Dr. Jacquie L. Kay

 

Dr. Jacquie L. Kay, founder and CEO of WPI, Inc., is recognized as an expert in leadership development and developing linkages and partnerships in the public and private sector.

 

In addition to her role as head of WPI, Dr. Kay managed several education projects, led training sessions in grants development; designed study tours; developed curriculum; identified systems' requirements, conducted executive development programs; executive searches; worked on policy reform and revenue generating for countries; and speaks on a range of issues involved with international development, Asia, and leadership.

 

Dr. Kay received her doctorate in education (planning) from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1978. She was formerly involved in regional planning for local governments; lectured at Harvard University, Boston University, and Lesley College in the States, in Thailand at Chulalongkorn and Thammasart Universities; and addressed conferences in international issues of workforce and policy reform.

 

Dr. Kay has served or serves on boards such as Massachusetts Business Development; Women's Institute for Housing and Economic Development; Cambridge Center for Adult Education; Health and Development International; Asian Community Development Corporation and Conservation Law Foundation Ventures.

 

Mr. David Sears

 

David Sears has nearly 20 years' experience in international economic development, working in project management on numerous USAID projects and providing direct services to projects in the areas of government contracting, financial analysis and systems analysis.

 

He spent nine years as Projects Manager and Chief Financial Officer for WPI, Inc., managing various USAID and private sector projects. Working with WPI's President and field staff in Russia, he developed and implemented a series of training activities for organizations across Russia to learn about bidding on donor-funded projects and ways of collaborating and networking with national and international partners.

 

Other assignments on USAID projects in the areas of management training and local network development where he has been Chief Advisor, were in Ukraine, Algeria, Jordan, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, and Bolivia in addition to long-term residency in Morocco. Domestically, Mr. Sears works with various small and medium-scale businesses in the U.S. providing management consulting services in the areas of business planning and financial management.

Most recently, he has founded a company which has developed an internet-based database of consultants in international economic development and has expertise in web design, programming, and marketing/outreach for web sites. Mr. Sears received his MBA from Harvard Business School. 

 

Dr. Ed Felton

 

Dr. Felton has established a strong presence and is a recognized leader in strategic planning and marketing throughout the world. He is with the Global Utilities Institute at Samford University and has had extensive experience in management training overseas in both the public and private sectors. He has completed numerous assignments for USAID in management consulting and training, and developed training materials, case studies, and group assignments.

As Professor of Management at Samford University, Dr. Felton teaches international marketing and conducts research. A former Dean and Professor at Wake Forest University, Dr. Felton has also taught at he University of Virginia, and Harvard Business School. He has spent years living and working overseas developing management education institutions such as the Asian Institute of management in the Philippines. 

 

Dr. Felton has authored three books and over 100 articles and case studies. His consulting clients include Pan American Airways, Citicorp, Digital, The World Bank, Champion, Arthur D. Little, and The Rockefeller Foundation, to list a few. Dr. Felton received his Master's degree and Doctorate from Harvard Business School.

 

Mr. David O'Connor

 

Mr. O'Connor is an experienced marketing and management specialist, with extensive experience leading complex international projects and associated multi-national staffs. As Export Marketing Advisor in Jordan, he assessed the Investment Promotion Corporation and the Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation, developing plans of action, and mobilizing technical assistance. 

 

As Director of the Jordan Design & Trade Center, he established the first significant export markets for home furnishings, accessories, and garments in North America, Europe, and the Persian Gulf. Also in Jordan, he was Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism & Antiquities where he developed and managed the implementation of a national strategy to improve tourism services and enhance visitor satisfaction. As Executive Director of the Jordan Tourism Board, he developed a strategy to target specific international markets through participation in trade fairs, familiarization tours, joint regional marketing, print and visual promotion, and media events. As Director of Craft Programs for Save the Children, he created and managed an import business that established markets for exporters in 40 developing countries. He developed an international business-to-business resource exchange and an active market linkage system for exporters in Asia. He conducted workshops for international business leaders in penetrating US markets. O'Connor has undertaken long and short-term assignments throughout South Asia and speaks fluent Urdu and Nepali. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College.