Wendy Anderton

President and CEO

After eight years serving in volunteer and Board member capacities at Global Ties Arizona, Wendy was selected to lead Global Ties Arizona as its President and CEO. Wendy is focused on scaling Global Ties Arizona to prominence in the citizen diplomacy landscape through implementation of the mission and a values/culture based working environment.

Wendy considers herself an example of success based on perseverance. Having faced self-infliced hardship that left her homeless and addicted, Wendy has rebuilt her life on the foundations formed at the bottom-most points.

Wendy has traveled outside of the U.S. extensively, organizing spiritual tours for groups of up to 200 in both the U.S. and abroad. Her experiences in Africa, Europe and the Middle East changed her world view, and it is that passion that drives her to servant-leadership, including serving in capacities that advance causes she cares about.

Wendy was recently names the 2017/18 National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Phoenix Unsung Hero Awardee, Presidents Choice Awardee, and Member of the year finalist. She serves on the NAWBOPhoenix Board as Advocacy Chair. She also serves as Secretary of the Board of the Arizona Society for Association Executives, is a member of the Arizona Association of Non-Profits, the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, the Global Chamber, and the National Small Business Association, where she serves on the Technology Council. She also serves as an Ambassador for Project C.U.R.E.

Wendy and her partner, Heather, operate a guinea pig animal rescue and live in Phoenix with their three dogs, two cats, two birds, three rats, and up to 40 guinea pigs. Wendy pursues her hobbies of fiber arts and is learning to spin yarn.

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Bethany Bennick

Program Officer

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Alexandria Maese

Lead Research Assistant

Alexandria’s interest in global affairs grew from volunteering with transitional housing, advocating worker’s rights, and actively participating in Circle K International. She is currently studying  Political Science, with minors in Italian and Military Leadership and a certificate in Entrepreneurship at Arizona State University where she had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy.

Yiefi Alphonsine Ouattara

Executive Assistant Intern

Yiefi is from Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).   She is a graduate student in Business Management and Communication in her home country. She was selected by the U.S Embassy to take part at the Community College Initiative Program (CCI) which is an exchange program funded by the U.S Department of State, wherein she studies Business Management at Scottsdale Community College.  She is also the founder of the “Yes Foundation” which encourages and promotes women leadership in her country. Before coming to the U.S as exchange student Yiefi was Vice-President in AIESEC Cote d’Ivoire (Abidjan Sud) which is the world’s largest youth-run organization. It is an international non-governmental that provides young people with leadership development, cross-cultural global internships, and volunteer exchange experiences across the globe. She is passionate about women leadership, Entrepreneurial and politic and she dreams to work as a manager at the African Bank of Development in her country and impact her community through her foundation.

Marlon Tanner

Program Associate

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Marlon attended Temple University in Philadelphia. He recently graduated with a BA in Communication Studies with a focus on global civil society. He minored in Business and French, which he speaks conversationally.

During college, Marlon volunteered with the Workaway Program through different European cities like Annecy, France Brugge, Belgium and Rome, Italy teaching English and assisting with Bed and Breakfasts. He also interned at Citizen Diplomacy International of Philadelphia as a Communications intern where he planned delegations, monthly networking events, and the company’s annual gala. New to Phoenix, Marlon plans to continue working with International Diplomacy so he can travel to new parts of the world!

Adreaningsih Rustandie

Social Media Intern

Adreaningsih Rustandie is 21-years old, born and raised in Indonesia. Adrea is currently studying Social Media Marketing at Scottsdale Community College as a grant of Community College Initiative Program (CCI) which is an exchange program scholarship funded by the U.S Department of State. Before coming to the United States of America, she spent the past two years in her home country working with youth community newspaper where she developed her passion in youth development. Adrea wants to start a project to provide a news website in visualized and casual writing style for young people in her community. She is also volunteer as a writer on social media platforms to explore the youth issue and improving her skill in digital technology.  After she graduates from Scottsdale Community College, she dedicates to share her knowledge and serve in Indonesia’s youth community and help to ensure that young people can make a positive influence in society.