Sharon Armogan-Aguayo
Member Engagement Manager
Aubrey Ball
Membership Programs Coordinator
Chanelle Dimalanta
Senior Communications Manager
Crystal Edn
Executive Director-Member Services
Samia Amal Fourali
Business development Lead for Francophone Africa and Middle East
I'm a native New Yorker with over 22 years of experience working in the global non-profit industry. I am responsible for managing the development and execution of strategic projects to engage and nurture relationships with WTCA Members.
Before joining the WTCA, I developed, managed, and implemented the global recruitment strategy for the International Trademark Association (INTA). Identified opportunities to expand in international markets by establishing, cultivating, and maintaining relationships with members, trademark associations, and national offices and was a part of the core team that launched a consumer awareness campaign in 2012.
Aubrey Ball joined the WTCA as part of the Member Services team to provide guidance and support to World Trade Center businesses globally as Membership Programs Coordinator, with a specific focus on the WTCA Accreditation and New Member On-boarding programs.
Prior to joining the WTCA, Aubrey managed a client success team for a growing e-commerce company, building and fostering relationships with clients, as well as established a training platform to support team members’ continued product education. With a focus on client relations, she worked as the main point of contact for brands and creators, establishing rapport and communications across the team.
Chanelle Dimalanta (formerly Chanelle Kasik) is the Senior Communications Manager at the World Trade Centers Association's Headquarters in New York where she manages internal communications (via Member e-blasts, e-newsletter, and WTCA's social media channels) and external communications/media relations (via WTCA's regional PR agencies).
With over a decade of experience in public relations, she has worked with B2B, financial service, hospitality, pharmaceutical and real estate clients. Notable past clients include Bloomberg Live (formerly Bloomberg Link) Conferences; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Concierge Auctions; Deloitte Digital; D+H; DJK Residential; Eli Lilly and Company; Halstead Property Development Marketing (HPDM); Novartis Vaccines; Perkins+Will’s New York office; and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. In her past roles at various PR agencies, she provided strategic counsel and support for her clients, and led the day-to-day implementation of client deliverables including media relations, internal communications, and account management. During this time, her key focus was to foster relationships between her clients and the media, positioning them as thought leaders in their respective industries.
Born and raised in the Bay Area of California, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Boston University, and a minor in French.
Crystal Edn is the Executive Director-Member Services for the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA). She has worked in the not-for-profit field for over 20 years and has been with the WTCA since 2017. She and her team develop events, programs, and resources for the WTCA’s global membership, connecting World Trade Center businesses and their local members in over 300 cities worldwide to each other.
I have served as Chief of Studies in the Algerian Prime Minister’s Office. I represented the US-Algeria Business Council in Algiers and served as a Board Member and General Secretary of the American Chamber of Commerce in Algeria. In these positions, my focus has been to promote the commercial and economic relationship between Algeria and the USA. I hold an Executive MBA and a Master's degree. Currently, I am preparing for my Doctorate in Multicultural Communication and Strategic Management fields.
I am fluent in English, French, Arabic, and Berber.
Jessica Freire
Business Development Lead Brazil
Fahima Hussain
Membership Coordinator
Anais Jan
Membership Development Lead, Europe
Clark Lackert
Deputy General Counsel
Xiang Li
Business Development Manager
Jessica is experienced in foreign trade, international business and communication strategies. She developed her skills while working with important retail and consulting companies in Brazil and Chile.
In 2013, Jessica served as a Head of Communications and International Services at the World Trade Center (WTC) Santiago. Jessica held this role for almost six years, where she was responsible for developing business opportunities for the WTC community and worldwide.
A part from working with communication and business consulting, Jessica also supports the WTCA by promoting the WTC brand in Brazil and helping the WTCs in the region in business matters.
Jessica holds a postgraduate degree in Business Management from Universidad del Desarrollo Santiago, Chile and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado University (FAAP) São Paulo, Brazil.
Jessica is fluent in Portuguese (native), English and Spanish.
Fahima is a Bengali American who recently graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Marketing and a Concentration in Consulting and Strategic Branding. Fahima has over 3 years of experience in both Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the non-profit sector.
Prior to joining WTCA, she worked at several Fortune 500 companies, improving their CSR efforts and relationships with their non-profit partners. In her previous role at Equitable, she orchestrated impactful CSR events that delivered essential resources to more than 3000 underserved families and fostering engagement amongst 350 employees. Fahima also created a cutting-edge KPI dashboard, reshaped metric monitoring and budgeting. Her expertise lies in leveraging data to drive strategy and increase engagement.
Born in Paris and raised in Nantes, France, I began my career specializing in Marketing and International Business, working at various media agencies as a Global Media Coordinator in Paris for three years prior to relocating to Bogotá, Colombia.
I then served as a Regional Business Development Coordinator working alongside WTCA's LatAm Regional Director for two years to assist in selling WTCA licenses in both Central and South America, and the Caribbean.
After relocating back to Europe (Madrid, Spain), I worked as an independent Business Development Consultant working closely with Fairhomes (WTC Gibraltar) and various Colombian companies on business development and strategic alliances across both Europe and Africa.
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Audencia Bachelors, and a Master’s degree in Corporate Communications from SciencesCom Audencia, both located in Nantes, France; and a Master’s degree in Marketing from Institut d’Administration des Entreprises in Bordeaux, France.
I am fluent in French, English and Spanish.
Xiang Li joined WTCA Beijing Rep. office as Business Development (BD) Manager. Li received a Bachelor of Communications with Social Studies from the University of Malta. She last worked as BD Manager at WTC (Beijing) Business Services Co., LTD for 1.5 years. Previously, Li worked as a Membership and BD Manager at International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) for 2 years.
Maria Martinez
Business Development Consultant- Mexico
Danica Milovanovic
Business Development Lead - Europe
Insolina Paulino
Accounting & Finance Coordinator
James Perry
General Counsel
Milan Ramjee
Membership & Business Development Lead- Middle East & Africa
Maria has been an advanced levels English professor at the University of Tamaulipas, Mexico.
She worked as a Public Relations Assistant and English-Spanish Translator in the area of Economic Strategies Management in the Government of the state of Tamaulipas, supporting the organization of the international event: "Poverty, Reality and Challenge, International Colloquium for Human Dignity" bringing together about 70 specialists from around the world.
She joined the Economic Strategies Department of the Secretary of Economic Development and Employment as a Specialized Assistant and English-Spanish Personalized Translator, for the International Event "The Competitiveness of the Regions, the challenge of the 21st century" where its areas of development were the public relations area, coordination and logistics of the event, organization of alternative activities for exhibitors from different parts of Mexico, United States and South America.
She joined the Water Resources General Direction in the State Water Commission of Tamaulipas, as personal assistant to the General Director and was on charge of the the communication and Public Relations area.
Also attended the Fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City as a participant in the stant representing the State of Tamaulipas as a direct support in English-Spanish translation among the various world personalities who visited the stand.
She was part of the design and the proper function of the stand that would represent the State, as well as for the organization and coordination of the personnel participating in this event.
The Governor of the State of Tamaulipas, sets her as the head of the Coordination Department of Municipality Links in the State Institute of Women , giving training talks about Gender Equity, Domestic Violence, Self-Esteem and Women's Rights, in the different municipalities, as well as one of the main functions was to maintain contact between the various Institutes of Women in the different municipalities coordinating them with each other, to properly carry out the projects approved at the state level.
She also joined the Financial and accounting Management area in her city Government as a Financial and Accounting Analyst, performing various functions among which are:
-Elaboration of Bank and Warehouse Reconciliations.
-Elaboration and analysis of journal entries.
-Analysis of Accounting Folios and Payment Orders in the System.
-Checks preparation and bank transfers.
-Analysis and application of bank commissions generated daily from the different bank statements of the banks registered in the organization.
-Daily application of budgetary policy of such commissions.
-Analysis and capture of invoices that come in through the organization from the different suppliers.
-Quarterly public account with bank reconciliations, preparation and delivery of bank reconciliations for quarterly cuts and annual public account.
-Preparation of format f-rf-16 with bank information for quarterly cuts and annual public account.
-Analysis, validation and capture of invoices to verify the expenditure of the different warehouses.
-Confirmation of bank balances via telephone and internet on a daily basis and preparation income reports , balances and deposits, among others.
She attended a training about Actions for the Implementation of the Governmental General Law of Accounting provisions by the Superior Audit Office of the State, dealing with topics such as:
Legal and Regulatory Framework of Governmental Accounting.
Chart of Accounts and Budget Classifiers.
Accounting and Budgetary Records.
Accounting Moments.
Accounting and Budgetary Information.
Public Account.
Transparency and Dissemination of Financial Information.
Accounting Records of Federal Contribution Funds, among others.
She is the Ninji foundation Director (Non profit association) promoting the well-being of families, supporting communities and governments for social development.
Danica joined the WTCA team in Europe in March 2022 taking on responsibility for membership engagement and business development in Central and Eastern Europe. From January 2024, she promotes the WTCA and the licensed and trademarked WTCA Marks across Europe, while supporting the expansion of the WTCA's regional impact.
As an international business manager and highly experienced association executive, Danica has proven track record in directing large-scale across-the-board development programs and projects across service industry, both in the public and private sector.
Danica holds BBA degree from the Graduate School of Business Administration (ZĂĽrich, Switzerland), State University of New York (Albany NY, USA) and Eberhard-Karls University (TĂĽbingen, Germany), in addition to Bachelor degree in mathematics from the University of Belgrade, Serbia.
Manage and assist with the overall functions and financial processes of the Accounting and Finance Department. Responsible for human resources, payroll and assist with processes of accounts payable, receivable, collections, bank reconciliations, general ledger and reports.
A business leader I look up to: Oprah Winfrey is one of the most respected and admired Global Media Leaders and Philanthropists. She overcame adversity to become a benefactor to others.
Milan will be spearheading our Membership engagement and development for the Association in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, with a particular focus on further broadening our footprint on the African continent.
Based in Johannesburg, Milan is a seasoned leader and motivator with more than 20 years of experience in financial and professional services having held various positions at three international banks, leading teams at global law firms, and at fin- and legal-tech multinational businesses.
He is passionate about the advancement of Africa as a continent and about unlocking its potential in the global marketplace. Milan is a team player with a very strong work ethic.
He holds both a Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa as well as a Professional Banker certification from the Institute of Bankers (PBSA).
Scott Richie
Secretary to the Board
Carlos Ronderos
Regional Director, Latin America
Anthony Russo
Business Development Consultant- North America
Badal Saboo
Business Development - India / Asia Pacific
Magdalena Torres
Business Coordinator, Latin America
Advise the WTCA Board and its Committees on governance matters, assist in the preparation of agendas, reports and materials related to the Board’s and Committees’ work, participate in their meetings, and prepare the minutes and follow-up reports that relate to the Board’s and Committees’ actions on behalf of the Association and its Members.
Carlos Ronderos Ph.D. supports WTCA activities in Mexico, Central and South America. Doctor Ronderos has been involved in WTC development and played an important role in the development of WTC in Colombia, Chile, Uruguay and Panamá during the nineties.
Dr. Ronderos has had a long involvement in international trade, having been a professor of International Trade at universities both in Colombia and the United States. He is an economist with a doctorate degree with studies in Bogotá, Scotland and Buenos Aires.
Dr. Ronderos is a former Minister of Trade of Colombia, has been an adviser both to the WTO and UNCTAD. He is a consultant to both private and public companies on international trade and has been involved in the discussion of a number of free trade agreements.
Russo, a graduate from Charleston Southern University with a BA in Marketing and MBA in Business Administration started his international career in 2003 with the South Carolina World Trade Center (SCWTC) when he was named the Education and Trade Services Manager in August of that year. During that time, he worked closely with numerous companies with diverse product lines, which include everything from pecans to metalworking. He was also responsible for the US Department of Agriculture’s Export Readiness Training Program that was sponsored by the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) for the State of South Carolina. He also authored the SCWTC Import/Export curriculum-The Nine Steps of Import/Export.
In November of 2005 Russo started a hybrid trading company, TradeHub International, where he integrated suppliers/buyers, logistics and storage options for clients. THI opened its first international office in March of 2008 in Cuernavaca, Mexico. It is a not-for-profit focused on immigration and trade projects. THI has completed contracts with organizations such as CCPIT in China, Nova Scotia Business Inc. in Canada, the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) in New York and Mexico Caulidad Suprema/ProMexico in Mexico.
In June of 2006, Russo was named the General Manager of Trade Development for the WTCA headquarters in New York. In this role Russo brought WTCs from across the globe together leveraging their strengths in order to develop trade and trade related projects in the areas of import/export, logistics, education, staff training, and research. Russo worked on projects around the world in Germany, Russia, China, Canada, Algeria, and Lebanon to name a few.
Russo continues to work on economic development, education and market entry project across world. He again joined the WTCA team in October of 2022.
Dynamic and seasoned business professional with over 20 years of robust experience, spearheading and founding multiple high-value ventures. â—Ź Proven track record in diverse sectors like fashion, real estate, and commodities trading, credited with introducing globally renowned brands such as Fashion TV, Fendi, Bentley, and Disney Homes to the Indian market. â—Ź Leveraging strategic insight, robust networks, and a keen eye for growth opportunities, I have excelled in driving market penetration, scalability, and business expansion, while also mentoring start-ups and established entities to thrive in competitive landscapes.
Craig Turner
Membership Development Lead, North America (US/Canada)
Robin van Puyenbroeck
Executive Director-Business Development
Scott Wang
Vice President, Asia Pacific
Zachary Wells
Financial Controller
Adele Zhang
Program Manager, Asia Pacific Regional Office
For the past six years, Craig served as president of World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara. Currently, Craig is chair for the Niagara USA (NUSA) Chamber of Commerce (2024), and chairs NUSA’s Advocacy Committee. With more than 20 years’ experience in media, PR, economic development, and government relations, he has had the privilege of handling public education campaigns and advocating for some of the highest-profile issues affecting Western New York and Southern Ontario. He is also founder and president of Momentum – The Business Growth Agency, specializing in helping companies get the best ROI possible for their chamber of commerce memberships and sponsorships, and consulting with business associations to help them have a stronger and better conversation with their members.
Working with the Member Services team in New York and throughout the regions, as well as the North America Regional Advisory Council, he will support the WTCA’s strategic plans to enhance and expand the Association’s regional impact while promoting the WTCA brand.
Robin van Puyenbroeck is a purpose-driven leader with more than 20 years’ experience in international business development, partnerships, corporate strategy, and non-profit leadership. He currently serves as Executive Director – Business Development at the World Trade Centers Association where he focuses on global licensing, partnerships and media. He most recently served as Vice President-Business Development for Ethan Allen Global, based in Danbury, Connecticut, where he effectively managed and grew a network of international licensees and developed strategies for building alliances and B2B contract business.
Previously, Mr. van Puyenbroeck worked as an international business and partnerships consultant, counseling clients on strategic communications, political and organizational strategies, as well as business transactions that require a deep appreciation of markets and geopolitical context. Leveraging his expertise in the Middle East and Central Asia he advised a wide range of organizations, from emerging market corporations to policy think tanks, on strategic reviews, investment promotion campaigns, market introductions and business development. Prior to his consulting work, Mr. van Puyenbroeck worked with ING Group where he held progressive leadership roles within the company's Global Management Programme with broad experiences in business development, staff function, client relationship management, finance and project management. Mr. van Puyenbroeck began his career as an attorney for the Ernst & Young law firm in Brussels, and he holds J.D. and L.L.M degrees in international law from Ghent University and Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.
Mr. van Puyenbroeck has leadership experience in the IGO/NGO sector, including his current roles as Under-Secretary-General for the EUCLID Intergovernmental Organization, and as Executive Vice President & Treasurer of the United Nations Association of New York. He speaks five languages (Dutch, English, French, Spanish and German) and has traveled extensively on business in Europe, the Middle East, Central and Greater Asia, and North America.
Mr. Wang draws from his twenty years of expertise in businesses relations and trade in the U.S., China and other Asian countries to lead WTCA’s efforts in developing business relations in Asia Pacific region.
Prior to his appointment to WTCA, Mr. Wang served as Vice President of the World Trade Center San Diego. During his tenure, he organized 19 trade missions to Asia with participation of companies and senior State and local government/business leaders, and provided thousands of small and medium-sized companies with assistance in information, communications and connections for doing business in Asia.
He holds a Masters of Pacific International Affairs (MPIA) degree from the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS) at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), in addition to M.A. and B.A. degrees from Hangzhou University (now Zhejiang University), China.
Over the last three years, Zach worked in accounting with family-built companies — managing tasks from day-to-day bookkeeping to month-, quarter- and year-end reporting. These experiences included work in the realty, title and insurance industry with Hudson United Mortgage, as well as in the pest control industry with PCO Bookkeepers. Prior these roles, he served as a key member in the Alternative Investment Department for Fidelity Investments. During his time with Fidelity, Zach managed a variety of tasks within the department ranging from daily duties including managing dividend distribution (filing & payment), authorizing asset transfers, reviewing and confirming asset purchases, and managing time-sensitive stock redemption projects, while delivering quality and accurate work in a high-pressure work environment.
Born and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey, he holds a Bachelors of Science degree in accounting from Rowan University. He has become proficient in computer science in the coding field — gaining knowledge in SQL & Python programs — and is highly proficient in QuickBooks Desktop/Online and Sage Intacct accounting softwares.
As Program Manager of WTCA Asia Pacific Regional Office, I spearhead the member services and marketing of the region.
To be specific, my responsibilities include but not limited to: Member services of the APAC region; Events of the region, teamed up with APRO team; Marketing to the region, esp. content wise; Liaison with HQ regarding programs and localization of HQ emails/docs; Liaison with local partners; Liaison between local WTCs and other WTCs as well as their business members; Teamwork within APRO on any assignments.
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