Published: August 01. 2009 2:00AM

By Renata Parker
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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Wendy B. Anthony is the executive director of the International Center of the Upstate (ICU), a nonprofit organization providing international cultural programs and services to Upstate residents and businesses. A membership organization, ICU offers support to international families who have relocated to the Upstate and opportunities for Americans to meet people from other countries. The group promotes cross-cultural interactions through various social events, language classes, lectures and programs, including the Ambassador Program, a business service created to aid companies bringing international employees to the Upstate. Since its inception, ICU has had representatives from more than 70 countries participate in its programs, testifying to the rich diversity of cultures residing here in the Upstate.

Having lived in Spain and Mexico, Anthony knows first-hand the challenges of moving into a new country and adjusting to different cultures. An avid traveler, she has worked with internationals both domestically and abroad for many years, and is passionate in supporting international cultures and promoting cultural diversity.

She says the ICU's efforts to create cross-cultural exchanges have been the impetus in her personal and professional work, and she shares the center's goal of reaching out to the global community to promote cultural awareness.

Before Anthony made Greenville home, she lived in Atlanta, where she was a producer for prime-time newscasts for CNN en Español. During her time with CNN, she also worked on programs such as The Situation Room, Wolf Blitzer Reports, and Inside Africa. She holds a master's in Spanish and a bachelor's in Spanish, international studies, and communication, all from St. Louis University in Missouri.

Anthony is married to Jorge de Luis, a native of Zaragoza, Spain.

1. What is your favorite book?

Fiction: “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho

Nonfiction: “Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life” by Queen Noor

2. What's your most productive time of day and why?

Evening. I come from a family of night owls, and in my job prior to moving to Greenville, I worked from 3 p.m. until midnight or later. I still get a burst of energy at 8 p.m.!

3. What's your favorite thing about yourself?

I am very passionate about all that I do – I give 150 percent of myself to everything I take on.

4. What do you hope to never to do again?

Get sunburned! When I was a teenager, I thought it was cool to spend hours in the sun; now I know better.

5. What's your favorite word?

Integrity

6. Who is your best friend?

My husband, Jorge.

7. What's the best thing about your job?

Every day, I get to meet and work with amazing people from all over the world. Plus, a big part of my job is planning wonderful parties to celebrate different cultures – who wouldn't love that?

8. What do you wish everybody knew?

I wish everybody knew how international Upstate South Carolina is and how much our region benefits from this diversity.

9. Whose cell number do you wish you had?

Deepak Chopra and Giada deLaurentiis.

10. What is your favorite food?

Lebanese cuisine

11. Where do you want to vacation next?

South Africa World Cup 2010!

12. What's your least favorite thing to do?

Not get enough sleep – I like to have a lot of energy.

13. Why do you love your life?

I love my life because I am healthy, happy and have a lot of love from family and friends.

14. What is the one thing you would change?

I would have my family closer – I wish I could bring everyone to Greenville.

15. Which famous person really got it right?

Mother Teresa

16. What do most people just not understand?

Just being grateful is a big part of being truly happy. I have to remind myself of this and be thankful for what I have in my life.

17. What would you do if you only could?

I wish I spoke more languages – communication is key to understanding others and world peace.

18. What is your best advice?

Believe in yourself and your success; don't give up on your dreams. And of course, become a member of the International Center of the Upstate!

19. What makes you laugh?

Talking with my family, especially my sisters, my nieces and nephews.

20. Why should people always have hope?

Hope gives life meaning – it's like oxygen, you need it to live.