Erik Meyer, President
Erik was born in Germany, where he attended the Engineering College of Hamburg, before his endless quest to travel the world began. He spent almost his entire career in international business and worked in 7 different countries for well-known global corporations such as ABB and Emerson. While living in New Jersey, Erik obtained an MBA in international business. As VP for international planning his main function consisted of setting up businesses in other countries, notably in India, China and Brazil. He became a “Citizen of the World”, visited almost all the countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas and reached fluency in 5 languages. In retirement, he authored a series of 7 books describing his life as a “Citizen of the World”. Erik has been a Naples resident since 2000.
Frank Sterdjevich, Vice President
Frank began a 40-year career in banking and finance with the International Banking Office of Bank of America followed as a Director of International Finance of Mack Trucks, covering the global network of dealers and customers. He headed a Commercial Lending and Trade Finance Department of the oldest bank in Washington DC. Public sector experience included Managing Director of Credit and Chief Credit Officer for Overseas Private Investment Corporation and heading complex asset resolutions for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Later, he managed special asset, workout and global restructuring departments of the corporate and leasing arms for Sanwa Bank, Fleet Bank, Bank Boston, Bank of America, and the US banking arm of Royal Bank of Scotland. Frank holds degrees from the University of Virginia, University of Arizona, and the American Graduate School of International Management (‘Thunderbird’). Upon retirement, Frank and his wife, Deborah, settled in Naples.
Don Osborn, Secretary
Donald (Don) Osborn was born and raised in Vermont and, after serving two years in the U. S. Army, graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering and an MBA from Pace University. He spent over 40 years in the metals industry with experience in research, product development and general management. Don retired as President and CEO of International Extruded Products, LLC, a producer of large diameter seamless pipe for severe service applications and large structural shapes used for submarine and carrier construction. Following retirement, he consulted for companies in Poland, Germany and Brazil as well as the US. He has been married to his wife, Jill, for over 64 years, and they have three children, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Frank Sterdjevich, Treasurer
Frank began a 40-year career in banking and finance with the International Banking Office of Bank of America followed as a Director of International Finance of Mack Trucks, covering the global network of dealers and customers. He headed a Commercial Lending and Trade Finance Department of the oldest bank in Washington DC. Public sector experience included Managing Director of Credit and Chief Credit Officer for Overseas Private Investment Corporation and heading complex asset resolutions for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Later, he managed special asset, workout and global restructuring departments of the corporate and leasing arms for Sanwa Bank, Fleet Bank, Bank Boston, Bank of America, and the US banking arm of Royal Bank of Scotland. Frank holds degrees from the University of Virginia, University of Arizona, and the American Graduate School of International Management (‘Thunderbird’). Upon retirement, Frank and his wife, Deborah, settled in Naples.
Mel Park, Social Activities Director
Mel was born in Southern California but was raised from age 12 in Honolulu. He and his bride (for the next 48 years) graduated from Stanford in 1966 and they spent the next 2 years in Senegal as Peace Corps volunteers. Mel received his PhD in neurophysiology from SUNY Buffalo. He began his career as a research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt followed by a short stint at the University of Vienna. Mel has served on the faculties of Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis. Midway in his time in Memphis his career transitioned from research to medical education. Thousands of impressionable young doctors-in-training have passed through his hands. His two children have settled in Memphis and the Chicago area. He has four grandchildren. Mel has lived full time in Naples since 2019.
Joseph Ruggiero, Luncheon Director
Joseph (Joe) Ruggiero was born and raised on Long Island, N.Y. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Joe joined Miles Laboratories in Elkhart Indiana, later acquired by Bayer AG. At Bayer Joe held leadership positions in R&D and Product Supply developing and manufacturing Clinical Diagnostics equipment. Joe traveled extensively during his 40-year career at Bayer completing assignments in Europe and Asia. After retiring from Bayer in 2011, he Joined a successful Start-up clinical diagnostic company in Wuxi China. Joe and his wife Sharon relocated to the Bonita Springs area from San Jose California in 2019. Joe has 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.
Dr. Ajit Desai, Membership Director
Born and raised in India, Ajit graduated with MBBS degree from Baroda Medical School. He came to States for Post Graduate Studies and specialized in field of Oncology and Hematology. He headed a group of several oncologists and spent 40 years in practice of Oncology at a major medical center in Philadelphia, Pa.. His work included extensive clinical research in Breast Cancer and was recognized by American Society of Clinical Oncology. Teaching and mentoring young physicians and medical students as his passion throughout his years in medicine. Hobbies include traveling, golf, reading and walking. Ajit and his wife Shobhana are full time residents of Naples. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Juergen Haeringer, Director at Large
Juergen completed a degree in administrative sciences as a graduate in business administration and worked for many years as a senior government inspector at the state police department in Freiburg in the administration of the State of Baden-Württemberg. He also completed a law degree with both state exams. He is still admitted to practice in Germany and can advise and represent clients in German law. He has almost 19 years of professional experience as an attorney representing his clients’ interests. Juergen has over 20 years’ experience teaching students at various institutions, including the Villingen Schwenningen Cooperative State University. After his wife Alexandra founded her real estate company in Freiburg, he was at her side to provide advice and support. He has had a state license to broker real estate in Florida since 2016. He and his wife have worked as a team since that year. Trained and experienced in representing the interests of his clients and reading and understanding contracts, he strives to always achieve the best for his clients in the real estate business. With the decision to emigrate to Florida, he not only acquired a state license as a real estate agent in Florida, but also began to study American law. He has earned the degree of Master of Laws in US law with the “cum laude” award. Since July 8, 2022, Juergen is the only Foreign Legal Counsel for German Law in the state of Florida.
Frank Murphy, Communications Director
Retired Manufacturing and Financial Executive. Frank worked in manufacturing at Boeing, Gillette and Costar Corp., in finance at Costar and Biopure Corp. and in marketing at Corning. At Costar he built a factory in Ireland and oversaw operations in the UK, Holland, Germany, France and Italy. At Corning Science Products he had marketing responsibility for Japan and Asia/Pacific. He has a BSIE and a BA from Rutgers, and an MBA from B.U.
Alexander Libers, Program Director
Alexander Libers is from Moldova, one of the former Soviet Union Republics, now an independent country in Eastern Europe. He graduated from Polytechnic Institute in Chisinau, Moldova as a structural engineer. In 1979, Alexander and his wife Emilia immigrated to the USA. Alexander spent most of his career in the United States working as a Project Manager, first for a multimillion international company in the pulp and paper industry and then, later, for the General Electric Company, Power Division. Alexander and his wife are full time residents in Naples. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. Alexander enjoys travel, reading, skiing and fencing. Alexander joined IMCA in November 2018.