The Sonoma Sister Cities Board of Directors
Our Board consists of elected officers and the chairperson of each city committee and is staffed by volunteers. We also have board members who oversee particular functions which support all committees and SSCA as a whole: government compliance, membership, communications and public relations, and operations. Board members contribute advice and various levels of support to project leaders working to fulfill the mission of Sister Cities International.
The SSCA Board of Directors is always looking for people interested joining this organization in a leadership position. Please contact Diana Short at president@sscasonoma.org if you are interested.
I’m looking forward to meeting and working with you.
Robert and his wife, Leslie, are long-time residents of Sonoma, CA, where Robert has been active in civic affairs. He is a past City Historian, a past President, and the current Executive Director of the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation.
Over the past couple of years, and prior to being elected to the SSCA Board, Robert contributed to a number of visits of dignitaries hosted by SSCA. We are delighted to have Robert on the Board.
Amanda has lived in Sonoma for 10 years and currently works as the Co-founder & General Manager of Sonoma Golf Studio. Her interest in joining the SSCA Board stems from the desire to serve her community, learn from her neighbors, and promote citizen diplomacy and cultural exchange.
The Sonoma-Aswan Committee Is currently on hiatus until further notice. Please contact the SSCA President at president@sscasonoma.org if you have any questions.
My wife and I have lived in Sonoma for over 35 years and joined the Penglai Committee over 10 years ago. Our interest stems from having adopted our younger daughter from China. I am taking over the Chair of our committee from Peggy Rubens, whose excellent leadership for many years has brought us near to the completion of our Ting Project, memorializing the Chinese workers in the late 1800’s who helped build our wine industry. Our current focus will be on the realization of this goal.
I joined the board (I share the seat with Sylvia) in Feb. 2014 when I became co-chair of the Tokaj committee. In my day job, I lead a professional network for women in the retail and consumer goods industry. My husband and I have called Sonoma home base for 2 years now, but I spend a lot of time in Chicago where my organization is based, as well as other extensive travel. I’m always grateful to come home to Sonoma and enjoy the surroundings and fantastic people.
Theresa Pardini is actively involved with Sister Cities of Sonoma through her leadership and participation in Bocce Sonoma. Bocce has become a meaningful bridge between cultures, celebrating Sonoma’s strong ties to its Italian heritage and fostering friendship, community connection, and international goodwill.
I joined the Board in February of 2013 when I became the Co-Chair of the Tokaj Committee, shared first with Cecily Wallis and now with Joan Toth. As a Hungarian-American it has been rewarding to experience the sharing of cultures and traditions between Sonoma and Tokaj. Our two Communities now have a connection which can continue through the years.
I have a long history with Sonoma Sister Cities Association. I first visited Kaniv in 1985 when I represented the City of Sonoma to initiate a sister city relationship. I subsequently visited in 1987 with the official Sonoma delegation and again in 1989 to attend a Sister City International conference with members of the Kaniv committee in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
I have lived in Sonoma since 1974 and raised my three children here. I recently retired after 12 years of owning Artifax Art-to-Wear, a woman’s clothing store, on the Sonoma Plaza. Retirement has afforded me more time for painting and photography and swimming.
My goals for the Kaniv committee are to establish a lively communication via telecommunication and fundraise to help them with their ongoing efforts to shelter refugees fleeing the war.
I have lived in Sonoma since 1974 and raised my three children here. I recently retired after 12 years of owning Artifax Art-to-Wear, a woman’s clothing store, on the Sonoma Plaza. Retirement has afforded me more time for painting and photography and swimming.
My goals for the Kaniv committee are to establish a lively communication via telecommunication and fundraise to help them with their ongoing efforts to shelter refugees fleeing the war.
I’m honored to serve on this Board whose mission of promoting international cooperation and cultural exchange through Sister Cities International makes a difference in the lives of so many people around the world.
Hello! ¡Hola! Szia! I have been closely connected to the SSCA through the Sonoma-Tokaj committee for over a decade, and I joined the Board of Directors as Membership Chair in March 2026. A proud Sonoma native, I have had the privilege of being immersed in our town’s cultural and linguistic diversity all my life; coming from a Hungarian-American family myself, the SSCA has been a guiding light in the development of my own cultural identity. I believe citizen diplomacy has immense power to expand minds and strengthen community, which I hope people will find in spades when they join us. Professionally, I work in Sonoma and the wider Bay Area in film, hospitality, and events operations. If you see me around town, feel free to say hi and ask me what the SSCA is up to! Stay tuned, and I hope to see you at our next event!
Andrew joins the Board as a new Director-at-Large, bringing his experience as both an attorney and historian. “My basic reason for joining the SSCA board is to serve the Sonoma community in the international dimension. I would like to do so using my familiarity with European (especially East European) history as well as my legal and linguistic background. My field of expertise is Ukraine.” Andrew is also fluent in Ukrainian and has already provided invaluable service as a translator during some of the SSCA events featuring Ukrainian speakers.
Event Calendar
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