the National Forum Foundation, the Atlantic Council, the Columbia Council for Internationals and the Freedom Forum. In the past year, he has hosted visitors from Russia and Macedonia.
Dr. Manuel Gaet�n
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Manuel
Gaet�n is Chairman of the Board of the World Affairs Council and
has been a strong supporter for several years. Dr. Gaet�n retired as President
of Bobbin Group of Miller Freeman, Inc. in September 1998. He started
with Bobbin in 1970 and served in every aspect of Bobbin's organization.
Miller Freeman, Inc., a United News and Media company, is the largest trade
show and publishing company in the world.
Dr. Gaet�n earned his bachelor's degree in Management Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, his Master's in Industrial Engineering from Cleveland State University, and his Ph. D. from Columbia Pacific University in Management Engineering. He is an Adjunct Professor at the College of Textiles of North Carolina State University. He currently serves in the Advisory Board of Rensselaer's College of Engineering, in the University of South Carolina's boards for the College of Journalism & Mass Communications and the Darla Moore College of Business. He is the Vice Chairman of USC's International Business Advisory Council. Dr. Gaetán also serves in the Midland's College Education Foundation Board, and in the SC Philharmonic Board of Directors.
Before joining Bobbin, Dr. Gaet�n served as Engineering Director of the Van Heusen Company, and Chief Engineer of the Joseph & Feiss Company (today known as Hugo Boss). During Bobbin's tenure, he was on loan on a part time basis, serving as an expert consultant to the United States Department of Commerce's Office of Textiles and Apparel from 1978 to 1981. A registered Professional Engineer in Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Dr. Gaetán was a liaison between Bobbin and the American Apparel Manufacturers' Association, where he also served on the Technical Advisory and Apparel Research Committees.
Dr. Gaet�n was presented the 1988 Atrium Award for outstanding journalism achievement in reporting for his article entitled, "Going for the Gold in 807/CBI" published in Bobbin Magazine, one of 28 publications recognized nationwide. The award was presented by the Atlanta Apparel Mart and the University of Georgia College of Journalism and Mass Communications. In 1989 he was awarded the coveted "Premio Internazionale Tecnica della Confezione," regarded as the "Oscar" of the clothing industry for engineers. The award, given in Milan, Italy, was for "his significant contribution to the development of technical innovations in the clothing industry through both his exceptional engineering background and his skillful ability to promote his field."
A Paul Harris Fellow Rotarian and a well-known figure in the apparel industry worldwide, Dr. Gaet�n, a native of Puerto Rico, has been a Sunday school teacher, and is an ordained Presbyterian deacon. He is married to the former Betty Hochgertel and has two daughters, Michele and Linda, and three grandchildren.
Mr. John Cuttino
Vice Chairman of the Board
Mr. John Cuttino is Vice Chairman of the Board of the World Affairs Council.
More information soon to come about our new Vice Chairman, John!
Ms. Normanne Potter
President, WAC
Normanne Potter moved to Columbia, South Carolina from the Washington, DC area in 1989. She attended the University of South Carolina where she earned a bachelor's degree in both economics and government and international studies in 1994. In December of that year, she assumed the position of President of the World Affairs Council.
In this position, Normanne oversees and manages the day to day operations of one of the fastest growing and most active World Affairs Councils in the nation. In addition, she oversees the operations of the Sister Cities of Columbia program.
Normanne is very active in community affairs and serves on the Board of Directors and Advisory Boards of several organizations including:
In addition to her service on the above mentioned boards, Normanne has been awarded positions at international conferences and on a variety of study tours to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany and Canada.
Normanne's interests include the organization of special events and she has been tapped to work for two months at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in Australia as the Press Conference Coordinator in the Main Press Center. She also believes in the concept of life-long learning and is a recent graduate of the Leadership South Carolina program. As an avid reader, Normanne founded the Columbia Book Club and has organized monthly meetings for the last two years. As a former member of the USC Equestrian Team, Normanne still enjoys horseback riding and hopes to be able to devote more time to the sport in the future. But above all else, she most enjoys gardening and playing with her Jack Russell Terrier named Buddy.
Mr. Edward McDonnell
Intern/Webmaster
Edward McDonnell is currently studying international business as a student in the German track of University of South Carolina's highly acclaimed MIBS program. Edward graduated from University of South Carolina's School of Law in May 2000. While attending law school, Edward co-founded the Health Law Society, a club for students and faculty interested in issues of health law. Edward also wrote his research paper on Mental Health Parity. His specific interests in law include health law and intellectual property law.
In August of 1996, Edward received a B.A. in Corporate Communications with a minor in Business Administration from the College of Charleston.
In May of 1996, Edward received a B.A. in Philosophy from College of Charleston.
Edward's interests include Information Technology, Internet Law, Strategic Planning, Advertising, and Marketing. Edward is also a co-founder of www.edgeoff.com, an intellectual property interest-based website. Most of Edward's free time is spent with his yellow lab, Booker.
Mr. Phillip Amerson
Phillip Amerson came to Columbia after growing up in Charleston, South Carolina. Phillip is a Government and International Studies major at the University of South Carolina, with a minor in French. Phillip is also currently learning German. In the 2001-2002 school year, Phillip will study in Paris, France at Sciences Po.
Phillip intends on completing the MIBS program's French track after graduating.