Alla Bereshkova, President

Alla Bereshkova also serves as a Senior Executive Director for Russia and Eurasia at the World Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Bereshkova obtained her Masters' degrees in Economics and Journalism from Moscow State University, Russia, and attended the Moscow Institute of Foreign Affairs where she studied international business. She embarked on an award-winning career as a journalist and editor working for such prominent Russian newspapers as Kommersant, Arguments and Facts, The Moscow News, Moscow Pravda, and Sobesednik. Ms. Bereshkova has received numerous awards for her work as a journalist, focusing on economics, human relations and the Russian culture. She has been a frequent television show guest, appeared in an American documentary film, and generally has been on call when matters arise concerning anything about Russia. Articles about her appear in The Moscow Times, Moscow News, Family Magazine, Soviet Women, and Arguments and Facts. Ms. Bereshkova has an extensive experience in PR and business, and served as a Vice President of Public relations for Russian International Tourism and Vacations Exchange in Moscow. Ms. Bereshkova was a marketing manager, consultant and co-founder of International Friends and Associates firm in Atlanta specializing in networking and establishing business relations in Russia. She also served as a Vice President of PR and Corporate Communications for Russian-American Chamber of Commerce in the USA. At present, Alla Bereshkova also works as a freelance foreign journalist for several Russian newspapers and magazines. She is an author of numerous articles and a book on business in Russia, Russian culture and traditions.

Svetlana Alimova, Vice President

Svetlana Alimova is Director of marketing for Go To Russia Travel, a full service travel management company. Ms. Alimova brings in an extensive experience she has gained while working with international organizations, government delegations, non-profit organizations and multinational corporations. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Murmansk State Pedagogical University, Russia, where she majored in English and German languages. In 1996, she became a recipient of a prestigious Freedom Support Act graduate scholarship. In 1998, Ms. Alimova graduated from the University of Missouri with the Masters degree in journalism and worked as a reporter, anchor and producer for the United Nations Radio and Voice of America Radio. She also has a number of publications in Russian and US print media. She has extensive experience in marketing and public relations, and previously worked as a PR manager for Intel Corporation in Moscow. In May, 2008, Ms. Alimova was offered a position of Director of Marketing and Consulting Services Department at the Russian- American Chamber of Commerce in the USA. Following the reorganization in November, 2008, Ms. Alimova was appointed Head of the International Business Development Center. In February, 2009, she was promoted to the position of Vice President of Marketing Department. Her areas of interest include assisting domestic and international companies in establishing partnerships, trade missions and marketing campaigns. Ms. Aimova speaks Russian, English, German and Swedish languages.

Our Partners:

Ralph J. Thomson, Ph.D., MALD, MA

Dr. Thomson's career involves over thirty years' experience in state/local and Federal government advocacy, legislative and regulatory activity as well as international policymaking, negotiations, technology and trade consulting, business, and higher education. He is currently Chairman and CEO of International Business Catalysts, LLC (IBC), a firm devoted to partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, representation to U.S. and foreign governments, technology transfer, trade and finance.

During his career, Thomson has been responsible for private and public sector project funding, joint ventures and technology sales contracts totaling over $500M in the U.S., Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Public sector funding and policy activities have involved U.S. government agencies, the United Nations, the World Bank/IMF, and regional development banks.

Mr.Thomson's education includes:

• FLETCHER SCHOOL OF LAW AND DIPLOMACY (TUFTS AND HARVARD UNIVERSITIES IN COOPERATION WITH MIT AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITIES)Ph.D., International Politics and Economics
• Dissertation under Dr. Henry Kissinger
• M.A., International Affairs
• M.A.L.D., International Law and Diplomacy
• http://www.ibcatalysts.com/bio-ralphthomson.html

Our Team:

Andrei Maximenko

Mr. Andrei Maximenko has a B.A. from Moscow Institute of International Relations, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in international studies from the University of South Carolina. Early in his career, Dr. Maximenko spent several years with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving in various diplomatic posts in Washington, D.C. and Lagos, Nigeria. After leaving the Foreign Service Dr. Maximenko worked as a marketing director for a British computer services company in Moscow and London. Having completed his Ph.D. program (his dissertation received a prestigious Best Dissertation Project award from the Academic Council on the UN System), Dr. Maximenko taught foreign policy and international political economy at universities in South Carolina and Kentucky. His academic research included such topics as sustainable development, international financial institutions, and Russia's energy policy. Presently, Dr. Maximenko works for the Center for International Education and Research at Georgia Institute of Technology while pursuing his MBA degree with concentration in strategy and finance.

Elena Kochutin, Immigration Attorney

Elena Kochutin, a founding attorney of the EK Law Office received her Juris Doctor degree (Cum Laude) from Georgia State University, College of Law in 2007. Elena is licensed to practice law in the state of Georgia and is a member of the State Bar Association of Georgia as well as the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She is admitted to practice before the Georgia Supreme Court. Elena is fluent in English and Russian. Elena's area of legal expertise is Immigration and Nationality Law and she is committed to finding the most effective, advantageous and cost-efficient solution to each individual matter. Prior to becoming a licensed attorney, Elena gained nine years of experience as an Immigration Paralegal with several of the most reputable immigration law firms in the Atlanta area. Elena also has a Master of Arts degree in Linguistics from the Urals State Pedagogical University in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Julia Gladish

Julia Gladish is a graduate of the Mogilev State Technological Institute in Belarus, where she received Master of Science Degree in 1995. Following her graduation, she was offered a position with the Government office of Kursk Region in the Committee of Industry, Fuel and Energy Complex. From 1999 she worked as a consultant for the Committee of Trade and Entrepreneurship of the Kursk regional government. Ms. Gladish was involved with international business and cultural partnership programs for the Government of Kursk region, and has experience in working with private businesses, as well as with trade shows, exhibitions and other events. In 2007, she became the principle of the Russian School, established by a non-profit organization Russian American Federation in Atlanta, USA. Ms. Gladish main interests are in representing the Russian community interests in the USA and preserving the Russian cultural traditions.

Kseniya Bor

Kseniya Bor is an MBA candidate in marketing at J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, Atlanta. In her studies she focuses on international strategic marketing planning and branding. Currently she works as a graduate research assistant at the Center for Global Business Leadership at GSU. There she also partners with the director of the Center in promoting executive MBA program Executive Leaders Moscow. She is also currently considered for a position on the executive committee of the Graduate Business Association (GBA) at J. Mack Robinson College of Business. Ms. Bor has extensive experience in working with the foreign government delegations, trade missions, and private businesses. Her previous experience includes the position of a First Assistant Director of Marketing at the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce in the USA. Ms. Bor graduated Magna Cum Laude from Valdosta State University, USA with the Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and the European Union Political Science Certificate in December 2005. During her undergraduate studies she was an active member of the Model United Nations Club, Society of International Students, and Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society. She speaks three languages, including Russian, English, and German. Her primary business interests lie in the luxury and leisure industry.