Meridian Honors New Ambassadors

On September 7, 2017, Meridian hosted a reception to honor and welcome newly arrived ambassadors and their spouses to Washington, D.C. Ambassadors play an important role in bringing cultures together and strengthening relationships across sectors and industries between the U.S. and their home countries around the world. As a part of our diplomatic outreach, Meridian recognizes this work that Ambassadors do to build relationships between a diverse range of constituents including the diplomatic community, business representatives, members of the U.S. government, and the American public.

The evening brought together seven new Ambassadors from the countries of Bahrain, Columbia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Swaziland and Togo. A number of high profile officials were present including members of the Meridian Board of Trustees: The Honorable Carlos Gutierrez, The Honorable Ann Stock, The Honorable Alonzo L. Fulgham, John Dashwood, and Michele Manatt.

Meridian President and CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday opened the program with welcoming remarks pinpointing international dialogue, collaboration, and cultural exchange as the keys to solving the world’s most pressing problems. Highlighting the important role that Ambassadors play to promote and maintain relations between cultures and nation states, Holliday expressed Meridian’s commitment to the newly credentialed ambassadors.

“Ambassadors, I will say that the group here stands ready to help you in your efforts; they stand ready to engage with people of your countries; and they are honored to have you here.”

(from left) H.E. Frederic Hegbe, Togo; H.E. Camilo Reyes, Colombia; H.E. Geronimo Gutierrez, Mexico; Ann Stock; H.E. Dr. Barfour Adjei-Barwuah, Ghana; Carlos Gutierrez; Stuart Holliday; H.E. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Bahrain; H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov, Kazakhstan. Photo by Stephen Bobb.

(from left) Robert Devaney, Marcia Jackson, His Excellency Erzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan and his wife. Photo by Stephen Bobb.

Carlos Gutierrez, former Secretary of Commerce under President George W. Bush and Chair of the Meridian Board of Trustees & His Excellency Dr. Barfour Adjei-Barwuah, Ambassador of Ghana. Photo by Stephen Bobb.

(from left) H.E. Dr. Barfour Adjei-Barwuah, Ambassador of Ghana; Alonzo L. Fulgham, Chief Operating Officer at TJM Intl Consultant LLC and Chair of Governance and Nominating Committee of the Meridian Board of Trustees; H.E. Frederic Hegbe, Ambassador of Togo. Photo by Stephen Bobb.

Guests. Photo by Stephen Bobb.