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Board Members|
President |
Treasurer |
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Vice President, Continuing Education |
Vice President, Events |
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Vice President, Membership |
Vice President, Communication |
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Secretary |
Member of the Board |
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Member of the Board |
Member of the Board |
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Member of the Board |
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Founder/Director Emerita |
Immediate Past President |
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Chair, Governance and Ethics |
Executive Director |
More Information About the Board
catherine m. Wilson
Maureen Hurley
Maureen retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2003 after a rewarding and well-traveled career during which she served as a human resources and protocol officer spending the majority of her career holding key positions as a squadron commander, protocol officer and director of staff. She has resided in and traveled throughout the United Kingdom and the Azores, and also traveled and/or worked in Argentina, Barbados, Croatia, Dominica, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia and Uruguay. Throughout her career Maureen volunteered in many of the local communities she lived in to include coaching gymnastics for Special Olympics.
Since returning to Maine, Maureen has been an active member of and volunteer with Protocol & Diplomacy International/Protocol Officers Association joining in 2013 and serving on its Continuing Education and Professional Development Committee. For 16 years, she also led the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program for the World Affairs Council of Maine. At the 2016 Global Ties U.S. National Meeting, she received the Excellence in Programming Award "for valuable contributions to the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, citizen diplomacy, and the field of international exchange; and for consistently exhibiting the creativity, commitment, diligence, flexibility, and professionalism that makes international exchange a key tool in building a more peaceful, prosperous world." Maureen also led planning committees for two statewide summits on citizen diplomacy held in 2011 and 2014. She received her B.A. from Hillsdale College and M.Ed. from Vanderbilt University. Maureen is also a 2012 graduate of the Institute for Civic Leadership and 2019 graduate of Leadership Maine.
Darin f. Pfeifer, ed.d.
katelyn wilcox surmann
Katelyn Wilcox Surmann assumed the role of Assistant Chief of Protocol for the State of Michigan in 2016 and currently serves as the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) Board Liaison for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. In this position, Katelyn handles of a variety of protocol and international business issues for the State of Michigan. The Protocol office is the primary point of contact with the diplomatic community both in Michigan and worldwide and is responsible for addressing the needs and concerns, diplomatic of otherwise, of this group. Katelyn’s responsibilities entail planning foreign trips for the Governor and other state officials and assisting with arrangements for visits by heads of state and other dignitaries when state government is involved. Katelyn serves as a resource for protocol, international and cultural issues and interacts with legislators, department directors, top corporate and industry executives, U.S. and foreign leaders as well as university and local government officials on a regular basis.
Katelyn has over fourteen years of legislative experience, specializing in international affairs since 2014. She holds a B.A. in French and a B.A. in Finance with a Specialization in International Business from Michigan State University. She was elected to the PDI-POA Board of Directors in 2022.
ERIC L. DICKEN
Eric L. Dicken serves as the Director, Chief of Staff Office at Cleveland Clinic. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic in January 2022, Eric orchestrated hundreds of ceremonies and events for universities, nonprofits, and cultural arts organizations including Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland International Film Festival, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland Play House, and Cleveland Arts Prize, among others.
Eric's career spans more than 25 years, and he has forged a reputation as a trusted advisor and an accomplished leader delivering memorable experiences, selecting meaningful gifts, and fostering new connections among partners.
Eric earned a BA in English and Theatre Arts from Hiram College, a Master of Education in higher education administration from Kent State University, and Master of Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University. Additionally, Eric completed Protocol Officer Training at the Protocol School of Washington.
Since joining PDI-POA in 2012, he has been active as a member buddy, Forum volunteer, and manager for the Protocol Prose Book Club.
She completed her undergraduate studies in Switzerland in International Political Studies, followed by a Masters’ Degree in International Affairs from The American University in Washington, D.C. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Event Management from George Washington University. She is fluent in Greek, French and Spanish. She was elected to the PDI-POA Board of Directors in 2020, and in 2022 she was the Co-Chair of the International Protocol Education Forum in San Antonio.
Saeed Al-Salkhadi is the Vice President at the Protocol School of Washington. He joined the school in 2011 as the Managing Director of the Middle East & North Africa Region and established their first international office outside the United States in Dubai, UAE. In 2022, he was promoted to be the first school’s Vice President. He provides leadership to position the school at the forefront of the industry and establish strategic partnerships with federal & local government offices as well as leading private sector corporations.
Saeed conducts trainings, seminars, and coaching sessions on matters of protocol, etiquette and cross-cultural diplomacy. He has trained several governmental, educational and private organizations in the US and the MENA region. His areas of specialty include: Protocol History and Foundations, Titles and Forms of Address, Cross-Cultural Awareness, Business Etiquette and Diplomacy, and Executive Presence.
Prior to joining PSOW, Saeed was the Director of Business Development at Delos Living, an American Group specialized in Wellness Real Estate, at their Regional Office in Dubai, UAE. In 2006, He was among the first ten staff to join the mega-project “Jebel Ali Airport City” in 2006 known today as “Dubai South”, where he specialized in commercial partnerships in Real Estate & Free Zone business development. In 2003, he started his professional career with a
private group in Abu Dhabi, UAE, specializing in life support services for armed forces in the Gulf.
Saeed received his MBA from the American University in Dubai, his M.Sc. in Engineering Systems Management from the American University of Sharjah, and his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Sharjah in 2003. He was elected to the PDI-POA Board of Directors in 2022.
David joined PDI-POA in 2010 and subsequently chaired the International Education Forum in Toronto in 2011. He has enjoyed being a member buddy to new PDI-POA members for many years. David was elected to the Board in 2018.
Currently the Director of International Affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mauri Earl joined the Washington, D.C. Office of Public and International Affairs in May 1999. Previously, she served as International Affairs Representative and Staff Assistant to the Director.
Originally from Reno, Nevada, Mauri graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. During college, Mauri studied at BYU’s Center for Near Eastern Studies based in Jerusalem, Israel. She also served a mission for the Church in England and Wales.
Mauri is an avid calligrapher and is associated with the International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH) and the Washington Calligraphers Guild. She is a member of the Cultural Arts Committee at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center located in Kensington, Maryland and is a member of Protocol Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association.
In 2002, Ann led a group of global protocol professionals to create this Association, an organization to elevate our work, enhance our ongoing education and training, and enlarge our network. Ann served as PDI-POA’s inaugural president and later as the chair of the Committee on Governance. Currently she holds the title of Director Emerita and continues to share her wisdom and experience with the Board and all members.
Melissa is Executive Director of the Office of University Events and Protocol and the Office of University Ceremonies Arizona State University (ASU). She is the co-founder of the North American Association of Commencement Officers (NAACO). Melissa has been producing University Ceremonies since 1999. She previously worked as Development Officer and Program Coordinator with Barrett, The Honors College at ASU. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism/Mass Communication, with a minor in Marketing from Arizona State University and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.
Melissa joined PDI-POA in 2012 and has been a board member since 2016. She chaired the 2018 International Education Forum held in Boston, Massachusetts, and served as Vice President of Events 2016-2020 and President 2020-2022.
Chris has been a member of PDI-POA since 2005. He was a voting Director from 2007 to 2014. He became PDI-POA’s youngest President in 2008 and continued that service through 2014, ushering in an era of unprecedented growth. In 2014, the Association honored him with the Ann Beard Board of Directors Award. In addition to his present duties, he has also served the Association as First Vice President and Chair of the 2016 Atlanta Forum.
SARAH ELLER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sarah serves as the executive director for PDI-POA and account executive for the association management company since 2022. From 2012 – 2021, she led the alumnae team for a national women’s association headquarters, focusing on member engagement through a practical vision aligning with the organization’s strategic plan. Previous roles include director of a regional youth services organization serving 3 counties in the state of Indiana; event manager for the IU Natatorium, IUPUI and served as the lead for a national swimming competition, Olympic trials, regional and local competitions, and oversaw a 10-week camp program. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University.
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