Keynote Speaker
GENERAL VINCENT K. BROOKS
Retired Four-Star General & Former Commander
United Nations Command
Combined Forces Command
United States Forces Korea
General Vincent K. Brooks is a career Army officer who recently retired from active duty as the four-star general in command of all U.S. Forces in Korea, where he concurrently commanded United Nations Command as well as the Republic of Korea—U.S. Combined Forces Command comprising over 650,000 Koreans and Americans under arms.
In 2003, while serving in the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, Brooks was chosen to serve as the deputy director of operations and primary spokesperson for the America’s fighting force in the Middle East and Central Asia, the United States Central Command as it conducted combat operations against the Iraq. Due to his charisma and speaking ability, the media, and international viewing public preferred Brooks’ daily update briefings to those of other spokespersons. During this time, Brooks was often referred to as “the face of the U.S. military. The Central Command is one of nine U.S. combatant commands that answer directly to the President and the Secretary of Defense. Its territory includes 25 nations in Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Brooks also served as the commander for the U.S. Third Army, the U.S. Army portion of Central Command from 2011 to 2013, critical times in the reduction of forces in Iraq, the increase of forces in Afghanistan, the “Arab Spring,” and the standoff against Iran.
Highly experienced in command of increasingly larger and more complex organizations over his forty-two years of service spent mostly in leadership roles, Brooks led in assignments completed with the 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, the 2nd Infantry Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, the Third Corps, the Third Army, and the U.S. Army in the Pacific. In his final assignment, he served both the President of the United States and the President of the Republic of Korea. He also served at the Pentagon with both the Army headquarters as well as with the Joint Staff overseeing all the U.S. military operations around the world.
General Brooks, who goes by “Vince,” is a 1980 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, the first class to include women, and he led the 4,000 cadets as the cadet brigade commander or “First Captain.” A history-maker, Brooks is the first African American to have been chosen for this paramount position, and he was the first cadet to lead the student body when women were in all four classes (freshman or “plebe” to senior or “first classman”). He is also the eighth African American in history to attain the military’s top rank—four-star general in the United States Army.
Widely respected as a speaker and leader of cohesive, innovative organizations, within and beyond the military, his areas of expertise include leadership in complex organizations, crisis leadership, and building cohesive trust-based teams, national security, policy, strategy, international relations, military operations, combating terrorism and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, diversity and inclusion. He is a combat veteran and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
He has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; a Master of Military Art and Science from the prestigious U.S. Army School of advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; was a National Security Fellow at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government; and holds an honorary Doctor of Laws from the New England School of Law.
Vince is from a career military family and claims Alexandria, Virginia as home given the long roots in maternal and paternal branches of the family tree. He is married to Carol P. Brooks, MA, DSc. a retired physical therapist and currently an adult educator. Brooks recently retired from the US Army after over 38 years of service and the two currently reside in Austin, Texas.
Van Fleet Awardee
The late Yang Ho Cho
Former Chairman and CEO
Hanjin Group
Yang Ho Cho was former chairman, CEO and major shareholder of the Hanjin Group, a global transportation conglomerate in the aviation, maritime and ground transportation industries. Companies in the Hanjin Group include Korean Air, Hanjin Transportation as well as educational institutions and non-profit foundations.
Mr. Cho was named chairman and CEO of Korean Air in 1999, having previously served as the company’s president and CEO. He began working for Korean Air as a manager in the Americas Regional Headquarters in 1974, and worked his way up the company’s administrative ranks.
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Mr. Cho is vice chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries and co-chairman of the Korea-U.S. Business Council. He is also the co-chairman of the Korea-France High Level Businessmen’s Club and served as the co-president of l’Année France-Corée 2015-2016, aimed at celebrating 130 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. He serves on the Strategy Policy Committee and the Board of Governors at the International Air Transport Association.
Mr. Cho was the head of the PyeongChang 2018 Bid Committee, which was successful in winning the bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2018. He later served as the president and CEO of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Inha University (Incheon, Korea), Mr. Cho received an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California (USC) and a doctorate from Inha University. He has received honorary doctorate degrees from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Florida) and the Ukraine National Aviation University. He is currently the Board of Trustees chair of the Inha-Jeongseok Foundation which includes Inha and Hankuk Aviation universities, and is also a Board of Trustee member at USC.
Mr. Cho’s leadership has been widely recognized over the years. He was awarded the title of `Grand Officier’ in France’s Légion d’Honneur, ‘Polaris’ in Mongolia and also the `Mugunghwa Medal’ in Korea – all of which are the highest order of civil merit awarded in these countries.
Van Fleet Award
Received by
Walter Cho
Chairman and CEO
Korean Air
Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Hanjin Group and Korean Air, is a leader in the global aviation industry.
Mr. Cho started his career at Hanjin Information Systems and Telecommunication, an IT affiliate of Hanjin Group in 2003.The following year, he joined Korean Air and gained experience in core business areas. Mr. Cho led the Passenger Business, Corporate Strategy and Planning, Cargo Business until 2017 when he was named President and COO of Korean Air.
He played a pivotal role in launching Korean Air’s trans-Pacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines in May 2018. It has strengthened Korean Air’s network competitiveness, which has resulted in attracting premium demand. It is considered the most comprehensive trans-Pacific joint venture. He also guided the introduction of the airline’s next-generation environmentally-friendly aircraft including B787-9s, B747-8is, B777-300ERs, A321neos, and A220-300s, solidifying a long-term foundation for growth.
Equally important is Mr. Cho’s successful implementation of IT initiatives, producing a committed digital flight plan for the airline. He made the pioneering decision to migrate Korean Air’s entire IT system to Amazon Web Services’ cloud, empowering the airline to quickly and flexibly respond to market changes and customers’ needs. Korean Air has transformed its internal system to Google’s G-Suite, a cloud-based software that promotes productivity and collaboration.
Mr. Cho also is passionate about industry projects and expanding Korean Air’s presence in the global aviation community. He is a member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors, the highest policy-making body of the airline industry association. Mr. Cho also is Chairman of the SkyTeam Alliance Board. In June 2019, he served as President of the 75th IATA Annual General Meeting in Seoul.
Mr. Cho has a management style built on the values of communication and kindness, and is committed to establishing an open, constructive corporate culture within the airline.
Van Fleet Award
Received by
Ihssane Mounir
Senior Vice President Commercial Sales & Marketing
The Boeing Company
Ihssane Mounir is senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company, the world’s largest aerospace company and the leading manufacturer of commercial airplanes and service provider of aftermarket support. Appointed to this position in 2016, Mounir is responsible for the sales and marketing of commercial airplanes and related services to airlines and leasing customers around the world.
Prior to his current role, Mounir held senior leadership positions in Boeing’s Commercial Sales & Marketing organization. For over five years, Mounir served as vice president of Sales for Northeast Asia, responsible for leading sales in the world’s largest and fastest growing market. Mounir and his team managed airline customer relationships and market development in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Previous to that, Mounir served as vice president of Marketing, Sales Strategy and Operations. Prior to that assignment, Mounir led commercial airplane sales efforts in many regions around the world, including serving as vice president of Sales for Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean.
Mounir also served as business director and deputy vice president of Sales for Europe, Russia and Central Asia, a role he assumed after he served as sales director for East, West and North Africa. He also served as sales director for British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and other leading global carriers.
Mounir joined Boeing as a senior aerodynamics engineer in 1997. He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in aerospace engineering from Wichita State University.
Throughout his career, Mounir has contributed to the aerospace community by authoring papers in the field of experimental and applied aerodynamics. His work and research have been honored with several awards by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Mounir serves on the National Advisory Board of Wichita State University, the Advisory Board of Wichita State’s School of Engineering, and is on the board of directors of FIRST Washington. He is married with four children.
Master of Ceremonies
Vivian Lee
Anchor/Reporter
Spectrum News NY1
Vivian Lee is an Emmy-nominated anchor, reporter and show host for Spectrum News NY1. Since joining NY1 in 2008, she has reported on local and national headlines, including an administrative judge’s recommendation of termination for NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo this summer, for his role in Eric Garner’s 2014 death.
She has anchored NY1’s team coverage on numerous stories, including Pope Francis’ historic visit to the US in 2015 and Osama Bin Laden’s assassination in 2011.
In March 2013, she was the first in the New York market to report the election of Pope Francis from Vatican City. Months before that, she reported on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy from the Rockaways in Queens, and the Financial District.
Vivian’s career in New York started at WNBC in 2002, where she was a general assignment reporter until 2008 — but she first began reporting as a college sophomore at CJOH TV in Ottawa, Canada. She graduated with honors from Carleton University’s prestigious journalism program, and after stints as a reporter in Halifax and anchor in Calgary, she became CityTV Toronto’s Parliamentary Correspondent.
This year, Vivian received the Lifetime Engagement Award from the Korean American Family Service Center in New York. Vivian was also nominated this year for an Emmy for her profile of artist David Hockney for NY1’s “Spotlight NY.”
She lives in New York with her husband and two daughters.
Grace Kelly
WINNER of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest $20,000 Song of the Year Award for her song “Feels like Home”!
An unequivocal musical prodigy, singer-saxophonist-songwriter-composer Grace Kelly has rocked the jazz world with sold-out concerts, 13 acclaimed albums and a resume that includes performing at the Hollywood Bowl and as part of the house band for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” – all before reaching her mid-twenties.
Kelly’s early career featured performances at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration at age 16 and at 14 as a soloist with the Boston Pops playing an original composition arranged for the legendary orchestra; she has since then played over 900 shows as bandleader in 35 countries at venues like the Kennedy Center and Moscow Symphony Hall and for the Montreal, Newport, and Montreux international jazz festivals. Touted for her scorching saxophone stylings and purring vocals, Kelly has performed and recorded with renowned artists including Lin Manuel- Miranda, Dave Brubeck, Phil Woods, Huey Lewis, Harry Connick Jr., Gloria Estefan, Questlove, and Wynton Marsalis.
As the Winner of “Song of the Year” for her single “Feels Like Home” in the 2018 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Kelly has also won multiple ASCAP Composer Awards, Boston Music Awards, multiple DOWNBEAT music awards, International Songwriting Awards. She has also appeared as a featured performer in films and television, including acclaimed documentary “Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story”, Amazon’s Emmy-nominated original series “Bosch”, and featured in the 2017 Emmy-winning Yamaha production “The Right Note”
Featured by Vanity Fair as a millennial shaking up the jazz world, Kelly’s state-of-the-art brand of electro jazz-pop and inventive digital content are pushing her to the forefront of the fusion scene, alongside names like Snarky Puppy, Jacob Collier, Cory Henry, Robert Glasper, Jon Batiste, and Too Many Zooz.
“The GO TiME: Brooklyn album was a turning point in my career as a performer who loves connecting with audiences,” Kelly says. “Because we were able to use technology to capture the visual aspect and live energy of the show in a new way, I could really bring my whole dancing, furry-pink-boa-wearing self to the project – and the response was incredible. After over a decade of performing internationally and releasing albums, I’ve found that I grow so much as an artist when I focus on helping my fans feel the same exhilaration and joy that I do when I perform for them.”
Kelly’s live performance is offering a unique musical journey and contagious exuberance on stage, and will captivate audiences as she performs new songs from this new album GO TiME: Live in LA : her 13th CD and the third video album in the GO TiME series. The new release continues her innovative video album concept for fans by incorporating special guests and adding her own inventive dance moves while playing. Performing her fresh, playful musical stylings, Grace’s infectious positivity and charismatic stage presence bring a smile to everyone.
For further information about Grace Kelly, visit her website at www.grackellymusic.com, on Instagram at instagram.com/gkellymusic, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/gracekellymusic, on Facebook at facebook.com/GraceKellymusic, on or Twitter at @gracekellymusic
“…broad tone and tenacious flow on the alto saxophone, clearly in possession of virtuoso talents… impressive singing voice, flitting among a range of styles.” – NY Times
“[A] jazz innovator… Making jazz young” – BILLBOARD
“Grace Kelly’s songwriting is as amazing as her voice. ‘Feels Like Home’ is just one example of how her gentleness and subtlety can command attention and evoke strong emotion.” – Aloe Blacc (Chart-topping Singer/Songwriter/Producer)
DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM
DINNER COMMITTEES
LEADER – $100,000
• 20 guests for VIP reception
• 20 guests in premium seating
BENEFACTOR – $50,000
• 10 guests for VIP reception; 10 guests for general reception
• 10 guests in priority seating; 10 guests in preferred seating
PATRON – $30,000
• 4 guests for VIP reception; 6 guests for general reception
• 10 guests in preferred seating
In addition to above benefits, Dinner Committees will receive recognition from the podium; full-page ad, corporate profile, and photo and bio of corporate representative in the dinner program book; listing on our website.
TABLE SPONSORSHIP
SPONSOR – $20,000
• 10 guests for dinner
• 2 guests for VIP reception; 8 guests for general reception
• Half-page ad; corporate profile with photo of corporate representative in the dinner program book
DONOR – $15,000
• 10 guests for general reception and dinner
• Half-page ad; corporate profile in the dinner program book
Contributor – $7,500
• 5 guests (half table) for general reception and dinner
• Corporate profile in the dinner program book
All table sponsors will be acknowledged on our website and in the dinner program book.
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS
PATRON COUPLE – $5,000
• 2 tickets for VIP reception and preferred seating
• Acknowledgement on our website and in the dinner program book
PATRON – $3,000
• 1 ticket for VIP reception and preferred seating
• Acknowledgement on our website and in the dinner program book
CONTRIBUTOR – $750
• 1 ticket for general reception and dinner
ASSOCIATE – $500
• 1 ticket for general reception and dinner
* This rate is available only for attendees from nonprofit and academic institutions, and young professionals without corporate sponsorship. Please confirm your eligibility with Jiyoung Suh.
ADVERTISEMENT
Full-page in the dinner program book – $10,000
Half-page in the dinner program book – $5,000
Table Sponsorship and Individual Patron ticket registrations must be confirmed by October 30, 2019 to be acknowledged in the dinner program.
Cancellations after October 31 will not be accepted.
The Korea Society is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
For further information on sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets, please contact Jiyoung Suh or by phone at (212) 759-5360.
Co-Chair
The Boeing Company
The Korean Air
Benefactors
Citi
Delta Air Lines
Hyundai Motor America
LG Electronics USA
Patron
MetLife
Sponsors
Binggrae Corporation Ltd.
Consulate General of the ROK in New York
FILA
Donors
Korea International Trade Association NY Center
KPMG LLC
Poongsan Corporation
Contributor
Earth Therapeutics
Dentons US LLP
In His Presence Foundation
McLarty Associates
Additional Supporters
Hyosung
Maekyung Media Group
Special Acknowledgement
Mr. Young H.T. Cho
Mr. Mark Gaston
Mr. David L. Joyce
Mr. Sunny Park
Mrs. & General (Ret.) Walter “Skip” Sharp
