Meet Our Team
At the heart of the Georgia Nation Harmony: Culture and Arts Foundation are the people who bring our vision to life. United in passion but diverse in expertise, our directors are leaders in their respective fields and invaluable assets in our journey to foster cultural understanding between Georgia and the United States. Founded in 2023, our team has been the driving force behind our impactful initiatives, meaningful dialogues, and lasting relationships.
Meet Board of Directors
Ketevan Paitchadze
Director
Ketevan Paitchadze is a distinguished curator and visionary art entrepreneur focused on elevating Contemporary Georgian art onto the global stage. With a remarkable two-decade career, she orchestrates artistic experiences transcending cultural boundaries and sparking profound dialogues. Ketevan's foremost goal is to thrust Contemporary Georgian art into the spotlight and seamlessly integrate it into the international art sphere.
Mikheil Tbileli
Director
Joseph Crowley
Director
A former U.S. Army Ranger, Joe spent twenty years as a corporate finance lawyer before discovering the fulfillment that is found in self expression and service to others and finding more artistic and altruistic interests. With the help of Fordham Law School’s Feerick Center for Social Justice, he founded ‘Volunteer Lawyers for Veterans’ a pro bono legal services organization for veterans in need of assistance with civil legal matters. Other non-profits with which Joe has been involved include, ‘Edge4Vets’, ‘Veterans on Wall Street’, ‘The WWII Foundation’, and most recently, ‘CityKids Foundation’. He is currently developing a clothing design business, ‘ArchRanger Threads A father of three boys, Joe lives in New York City.
Lori Henry
Director
Lori Henry, owner of Lori Henry Productions since January 2002 in New York, has over 25 years of expertise in public relations, event fundraising, politics, and creative management. She has excelled in roles such as Strategic Consultant at Sonalysts, Consultant to the Founder and CEO at Friends of the United Nations, and Development Director at the Joffrey Ballet and Juilliard School of Drama. Her work highlights her ability to integrate diverse cultures and manage substantial projects across multiple sectors.
Scott Fraser
Director
With family artisans rooted back to his great-grandfather’s days performing with Enrico Caruso, Scott has a deep appreciation of the arts. His original artwork collection extends from collaborating with Houston’s contemporary artists in the 90s, to creating DC events where dozens of artists promoted their work for young professionals. His love of Georgia began in 2004 when he led an international team to develop methodologies assessing former Soviet facilities for a DOD program. Scott has over 30 years of professional experience split between private industry and government working directly with executive leadership, leading cross-functional project teams, engaging stakeholders, and implementing value- added solutions. He lives in DC with his beautiful wife and three rascally kids.
Nicoloz Tbileli
Director
Nikoloz Tbileli was born in 1997 Canada, Montreal based in Georgia. Nikoloz is San Diego State university alumni has Bachelor degree of Natural science. Nikoloz Tbileli is Entrepreneur, AI researcher, Engineer, Art activist, researcher and designer. Winner of many international awards such as imagine cup by Microsoft Belarus, Microsoft Ai Guardian Poland, DigiEdu hack Tbilisi, Finalist EuroAsian startup awards etc. Working in cultural sector in Georgia with NGO Art cross foundation as CCO, Art gallery line CTO, Mixxer art festival Co-founder, Alt- Mind Founder AI company, award winning Ender Digi-education platform Co- founder.
Meet Board of Advisors
Gela Dumbadze
Advisor
Gela Dumbadze is a modern Renaissance man whose talents span art, diplomacy, and literature. His artistry, a unique blend of Naïve art and abstract expressionism. In the diplomatic arena, Dumbadze has been a pivotal figure in Georgian international relations, even serving as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. His literary contributions and role as President of the Georgian Fudokan Karate Federation further underscore his multifaceted talents. Whether through art, diplomatic negotiations, or storytelling, Dumbadze stands as an invaluable asset to both Georgia and the global community.
Nikoloz Khundzakishvili
Advisor
Nikoloz Khundzakishvili is a seasoned leader with over a decade of diverse experience, ranging from corporate affairs to international diplomacy. His roles include serving as Corporate Affairs Director at Efes Georgia, an advisory board member at San Diego State University Georgia, and the First Deputy Chairman at the International Chamber of Commerce in Georgia. With international stints in Brussels and Athens, Nikoloz brings a global perspective, and his dynamic approach is marked by strong leadership, strategic thinking, and quick adaptability in changing business landscapes. His career exemplifies proactive decision-making and innovative problem-solving, making him a valuable asset in various professional environments.
Keith Brown
Advisor
CityKids Director of Special Events I’ve been a CityKid since 1986 soon after it had established. CityKids is the multicultural youth empowerment organization that has “Artivism” as its core to reach young people to establish their voices through creative expression. Graphic art, theater, music and spoken word is the vehicle we use to convey our vision and mission for each one, reach one and pull each other into the sun to shine for the world to see and listen. Using leadership skills CityKids motivate and translate the thoughts and feelings of young people to create positive change in their communities with art and testimonials. Collaborating with celebrities, politicians, other organizations, and individuals we’ve tackle every topic facing youth from suicide prevention to climate change. I’ve been privileged to work and learn from Keith Haring as his mentee developing my talent and skills as an artist, clothing designer and curator through CityKids apprenticeship. As CityKids director of special events I create ideas, develop and produce projects. I also build relationships with potential partners.
Richard Mothes
Advisor
Richard Mothes is a visual artist from East Hampton, NY. With a genuine passion for his community, Richard is known for his unwavering commitment to giving back and promoting the arts. He has always believed in the power of creativity and strives to share it with others. Richard's journey in the arts led him to pursue higher education, where he earned his M.F.A from Lesley University. Through his studies, he gained valuable knowledge and honed his skills, allowing him to further contribute to the artistic landscape of East Hampton.
Meredith Mackey
Advisor
Meredith Mackey is a Partner in the Capital Markets group at the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. She advises institutional lenders and underwriters in complex finance and securities transactions, with a particular focus on leveraged loans and high-yield debt. Meredith is recognized by Chambers USA in Banking & Finance and by Legal 500 in Capital Markets: Equity Offerings and High-Yield Debt Offerings, and has been recognized in Finance: Commercial Lending. She was named to Crain’s New York Business’s list of “100 Notable Women” in 2021. Meredith received her J.D. from Penn Carey Law School and her B.A. from Boston College.
Tamara Kalandiya
Advisor
Tamara Kalandiya serves as the Chief Financial Officer at the Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) and the CRES Forum. With a dynamic career spanning over two decades, she boasts 22 years of diverse experience in financial management, non-profit executive leadership, and educational program development. Prior to her engagement with CRES in 2023, Tamara contributed as the CFO and COO of the Middle East Institute, spearheading the inception of the Frontier Europe Initiative, which further evolved into the Black Sea Program at the Institute. In her earlier professional pursuits, Tamara embraced pivotal roles at the International Medical Corps, a leading global humanitarian aid organization. Outside her professional commitments, Tamara is ardently engaged in volunteer work. She founded the Academy of Georgian Heritage, a U.S.-based educational institution. Additionally, she has been entrusted with the financial oversight of the Sunflower Network, a dedicated non-profit entity aiming to provide critical assistance to Ukrainians in distress. A certified CPA, Tamara finds solace in Maryland, where she resides with her husband and their three school-age children.
Tsisnami Sakvarlishvili
Advisor
Tsisnami Sakvarlishvili distinguishes herself as a cultural and political sciences expert, with a wealth of experience spanning various prestigious roles. With over a decade of multifaceted professional engagements, she holds a doctorate in political sciences from the State University of Florence and a journalism degree from Columbia University. Before settling in New York, Tsisnami made significant strides as a cultural mediator in Italy and showcased her journalistic prowess at "GogaTV." Her linguistic proficiency in English and Italian complements her cultural acumen. An honorary PTA member, she is also recognized as Baroness through marriage to German Baron Alexander Peters, Von Malsen-Ponickau. Outside her professional life, she is a devoted mother and wife, currently residing in New York, and continues to contribute to her field with distinction.