Global Philadelphia Association Announces 2018 Globy Award Nominees

Annual Luncheon Also Book Collection for Broad Street Ministry

PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 7, 2018) — With its focus on everything international for the City of Philadelphia,  the Global Philadelphia Association (GPA) will host its fourth Annual Luncheon and Globy Awards on Monday, Dec. 10.

The annual celebration, which recognizes Philadelphia’s distinguished citizens who have made a global impact for the benefit of the city, will honor leaders in five categories: Educational Leadership, Historical and Cultural Preservation Leadership, Community Leadership, Corporate Leadership, and Lifetime Achievement.

“Philadelphia is an extraordinary city, rich with extraordinary leaders. From Global Philadelphia’s perspective, more and more of those leaders are working to advance the city as a global destination and a region of global impact, and we are so pleased to be honoring five of the very best at the Globy Awards in December,” said John F. Smith, III, Board Chair, GPA. 

This year’s honorees are:

Lifetime Achievement: Meryl Levitz, founding and former president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia. A groundbreaking marketer, Levitz is a natural thought leader and cultural champion who for more than 20 years created memorable campaigns to build the image of Greater Philadelphia and its countryside as exciting, must-see destinations.

Community Leadership:Honorable Stanley L. Straughter, chairman of African and Caribbean Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, member of the Mayor’s Commission on  African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, and chairman of the board of UNESCO Center for Global Education.  Straughter specializes in International Business Development with nearly 40 years of considerable experience working with bilateral and multilateral finance development entities including The World Bank, USAID, African Development Foundation, and Eastern Caribbean Investment Promotion.

Corporate Leadership:Kenneth Fulmer, president and CEO of Urban Engineers.  Fulmer has served in several leadership capacities at Urban Engineers and most recently managed all aspects of the firm’s operations, maintaining a culture of volunteerism and service sponsorships in Greater Philadelphia.

Educational Leadership:Jurate Krokys, assistant superintendent of Philadelphia School District.  Krokys is a life-long urban educator and is the Founding Principal and CEO of Independence Charter School, a nationally recognized global education school. She was a Fulbright Scholar to Lithuania and currently serves on the Boards of Camphill Special School and the Philadelphia Charters for Excellence.

Historical and Cultural Preservation Leadership:Sam Katz, executive producer and founder of History Making Productions.  Katz is a documenter and executive producer of the series “Philadelphia: The Great Experiment,” which chronicles Philadelphia’s heritage and history.

Bring a Book for Broad Street Ministry

As part of the annual gathering, Global Philadelphia is encouraging all guests to bring at least one book for donation to Broad Street Ministry.

Global Philadelphia’s Annual Luncheon and Globy Awards begin at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 in the Ballroom at the Ben, located at 834 Chestnut Street. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit  www.globalphiladelphia.org/events/globy-awards.

About the Global Philadelphia Association

The Global Philadelphia Association (GPA) was founded in 2010 by leading international organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region. Its mission is to assist – and encourage greater interaction among – the many organizations and people who are engaged in international activity within the Greater Philadelphia region; promote the development of an international consciousness within the region; and enhance the region’s global profile. GPA is a nonprofit organization with more than 200 members, including businesses, organizations and internationally-minded individuals.

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