National Center for APEC Staff Biographies
Monica Whaley was named Executive Director of the National Center for APEC in November of 2002, after having served as the Center's Deputy Director since its founding in 1994. The mission of the National Center for APEC is to generate and stimulate U.S. support for and participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organization with the objective of liberalizing trade and investment in the region. Working in close cooperation with the U.S. Coordinator for APEC and other U.S. Government agencies, the Center encourages and facilitates broadly based U.S. private sector involvement in the activities of APEC, its Working Groups and other APEC-related bodies. The Center serves as the secretariat for the three U.S. members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC); in that role, the Center distributes information, solicits advice and input to the US ABAC members, and serves in a support capacity to the US members at ABAC meetings.
Prior to assuming her responsibilities at the National Center for APEC, Monica was the Acting President of the Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) and its "sister" organization, the International Trade Education Foundation, and its Program Director from 1988-1994. The WCIT served as the coordinating organization for the US hosting of the 1993 APEC Meetings, including the Leaders Meeting on Blake Island, the Ministerial session, Senior Officials meetings and a business roundtable. Before joining the staff of the WCIT, she worked in the Trade Development Division of the Canadian Consulate General in Seattle from 1983 to 1988. Monica holds Bachelor's degrees in Political Science and French from the University of Santa Clara, and studied in France at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques (Sciences Pô).
She is the standing co-chair of the U.S.-APEC Business Coalition, and is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, the Community Development Roundtable of Washington State, serves on the Advisory Boards of both the Seattle World Affairs Council and the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, among other activities in support of children's charities, school and community groups. Monica is a Northwest native and lives in the Seattle area with her husband Tom and their two children.
Robert Modarelli, III joined
the National Center as Policy Director in October of 2006 after a 20 year career
as an officer in the US Army, the last ten of which were spent as a Foreign Area
Officer and Asia-Pacific policy specialist.
Immediately prior to joining the center he spent 4 years as Chief of the
Asia-Pacific Branch in Army International Affairs at the Pentagon from
2002-2006. His experience in
Alex Parle joined the National Center as Program Manager in July 2003 and is currently Manager of Technology and International Trade Policy. His responsibilities focus on coordination and management of the Center's ABAC support function. He also assists in organizing events including the National Center for APEC's Executive Roundtable, held annually to solicit advice and input from the private sector to the US ABAC members, the National Center's annual Board of Governors' meeting, and official APEC meetings held in the U.S. His other responsibilities include representing the National Center at official APEC meetings, following trade issues, and coordinating the Center's outreach efforts. He worked in the public and private sectors in Japan for five years and is fluent in Japanese.
Jonathan Leuchs joined the National Center in September of 2005 and is currently the Manager of Finance and Energy Policy. He is the lead staffer for the ABAC Finance and Economics Working Group and the liaison to the US Energy Business Network. Immediately prior to joining NCAPEC, Jonathan earned a Master's degree in Pacific International Affairs from the UC-San Diego Graduate School of International Relations - Pacific Studies, focusing on business and Latin America. He has worked as a teacher and legal assistant, and he volunteered for two years in Quito, Ecuador at a foundation for poor families. He is fluent in Spanish.
Linda Eng began at the National Center in July 2006 after a distinguished tenure at the U.S.-China Business Council in Washington DC. Prior to the U.S.-China Business Council, she helped run the Washington State China Relations Council in Seattle for many years. She is responsible for the National Center's programs, accounts, membership, database and administrative management. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Seattle University.