ICU History |
Staff |
How we support international business
Sponsors |
Sponsorship Opportunities |
Awards & Recognition
The
International Center of the Upstate (ICU) is a non-profit
organization devoted to promoting cross-cultural understanding among
local and international residents of Upstate South Carolina.
Our mission:
To welcome people of all nations into this region to gain knowledge, establish friendships and share their culture and talents;
To provide information, programs and services to benefit and promote residents and international businesses in our region;
To foster cultural diversity and harmony in our growing community.
The
ICU provides a wide range of programs and services that support and
promote the image of the Upstate as an important hub for
international investment and trade.
Our
vision is to be the leading international organization in the
Upstate for services, resources, and information for individuals and
businesses with global interests and activities, and to be an
advocate for international cultural diversity and harmony in our
community.
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HISTORY OF THE ICU
With more than 230 international companies operating in this area,
Upstate South Carolina has the largest foreign investment per
capita of any region in the U.S. Many of these companies bring
international employees
to this area to live and work for a few years. In 1998, a group of
individuals realized that there were no services for these
international employees and their families who needed help settling
in to the area. With the City of
Greenville, the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce and Michelin
North America, this group created an organization of local business and community leaders to meet the needs of those new
international residents, and to give local residents a chance to
meet people from other cultures.
Today the ICU is the Upstate leader in innovative international programs and events and serves as an important community resource. We are an independent
nonprofit organization that include participants from more than
70 countries. Our members are a diverse and fascinating mix of foreign
residents, immigrants, and Americans with an interest in
people from other cultures. Join us!
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OUR STAFF
The ICU is staffed by an executive director, a board of directors
who represent various businesses and ethnic groups in the Upstate,
and more than 80 volunteers. Our
volunteers are the lifeblood of the ICU and are involved in various
ways: they organize our programs and events, assist with the
administration, participate in school programs, or act as
ambassadors for the ICU in the community.
KINNEIL COLTMAN
Kinneil Coltman is the Director of Diversity and Language Services for Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center. Prior to her appointment at GHS, she was the Manger of Diversity Training and Consulting at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Diversity from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a Master of Arts in Cross Cultural Studies and Organizational Diversity at The University of Houston – Clear Lake. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Board of the International Center of the Upstate, she is also a member of the YWCA Board, the Communicare Advisory Council, and the South Carolina Hospital Association Diversity Council and participates in a variety of community activities related to diversity and inclusion.
PATRICIA MARBY HARRISON
Patricia Marby Harrison, Executive Director of the ICU, is a
graduate of Stanford University and the University of California at
Santa Barbara. An American citizen, Dr. Harrison was born in Thailand to German-American
parents, and has lived in England, Germany
and Australia as well, thus bringing her first-hand experience of
cross-cultural challenges to her job as Executive Director.
Dr. Harrison had been involved with the ICU for several years as
a volunteer prior to her appointment as executive director in
December 2003. “When I moved here from Australia,” she says, “the
culture shock was considerable. In the ICU I found like-minded
friends who had been through similar transitions, and I greatly
enjoyed the chance to meet people from other countries. The Upstate
is one of the most international communities I’ve ever lived in,
which makes it an exciting, dynamic place to live.”
Dr. Harrison is a graduate of Leadership Greenville Class 32 and Diversity Leadership Academy Class 5, and serves as the co-chair of the Greenville Chamber's Non-Profit Alliance.
SUSANNA SCHMID
Susanna Schmid, Program Assistant at the ICU, is a native of Germany and has been in the United States for over a decade. Beginning with many opportunities for travel and study abroad, Susanna cultivated her education, moving forward and excelling in the engineering field. Also having experience with corporate environmental work, Susanna has worked with many international companies.
Susanna enjoys her work at the ICU as she has always been interested in other languages and is fascinated by different countries and cultures. Susanna appreciates “the opportunities provided by the ICU to meet so many interesting people from around the world.” As Program Assistant, Susanna organizes and plans language programs, special events and workshops, while also communicating with our dedicated volunteers.
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PARTNERS WITH THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Does your company have clients or customers from other cultures or other countries?In our increasingly global economy, it is crucial for Upstate businesses to be aware of their global interdependence and to establish effective intercultural relationships. The ICU educates locally-based businesses on cross-cultural issues in business and helps make connections with the international community in this region.
Does your company support diversity in the workplace and the community? Many businesses understand the importance of making sure that their
employees can work with people from other cultures. These businesses also recognize that fostering a diverse community is valuable for economic growth.
Does your company expend resources to relocate international employees to the Upstate? Experts
estimate that it costs at least $100,000 to $300,000 to move an
employee from overseas. Yet these reassignments are not always successful, due largely to personal dissastisfaction of the employees and their families. Using contributions from our business sponsors and the expertise of our staff and caring volunteers, the ICU works to connect international employees and their families to their new community in positive ways.
Be part of the good work that the ICU does with the businesses of Upstate South Carolina and the world: become a sponsor of the International Center! See below for details.
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SPONSORS
The International Center of the Upstate would like to thank our corporate sponsors whose contributions directly benefit the ICU’s valuable services and the community as a whole. Their support of our mission is vital as we work to promote the Upstate as a culturally diverse community and an important hub for international investment and trade.
Premier Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Non-Profit Partners
Greenville Technical College – International Education Department
University of South Carolina Upstate Center for International Studies
Christ Episcopal Church School
Daughters of the British Empire
Greenville Sister Cities International
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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Corporate
Support
Join our group of generous corporate friends. Our sponsors have challenged the business community with matching grants, outright gifts, and encouraging volunteerism to the ICU among their employees.
We are seeking other corporate sponsors who want to be part of this vibrant organization through in-kind donations or contributions at various levels.
Benefits of corporate sponsorship:
Recognition as a supporter of international business and cultural diversity in Upstate South Carolina
Networking and marketing opportunities
Opportunities to reach targeted audience with interest in international business and cultures
Visibility in the community as a leader in international business
Opportunities to interact with members and other corporate sponsors
Use of the ICU’s business services such as customized cultural diversity training and the Ambassador Program (expatriate relocation assistance for international employees and their families)
Contributions are tax-deductible
To discuss your corporate sponsorship, please contact ICU Executive Director Patricia Harrison at info@internationalupstate.org or 864-467-4579.
Individual Support
Become an ICU member to enjoy a wide range of
benefits and support our programs and activities!
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AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Since its inception, the ICU has been
recognized as a leading advocate for intercultural
understanding and education in Upstate South Carolina. Below
are some recent examples of that recognition:
-
2005
Upstate Diversity Leadership Award for Outstanding Achievement in
Promoting International Diversity
On May 10, 2005, the International Center of the Upstate received a
Diversity Leadership Award for promoting international diversity.
The award was granted by the Richard W. Riley Institute at Furman
University and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation
with the Spartanburg Area and Anderson Area Chambers of Commerce.
The award recognizes outstanding achievement in promoting
international diversity in the Upstate region of South Carolina.
Congratulations to our board of directors, our executive director,
and the 80+ volunteers who work so hard to provide the community
with many programs, events and services at the International Center
of the Upstate!
-
Market Street Economic Development Report calls for the expansion and support of the ICU
In February 2006, Market Street Services released its Economic Development Strategy for Greenville. The report lauds the efforts of the International Center of the Upstate, citing the ICU as "an excellent starting point for strengthening networks of immigrant entrepreneurs and professionals." The report also calls for the establishment of a Center to house all international chambers and groups of the area, and recommends that Greenville "support the expansion of programs related to the existing International Center of the Upstate." For the full report, read pages 44-46 of the Market Street Economic Development Strategy for Greenville. If you would like to discuss the report’s recommendations, please contact ICU executive director Patricia Harrison.
-
Future International Center at center of Greenville’s Vision 2025
Greenville’s plan for the future of the community includes includes this goal under the category of Internationalism:
By 2025, Greenville has established an International Center noted for its exceptional architecture and which is home to various international cultural programs and exhibits and adjacent to a cluster of governmental and business related offices involved with international trade and investment. The International Center serves as a coordinating entity to promote international cultural programs in the area.
-
ICU Board Member Margo Pons honored for her outstanding volunteerism at the ICU
In February 2006, Margo Pons was one of the recipients of the Amy Kay Stubbs Dream Achievers Award granted by the YWCA of Greenville for outstanding contributions to the community. Margo's honor recognizes the 5+ years she has spent volunteering at the ICU to support the international community in Greenville, as well as her generous spirit and desire to help others. The ICU proudly applauds Margo for this well-deserved honor.
-
ICU Executive Director Honored as a
"Woman of Distinction"
In April 2004, Soroptimist International of Greenville named Dr.
Patricia Marby Harrison a "Woman of Distinction" for her
achievements in promoting international goodwill and understanding.
She subsequently received 1st place in the Southeast Region for her
work with the international community of Upstate South Carolina.
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