Our Vision
By 2030 we will be well-known for creating educational experiences that reach at least twice as many people as we do today. We will stand together to lead, act and inspire change in our communities to help build a more just and peaceful world.
Todd Watkins
Chairman – 2016 term ending 2019
Todd is a Partner in J.S. Watkins Partners, a commercial real estate investment banking and consulting firm based in Bethesda, MD. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School.
A member of the Board of Directors since 2013, Todd currently serves as Chairman of the Board of CISV USA. Prior to his election to the Board, he was the Trustee for the Washington, DC chapter of CISV and served as the chair of the Corporate Governance Task Force. As Chairman, he is an ex officio member of all of the Board’s committees.
Originally from Philadelphia, Todd participated in CISV programs from there in the 1980’s. Currently, a member of the Washington, DC chapter, he has served as vice president of the chapter board and was involved in delegate and leader selection. Todd resides in Washington, DC with his wife, Julie, and their two daughters.
Lauren Kelly Herbstritt
International Representative – 2016 term ending 2019
Lauren is Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs for the University of Tennessee College of Law. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
A member of the Board of Directors since 2013, Lauren currently serves on the Finance and Education Committees. Prior to her election to the Board, she served as a presidential appointee to the Executive Committee.
Active in CISV since she first applied for village in 1992, Lauren is a member of the Smoky Mountain chapter where she has served as Chapter President, JB Advisor, Membership Chair, and Merchandise Chair (luckily, not all at once). She lives in Knoxville with her husband, Chris.
Chip Workman
Treasurer – 2016 term ending 2019
Chip is President and Shareholder at The Asset Advisory Group, a registered investment advisory firm in Cincinnati, OH. He’s earned the Certified Financial Planner designation, a MBA in Finance from the Williams College of Business at Xavier University and his bachelor’s degree at Miami University.
A member of the Board of Directors since 2013, Chip serves as the Treasurer of CISV USA and the chair of the Board’s Finance Committee. He has been affiliated with CISV since he went to Village in 1990, participating in multiple programs and board positions on both the chapter and national level along the way.
Outside of his work and CISV, Chip is involved with several other boards and organizations in Cincinnati and its surrounding neighborhoods. He and his wife, Abby, spend their free time raising their two daughters and supporting various philanthropic and community efforts.
James Watkins, M.D.
Secretary – 2015 term ending 2018
Jim Watkins, M.D., is the president of Pediatricians of Dallas, a medical practice in Dallas, TX. He is a graduate of Austin College and Baylor College of Medicine.
A member of the Board of Directors since 2013, Dr. Watkins currently serves as the Secretary of the Board of CISV USA. He also serves on the Board’s Organizational Development committee.
Jim is a member of the Dallas Fort Worth Chapter, where he has served in a variety of roles. He and his wife, Margaret, reside in Dallas. They have three grown daughters.
Amanda Stegner
2017 term ending 2020
Amanda is an educator and community volunteer based in Dearborn, Michigan where she taught second and third grade and served as an intervention specialist. She is a graduate of Smith College.
Amanda works at the public library in Dearborn, Michigan. She is a graduate of Smith College.
A member of the Board of Directors since 2013, Amanda currently serves as the International Representative and chairs the Education Committee.
Active in CISV since 2007, Amanda is a member of the Detroit Chapter where she has staffed and directed programs and currently serves as a Co-Advisor of the Junior Branch. She has also led delegations to Italy, Guatemala, Germany, Finland, Norway and France. Amanda lives in Dearborn, MI
Rachel Buff
2017 term ending 2020
Rachel Buff is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied Political Science and International Relations. She currently works on the consulting team at Business Sweden – The Swedish Trade and Invest Council.
Rachel has been actively involved in CISV and Junior Branch since the age of thirteen. She has served as JB President for the Jacksonville chapter, as a member of the National Junior Board of Trustees and the National Mini Camp Committee, as the Executive Youth Trustee for CISV USA, and most recently, as a National Junior Representative for JB USA. Her involvement with the organization has taken her to programs and meetings in Germany, Sweden, Canada, Norway, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, France, and Austria. Rachel found her home in JB USA, and believes that Junior Branch is the heart and soul of the organization.
Reelected to the Board of Directors in 2017, Rachel serves as the Junior Branch representative, or JB Director. She sits on the Education Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Organizational Development Committee.
Kalpana Kotagal
2015 term ending 2018
Kalpana is a Partner and Chair of the Hiring and Diversity Committee in the law firm of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, where she represents employees and other victims of discrimination in class and collective actions. She is an honors graduate of Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
A member of the Board of Directors since 2013, Kalpana currently serves on the Finance Committee and chairs the Corporate Governance Committee. She has been affiliated with CISV since she went on a village in 1989.
In 2008, Kalpana served as an honorary chair of the National Finance Committee of Young Lawyers for Obama. She and her husband, Wyatt, live in Washington, DC where they are raising their sons.
John C. “Christian” Warner
2015 term ending 2018
Christian Warner is a political appointee in the Obama administration, where he serves as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Transportation. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a Powers-Knapp Scholar, double majoring in Political Science and International Studies, with specific focuses in International Relations and Global Security.
A member of the Board of Directors since 2013, Christian previously served as the Junior Branch representative on the Board. Currently, he serves on the Education, Organizational Development and Finance Committees of the board. Prior to his election, Christian served one term on the National Youth Committee and was the Chair of the National Mini Camp Committee in 2012.
Christian has been actively involved with CISV from an early age, attending programs in Copenhagen, Denmark; Campinas, Brazil; San Jose, Costa Rica, Geneva, Switzerland, and Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland. Originally from Birmingham, Michigan, Christian currently resides in Washington, D.C.
Tait Anberg
2017 term ending 2020
Tait is an elementary public school teacher in Atlanta, GA. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco where he earned his bachelor and master of arts degrees. Tait received his teaching certification from Mercer University in Atlanta.
A member of the Board of Directors since 2014, Tait serves on the Organizational Development and Education Committees of the Board, as well as the Hosting and Sending Distribution System Task Force. Prior to his election to the Board, Tait served as National Expansion Chair, presidential appointee to the Executive Committee, National Trustee-at-Large, National Leadership Trainer, National Seminar Camp Committee Chair, National Training Committee Youth Liaison, and National Youth Convention Chair.Actively involved since 1985 when his family joined the San Francisco chapter, Tait attended Interchange and Seminar programs as a youth participant, led two Village delegations, staffed a Village and Youth Meeting, directed two Villages, planned a Village, Summer Camp, and Seminar Camp, and founded the Atlanta chapter. He worked for the 1996 Centennial Olympics, the Atlanta Union Mission, coached high school and youth wrestling, and he currently coaches for Girls on the Run and youth basketball. He and his wife Joni, live in the Atlanta area with their daughter Emma.
Louise Harty
2017 term ending 2020
Louise is a senior accountant with Caliber, wealth development company located in Scottsdale, AZ. She earned her Bachelor of Accountancy at New Mexico State University.
Elected to the board in 2017, Louise serves on the Finance and Organization Development committees. Louise became involved in CISV in 2005 when her daughter was selected for Village. She is a former Philadelphia chapter president and Jacksonville chapter treasurer. Louise lives in Cleveland, OH with her husband Leland. They have three grown children.
Stephenie Teichman
2017 term ending 2020
As a private attorney, Stephenie has practiced law in Louisiana, Texas and California, across a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial transactions, estate planning, trusts, probate; insurance defense litigation for accountants, and directors and officers of failed financial institutions. She currently is engaged in independently contracted legal work for select clients and the State Bar of California.
Stephenie became an active volunteer in the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of CISV shortly after her children began participating in 2007. She watched both of her children mature as they participated in a variety of offered programs. The ability of CISV to instill confidence and cultural awareness it its participants paired with its ability to develop independent thinkers and leaders of the future is what has kept her involved for the past 10 years.
In addition to her role on the Governing Board, she concurrently serves as National Risk Manager and has been an active member of her local chapter as Chapter Risk Manager, Step Up Planner and Development Officer. She also serves as a Risk Management Regional Coordinator for the Americas, and an internationally certified Risk Management Trainer for CISV. Stephenie hopes to grow CISV’s impact in our local communities and strives to insure the safety of every traveler both here and abroad.