The International Center of the Upstate : About Us

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.

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!

ICU Staff and Volunteers

The ICU is staffed by an executive director and a program assistant. In addition, the ICU depends on a volunteer, board of directors who represent various businesses and ethnic groups in the Upstate, and more than 80 additional volunteers. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of the ICU and are involved in various ways: they organize programs and events, assist with the administration, participate in school programs, or act as ambassadors for the ICU in the community.

MARKO HUTTUNEN, Chairperson, ICU

Marko Huttunen is the Vice President, Relationship Manager for Countybank, a Greenwood based community bank. In his role, Marko is responsible for developing and building relationships with commercial and consumer customers. He plays a key role in the development of the growth strategies for Countybank. Marko is a native of Finland and arrived to the United States in 1994. He is a 1997 graduate of Lander University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and Management. He also holds a Business degree from Iisalmi Business College in Finland with a focus on Marketing. In addition to serving as Chairman of the Board of the International Center of the Upstate, he is also a committee member of Greenville Forward's International Task Force. Marko also participates in a variety of international events and activities in the Upstate area.

WHITNEY WALTERS, Executive Director

Whitney is a native of Greenville, where she has been an independent marketing consultant and corporate event planner for the past six years. She is President of Pawformers, LLC, a marketing, event and creative consultation business. She was head of the multimedia department for TVP Studios, Assistant Marketing Director at Clemson Sports Network, Marketing Director for Theatre on the Green, and an event planner at both Erwin-Penland Advertising and Henderson Advertising. Whitney is celebrity liaison for the BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, co-founder of The Reedy River Jazz &Wine Festival, committee member and celebrity liaison for The U.S. Navy Seal Tribute Gala, former chair of the YWCA Wine Auction, former coordinator for the Danny Ford Golf Classic, volunteer for the Tiger Golf Gathering, and a volunteer with the Greenville Chautauqua Society. She is the former radio host of Clemson’ s "Tiger Tailgate Show," and television anchor for "Inside Clemson Tiger Sports Unauthorized." Whitney is also a singer/songwriter and has three bands that perform all over the region.

Ms. Walters is excited to put her skills to work and grow the awareness and offerings of the ICU: "What impresses me most about the ICU is the wide variety of services, interesting events and informative classes and lectures that it offers to its members and the community. It is a jewel of an organization, often hidden to the general public but highly treasured by those who have discovered it. It is now my task to increase the organization’ s exposure and bring it to the forefront of both our international and local community. I look forward to increasing the scope of the organization’ s outreach and making its events truly "the must-attend" happenings in the area."

BETTINA WIENANDS, Program Assistant

Bettina Wienands, Administrative Assistant at the ICU, is a certified travel agent and previously worked for over 14 years at travel agencies in different locations in Germany. Due to her work she has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the USA, and parts of Asia and Africa. In the US, Bettina has worked as a volunteer for the ICU in various positions and has been a member of the Women’s Club Committee since 2007. She also enjoys volunteering at her children’s schools and is a store volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages.

"Nothing is more rewarding than working with people from different cultures and being able to form so many friendships. The ICU is the ideal place for all this."

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ICU BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jenny Adamson
Pam Batson
Gordon Burnett
Didi Caldwell
Kinneil Coltman
Steve Cooper
Elizabeth Gibbes
Jerry Gibbins
Monique Glass
Viktor Hanuska
Marko Huttunen
Yuji Kishimoto
Janet Krupka
Margo Pons
Kip Sieber
Marti Spencer
Gustavo Suarez
Anita Tam
Maxim Williams

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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 Whitney Walters.
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.
Former 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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Supporting International Business

ICU creates partnerships with the Upstate 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 dissatisfaction 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! Click here for details on ICU sponsorship.

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