My human resources executive experience and my GAHF Board contributions over the past two years have demonstrated the leadership, creativity and passion needed to achieve goals. 

As we approach our 50^th Anniversary in 2026/2027, and to help ensure GAHF’s continued relevance, we need to create a Strategic Plan. To help carry out that plan, we will need to establish an Endowment Fund.
I would be honored to serve as your President.

As 1^st Vice President, my biggest goal will be the re-imagining of our internal processes, programming, and fundraising through a strategic planning process under the Board’s direction.

Building on my successful leadership of our Membership and Scholarship Committees in the past two years and the combined efforts of our Board, I will engage us all to ensure a more solid financial base, increased programming diversity, and a significant increase in active younger members. 

I am a retired U.S. diplomat & lawyer with think tank and Capitol Hill experience whose State Department career included serving as U.S. Embassy Berlin’s spokesperson. I would like to contribute to GAHF becoming a dynamic, program-rich, well-resourced national organization that highlights the historic and ongoing contributions of German Americans by strengthening its engagement with the U.S. government, think tanks,  relevant policy organizations, and its outreach to interested Americans and Germans in the U.S.

I served previously on the GAHF Board after Ron Kosmahl and Aaron Lewis had introduced me. Earlier this year, I joined the GAHF Board as Interim Treasurer.

It would be a great honor to continue to serve on the foundation’s board. I would like to contribute my skills as a seasoned professional in finance and my diverse network to further the cause of the German-American Heritage Foundation and its members.

I am a founding member of GAHF (and former Secretary) and pledge to further two of our current goals: to increase our individual membership and to make all Americans aware of the wonderful contributions German-Americans have made to society. I look forward to the various activities and events leading up to our 50th Anniversary. I will also work towards having all officers and directors cooperate fully with each other together with our staff and volunteers.

I am half German and grew up speaking German at home, surrounded by German culture. After high school, I moved to Berlin for approximately two years, working and attending school. In 2021 I graduated from the University of Maryland Law School.

Since then I’ve practiced law in DC. I would like to utilize my strong ties to the local community and my passion for German culture to attract new members and support the foundation.

I am the founder & president of Patton Real Estate Group, a Miami-based, full-service commercial real estate firm providing brokerage, property management, development, and consulting services throughout Florida. I believe in community service and have served on various non-profit boards. GAHF is close to my heart as my grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Kiel, Germany and Ossingen, Switzerland. I plan to use my marketing/PR skills to help GAHF grow through co-operations, partnerships, and events.

As a former First VP and GAHF Board member, I actively supported fundraising and membership drives, several galas, past Presidents and GAHF operations. I plan to utilize my contacts in the travel industry and professional services, various German and American companies/organizations, as well as the German-American community in support of  GAHF, its Board and the Executive Director to facilitate and develop relationships/partnerships with key political, economic, and institutional organizations. 

I’m a historian from Germany’s northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein and expert on the Forty-Eighters. I first came to America in 1978 as a college student after matriculating at the University of Kiel. As a potential Board member, I aim to drive impactful worldwide PR initiatives that celebrate the German-American Heritage Museum’s rich history, educate audiences about the shared German-American cultural journey, and inspire a diverse community to engage with and appreciate the museum’s invaluable contributions.   

I served previously on the GAHF Board (Ruediger Lentz introduced me) and attended the museum’s opening.  When I was offered the position as Executive Director, I gladly accepted.

It would be my pleasure and great honor to rejoin the Board. Not only would I use my German World network (20,000 Facebook fans, 10,000+ emails, 4,500 Instagram followers) to support the Board’s outreach and PR efforts, but I would also help with fundraising and building up new partnerships.

I am a seasoned government relations and public policy professional and former U.S. Army officer who currently holds an executive vice president position at Voyager Space, which allows me to regularly interact with Congress, the White House, and many other federal agencies.

My German immigrant grandfather instilled a love for German culture and customs in me, and I plan to use my extensive network to further GAHF’s work by building new and vital connections.

Born in Berlin, I worked in the international chemical industry for 45+ years. I joined the Board in 2018, was elected 1^st VP shortly thereafter, and became President 2020-2023.
If re-elected as Director I envision being part of a strong core of Directors in the Washington, DC area helping prepare for the foundation’s 50^th anniversary in 2026-2027 as GAHF continues to grow as a national organization serving German-American interests throughout the USA and the EU. 

I come from a Volga German family and have been a member and supporter for years of the German-American Heritage Foundation, now at the Council of 1000 level. In addition to promoting GAHF membership among Volga Germans in Arizona, as a former federal government employee, I wish to help with GAHF outreach to interested groups in academia, business, and even government as well as other German American organizations as a source for new members and support.

Since 2012 I have served as Germany’s honorary consul in Cincinnati and am active in various German-American social organizations in the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana region.  Professionally, I work as a Managing Director in the SKYLINE Wealth Consulting Group of Wells Fargo Advisor.  I am inspired by GAHF’s mission to promote German heritage in America and am a fan of the museum. I will help GAHF with financial matters and am specifically looking to help shape the endowment.