About

Tanner is a native of Greenup County, Kentucky, and the founder of Global Appalachia. His work focuses on connecting rural Appalachian communities to global opportunities in policy, international affairs, and public service.

He holds a master’s degree in international affairs and diplomacy from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and a bachelor’s degree in international business from Marshall University. During his graduate studies, he completed fellowships with Al Fusaic and the United Nations Association–National Capital Area (UNA-NCA).

Tanner previously served as an Operations Officer with Citizens for Global Solutions, an organization with consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), where he supported international policy and advocacy initiatives. His professional experience includes nonprofit operations, federal contracting, compliance, and project management.

His writing on policy and public affairs has been featured in outlets including The Hill, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Lexington Herald-Leader. He is also the author of Smoke and Silence: The Lives of Ol’ Mort, published by the Jesse Stuart Foundation. 

Langley is currently finishing her master's degree in Global Security Studies at King's College London while living in her hometown of Ashland, Kentucky. Langley is a 2020 graduate of Ashland High School and a 2023 graduate of Transylvania University. After earning her undergraduate degree in international affairs from Transylvania, she served as a Peace Corps agriculture volunteer in rural Cameroon. Her work there deepened her commitment to global equity, food security, and human rights.

Langley has lived in Cameroon and Italy and has traveled to nearly thirty countries. These experiences have strengthened her interest in the legal and ethical intersections of global development. 

Currently she is attending law school at the University of Melbourne, where she is specializing in international human rights law.

Outside of her academic work, Langley is happiest when she's baking or cooking for her family and friends, golfing, skiing, scuba diving, or going on long walks when the weather is nice.

Langley is excited to be part of the Global Appalachia because she loves working with students, advocating for Appalachia, and exchanging knowledge and experiences.

Ambassador (ret.) Greta C. Holtz is the President and CEO of Amideast, a leading multinational non-profit organization that provides pathways to education and employment in the Middle East and North Africa. She was U.S. Ambassador to Oman, Chargé d'affaires in Qatar, and the Minister-Counselor for Provincial Affairs in Baghdad. Ambassador Holtz was the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the U.S. Special Operations Command, and Chancellor of National Defense University’s College of International Security Affairs.  

She served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Strategic Communication in the Near Eastern Affairs Bureau, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Ambassador Holtz served in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Tunisia, Syria, and Türkiye.  

She earned a B.S. from Vanderbilt University, an M.A., Univ of Kentucky (distinguished graduate), and an M.A. from the National War College. She is a board member of Spirit of America, the Marshall Legacy Institute, a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and a non-resident Distinguished Fellow at the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute. 

 Chaz is a former U.S. diplomat with over 20 years of experience across government, the private sector, nonprofits, and international development. He currently serves as Director of International Communications at Spirit of America, where he leads global communications efforts supporting the work of U.S. diplomats and military personnel abroad.

As a Foreign Service Officer, Chaz was named the U.S. Department of State’s Linguist of the Year for his work countering disinformation and served as the first Russian-language spokesperson for the U.S. at the United Nations General Assembly. His overseas assignments included Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, where he led public diplomacy initiatives, supported refugee communities, and helped develop strategies to counter violent extremism.

Beyond government service, Chaz has led strategic communications campaigns across Europe, South Asia, and Africa and worked directly with refugee communities in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. He began his international career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kazakhstan, teaching English and theater in a rural village.

He holds a master’s degree in diplomacy and international commerce from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Louisville.

Craig is an educator with more than twenty years of experience and a native of Eastern Kentucky. Born and raised in Beattyville, Kentucky, he began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Montgomery County High School in Mount Sterling in 2003.

In 2006, Craig founded the King of the Mountains Chess League, an organization that continues to provide students from across the region opportunities to develop their skills, compete, and build lasting connections. In 2012, he joined a national nonprofit organization dedicated to serving rural students and communities.

Throughout his career, Craig has worked with students across fourteen counties in Southeastern Kentucky, helping connect young people with educational opportunities, resources, and community partnerships. His passion is creating pathways that empower Appalachian students to pursue their goals and realize their full potential.

Craig resides in Irvine, Kentucky, with his wife, Lisa, whom he has been married to for more than thirty years.