Meridian Honors Washington Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés

Social secretaries and public diplomacy professionals work diligently to maintain an Embassy's positive public image and build relationships between a diverse range of constituents including business representatives, members of the U.S. government, and the American public. On July 20, 2022, Meridian hosted a reception to honor embassy social secretaries and cultural attachés and their valuable role in promoting diplomacy for their countries.

Ambassador Stuart Holliday, CEO of Meridian, welcomed the distinguished guests, which included U.S. government leaders, representatives from 20 foreign embassies, former White House social secretaries and heads of protocol, and members of the media. In his remarks, Ambassador Holliday stressed that the work of the assembled organizations – Meridian, the U.S. Department of State, the White House, and the diplomatic corps of Washington – would not be possible without the expert input of social secretaries and cultural attachés. Honored guest White House Social Secretary Carlos Elizondo addressed the crowd with touching remarks about how people will be remembered in life by how well they treat others. He also discussed the creative ways he has brought the American people and the world into the White House.

Some notable guests included State Department Chief of Protocol Rufus Gifford, Social Secretary to the Vice President Storm Horncastle, Deputy Social Secretary to the Vice President Amanda Trocola, former White House Social secretary Catherine Fenton. In addition, members of the White House social secretary team attended including Deputy White House Social Secretary Liz Hart, Deputy Associate Director Shannon Ricchetti, Director of Arrangements Janice Lee, and Manny Duran.

Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and desserts generously provided by Well Dunn Catering and were surrounded by beautiful floral arrangements from Flowers at 38.

Umanda Weerasinghe (Embassy of Bangladesh), Tamara Büchel-Brnuhart (Embassy of Liechtenstein), and Priyanthi Kanakaratna (Embassy of Bangladesh) at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos. 

Mamoudou Sebre (Embassy of Burkina Faso), Abdoul Konte (Embassy of Burkina Faso), and Fonseca Pereria (Embass of Timor Leste) engage in discussion at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos. 

Priyanthi Kanakaratna (Embassy of Bangladesh), Umanda Weerasinghe (Embassy of Bangladesh), Tamara Büchel Brunhart (Embassy of Liechtenstein), Christine Warnke (Government of DC), and Popy Rufaidah (Embassy of Indonesia) at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos. 

Chief of Protocol Rufus Gifford (U.S. Department of State) and Social Secretary to the President Carlos Elizondo pose for a photo at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos. 

Social Secretary to the President Carlos Elizondo provides remarks at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos.

Guests listening to remarks by Social Secretary to the President Carlos Elizondo at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos. 

Maryam Mujica (Shopify) and Dean Lieberman (The White House) enjoying conversation at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos.

Asel Roberts (U.S. Department of State) and Vice President for Corporate and External Affairs Puru Trivedi (Meridian International Center) pose for a photo at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos. 

Popy Rufaidah (Embassy of Indonesia) taking a selfie with Elizabeth Pisano (Winston Art Group) and Laura Ballman (Capital Art Strategies) at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos.

Pernilla Scott (Embassy of Sweden) and Kiyomi Buker (Embassy of Japan) pose for a photo at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos.

Lisa Grimes (Embassy of France), Sebastian Di Luca (Embassy of Argentina), and Siria Miranda (Embassy of Panama) pose for a photo at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos.

Mamoudou Sebre (Embassy of Burkina Faso), Abdoul Konte (Embassy of Burkina Faso), Fonseca Pereira (Embassy of Timor-Leste), Meridian CEO Ambassador Stuart Holliday, Sylvie Yassingou (Embassy of the Central African Republic), Sabine Beret (Embassy of the Central African Republic) at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos. 

Audrey Hand (British Embassy) and Pernilla Scott (Embassy of Sweden) share a laugh at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos.

Social Secretary to the Vice President Storm Horncastle shares a laugh with guests at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos.

Marcellus Rolle (Embassy of Switzerland) and Director of Corporate Relations Amanda Kalyan Deatherage in conversation at Meridian’s Social Secretaries and Cultural Attachés Reception on July 20, 2022. Photo by Jess Latos.