Bridge to the US

While employed at Cornell Trading from 1992 to 2001, Diane experienced personal growth and business experience that was invaluable. Cornell Trading was a global operation. Diane was responsible for the US retail merchandise fulfillment for up to 70 April Cornell Stores. Diane coordinated every aspect of new store merchandise development and delivery.

With a staff of 23 at peak times Diane learned to work in a new opportunity for education and civic responsibilities. Tibetan Resettlement efforts were happening in the Burlington area and many of Diane's staff were Tibetans and very new to the America shore. She learned a great deal about why America is important to the world through their experiences.

Individual Tibetans won the right to come to America through a lottery established in their home country. Being selected to have the opportunity just to enter this country was so sought after; those families were willing to be separated for upwards of a decade, just to have the chance to come to this land of opportunity.

Diane's limited involvement as their supervisor allowed her the experience of being their American “host” and welcoming them to this new world. Providing employment training for the Tibetan workers was a wonderful experience. After almost a decade of hard work and struggle, it was a proud and patriotic moment for Diane to be present as these wonderful families were finally reunited at the Burlington airport on a cold February afternoon. There was not a dry eye to be found by those attending the ceremony at the Burlington airport.

Diane's perspective on life and what it means to be an American was forever changed, simply by their presence in her life, in her Country, in Vermont!