ABOUT US

Alannah Crandall oversees the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and all custom exchange programs and services across the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area and Monterey. Passionate about Citizen Diplomacy, she joined the organization in 2018 after years of showcasing San Francisco to family friends visiting from abroad. Alannah holds a Master of Arts in International Relations and focused her graduate career on the IVLP as an effective Public Diplomacy tool for the networked era. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a minor in International Business, having centered her undergraduate thesis on the efficacy of Cultural Diplomacy in strengthening ties between nations.

John Shea was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in the New England region. He holds degrees in Economics and Sovietology, and has overseas work experience in the Ukraine, Falkland Islands and through numerous short assignments abroad. After working in international petroleum markets, John’s career has principally focused on public policy, international affairs, economic development, and planning roles. John has led a half-dozen non-profit organizations, owned his own company with a partner which fostered life-cycle foreign investment in New England green technologies, and engaged throughout his career with government officials at all levels, business leaders, and other stakeholders including non-profit organizations.

Tessa Carter has led international exchange programs since 2010. She currently serves as Director of Operations, where she oversees programs, staff, finances, and organizational management. Previously, she managed exchange initiatives at nonprofits in Colorado before returning to her home state of California to join the World Trade Center Northern California, supporting its diplomacy divisions. Her passion for cultural exchange was sparked at age 13 during a trip to Nicaragua, which led her to later study in Sweden, work in France, and travel to over 20 countries. Tessa holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Santa Clara University.