Chief of Protocol
Deanna Tryon
Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol Deanna Tryon was born in San Francisco, and raised in Los Altos Hills, California. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Government from the University of San Francisco and her Master’s Degree from Harvard University. She worked 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 first Silicon Valley Chief of Protocol in May, 2014.
A dedicated protocol professional since 1994, Ms. Tryon is a frequent contributor to publications regarding protocol. Her early written work on orders of precedence for state and local government officials is regarded as foundational work in the field of sub-national diplomacy. She has lectured on protocol, etiquette, business etiquette and cultural sensitivity at local universities, including Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and San Jose State’s Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management.
Ms. Tryon was instrumental in the formation of the Silicon Valley Office of Protocol, which formed in partnership with the United States Department of State in 2013. Her office is the only regional protocol office in the United States and has, for the past decade, provided services to 54 cities and 5 counties in the Silicon Valley region outside of San Francisco. The activities of the Silicon Valley Office of Protocol are funded by a group of well-known and influential Silicon Valley leaders, the 50-person Silicon Valley Host Committee.
Ms. Tryon has welcomed almost every foreign Head of State/Head of Government visiting Silicon Valley since 2014. She has also made productive introductions between the Silicon Valley business community and high-level international delegations. Ms. Tryon has prepared briefing papers for numerous Silicon Valley business leaders and elected officials traveling internationally and those greeting delegations locally. As Silicon Valley’s “Connector in Chief”, Ms. Tryon and her office have been responsible for elevating the level of investment in Silicon Valley businesses, large and small, by billions of dollars in provable foreign direct investment.
Ms. Tryon was instrumental in bringing the Summit between President Xi and President Biden to Silicon Valley during APEC 2023. Her work in helping facilitate contracts between foreign nations and the United States Government, along with her decades-long service to Silicon Valley, California and the United States, has resulted in her formal recognition from the White House, during multiple administrations. She has also been recognized by the United States Department of State and the California State Assembly.
Chair
Silicon Valley Host Committee
Maryam Muduroglu
Maryam Muduroglu, a native daughter of San Francisco, stands out as a dedicated community leader with a strong focus on advocating for children and at-risk youth. Her efforts are centered around enhancing education, health, and engagement with the arts for those in need. As a mother of two boys, Maryam balances her professional achievements with her commitment to her family.
Maryam previously had a successful career in Technology and Healthcare, where she led projects for prominent institutions such as UC Health Systems, Stanford Hospitals, and the VA Health System across the West Coast. Her dedication to improving the lives of youth and the community is evident through her active involvement with various boards, including The Little School, Discovery Museum, Children of Shelters, the Center for Youth Wellness, the Bay School of San Francisco, and “Rising Up,” a public/private initiative collaborating with the San Francisco Homelessness Department and Larkin Street Youth Services.
Her fierce advocacy for youth earned her the 2024 Anne Stanton Award at The Larkin Street 40th anniversary celebration. Currently, Maryam serves on the Tipping Point Leadership Council, the San Francisco Opera Association Board, and as a Director and Past President of the San Francisco Opera Guild. She is also a Trustee Commissioner of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center.
In her previous role as Chief of Protocol for the City and County of San Francisco, Maryam was honored with the Global Leadership Award by the Bay Area Council for her valued efforts with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) hosted in San Francisco in November of 2023. Her multifaceted contributions reflect her unwavering dedication to making a positive impact on her community, San Francisco and beyond.
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
Advisory
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.
Program Manager
Lucia Seney Cunningham
Lucia Seney Cunningham is a San Francisco native whose work combines practical diplomatic engagement with the academic study of international negotiation and global security. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Psychology from the University of California, Davis, and is completing her Master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy at Leiden University and the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, Netherlands.
Lucia has contributed to international engagement efforts in both diplomatic and research settings. She worked with the San Francisco Office of Protocol during the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and other high-level events, supporting the city’s coordination with the consular corps, foreign dignitaries, and international delegations.
At Leiden University’s Institute for Security and Global Affairs, she contributed to the EUmotions research group, analyzing emotional language in official European Union communications about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, exploring how expressions of emotion relate to subsequent policy actions. Beyond the EU, her work with the group explored how emotional dynamics shape multilateral diplomacy across major international organizations.
Lucia brings both hands-on diplomatic experience and interdisciplinary research expertise to her work. Her interests focus on emotionally intelligent diplomacy, multilateral negotiation, and the role of science and technology in a rapidly evolving global security landscape.
Advisory Board
John Aitken
Former Director of Aviation, San Jose Mineta International Airport
Kim Becker
President/CEO San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
Carl Guardino
Former President and CEO Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Robert Hickey
Author of Honor & Respect: The Official Guide to Names, Titles, and Forms of Address
Natalie Jones
Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Diplomatic Engagement, Meridian International Center, Former Acting Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State
Mukesh “Mooke” Patel
Director of Aviation, San Jose Mineta International Airport
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
Former Ambassador Gentry O. Smith
Assistant Secretary of State, Diplomatic Security, United States Department of State
Nicole Taylor
President and CEO Silicon Valley Community Foundation
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
The Honorable Rod Diridon, Sr.
Host Committee
(2013-2026)
Retired Emeritus Executive Director, Mineta Transportation Institute; Former Elected Official and National Transportation Leader
Charles Geschke
Host Committee
(2016-2021)
Co-Founder, Adobe Inc.
The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta
Advisory Board
(2018-2022)
Former Secretary of Transportation and Commerce, United States Congressman, Mayor of San Jose
Charlotte Shultz
Honorary Chairperson
(2016-2021)
Chief of Protocol, State of California, Chief of Protocol, City and County of San Francisco
The Honorable George P. Shultz
Host Committee
(2016-2021)
Former Secretary of State, Former Secretary of the Treasury, Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution
John Warnock
Host Committee
(2023-2024)
Co-Founder, Adobe Inc.