It is with great honor that we congratulate board member Wendy Williams for receiving the Global Ties Network “Decade of Impact Leadership Award.” Her membership and leadership to Citizen Diplomacy International have spanned 26 years.
President of JR Resources, a WBE-certified, promotional products company, Wendy has offices in San Diego, CA, and Philadelphia, PA, and is deeply committed to the success of the larger Global Ties Network. She has attended all but one National Meeting for the past 15 years, developing relationships with peers across the country and visiting PA Senators Casey and Toomey lobby for IVLP funding.
A consummate ambassador for Philadelphia, Wendy has represented our region at the formal welcome of the Women of Courage in Washington DC under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Wendy was selected by the State Department in May 2001 to travel on a reciprocal exchange to Kazan and Orenberg, Russia after 911.
“I am always representing Citizen Diplomacy. When I was in Kenya and Tanzania on a water trip or personal travels to our Sister Cities of Florence and Aix-en-Florence. My passion is being an ambassador.”
Locally, Wendy is a key liaison to the metropolitan area tourism and hospitality network, who are critical partners in welcoming international program participants. In July 2019, she welcomed Vice Mayor of Sister City Tianjin to discuss educational opportunities to increase the number of students studying in Philadelphia.
She leverages her platform as a company owner to promote and elevate women entrepreneurs internationally. Most importantly, she always goes the extra step to thank international guests for coming to Philadelphia personally and intentionally mentors past IV participants to promote their current work.
Global Ties U.S. received nominations from across the United States and winners were selected by a committee comprised of leadership from Global Ties U.S. and the Office of International Visitors at the U.S. Department of State. In honor of the Global Ties U.S. 60th anniversary, six professionals were recognized as outstanding individuals whose service and contributions exemplify citizen diplomacy.
Thank you Wendy for your longtime dedication as a Citizen Diplomat; you are an inspiration to us all.
