Staff

Rachel is currently in her senior year at Thunderbird School of Global Management, completing a Bachelor’s of Global Management with a Certificate in International Studies. She was raised in Hickory, North Carolina, but upon moving to the Phoenix metro area to continue her education, realized how much she loved the valley. Rachel previously worked with Phoenix Sister Cities as an intern, where she cultivated a strong passion for community building and international relations. Additionally, her previous internship at a government affairs firm provided her with a comprehensive understanding of local, state, and federal government operations and their impact on business decisions. Rachel has an interest in cross-cultural communication, international historical perspectives, land conservation, and public policy.

Cindy Braun was born in Brooklyn, New York and lived in Los Angeles before recently relocating to the metro area. Cindy’s primary emphasis has been in the Arts, Entertainment and Non-Profit sector, specializing in development, events, operations, community relations and strategic partnerships. She recently joined Phoenix Sister Cities as Events and Membership Coordinator, where she will focus on increasing membership as well as organizing events specifically geared towards our sister cities.

Before moving to Arizona, Cindy was Administrative Director for Everybody Dance LA! Prior to that, Cindy was Director, Membership, Operations and External Relations for the Paley Center for Media, where she launched a variety of membership initiatives and strategic community partnerships resulting in a 62% increase in revenue; drove rental sales which resulted in a 32% rise in new clients and 44% in profits.

Prior to joining the Paley Center, Cindy was AVP, Membership Group where she was responsible for creating appropriate strategies, incentives and programs for recruiting and retaining members. She organized and executed programs and special events for the Board of Directors and top-earning members. She supervised a department of six, as well as overseeing the Group staff of 45. Additionally, Cindy recruited student interns for five national Membership offices, acting as mentor to aide and foster career development. Cindy began her career in advertising and promotions working for the largest promoter in Southern California.

Cindy received her Associate of Arts degree from SD Mesa College. Her passions include music, travel, reading and gardening.

Lydia recently finished her first year at Thunderbird School of Global Management where she is pursuing a Masters of Global Management with a concentration in Global Affairs. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Lydia earned her undergraduate degree at Ohio University majoring in Global Studies and Dance. During her undergraduate career, she studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. She was also an active member and leader of the largest wellness club on campus, CHAARG, where she continues to contribute by serving as a Chapter Leadership Consultant, supporting leadership development initiatives. After graduation, Lydia joined the Peace Corps and was placed in a rural village outside of Monze, Zambia, where she served as an English teacher for grades 5, 6, and 8. During this time she collaborated with local educators to develop equitable teaching practices. This transformative experience sparked her passion for cultural collaboration and community unification, and it has inspired her to pursue a career in public diplomacy.

What motivated you to come to Phoenix Sister Cities?

“When I first learned about Phoenix Sister Cities, I recognized it as an incredible opportunity to grow my understanding of public diplomacy and international relations. Thunderbird is currently helping develop the skills needed to connect global studies with effective management, and this organization felt like the perfect environment to apply those skills.”

What are you excited to accomplish with this internship?

“Previously serving as the Assistant to the Vice President at Phoenix Sister Cities, I am extending my work into the summer as the Assistant to the Youth and Education Coordinator where I am excited to gain hands on experience in event coordination, project management, and community outreach. Working closely with the Youth Ambassador and Teach Abroad programs excites me as I hope to continue making meaningful contributions that foster global communication and understanding.”

Rick Gerrard is Vice President of Phoenix Sister Cities Inc. and Deputy Director of the City of Phoenix International Relations Office. Phoenix Sister Cities is a non-profit corporation that manages ten sister city relationships on behalf of the city. He has served in this capacity since 1999. His work includes the design and coordination of international exchange projects and events around the world.

Among the major projects that he has managed was the fundraising initiative to finance the construction of a new kindergarten school in Chengdu, China, built after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province. The kindergarten, named for the City of Phoenix, replaced a school that was destroyed during the earthquake. Rick also took the lead in the development of a training program for doctors and nurses in partnership with the Maricopa County Burn Center to address a critical need for the care of burn victims in Hermosillo, Mexico after the tragic day care fire of 2009 which took the lives of over 50 infants and toddlers. In addition to his sister city related duties, Rick works with international delegations visiting Phoenix on official business, briefing the mayor and city council, and managing matters of protocol for international visitors on official business with the city.

Prior to his arrival in Phoenix, Rick served as Deputy Director at Sister Cities International (SCI) in Washington, DC. He spent ten years with SCI in various capacities. Among his major achievements, Rick organized political, educational, and trade delegations to more than a dozen industrialized and developing countries including some sponsored by the US Department of State. These included the first visit of US mayors to South Africa after the collapse of apartheid (1995); the first visit of US mayors to Vietnam after the normalization of diplomatic ties (1996); and the first visit of US mayors to Northern Ireland, just prior to the Good Friday Agreement (1997). Rick also worked closely with the SCI Board to organize and conduct four Western Hemispheric Fora for municipalities held in the US and Latin America.

Rick has been involved in international affairs for over thirty years. He served for two years as SCI’s State Representative in Arizona and served one year as President of the Arizona State Sister Cities Association. Rick received his Master of Arts in Latin American History from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences and Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He speaks Spanish and Portuguese and served for two years as a United States Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay.

Rita Marko has been with the City of Phoenix for more than 20 years.  Initially hired as the Library’s Development Officer, Rita staffed the Phoenix Public Library Foundation and raised funds for critical library services.  She was promoted to the position of Library Community Relations Manager, where she was responsible for media relations, marketing and the development of the Library’s website – the City’s first responsively-designed site.

Rita transferred to the City Manager’s Office, where she supported two Deputy City Managers, and staffed three City Council Subcommittees and two task forces.  Most recently, Rita served as the Management Assistant II in the Public Works Director’s Office.

Prior to coming to the City, Rita worked for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, raising $1.5 million in about 18 months.  She also worked for the Skokomish Indian Nation in Washington state, serving as the community’s Health Planner, Economic Development Planner and Director of Economic Development.  Rita has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Anthropology from the University of Arizona, where the focus of her studies was culture change and economic development.  Her Masters thesis focused on the Cuban Women’s Federation as an agent of change for women in Cuba.

Samarth Panchal is a Master of Global Management student at Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University. He is from India with an undergrad in Electrical Engineering and several years of work experience in customer facing role along with a volunteering experience with an international NPO of two years, he brings a unique blend of technical expertise with marketing insight. He is passionate about brand building & international collaboration.

As a Marketing Intern, Samarth manages social media platforms, designs digital content, and supports initiatives that promote cultural exchange and youth involvement. Outside of work, Samarth enjoys photography, sketching and exploring new places.

What motivated you to come to Phoenix Sister Cities?

“I was drawn to Phoenix Sister Cities because of its mission to foster global connections through people-to-people diplomacy. Having worked in a Global NPO in the past, I saw this internship as a perfect opportunity to combine my interests in marketing, public engagement & global affairs. The idea of contributing to programs that bridge cultures and promote mutual understanding truly resonated with me”

What are you excited to accomplish with this internship?

“I’m excited to create meaningful content that strengthens the organization’s digital presence and helps communicate its impact to a broader audience. I also look forward to supporting initiatives that empower youth and promote international collaboration. Through this internship, I hope to sharpen my marketing skills in a real-world nonprofit setting while contributing to something that goes beyond business- building lasting global relationships”

Veronica Scanlan is entering her senior year as an undergraduate student at Arizona State University (ASU). She is pursuing a double major in Finance and Economics, with a minor in Real Estate and a certificate in Applied Business Data Analytics. As an ambitious and dedicated student, she actively participates in various academic organizations on campus. She currently serves at the Executive Vice President of the Scholars of Finance at ASU, a values-based organization focused on ethical leadership in the financial industry, where she helps lead value-based leadership initiatives for students. Previously, she served as the president of the Economics and Finance Association, where she guided professional development programming, speaker events, and outreach efforts that connected students with industry leaders.

Veronica is passionate about the intersection of public diplomacy, economic development, and data driven decision-making. With a strong foundation in finance and economics, coupled with her passion for ethical leadership, Veronica aspires to make a meaningful impact. She hopes to leverage her knowledge to develop innovative solutions that drive sustainable growth and progress, while improving the economic opportunities in her community.

In her free time, she enjoys baking, spending time with her family, hiking, and exploring new places.

What motivated you to come to Phoenix Sister Cities?

“I was drawn to Phoenix Sister Cities because of its unique focus on fostering cross-cultural exchange and international collaboration at a public-private partnership level. As someone who is passionate about economic development and public policy, I saw a meaningful opportunity to learn how global partnerships can be built and sustained through diplomacy, cultural exchange, and shared values. The chance to support programs that bring people and ideas together from around the world aligned closely with both my academic interests and personal values.”

What are you excited to accomplish with this internship?

“I’m excited to gain hand-on experience and contribute to impactful initiatives that strengthen Phoenix’s global relationships and enhance its reputation as an internationally engaged city. I look forward to deepening my understanding of public diplomacy and international partnerships, and how it influences economic and cultural development. I also hope to strengthen my professional communication and research skills. Ultimately, I hope to play a role on projects that create lasting, positive connections between Phoenix Sister Cities and its partners.”

Julia is currently in her second year for a Master’s at Thunderbird School of Global Management with a concentration in Global Business. Originally, she grew up in Germany before moving to Utah State University, where she majored in Management and International Business. During her time at Utah State University, she embraced the cultural exchange and serviced as a President of the International Business Association where she continued to foster the exchange between the different cultures on campus.

What motivated you to come to Phoenix Sister Cities?

“During my undergraduate and now especially in my Master’s, which connected students from 141 counties, it is so important to embrace cross-cultural exchange and understanding and learn from different cultures. Traveling and learning from new cultures has been such an eye-opening experience on how important exchange is in the global world. Phoenix Sister Cities offers a place to be able to immerse in the culture but also to dive into the business relations aspect of the nonprofit organization.”

What are you excited to accomplish with this internship?

“I am mostly excited to continue to learn about new cultures while gaining hands-on-experience in an organization as special as Phoenix Sister Cities. I am excited to have such an amazing opportunity where I can combine my skills from my education and courses into meaningful projects. “

Jovana Vinčić recently graduated with the highest distinction from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University, where she pursued Peace Studies with a focus on Social and Cultural Analysis. At ASU, Jovana participated in an international internship in Kyrgyzstan through the ASU Lab of Leadership, Diplomacy, and National Security. Alongside her study abroad experience, Jovana engaged in the Foreign Policy program's Policy Design Studio at ASU, where she learned about U.S. diplomacy while interning for the American Academy of Diplomacy. Furthermore, she was selected for a fellowship program with the Center for the Study of Conflict and Religion, where she assisted the Assistant Director with his research on Global Citizenship and Religion.  Jovana received two awards from the Department of State: first with a Gilman International Scholarship and later for attending a Global Food Security seminar. Jovana’s honors thesis examined the human rights crises of the Crimean Tatars, highlighting current diplomatic efforts and proposing a possible diplomatic resolution.

What motivated you to come to Phoenix Sister Cities?

"As I plan to pursue a career in diplomacy, the Phoenix Sister Cities provide an excellent opportunity to learn how city governments forge connections with other countries on a global scale. A cosmopolitan perspective is essential for succeeding in an international affairs career, and the Phoenix Sister Cities, which promote peace, friendship, and prosperity, will support me in achieving this ideal."

What are you excited to accomplish with this internship?

"Majoring in Peace Studies, I developed an interest in diplomacy and, more significantly, in various strategies for strengthening bilateral relationships. Throughout my time with Phoenix Sister Cities, I firmly believe that I will deepen my understanding of the significance of citizen diplomacy and the role of local government in fostering diplomatic ties with other countries. I am extremely excited to contribute to and support the values and mission of Phoenix Sister Cities, which will prepare me for a career in diplomacy."