Country Experience Summary

Armenia
I recently lived and worked in Yerevan, Armenia. My position there was Senior Management Information Systems Advisor in the Armenian Social Transition Project. This project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development, is part of a program designed to ease the transition of Armenia from membership in the former Soviet Union to an independent country. The specific aim of the project is to improve the delivery of social welfare and health services on a self-sustaining financial basis. Although most of my work was in the capital at the ministerial level, I traveled throughout Armenia to visit local government and social service delivery offices, as well as local health care delivery service facilities. Part of my work outside Yerevan was to help design a national electronic data communications system, and part was to help design and implement pilot projects in improved social benefit delivery systems and in the introduction primary health care delivery facilities. For additional information, refer to my CV heading: PADCO, Inc.

Bahrain
For the two years during which I was Supply Officer for the flagship of the U.S. Navy's Middle East Force Commander, Bahrain was my base port. From Bahrain, I traveled throughout the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, conducting U.S. Navy supply business in each port. Bahrain was where the main business of supply and logistics planning was conducted.

Denmark
Although I have not lived or worked in Denmark, frequent visits to this country and long stays with friends in different parts of the country over a twenty-year period provide me with a substantial understanding of Danish society, culture, and business.

Egypt
I worked in Egypt for three years as Deputy Chief of Party in a local development project, and for another three years in a public health project as Senior Health Information Systems Advisor. Although I was based in Cairo during both projects, the nature of my work frequently took me to each Egyptian governorate. Prior to this six-year period, I frequently traveled to Cairo and Alexandria during an additional two-year period on a public health training project as Health Information Systems Advisor. For additional information, refer to my CV headings: E. Petrich and Associates; DAC International; and RONCO Consulting.

My first visits to Egypt occurred when I was a U.S. Naval officer based in Bahrain, and I continue to visit Egypt when time permits. My interests in archeology predated my first trip to Egypt, but the opportunities for feeding my archeological enthusiasms were increased significantly when I lived there. It was in Egypt that I became interested in antique Islamic metal work, an interest which continues to this day.

France
While working on information technology related projects in North Africa, I had occasion to travel to Paris frequently for business meetings related to the French computer industry, the French language software industry which developed and supported French and Arabic language programs, and the French electronic communications industry, whose standards were used in North Africa.

Great Britain
I lived and worked in England for one year while conducting post-doctoral research as a (United States) National Science Foundation Fellow and Visiting Fellow in the Sussex University School of Physics and Mathematics History and Social Studies of Science Department. Earlier I had lived in London for eighteen months when, as a graduate student with a Fulbright fellowship, I conducted research for my doctoral dissertation.

India
I lived in India for one year while conducting research for my doctoral dissertation on agricultural development in India. My research was funded by a Fulbright fellowship, and my institutional affiliation in India was the Delhi School of Economics. Most of my work was accomplished in New Delhi. I availed myself of the opportunity to travel throughout India, partly to conduct research, partly to learn about the variations on the theme of Indian culture. Earlier, while serving as a U.S. Navy Supply Officer, I visited most Indian ports and conducted supply business in each of them.

Japan
I lived for one year in Japan as a student of the Japanese language and in conducting post-doctoral research into the history of science and technology in Japan. I divided my time between Kyoto and Tokyo.

When I was not engaged in specific studies, I traveled throughout Japan. My interests were, and continue to be, in Japanese art, architecture, and design. At this time, I was also interested in the artifacts of Japanese cultural history. It was my knowledge of Japanese history and culture that led to all of my teaching jobs in the United States, so I was naturally interested in expanding my knowledge when and as I could. I first visited Japan in 1969, visiting friends and collecting art in Kyoto and Tokyo.

Jordan
I was a frequent visitor to Amman during a two-year period in which I was working on a public health training project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The operational base of this project was in Tunis, Tunisia, and covered North Africa and the Middle East. For additional information, refer to my CV heading: RONCO Consulting

Malaysia
In recent years, I have been a frequent visitor to Malaysia. Although most visits have been related to recreational scuba diving, I have also visited Malaysia for management consultant and financial and investment purposes.

Morocco
I was a frequent visitor to Morocco during a two-year period in which I was working on a public health training project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The operational base of this project was in Tunis, Tunisia, and covered North Africa and the Middle East. For additional information, refer to my CV heading: RONCO Consulting

I also was a visitor to Morocco while working on the Egyptian Local Development project. My visits at this time were to learn about the use of computers by local government and to arrange for visits to Morocco by Egyptian local government officials. My first visit to Morocco was during my undergraduate days when I traveled there as part of a U.S. Navy training activity.

Myanmar
I have spent over two months in Myanmar exploring business opportunities for several Los Angeles art galleries, mostly in the manufacture of jewelry. This exploration included a study of business and financial requirements, export laws, company registration and business partnerships. In accomplishing my tasks, I have visited five of Myanmar’s divisions.

Nepal
I lived in Nepal for a three-year period during which I was Chief of Party of a local government project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. Although based in Kathmandu, my work frequently took me to several Nepali districts where I had field offices, and to villages served by the field offices. For additional information, refer to my CV heading: MetaMetrics, Inc.

Since my development project in Nepal ended, I continue to visit Nepal frequently. From 2002 until 2004, I have worked in Nepal for a Los Angeles art gallery in the production of limited edition bronze sculptures for export to the United States. I continue to assist friends in developing their art businesses to international standards and practices, and I serve as an advisor to digital pre-press houses and business entrepreneurs. During these frequent visits, I also continue my studies of Newari and Tibetan Buddhist iconography and search for additions to my art collection.

My first visit to Nepal was in 1976 when I conducted research in agricultural and forestry development for several months as part of a more comprehensive research project. My work at this time was facilitated significantly by Nepali friends who had been fellow graduate students at Duke University.

Pakistan
I lived in Lahore for one year conducting post-doctoral research into Punjab agricultural development. My research was funded by the United States National Endowment for the Humanities, Studies in the Relationships Between Human Values and Science and Technology Program. Archeological and architectural interests prompted me to travel throughout Pakistan.

Singapore
My frequent visits to Singapore since 1994 have been for management consultations or for private financial and investment analysis.

Sweden
Although I have not lived or worked in Sweden, frequent visits to this country and long stays with friends in different parts of the country over a thirty-year period provide me with a substantial understanding of Swedish society, culture, and business.

Thailand
I began working out of Bangkok in late 2002, and I now am based in this city. I have been negotiating the production of monumental sculptures for one Los Angeles art gallery and the design and manufacture of niche market jewelry for another Los Angeles company. I have been traveling to the country for thirty years, visiting friends in Bangkok, spending weeks in Phuket for recreational scuba diving, and traveling throughout the country studying art, architecture, and music, and adding to my art collection.

Tunisia
Tunis was the base of my work for a two-year period during which I was working on a public health training project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The project covered North Africa and the Middle East. My specific work was to design information systems in support of medical and paramedic training in the field of family planning and maternal child care, and in support of the national population programs in each country. For additional information, refer to my CV heading: RONCO Consulting

I also was a visitor to Tunisia while working on the Egyptian Local Development project. Several visits at this time were to learn about the use of computers by local government and to arrange for visits to Tunisia by Egyptian local government officials, and one was purely personal, visiting friends and artists and visiting museums and archeological sites (something my work schedules never permitted).

Turkey
I was a frequent visitor to Turkey during a two-year period in which I was working on a public health training project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The operational base of this project was in Tunis, Tunisia, and covered North Africa and the Middle East. For additional information, refer to my CV heading: RONCO Consulting.

Before traveling Turkey on business, I had visited Turkey several times while moving between South Asia and Europe.

United States
My most recent work in the United States was in Los Angeles where I helped start an internet-based business. Between international assignments, I often traveled to San Luis Obispo, California, where I consulted in business development and prepared contract proposals. I also worked as a consultant to businesses in Los Angeles and in Hartford, Connecticut. Prior to the beginning of my career in international project management, I worked in the microelectronics industry, worked as a consultant in New York and North Carolina, and taught at several American universities.