Thursday, September 18th

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Cleveland Public Library-Louis Stokes Wing, Atrium

525 Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114

In an era of shifting global dynamics, diplomacy is no longer the exclusive domain of national governments. Cities, states, and regions are stepping into powerful new roles—building relationships, solving shared challenges, and creating cultural and economic ties that transcend borders.

This panel will explore the rising importance of people-to-people and place-to-place diplomacy. How can Cleveland connect with communities across the world to foster trust, trade, innovation, and peace? What role do local leaders, civic institutions, and grassroots exchanges play in shaping international relationships?

Join us for a conversation about how city-to-city, state-to-state, and region-to-region diplomacy can serve as a bridge between nations—especially when national-level politics are complex or uncertain. Panelists will share real-world examples and offer insights into how local diplomacy helps build global understanding from the ground up.

Ingrida Bublys has served as the Honorary General Consul of Lithuania for Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky for over 25 years, fostering strong ties between Lithuania and the United States. She is President of IB International Inc., a business development firm with offices in Cleveland, Vilnius, and Buchholz, specializing in cross-border consulting, outsourcing, and company representation between the Baltic States, the U.S., and beyond.

An active civic leader, Ingrida serves on the Advisory Board of Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences and is involved with the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including The Order of Grand Duke Vytautas the Great, the Eagle Award, and induction into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

Ambassador Heather Hodges became the President and Ambassador-in-Residence at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs in November 2011 after retiring from 31 years in the U.S. Foreign Service. Ambassador Hodges did consular work in Venezuela and Guatemala. She was Consul General in Bilbao, Spain, and was deputy chief of mission in Managua, Lima, and Madrid. In Washington, she was Peru desk officer and Deputy Director of Cuban Affairs, and had a fellowship to work on the Senate Subcommittee for Migration and Displaced Persons Affairs. She was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Resources from 2006-2008. Ms. Hodges was Ambassador to Moldova from 2003-2006 and Ambassador to Ecuador from 2008 to April 2011. Ambassador Hodges is a native of Westlake, Ohio, and now lives in Bay Village, Ohio. She has a B.A. in Spanish from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and an M.A. from New York University. She was elected to the American Academy of Diplomacy in 2011. She is a member of the board of the Jocotoco Foundation, an Ecuadorian NGO, and is on the Advisory Council of Rainforest Trust. Both are nonprofit environmental organizations.

Andrew Kovach joined the Council in June 2015 and serves as Director of International Exchange Programs. Andrew holds a M.A. of Global Interactions from Cleveland State University where he also completed his undergraduate degree in International Relations and Political Science. Andrew first joined the Council in 2015 as Development Assistant, and then assumed a role in the International Exchanges Program area. Previously, Andrew worked at CCWA as an International Visitors Leadership Program Intern, and a social media volunteer. His other professional experiences have focused on Cleveland’s Displaced Persons community through various roles at the International Services Center and Global Cleveland. Andrew is passionate about non-profits, foreign affairs, Displaced Personss, and his hometown Cleveland.