Business leaders from Seattle Washington and the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will participate in the Across Cultures program. The following profiles demonstrate the diversity of skills and interests that each delegate brings to the forum.

Christina Bruning is one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century, recognized by Women's eNews for stretching her reach across cultures. Christina served as the Manager, Project Management for the US Library Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Foundation's US Library Program was a five-year, $250 million investment in public libraries throughout the United States, providing approximately 47,000 computers in 11,000 buildings, 62,000 training opportunities, Internet connections, and support to increase access to digital information and software tools for underserved populations. Christina led the coordination of activities to achieve the program objectives. She enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, hiking and cycling.   [full biography]

Dr. Jennifer McCollum is a Naturopathic Physician trained at Baystr University and owner of Three Moon Clinic (www.threemoonherbals.com) in Burien, Washington. She focuses on helping people achieve a healthy lifestyle, with a multitude of alternative therapies, a healthy diet and physical fitness. It's her belief that a healthy and fit person is a happy, highly productive person. Dr. McCollum is a mother of 3, a reverend, nutritionist and trained in MNLP. She is excited to participate in the exchange and to meet professionals from other countries to see their culture and discover how they address their health care issues. Dr. McCollum is active in the outdoors with her interests in running, skiing, scuba diving, rafting, hiking, and photography. She was an Across Cultures 2004 and 2005 volunteer.

Freddie Barrett is the principle of Resilient Solutions (www.resilientsolutions.com) a coaching and training organization and is a certified Hudson Institute Coach. During the past two years she has functioned as an Organization Development Manager at T-Mobile. She has over twenty years' experience in corporate sales and management positions, designing and delivering complex enterprise solutions. Freddie participated in the International Alliance for Women's Global Forum, The Power of Partnership: Women and Organizations as Catalysts for Change, Washington, D.C., November 2002, is a mentor in Center for Spiritual Living's Coming of Age Program for youth, and served as Vice President of Community Outreach on the Board of Women's Bu siness Exchange, Seattle, WA. Freddie facilitated the Make a Difference Day project "Integration of Cultures" as a part of the Across Cultures 2004 and 2005 forums. She enjoys traveling, skiing, bicycling.

Inga Laganovska is the Sales and Marketing Manager for NOOK, Ltd., a saw blade production company. She manages the marketing activities and the relationships between the company and customers. Inga is a member of the Business Women club "SENTIO" promoting a good experience between businesswomen; support women entrepreneurs in the Rezekne region; increase women density in the foundation of accomplished companies and in the creation of new workplaces. She is interested in owning her own business and is participating in the first mentoring program in Latvia to expand her skills. Inga is excited to meet women from other countries and to learn other cultures and access to women in business. She enjoys sports, running, aerobics and psychology. Inga was a delegate of Across Cultures 2005.

Inga Smirnoviene is the Head of the Marketing Department for Invalda Real Estate, a Lithuanian company covering real estate brokerage, rent, management and investment project development and financing. She is a member of the board of Save the Children of Lithuania and a past lecturer at Vilnius College . Inga is eager for the opportunity for Baltic women to contribute to the development of human rights, business equity, and intercultural communication as a result of the expansion of NATO efforts. She is especially interested in marketing development, technology innovations, and intercultural communications. She enjoys reading, traveling and swimming.  Inga was a delegate of Across Cultures 2004 and 2005.

Joan Probala is an Associate Broker with Windermere Real Estate (www.joanprobala.com) the largest real estate company in the Northwest U.S. with over 6000 agents. She pursues a passion for politics as the Chairman of the Government Relations Committee of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce. Joan is the President of the Issaquah Kiwanis Club that helps children all over the world, a board member of East King County Chamber Coalition representing over 300,000 workers, the immediate past president of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, and the recipient of the Issaquah Business Person of the Year award. Joan co-hosted a cultural day with Issaquah residents and Kiwanis members during the Across Cultures 2004 program. Special interests include meeting motivated professional women, to see and hear what other cultures are doing to plan for their future, to see the country of her Lithuanian ancestors, and to see how easy it is for other cultures to learn from each other. Joan is the mother of 4 children and believes women play a vital role in the success of the world. She enjoys tennis, politics, community service, and traveling.  Joan was a delegate of Across Cultures 2005.

Malle Paalberg has been a member of BPW Estonia Parnu club since 1994 and is currently a Vice President of BPW Estonia. Ms. Paalberg is the Financial Manager at AS Sivex International ( www.hot.ee/sivex ). Founded in 1994, Sivex specializes in custom agents, customs warehouse and excise warehouse services as well as foreign exchange, custom transit and insurance services at the border checkpoints. The firm has 48 employees. Malle has two children and enjoys folklore, architecture, traveling, horses, and gardening. Her goals are to focus on leadership and financial management, make new contacts, and learn from other women's experience. Malle was a delegate of Across Cultures 2004 and 2005.

Jurate Puidiene is a Director of the Women Employment Information Center focused on women employment, qualification, training, women in business and politics.  The Center has supported Lithuanian women for 11 years.  She is responsible for NGO strategic planning, fundraising and public relations.  She is interested in establishing networks with women to support the programs of the Center. Jurate is excited to participate in this international cultural exchange forum and to have an opportunity to learn from other business women's experience and share the experience in NGO's with others.  She enjoys nature and animals.  Jurate hosted the Across Cultures 2005 delegation.

Rûta Pociûtë is a Sales Manager for the Klapedia branch of Invalda Real Estate, a Lithuanian company covering real estate brokerage, rent, management and investment project development and financing. Ruta is eager for the opportunity to exchange experiences with other women to enhance her perspective and learn new skills.  She is especially interested developing women as strong leaders. Ruta enjoys cars, sport, and travelling.

Rasa Ambrazeviciene is a Corporate Sales Manager for Air Baltic Corporation, a regional airline established in 1995 with offices in Latvia and Lithuania. Rasa is a member of "Save the Children Organization, "Think Tank Lithuania" a tourism group, and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania.  She is keen on learning new things and improving her professional skills.  Rasa hopes that her knowledge of human behavior, her life and work experience or just a word from her heart could help someone solve a problem or see it from another perspective.  She enjoys reading, travelling, theatre, and the cinema.