Our Team
Committed to transatlantic exchange.
Andrew Sola
Treasurer
Andrew Sola, Ph.D., is a Professor of Business English at FOM University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and English Literature at the University of Maryland. Mr. Sola is also an author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Streemory, LLC, which developed the first digital therapeutics for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. At the Amerikazentrum, his focus is on relationships with universities and other German-American Institutes (DAIs), as well as cultural and political programs. He is also responsible for The Trans-Atlanticist podcast and serves as the point of contact for government relations and grant applications.
sola@amerikazentrum.orgGünter Danner
Board Member
Günter Danner, born in 1955, spent his childhood and youth in Great Britain and Switzerland. After interdisciplinary studies in economics, history, and international relations in England, South Africa, Germany, and the USA, he began his career as a journalist. In 1982, he joined Techniker Krankenkasse, initially as a press officer, and from 1989 moved into the staff department for socioeconomic policy issues. From 1992/93, he advised the management and board on European and international topics. In 1993, he also became part of the European representation of German Social Insurance in Brussels, serving as deputy director from 1997 to 2019. Dr. Danner is a sought-after expert in EU policy and the analysis and comparison of social protection models. Since 2021, Dr. Danner has been retired but continues to engage in online think tanks.
Laura Langford
Chairwoman
After nearly 30 years in financial services with a focus on portfolio management and securitization, Ms. Langford entered her well-deserved retirement in 2016. She previously served as Managing Director of Bankhaus Lampe K.G. in Germany and Unicredit Bank AG in New York. Ms. Langford holds an MBA with a focus on Finance and Non-Profit Management from Columbia Business School, as well as a bachelor's degree in Theater from the University of Southern California. She assumed her position as Chairwoman of Amerikazentrum Hamburg e. V. in 2017. She previously served as President and Vice President of the American Women's Club of Hamburg and as Secretary of the American Club of Hamburg e. V. In 2008, she founded GAA Entertainment Inc., a company focused on developing ideas in the entertainment industry.
langford@amerikazentrum.orgLeonie Petzoldt
Consultant for Public Relations and Project Planning
Leonie is a student of International Studies at Leiden University in The Hague. Through her studies with a focus on North America, she has expanded her knowledge of intercultural exchange and transatlantic cooperation. Alongside her studies, she supports various projects on transatlantic relations as a Young Minds Ambassador for the John Adams Institute Amsterdam. She joined the Amerikazentrum in 2023, initially as an intern, and has since been supporting the AZ as a consultant.
Petzoldt@amerikazentrum.orgPetra Vorsteher
Board Member
Petra Vorsteher, founder of AI.HAMBURG and one of the first women worldwide to build one of the most successful independent mobile companies with the IT firm Smaato. Her projects include the Transatlantic AI eXchange, a bridge between AI ecosystems in the USA and Germany that promotes economic, social, and academic leadership in Europe. According to Petra Vorsteher, the Transatlantic AI eXchange supports collaboration and exchange among influencers from industry, research, and government. We are proud to have Ms. Vorsteher as an IT and AI expert and the newest board member of Amerikazentrum Hamburg.
info@amerikazentrum.orgSarah Altmann
Senior Governmental Liaison & Program Director
Born and raised in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, Sarah came into contact with different cultures at an early age. Intercultural communication and cultural exchange have been close to her heart ever since. After graduating from high school, she left Germany and found a second home in Pennsylvania, USA. She completed her studies at the University of Greifswald with a B.A. in English/American Studies and Slavic Studies, as well as an M.A. in Slavic Philology. During her studies, Sarah participated in various research projects on bilingualism in children and translated texts from Czech into German. She is co-author of several dictionaries on the etymology of idioms. Sarah has been at the Amerikazentrum since 2020, first as an intern and now as Senior Governmental Liaison & Program Director.
altmann@amerikazentrum.orgSuzana Zhuta
Vice Chairwoman
Suzana Zhuta holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Teiyko Post University in Connecticut, USA. During and after her graduation in 2003, she gained valuable experience in finance and took on key roles in the aviation industry and at the multinational technology company International Business Machines Corp. (IBM). As an experienced businesswoman and entrepreneur, Suzana has extensive expertise in founding, building, and leading companies. In 2016, she co-founded Forward Energie with her husband and business partner Lulzim Zhuta, motivated by her conviction that preparing for a future with renewable energy is of critical importance. Under her leadership, Forward Energie has become a leading provider of green energy based in Hamburg. In addition to her entrepreneurial achievements, Suzana contributes her expertise to the non-profit sector as Vice Chairwoman of Amerikazentrum Hamburg e.V.
zhuta@amerikazentrum.org