C.V. and Contact Information

Don Southerton

8514 Villa La Jolla  #104

La Jolla, California, 92037

1-310-866-3777

Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com

http://www.bridgingculture.com

Don Southerton is an advisor, consultant, strategist, and trainer for many of the top Korean-based corporations with global business, along with major western firms that have ventures in Korea.

Southerton focuses on optimizing teamwork, strategic alignment, and communication within organizations globally through cross-cultural training and education. Professional expertise includes Korean culture, Korean business, and Korea’s major conglomerates including Samsung, Hyundai-Kia, Hyosung, and LG.

Education

B. A. History. University of Colorado, Denver.

M. A. History. University of Colorado, Denver.

Post Graduate Study

University of Southern California (USC).

University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

Intercultural Institute of California, San Francisco (IIC).

University of California, San Diego, Graduate School of International Relations (UCSD)

Professional Experience

Don Southerton began his fascination with Asian culture in the early 1970s while attending Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. Southerton operated a number of businesses in the 1970s and 1980s, which brought him into daily contact with Asians and their workplace culture.  Key among these experiences were:

From 1983-1991 Southerton instructed students at the United States Military Academy at West Point and was responsible for the training of hundreds of cadets. While at the academy, Southerton interacted with a growing number of Korean American cadets, which included mentoring cadets of Korean heritage.  Over the years, he also worked with delegations of Korean cadets visiting the military school. In 1987, Southerton was asked to represent the academy in an international goodwill event held in Seoul, Korea.

Beginning in 1987, Southerton served for a decade as a national consultant and trainer for the Educational Funding Company, a Bethesda, Maryland based firm. Southerton was responsible for conducting regional and national level programs in staff development, commercial lease negotiation, sales, and personal development. Southerton, with his understanding of Korean culture, was asked to work with and train with the Korean American clients of the firm.

In 2003, Southerton noted the need for bridging the gap between American and Korean employees and management of Korean-based firms operating in the states. This prompted Southerton to launch his current company, Bridging Culture, to provide corporate training programs with experience gained from his 30 years of interaction with Koreans at both personal and professional levels.

Today, Bridging Culture is globally recognized for providing a wide variety of customized diversity training programs and consulting services to major Korean-based firms operating internationally and Fortune 100 companies with operations in South Korea and Asia.

Bridging Culture clients include Prudential Financial, LG Electronics America, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Hyundai Motor Finance Company, Hyundai Information Service North America, Kia Motors, HATCI, MOBIS, Toshiba America, Chosun Ilbo (Korea’s leading newspaper), Hyosung, and Starbucks Korea—to name but a few.

Bridging Culture under Southerton’s direction, also engages in ongoing research into cross cultural communication and the dynamics of U.S.-Asian commerce. A key resource for this on-going research is an alliance with the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego and its Korean Pacific Program.  Southerton serves as an area specialist for the university.

Southerton and his work has also received media recognition both in the U.S and Korea. In addition, Southerton frequently speaks to Korean and international groups and organizations on Korean business, workplace culture, and entrepreneurship. Moreover, he posts daily observations on trends impacting Korean and Asian business, corporate development, and culture at: http://bridgingculturekorea.blogspot.com and via Everything Korean Podcasts

Recent Articles on Bridging Culture and Don Southerton

November 2004 Korea Times (Los Angeles edition).

December 2004 Chief Executive (Korean edition).

April 2004 Atlanta Korea Times

September 2005 Bloomberg Markets

February 2006 Ann Arbor News

July 2006 Computer World Magazine

Articles and Papers

“Effective Communication with Koreans.” White Paper, Nov. 2003.

“Addressing Needs of Host and Parent Employees.” White Paper, Sept. 2004.

“Henry Collbran and the Roots of Entrepreneurial Enterprises in Korea.” Presented at WCASS Fall 2004, Seattle, WA.

“Korean Managerial Style.” White Paper, Feb. 2005.

Book Publications

The Filleys: 350 Years of American Entrepreneurial Spirit, (IUniverse Press, 2005)

Intrepid Americans: Bold Koreans--Early Korean Trade, Concessions, and Entrepreneurship, (IUniverse Press, 2005)

A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: A Historic Novel, Book 1

(IUniverse Press, 2006)

Coffee, Cars, and Corporations: Thoughts on Korean Business and Popular Culture, eBook 1 (Bridging Culture Publications, 2007)

A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: Gold and Rail, Book 2

(IUniverse Press, 2007)

The Sioux in South Dakota History: A Twentieth Century Reader, “James R. Walker’s Campaign Against Tuberculosis on the Pine Ridge Reservation.” Contributing author (South Dakota Historical Society Press, 2007)

More Thoughts on Korean Business and Popular Culture. eBook 2

(Bridging Culture Worldwide Publications, 2008)

“A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier, Book 3,”

(Book in Progress, Fall 2008)

Professional Organizations

Phi Alpha Theta History Society

American Historical Association

Numerous Korean academic study and business associations

Languages

Korean

Spanish

Chinese

Academic Positions

2004-CurrentArea Specialist, Mentor, and Guest speaker, Korean Pacific Program—Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IRPS), University of California, San Diego.

2004-2005 Language Coach (Korean), American Language and Culture Institute—California State University, San Marcos.

2002 (Summer)Instructor, University of Colorado, Denver and Boulder.

2001-2002Graduate assistant and Guest Lecturer, University of Colorado at Denver.

1983-1991 Instructor, United States Military                                         Academy, West Point, NY.