Chief of Protocol
Deanna Tryon
Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol Deanna Tryon was born in San Francisco, and raised in Los Altos Hills. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Government from the University of San Francisco and her Master’s Degree from Harvard University. She worked as an Information Officer for the British Consulate-General in Los Angeles, and for both the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Protocol and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. She worked for the Los Angeles County Office of Protocol for many years before returning to the Bay Area to serve as the Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol in May, 2014.
Deputy Chief of Protocol
Lanie Denslow
Lanie Denslow is the Founder and Principal of World Wise Intercultural Training and Resources. She is an author, speaker and advisor on how culture shapes business practices and business protocol around the world.
Lanie is the co-author of Working with Americans and author of World Wise: What to Know Before You Go both internationally recognized for their practical insights regarding how culture influences business.
Lanie is the Chair of the San Francisco Advisory Board of the Global Chamber of Commerce. She previously served as the Director of International Affairs for The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) and as President of Protocol & Diplomacy International.
Lanie is a graduate of the Protocol School of Washington, holds a BS degree from Antioch University, as well as a Master of International Business and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She is based in Silicon Valley in California.
Deputy Chief of Protocol
Brenda Tierney
A global convener and strategist, who has lived in Ireland, Belgium and the US. Brenda is Deputy Chief of Protocol, Silicon Valley. She has worked as a tech leader at Meta (formerly Facebook). On the Governance Team, she pioneered new ways to advance governance, including the creation of the Facebook Oversight Board. Previously, as the Head of Policy Visits, she led the team responsible for hosting Heads of State, Government officials and other dignitaries to Facebook. Her work was often in direct response to challenges at the heart of technology such as content moderation, data transparency and privacy.
Pre-Facebook Brenda has enjoyed a variety of careers, from General Manager and coach at West Valley Gymnastics School (when two time Olympian, Gold, Silver and Bronze medalist, Amy Chow was competing), to Strategic Alliance Liaison of Baker Law Corporation, an immigration law firm, to Chief of Staff at a semiconductor start-up company.
Advisory Board
John Aitken
Director of Aviation, Mineta San Jose International Airport
Kim Becker
President/CEO San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
The Honorable Rod Diridon, Sr.
Retired Emeritus Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute; Former Elected Official and National Transportation Leader
Carl Guardino
Former President and CEO Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Robert Hickey
Deputy Director, Protocol School of Washington
Natalie Jones
Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Diplomatic Engagement, Meridian International Center, Former Acting Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State
Carolina Rudisel
Protocol Officer, NASA Ames Research Center
Lourdes Saab
Chief of Protocol, Los Angeles County Office of Protocol
Virginia Sunday
Airport Protocol Officer, San Francisco International Airport
Ambassador Gentry O. Smith (Currently Inactive)
Assistant Secretary of State, Diplomatic Security, United States Department of State
The Honorable Louis J. Vella
Vice Dean, San Francisco Consular Corps, Honorary Consul of The Republic of Malta, Dean of the US Consular Corps College
Glenda Wina
U.S. Representative for Special Projects, Office of the Vice President of Zambia & Former Director of Special Projects, Los Angeles County Office of Protocol
Chris Young
Senior Public Service Policy Consultant at Accenture, Former President, Protocol Officer’s Association, Former Chief of Protocol, State of Georgia
Founders
Charlotte Shultz
Honorary Chairperson
(2016-2021)
Chief of Protocol, State of California, Chief of Protocol, City and County of San Francisco
The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta
Advisory Board
(2018-2022)
Former Secretary of Transportation and Commerce, United States Congressman, Mayor of San Jose
Charles Geschke
Host Committe
(2016-2021)
Co-Founder, Adobe Inc.
The Honorable George P. Shultz
Host Committe
(2016-2021)
Former Secretary of State, Former Secretary of the Treasury, Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution