WE ARE SEVEN (7)!

Val Thompson, President and CEO of iF Magazine hosted the 7th Anniversary of iF Magazine at the Ballroom at Tanglewood in Houston, Texas, on June 28, 2022, with more than 150 in attendance including City Council member District J Honorable Edward Pollard, and other local politicians, members of the Houston Consular Corp, and members of the local Houston business and civic community.

Founded by Val Thompson in 2015, Thompson stated that “we conduct an exclusive interview with an influential personality and regularly publish articles from top diplomatic, organizational, and business leaders who have knowledge and understanding of the international communities they serve. Establishing the magazine as a key global platform from some of today’s rising stars in international affairs, analysis and commentary.”  

Val dreamed about having iF Magazine in other great cities in the U.S. and focused on Atlanta, Georgia where now there is a new iF Publisher and CFO, Cynthia L. Blandford, who covers all things international for Atlanta, as of January 2022. 

For more information on iF Magazine and how to purchase an ad or submit a story, please visit our website at www.IFMAGAZINE.NET or contact Mr. Thompson at 832-526-3335 or Val@iFMagazine.net in Houston or Publisher Cynthia Blandford in Atlanta at 678-612-2192 cblandford@iFMagazine.net. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO VAL THOMPSON AND IF MAGAZINE! On the 28th of June, iF Magazine celebrated our 7th Anniversary at the Ballroom at Tanglewood, a new event center in Houston opened by a longtime supporter of our publication and the annual Global 7 hosted by HITDC. 

Craig and Stephanie Howard, of the Ballroom at Bayou Place, generously sponsored the event.  Current and former members of the iF team came out to celebrate together. It was a wonderful evening where we got to host and enjoy all the people who make International Focus Magazine Houston possible. We can not thank everyone enough.  

Val Thompson, founder and CEO, welcomed the guests and recognized Sonia Guimbellot, who has been with iF since the beginning, and Heidi Powell-Prera, Editor in Chief, who has been with iF for more than 6 years. Also present was Cynthia Blandford, Editor in Chief for iF Atlanta, the new addition to the iF Family and the Hon. Ana Nascimento, Consul General of Angola, Houston. Robin Boykin of Uendure, longtime sponsor of iF, delighted the guests with a raffle for door prizes.

Val Thompson, founder iF Magazine and President of HITDC, announced the upcoming trade mission to Africa at the end of August and invited anyone interested to register. Council Member Edward Pollard the leader of the mission spoke about the trip and had an information session in one of the conference rooms.  

Heidi Powell-Prera, Editor in Chief iF Magazine and Latin Chair HITDC, and Angelique Bartholomew, African Chair HITDC, announced their trade mission to Panama City Panama mid-August led by Vice Mayor Pro Tem City of Houston/ Council Member District K Martha Castex-Tatum.

The guests were entertained by the Conrad O. Johnson Youth Orchestra. Lite bites and drinks were served courtesy of The Ballroom at Tanglewood. 

By: Sandra P. Bernstein, BA, MA
Contributing Editor iF Magazine