The ADA Summit 2007 organizers are proud to have confirmed the participation of worldwide top scholars and practitioners, comprised of business men and women, social entrepreneurs, members of academia and leaders of public opinion from Latin America, United States, Europe and the Middle East. These are their résumés.

Jim Clifton

Jim Clifton is best known in the polling and survey research field for leading the acquisition of The Gallup Organization in 1988, at which time he became CEO of the organization founded by the renowned polling pioneer, Dr. George H. Gallup.

Under Clifton's leadership, Gallup has enjoyed a tenfold increase in its billing volume and has expanded from a predominantly U.S.-based company to a global organization with 40 offices in 20 of the world's largest nations.  The Gallup Organization is one of the world's largest think tanks and providers of public opinion polling and management consulting.

Clifton is best known in the business world as the creator of The Gallup Path. This metric-based economic model establishes the linkages between human nature in the workplace, customer engagement, and business outcomes. The Gallup Path is integral to the performance management systems in more than 500 companies worldwide and forms the basis of most of Gallup's total revenues.

Few people care as much as Jim Clifton does about what the world is thinking. His most recent innovation, the Gallup World Poll, is designed to tell the 10 million people who lead, govern, and manage the world what the world's 6 billion citizens are thinking. Clifton has pledged to continually collect people's opinions for 100 years in more than 100 countries to determine the general well-being or "soul" of a country, city, or culture. Questions in this ground-breaking project delve into individual and social needs, including food and shelter, safety and security, mental and physical health, education, jobs, economics and finances, transportation, water and air quality, hope and futurism, leadership approval, religion, and war and peace.

Clifton serves as Chairman of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. He has received honorary degrees from a number of institutions, including a Doctor of Commerce degree from Bellevue University in Nebraska and Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Medgar Evers College in New York and Jackson State University in Mississippi.

Clifton and his wife, Susan, live in Washington, D.C. They have three children, Nicole, Jonathan, and Jackie.

Note: Gallup Organization does not have any office or representation in Ecuador.

James Avey

James B. Avey is the Assistant Professor of Management at Central Washington University. His research interests include the role of positive constructs such as hope, self-efficacy, resilience and optimism in the workplace as well as how leadership creates and interacts with these motivational propensities. Before attaining his PhD at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln he worked for 4 years in human resource management at The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington- The United States.

His research includes the role  and development of these positive constructs in the workplace and has been published in outlets such as Personnel Psychology and Journal of Organizational Behavior.

Xavier Abad Vicuña

Xavier Abad obtained a law degree and a JD. Since year 2006 he is the administrator of the Corporation "Much Better Ecuador", which promotes the campaign "Much more better if it is made in ECUADOR", and during this period has incorporated 105 Ecuadorian institutions into its philosophy.

He iniciated his career in Cuenca's Municipality. Afterwards, he performed as Vicepresident of Cuenca's Chamber of Industries from 1998 to 2002.  As an acknowledgement of his work, in 2003 he was invited to serve as Vice Minister of Industries, position in which he promoted reforms to improve the industry sector, emphasizing the institutionalization of the Quality National System and the establishment of procedures to enhance the export profile of Ecuadorian enterprises. He also perfomed as an official negotiator representing the Ecuadorian State in the Free Trade Agreement negotiation with the United States.

In year 2005 he was appointed as Executive President of Cuenca's Chamber of Industries, an institution that has been demonstrated leadership in the implementation of important projects on behalf of the southern region of Ecuador and the country as a whole. Xavier's leadership has characterized him within the industry, social and communitarian sectors.

Analucía Córdova Cazar

Co-founder of ADA – Leadership & Opinion and Deputy Director for four years. In recognition of her exceptional work, the Board of Directors nominated her as the Executive Director since early 2006.

Her strong leadership skills have been key to successful processes for the growth of ADA – Leadership & Opinion, especially in relation with the expansion of the institution’s objectives and the strengthening of the areas of research and scientific interpretation of public opinion, with the purpose of offering opinion leaders tools that may lead to a correct decision-making process.

From a very young age she was outstanding in both social and academic endeavors. She received an Award for Academic Excellence for having obtained the best grade point average throughout her entire primary and secondary education in the national section of the American School of Quito.

She was the best student, in her graduating class, of the Undergraduate Program in Sociology and Political Science of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador -PUCE-. During her undergraduate studies she was recognized for her excellent academic performance and was a Fellow and Member of the Human Rights and Democracy Program in this University.

A United Kingdom Chevening Scholarship recipient, she obtained an M.A. in Political Economy from the Department of Government of the University of Essex (England).

In addition, she has studied in prestigious international institutions such as: The International Academy of International Law of the Hague (The Netherlands) and The International Institute of Human Rights (Strasbourg France).
 
She is currently a member of the Ecuadorian Association for the United Nations Board of Directors – AENU –.  Her native tongue is Spanish, but she is fluent in both English and French and possesses good knowledge of Portuguese.

Cynthia Cherrey

Dr. Cherrey is the President and Chair of the Board for the International Leadership Association which is a global network for those who study, practice and teach leadership.  She was also an invited participant in the W. K. Kellogg Leadership project to advance leadership knowledge, education and practice for the 21st century.  She is a Senior Fellow at the James McGregor Burns Academy of Leadership, and is a recipient of a J.W. Fulbright Scholarship.

Dr. Cherrey is the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Tulane University. The Vice President for Student Affairs provides leadership for the development of programs and services that enhance academic and co-curricular programs.  In addition to her position as Vice President, Dr. Cherrey holds an appointment as Clinical Professor in the A.B. Freeman School of Business.

Dr. Cherrey's undergraduate degree is in psychology and anthropology.  She completed her Ph.D. in Communication with a concentration in organizational leadership and management.

Prior to joining Tulane University, Dr. Cherrey was the Associate Vice President and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Southern California.  At USC she had received several honors and awards.  USC students awarded her with the Black Student Assembly Mahogany Leadership Award and Faculty of the Year by Order of Omega.

She has written and published in areas of leadership, organizational development and higher education.  She has served as co-editor of a publication entitled, Building Leadership Bridges.  Her interests in organic systems and leadership resulted in a World Business Academy publication entitled, Seeing and Leading Organic Systems and a co-authored book with Kathy Allen entitled, Systemic Leadership: Enriching the Meaning of our Work.  She consults for various  educational profit and non-profit organizations and was a select delegate to France to meet with Centre National des Ceuvres Universitaires et Seolaires University rectors and presidents.

Pablo Estrella Vintimilla

He recently founded FundaVida in Cuenca (his hometown).  FundaVida is an organization dedicated to working for people with disabilities. 

Dr. Estrella is well known in the area of Commerce.  He is the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce- Center of Mediation and Arbitration.  Additionally, he has been recognized in the area of education.  In the past, he acted as Dean of the University of Cuenca where he currently is a full time Professor.

María de los Angeles Fernández Ramil

Ms. Fernandez currently serves as Executive Director of Foundation Chile 21, an institution which is currently headed by Dr. Ricardo Lagos, the former President of Chile.  In this position she is responsible for planning, executing and following up with the Foundation’s programs.  Currently she manages the project: "Policies to promote the insertion of the woman in public life".

She holds a BA in Political Science from the Central University of Venezuela and  a Post-Graduate degree in Political Science from the Catholic University of Chile. She is also a Ph.D. Candidate in Latin American Political Processes at the University of Santiago de Compostela.

She is renowned for her strong academic credentials throughout the Chilean University system.  As a Coordinator at the University Diego Portales, she designed the framework leading to the establishment of the new School of Political Science.  Her educational emphasis is on the expansion of labor markets for future political scientists within private companies. As a result of this endeavor, she remains a well-connected resource. In addition, she has served as the Academic Secretary of the International Studies Institute within the Graduate School of the University of Chile, where she supervised the progress and development of the program.

She is a newspaper columnist from “La Tercera”, and she has also collaborated with other newspapers such as “El Mercurio”, “La Segunda” y el Mostrador, as well as with different radio stations and the national television.

At present she is a member of the Boeninger Commission, funded by the President Michelle Bachelet to analyze and propose reforms to the current electoral system (April-July 2006)

Mónica Hernández de Phillips

Ms. Mónica is Doctor of Medicine and holds a Master of Business Administration.

She specializes in promoting the creation of institutions and projects that aim at achieving productive, sustainable and social development, with the purpose of fighting poverty and creating wealth and well-being for the most underpriviledged sectors of the country.

Among her achievements are the creation of the Alternativa Foundation in 1991 -in which she serves as its Executive Director-, and the promotion and foundation of Solidario Bank in 1995, in which she served as its Executive Vicepresident.

Hernández is an active member of the Small Enterprise Forum – FOME (promoter and founder); of the Rural Financial Network (promoter and founder), and of the Fiscal Policy Observatory. She is also an active member of Ecuadorian civil society where she works on behalf of its development and strengthening.

Mónica is married and has one daughter.

Virginia Lasio

Ms. Lassio serves as Director of the Graduate School of Business Administration -ESPAE- at the Escuela Politecnica del Litoral (Politechnical University of the Coastal Region) -ESPOL- where she is also Professor of Organizational Behavior. Other positions with ESPAE include her serving as Co-Director and Research Director .

In the private sector, she performed as Director of Materials and Head of Purchase Planning for the company OLEICA S.A.

She holds a Ph.D. in Business Studies, with a concentration on Organizational Behavior, as well as a Masters in Management from Tulane University. She holds a MBA from the University of Quebec in Montreal, and a Masters of Business Administration by the ESPAE - ESPOL. She also has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from ESPOL.

She has been the director of several studies and projects, including the Feasibility study for a project of promotion of the entrepreneurship in Ecuador (I.A.D.B.).  She was part of the Ecuadorian team that carried out the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, GEM in 2004 at ESPOL. She also worked in the project Program for Entrepreneurs' Development at her institution.

Her publications include "Searching entrepreneurs", America Economía, 2007, and "Social Responsibility: the elephant’s metaphor "; America Economía, 2007, No. 13. December 2006.

She is an active member of the Academy of Management, the American Psychological Association, the School of Mechanical Engineers of Guayas, and the School of Masters in Business Administration.

Caroline van Leenders

Dr. Caroline van Leenders has her PhD in Environmental Sciences on the environmental policy of companies.

She has worked for the Dutch government in the field of sustainable development for more then 20 years in policy domains such as sustainable energy, marketing of sustainable consumer goods and sustainable production.

The last few years she is employed at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs active in the field of the sustainable use of biodiversity and natural resources. Her speciality has always been the collaboration of the government with the commercial sector and NGOs.

Francisco López-Bermúdez

He is one of the most recognized Latin American social entrepreneurs at the international level. In recognition of his work, he was awarded the UNESCO Chair of Human Rights at Utrech University (The Netherlands) in March 2007.

Co – founder of the ADA – Leadership & Opinion, serving as its first Director (2001-2005) he was instrumental in positioning ADA as a widely recognized institution at the national and international levels.  Since January 2006 he has served as Policy Director for ADA, and in this capacity he is in charge of the institution’s strategic planning, as well as the area of Leadership and Human Talent Development, and the academic design of the ADA International Leadership Summit of the Americas.

He holds an LLB and JD from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE).  He completed his doctoral coursework at the Human Rights Program of Carlos III University of Madrid as a recipient of a MUTIS Scholarship from the Spanish Government.

Additionally, he holds a Master of Art in Public Opinion and Polling from the University of Essex - Government Department (United Kingdom).  He has also studied in other renowned institutions such as the International Leadership Academy - United Nations University in Amman (Jordan) and the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague (The Netherlands).

In late 1998, he fostered the creation of the United Nations Association of Ecuador -AENU-, an institution of which he is the Executive Secretary.  The AENU was admitted into the World Federation of United Nations Associations -FMANU- (New York) in 1999.  

In April 2002, the Youth Ecuadorian Casa de la Cultura (Manabi), declared him a  “ Luminous example for the youth of Ecuador ” for his positive contribution to the strengthening of democratic values in Ecuador.

Medardo Mora

Rector of the Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro -Manabí.

He has spent his career as a professor and as an attorney, and also has links to the agro- industry.  Dr. Mora graduated as a lawyer and doctor in Jurisprudence at the University of Guayaquil.  He has also studied Administration in Bern and Honduras, and holds a Ph.D. in Business Law from the Polytechnical University of Madrid.

He has an extensive public career; he has held posts such as the President of the Municipality of Manta; as congressman representing his province of Manabí for five years, and as President of the University Council of Ecuador.

Currently he is the President of the Writing Commission for a New Constitution, incorporated under the University Council - CONESUP.

Anne Murphy

Is a consultant and action researcher with many years R+D experience working at the interface between the public and private sectors to generate insight, innovation and productive change. Most recently she has been responsible for Partnership Development at Lancaster University Management School where her role has been to foster both regional and international links by bringing together different communities in innovative learning and research relationships. 

A background in management learning, she has extensive international experience as a project manager, designer and facilitator of organisational learning initiatives both in Europe and the U.S. In consulting, her work with global firms and public institutions focused on building relationships for research and product development, particularly in the areas of partnerships and collaboration. Educated in the United Kingdom, she has lived in Spain, Germany and Holland, as well as in the U.S. In this peripatetic life Anne developed an interest in the complex cultural issues of working and leading in partnership, an area in which she has specialised.

She continues this work by developing new relationships at the interface between the academic, business and public service communities and by taking a particular interest in collaborative leadership and community engagement.

Anne is co-author of “The Partnering Imperative: Making Business Partnerships Work” (Wiley 2003).

Isabel Noboa Pontón

As from 1997 she accepted the challenge of continuing the work of her father - Luis Noboa Naranjo- the most prominent businessman in the history of Ecuador.  Currently, she successfully serves as the President of the Nobis Consortium, which groups numerous companies within the national production system.

In the social arena, she has founded and chaired several organizations, such as FANN, “Semillas de Amor” Foundation, Luis Noboa Naranjo Foundation, as well managing the NOBIS Foundation through where several social projects are implemented. She is also the promoter of the “Ecuador Triunfador” Campaign ("Ecuador Wins" Campaign) whereby she stimulates professional development for young people through the Excellency NOBIS Award.

She studied at the “St. George’s School Clarens” (Switzerland), where she advanced her language skills in English, French and Italian. She received a GCE (Certified General Economy) from London University and complemented her studies at the University of Guayaquil, University of Mary Mount (New York) and Harvard University. In the latter, she attended the “Advanced Management” Program at the Harvard Business School.

In the public area, she has held several positions which include being the President of the Competitiveness Consultative Council in 2000, President of the Competitiveness National Council (State Minister rank ) in 2000. She was also President of INCAE, Chapter Ecuador (1999-2005), and was a Member of the Ecuadorian Corporation Total Quality.

She was recognized as one of the most respected Ecuadorian leaders by the “PriceWaterHouse Cooper” national survey and the Leadership Weekly Magazine of El Comercio Newspaper 2004-2005.  She received recognition as the 2006 Best Businesswoman and the América Economía Magazine also recognized her as one of the Business Leaders of greater influence in the region.

Luis Fernando Puerta

CEO Pinturas Condor, a pioneering company in the application of quality systems in Ecuador.
           
The company initiated to include the Ecuadorian Institute of Normalization (INEN) Seals to its products since 1992; currently, it maintains 8 INEN Quality Seals.

It was the first company in obtaining ISO 9001/2000 (1996), and also was certified by the ISO1400:2002 (2005), the comprehensive responsibility certification (a system similar to the ISO, but oriented to the industrial security, the occupational health and environmental care).

In recognition of this work, the company was the first one ever to receive the National Prize of Quality, on November 24, 2005.

Ana María Raad

During the last six years, Ms. Raad has been the Development Director of the Committee for the Democratization of Techonology.  This Committee contributes to make visible the digital exclusion in Latin America and to create awareness about this issue.

She holds a Masters in Anthropology, with studies in Ecuador, Chile, and the U.S.A.  She is a Professor at the University of Chile as well as the Casa Grande University in Guayaquil.  She teaches subjects related to social development and digital inclusion.  Additionally, she is a consultant for local as well as international organizations, and has published a series of studies related to digital culture, youth and internet and development related to the new information technologies.

She is a columnist for Vistazo Magazine.

Jairam Reddy

Dr Reddy is Director of the United Nations University International Leadership Institute, Amman, Jordan.

Dr Reddy is a citizen of South Africa and holds the degrees of Master of Science of the University of Manitoba, Canada, Doctor of Philosophy of the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

He has held academic positions at the Universities of London, England, Temple and Washington, USA, Western Cape and Durban-Westville, South Africa. He was Vice -Chancellor of the University of Durban Westville from 1990-94. Dr Reddy has lectured widely and is the author of numerous refereed articles published in local and international journals and has presented over fifty papers in various congresses.

In January 1995 he was appointed to chair the National Commission on Higher Education of South Africa on whose report much of the White Paper on Higher Education and the Higher Education Act are based.

The University of the Western Cape, South Africa, Birmingham University and the Open University in England have recently conferred Honorary Doctorates on him.  He was appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations to serve on the Council of the United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan for the period 1998-2004. He was elected to chair the Council for a two year term from 2000-2002

Dr Reddy was awarded a Senior Fulbright Scholarship to undertake studies in Higher Education at Michigan State University in 1999.

He was chair of the Interim Council of the Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa (2004), was a member of the Council of the Durban Institute of Technology, South Africa (2004) and of the Board of the Higher Education Quality Committee in South Africa (2002-05), auditor of the Australian Universities Quality Agency (2006)

Ronald Riggio, Ph.D.

Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology and Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute.

His teaching Interests include Leadership, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Nonverbal Communication. His research focuses on Predicition of leadership and managerial potential, Charismatic leadership theory, Nonverbal communication in social interaction, Communication processes in organizational settings, Assessment center methodology for personnel selection, employee development, and measurement of leadership potential, Learning strategies in higher education.

He is and has been member of prestigious academic institutions. Among others, some of his positions include: Member of the Board of Directors for the international Leadership Association, 2005-2008; Convener/Chair of the Global Learning Community for Research, International Leadership Association, 2002-2004; Member of the Executive Committee for the Western Psychological Association, 1999-present; Elected Secretary/Treasurer for the Western Psychological Association, 2003-2007; Acting Secretary/Treasurer for the Western Psychological Association, 2002-2003; Fellows and Awards Program Coordinator, Western Psychological Association, 1999-present; Fellows Committee, Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APA Division Two), 1996-1999 (Chair, 1998-1999; Professional Development Committee, Cooperative Education Association, 1995-present; Ways & Means Committee, International Network on Personal Relationships, 1992-1996.

He has received numerous awards, namely, the Outstanding Teacher Award, Western Psychological Association, 1993; Meritorious Performance and Professional Promise, Cal State Fullerton, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90; Professor of the Year, Dept. of Psychology, CSUF, 1982/83, 1984/85, 1994/95; Honorary Faculty Member, Golden Key National Honor Society, 1990; National Institute of Mental Health Doctoral Traineeship, 1979-1981

Arnaud Wirschell Msc. Ec.

Arnaud Wirschell works at ROI, the major Dutch institute for training and organisation development in the public sector. In 2004 he joined ROI as Senior Advisor Public Management and Policy Making. In 2005 Arnaud became a member of ROI’s Management Team, as Director of the department of Public Management and Policy Making Programs. He is also Head of the Tender Team. Furthermore, Arnaud is Associate Professor of Public Leadership and Policy Innovation at the Postacademic Master of Public Management of the University Utrecht and ROI.

Arnaud Wirschell studied Political Economics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, a combination of macro economics, public management, political science and law. At the same university he worked first as a Project Manager and later as Director Postacademic Programs. During that period he was responsible for large scale management development programs for KPN, the leading telecommunications company in the Netherlands, and the Ministry of the Interior. He also developed the first postacademic Electronic Government course in the Netherlands. After that Arnaud became Program Manager Incompany Programs at the University Leiden / Campus The Hague. At the Campus he trained a wide range of civil servants and professional lobbyists.

Michael Sessions

Michael Sessions is the youngest mayor in the world.

When Michael Sessions was 18 he quickly became an international icon after winning a write– in campaign over the 51-year-old incumbent, for mayor of the City of Hillsdale, Michigan. What had been a quiet community of 8,230 quickly became a destination for reporters from throughout the world. Television crews from Mexico, Japan, and Russia along with national media were present at the swearing in of the youngest mayor in America, and the world. He appeared on Letterman, the Today Show, and was parodied on Saturday Night Live all within four days of the election. His appearances since have been on the Montel Williams Show, Judge Hatchett, and The Ellen Show. Along, with appearances in major magazines such as People and Seventeen. He’s also been the keynote speaker at several events around the country. His first presentation at the international level will be at the ADA International Leadership Summit of the Americas 2007.

Michael’s successful mayoral bid has inspired hope in youth around the globe. Students from Japan, Korea, Germany, South Africa, Great Britain, as well as the United States have contacted him with congratulatory emails while sharing their dreams.

Michael is now 19 and a freshman at Hillsdale College and is in his second year as mayor of the City of Hillsdale.