F A L L 2 0 0 9 1 7

COVERSTORY

The Artists: A South African andBrazilian Perspective

Christopher Hahn comes to Pittsburgh byway of London, San Francisco, and his birthplaceof Cape Town, South Africa.

Hahn had never been to the city prior toreceiving a call about a possible job with thePittsburgh Opera, but he felt an immediate con-nection during his first visit here nine years ago.“I was amazed at how at home I felt,” recallsHahn, who now lives in Shadyside. “It remindedme of San Francisco and Cape Town because ofthe hills, the water, and the Victorian architec-ture. It seemed to fit like a glove.”

Soon afterward, Hahn became the PittsburghOpera’s new artistic director, and last summer, hedecided to extend his stay by accepting his currentposition as general director—a move that mighthave surprised his colleagues in bigger markets.

“It’s all very well to be in a big cosmopolitancity,” Hahn explains. “But I took it as a challengethat a geographically provincial city like

AnInternationalTapestry

BY CALLY JAMIS VENNARE

As thousands of people from around the world—heads of state, finance ministers, central bankgovernors, ambassadors, support staff, and press—begin to stream into Pittsburgh for the G-20 worldeconomic summit, it’s worth noting that a globaldelegation is already here, living and working in ourneighborhoods.

Look around and you’ll find threads of varyingcultures and experiences that form a rich internationaltapestry—one that is dramatically transforming ourcommunities in extraordinary ways.

1 6 S H A D Y AV E

espite a slow rate of immigration compared toother metro areas, Allegheny County is home tonearly 50,000 people born in foreign countries—amajority from India, Italy, Germany, China, andthe United Kingdom, according to 2008 U.S.Census bureau estimates. Likewise,GlobalPittsburgh reports that more than 40 distinctinternational communities can be found inSouthwest Pennsylvania, while at least 300 interna-tional firms from 26 countries operate facilities inthe region.

The East End and Fox Chapel areas aloneoffer an album of global snapshots, with residentshailing from as far away as South Africa, Iran,Brazil, Japan, Lebanon, and Ukraine, amongdozens of other countries. These individuals havecome to Pittsburgh to start their careers, raisefamilies, launch businesses, and in many cases,guide our city toward a better future.

Here’s a glimpse into the lives of some ofthese remarkable people and how they are leadingus to excellence in business, medicine, education,and the arts. Christopher Hahn

1 8 S H A D Y AV E

Pittsburgh did not necessarily mean provincial instandards. There is this old stereotype thatprovincial must be substandard because it’s notNew York, San Francisco, or London. And I thinkwe’ve proved over and over again that is not true.”

Hahn says the loyalty of the region’s culturalaudiences and arts patrons allows him to explorenew creative directions for productions at theBenedum Center, as well as education and commu-nity programming at the Pittsburgh Opera’s newperformance space in the Strip District—the for-mer Westinghouse Airbrake Factory built in 1869.

“And then there’s Pittsburgh’s great history,which is all about innovation,” Hahn adds.“We’re sitting here in George Westinghouse’sincredible building. He was a genius who keptproducing wonderful things for the world, rightout of Pittsburgh.”

★ ★ ★

Kenia Ashby moved to Pittsburgh in 1992with her first husband and two sons. The world-renowned Brazilian jazz singer from Rio deJaneiro—known professionally as just “Kenia”—now shares a Fox Chapel home with fellowBrazilian Dr. Claudio Lima (pictured above withKenia), a cardiothoracic surgeon at UPMCShadyside and Mercy hospitals.

As a mother, Kenia’s deepest affection forPittsburgh extends to its family-friendly atmos-phere and affordable cost of living, particularly incomparison to her previous homes in Californiaand New York.

“Moving to Pittsburgh is the smartest thingthat we could have done,” Kenia says. “The costof living is low. The kids had wonderful opportu-nities here that we would not have had in NewYork City or Los Angeles. That’s what kept me

AN INTERNATIONAL TAPESTRY

4 Wood Grille5840 Forward Avenue • Squirrel Hill

412-422-5027 • www.fourwoodgrille.comServing dinner Tuesday- Sunday, 4 to 10

2 0 S H A D Y AV E F A L L 2 0 0 9 2 1

Shadyside(near Banana Republic)

5528 Walnut Street

412-687-8586

Fox Chapel(across from Waterworks Mall)

1034 Freeport Road

412-784-8980

Wexford(in the Pine Tree Shoppes)

12009 Perry Highway (Rt 19N)

724-935-8866

For info and menu highlights:

www.thaiplacepgh.com

Celebrating 21 years ofserving the best

authentic Thai cuisine in Pittsburgh!Take-out Available

WE’VE MOVED!

Come visit our beautiful new

Tree House(You have to see it to believe it.)

6736 Reynolds St.Point Breeze

Above Make Your Mark Artspace and Coffeehouse

412-365-2115

New address…new phone number…and all the new looks for fall!

here and grounded. Pittsburgh is a safe, comfort-able city. And the schools are fabulous!”

As a jazz singer, Kenia has found Pittsburgh alittle more challenging than the bigger citieswhere she used to live. But she acknowledges theencouragement she receives from organizationssuch as the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and hercamaraderie with other musicians in the commu-nity. Their support has enabled her to keep per-forming the music she loves. Last year, shereleased her first new CD in nearly a decade calledSimply Kenia, produced by Latin Grammy winnerCesar Camargo Mariano.

Occasionally Kenia longs for her past life inBrazil, where she was born and raised on thebeach block in Copacabana. “I do miss waking upand going to the beach every morning,” sheadmits. “But I have learned how to ski and to iceskate with my sons,” she adds, with a touch oflaughter in her rich, velvety voice.

The Admirers: Accolades From Japan,Argentina, and Canada

In 1994, Keiko Edwards made a move thatwould change her life.

The native of Kobe, Japan, had completedher associate’s degree in Hawaii, but still wasn’tsatisfied with her English language skills. Thenshe discovered the health education program atSlippery Rock University (the sister school to herHawaiian alma mater), where she knew shecouldn’t get away with speaking Japanese any-more.

So Edwards came to Pennsylvania and soonfell in love with her future husband, Andrew,

the son of a Slippery Rock minister and nurse.After graduation in 1998, the couple movedbriefly to Arizona and then back to Japan, butultimately settled in Aspinwall to be closer tofamily. They still live there today with theiryoung son, Kai.

In her job at MSA International, Inc.,Edwards helps develop and facilitate globaltraining programs for international sales associ-ates. She understands firsthand the anxiety thather colleagues experience during their first visitsto America. Even so, it didn’t take much tomake Edwards feel at ease in her Pittsburgh sur-roundings.

“The nature is beautiful in this area, and Ilove the art museums, the universities, and thecultural diversity,” Edwards says. “I’ve been toSan Diego, Los Angeles, and New York City,and people are so much more friendly here—down-to-earth. I just feel at home inPittsburgh.”

Her advice to the visiting G-20 leaders?“I’d remind them that Pittsburgh is a champi-onship city,” she says, laughing. “And of coursethat they should try a Primanti’s sandwich andan Iron City Beer!”

★ ★ ★

Martin de San Martin had been living andworking in Berkeley, California, for nearly 15 yearswhen his employer decided in 2003 to merge with ComponentOne, a software com-pany based in Shadyside.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, de SanMartin decided to make the cross-country movewith his Canadian wife, Hannah Krause. Theopportunity proved to be a fortuitous one. deSan Martin is now the chief financial officer atComponentOne, while Krause launched a newcareer in kitchen and bath design and realestate. The couple lives with their two youngchildren in Fox Chapel.

AN INTERNATIONAL TAPESTRY

1130 South Braddock Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218

412.242.7050 www.typhoonlighting.comHours: Tuesday-Saturday 11-6

From Antique to Contemporary LightingSpecializing in lighting restoration & repair

Large selection of lampshades

Typhoon Lighting

The play of light is everything...

tingLigh

TyTyphoon

yuesdaTHours: .tww412.242.7050 wevaddock Aouth Br1130 S

y 11-6datura-Syom.ctingyphoonlightA 15218 gh, PPAittsbur, Penue

338 First Street • Aspinwall412.784.8272

Mon - Sat 9:30 - 5:00pm

Rosebud’s

ST.EDMUND’S ACADEMY

Visit

Us!Visit

Us! AGE 3-8TH GRADE • CO-ED • NONSECTARIANMinutes from Oakland’s Medical & University Communities

5705 DARLINGTON ROAD, SQUIRREL HILL • WWW.STEDMUNDS.NET

Nov. 12th & Dec. 10th • 9 am & 5:30 pmSmall Group Tours by Appt. in January

R.S.V.P. 412.521.1907 x121

2 2 S H A D Y AV E

AN INTERNATIONAL TAPESTRY

“This city is so very different than BuenosAires, which is a very large, cosmopolitan place,”says de San Martin, who never imagined he wouldstay so long in the United States. “Pittsburgh is sig-nificantly smaller, but the pace is very different aswell.”

de San Martin and his wife especially appreci-ate the city’s safety and friendliness, along with theeasy-to-access resources for children and familiessuch as the Carnegie Science Center and the ToyLending Library in Shadyside.

“We came here feeling like we didn’t know any-one, and in less than one week found Pittsburgh tobe the biggest small town on the East Coast,”Krause recalls.

From a business perspective, de San Martinadmires the strides that Pittsburgh has made so farin transforming its economy after the collapse of thesteel industry, but sees the potential to still makeeven greater advancements. It is no coincidence, heremarks, that the G-20 summit is being held here.

“This is a city full of potential, moving forwardat a steady pace toward progress,” he says. “You cansee growth all around. Yet we are also fortunate tohave a very rich human capital despite our popula-tion decline. We’re still here—and making it allworthwhile.”

The Ambassadors: A French andUkranian Impact

“I came here for a couple of years, and that was33 years ago!” exclaims Jean Pierre Collet.

This native of Aix-en-Provence, France, andretired international vice president with PittsburghCorning Corp. first arrived here in 1976. Although

he had worked for Corning in France, Italy, andBelgium, it is Pittsburgh that has captivated Colletand his wife for more than three decades.

“This city is our city,” he says. “We have ourfriends. Our home. Our life is here.”

Collet’s pride about Pittsburgh—in particular,his Point Breeze neighborhood—and his continueddedication to his French homeland came togetherin a distinctive manner in the late 1970s. In themidst of a busy career with Corning, Collet carvedout time to serve for nearly 30 years as the city’sHonorary Consul for France. Honorary consuls areprivate citizens who serve without pay to supportthe activities of the foreign governments they repre-sent in major cities without a formal ConsulateGeneral.

Among Collet’s many duties were helping themembers of Pittsburgh’s French community feelmore at home in our city, collaborating with Frenchexecutives interested in doing business here, andrepresenting France at cultural and historical events.During his tenure, Collet hosted nearly 20 Frenchdelegations—the majority from steel and miningtowns north of the Lorraine region.

“They all had the same problems,” he explains.“How do you go from heavy industry to anothersort of activity? How do you manage the social andpersonal problems generated by these transforma-tions? Pittsburgh has been a marvelous example ofreconversion, and many cities in France are veryinterested in knowing how that happened.”

★ ★ ★

Ellen Freeman came to Pittsburgh— with astopover in Brooklyn—from Odessa, Ukraine,which was part of the former Soviet Union.

A single mom at the time with a five-year-oldson, she was urged to follow her family toPittsburgh in 1993, when her stepfather accepted ajob with the Allegheny County Coroner’s office.Although her family moved to California soonafterward, Freeman and her son stayed here—andprospered.

After initial work with a Jewish nonprofitagency, Freeman followed her dream and studied atUniversity of Pittsburgh to become an immigrationattorney. The Fox Chapel resident is now counselfor Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, focusing herpractice on employment-based immigration.

“Now I bring expatriates to Pittsburgh from allover the country,” she says. “We have a very largeIndian community. And because of all the universi-ties and colleges, we have a large number of profes-sors who are part of the international communitythrough their work.”

Pittsburgh, she notes, is home to the sixthlargest community of academics in the nation. “It’s

very calming to come here,” Freeman says. “Iwouldn’t have the same feeling living in a differentmarket. You can take advantage of different oppor-tunities, whether it’s the symphony or concerts inthe park like at Hartwood Acres. I know that youcan do that in Central Park, but alongside 5,000other people!”

Freeman also is an active participant in theWorld Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, whose missionis to promote an understanding of important inter-national issues throughout the region. In addition,she is supportive of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s PropelPittsburgh Commission and its Diversity,Outreach, and Civic Engagement subcommittee,which aims to make the city a more immigrant-friendly place.

“We’re looking at what larger markets, likeBoston, are doing to welcome nationals,” she says.“My official goal is to make the city friendlier to for-eign nationals. I help them settle in, and that, inturn, makes our community more diverse.”

817 S. Aiken Avenue

412.621.6133Now Open Sundays 12-4

dinaellen

F A L L 2 0 0 9 2 52 4 S H A D Y AV E

52 years & more Our family is proud to be celebrating over 52 yearsof creating the finest custom kitchens, baths, and wine cellars.As one of the oldest kitchen and bath designers in Allegheny County,we have built an incredible reputation for honesty and integrity.

www.Morr isonKitchens .com

5121 Clairton Boulevard Route 51 South Pittsburgh, PA 15236 412-884-4545

Ali Afshar, Classic Persian Carpets2127 Murray Avenue, Squirrel HillTehran, Iran

“I opened mystore on July 4,2001. Here we havea very diversecrowd, especially inSquirrel Hill.Russians. Israelis.Middle Easterners.You need peoplewho understand thedifference betweena $2,000 handmaderug and a $200

machine-made rug. And they do. The cost ofoverhead is also relatively cheap compared tocities like New York, Los Angeles, and SanFrancisco. Around the same time that I opened,my friend opened a similar business in SanFrancisco. His monthly rent was $5,000—minewas $750. That’s an attraction. Along with theschool systems. Housing. The cost of living. Andyou get good people. You get the biggest returnfor your investment in Pittsburgh.”

Caesar Azzam, Caesar’s Designs5413 Walnut Street, ShadysideBeirut, Lebanon

“Pit t sburgh’sslower pace gave methe opportunity torestart my careerafter relocatingfrom Los Angeles.In L.A., I was in theretail jewelry busi-ness. But here I could start smalland evolve. FirstDowntown, andthen in Shadyside.

Now 95 percent of my jewelry is my own work. Iplan to expand my business nationwide and evenconduct international business from Pittsburgh.And Pittsburgh’s magic has enhanced my person-al life, too. This is where I met my wife, who wasstudying at Pitt. That was destiny. Now I have asmall family. Pittsburgh has been very, very goodto me.”

Paul Carey, Irish Design Center303 South Craig Street, OaklandDublin, Ireland

“We’ve man-aged to turn a cor-ner in Pittsburgh.When I first came in the ’70s, the mills were stillgoing. Then we ran through the ’80s when the econ-omy was bad.Somewhere I havethe sense that it’s allcoming together. I

live in Fox Chapel. Sometimes on Sunday morn-ings, we get on the bikes and cycle down to therivers. We have breakfast in the Strip District. Wecross over to Point State Park or go over to theSouth Side and cycle back to the Heinz plants. It’s awonderful city to behold! So I’d tell the G-20 dele-gation, ‘No matter how bleak and dark it seems, it’spossible to turn the corner and emerge all the bet-ter for it.’”

Puneet Gurnani, EHRscribe, Inc.1386 Old Freeport Road, AspinwallNew Delhi, India

“I came here in2001 with my wifewhen my family waslooking for aninvestment oppor-tunity in medicaltranscription. It isvery easy to do busi-ness in Pittsburgh,and a great place forbusinesses to grow.There is a goodworkforce with a

strong work ethic. The cost of living is reasonable.It’s easy for smaller companies to succeed. And thereis a thriving Indian population here with many sub-cultures. I love Pittsburgh. If I had to stay in thiscountry, I’d be in Pittsburgh and nowhere else. Tothe G-20 delegation I’d say, ‘Look closer at whatPittsburgh has to offer for business. It is a greatplace to invest in and bring business to. Pittsburghis waiting to explode with lots of opportunities forpeople to come here and start businesses. We haveeverything in place.”

Arnaut Haubert, L’azur Salon & Spa 802 South Aiken Avenue, ShadysideParis, France

“There’s some-thing special aboutPittsburgh. I like thelaid-back atmos-phere. The qualityof life. And I’m gladto see that peoplefrom Pittsburgh orthose who do nottravel much canhave a French expe-rience here. I’m theone who opened a

European salon in Shadyside with a French flavor.We serve French pastries—made by my friend whowill soon be opening a French pastry shop inLawrenceville—every Saturday at the salon. We area French community of friends. It may be shockingthat a Parisian-born like me really likes Pittsburgh.I did not feel obligated to come or to stay here. Itwas destiny that brought me, and destiny did thingswell.”

Esspa Kozmetika17 Brilliant Avenue, AspinwallBudapest, Hungary

“I like Pittsburghbecause it is safe andeverybody knowseach other, and Ithink it’s a greatplace to raise kids.Professionally, it’sbeen a little morechallenging to bringin new ideas to thecity like organic skincare. Pittsburghersare consistent. They

like to do the same thing over and over again andtake things in more slowly, which can be good. Butfor a creative person like me, it was an adjustment.One thing I really like about Pittsburgh, though—if people fall in love with you, they stick by you, andI feel very lucky to have great supporters. InBudapest, I don’t know if I would’ve had the oppor-tunity to open a spa just being a ‘nobody.’ Here, aslong as you put together a good business plan orhave a good idea, then people will give you achance.” SA__

__

The Entrepreneurs

AN INTERNATIONAL TAPESTRY

412-201-4291

All year longFestival Art

Jewelry,Gifts&Furnishings

22nd & PennIn the StripCollage

at

www.collage-pgh.com

VanillaPA S T R Y ST U D I O

Custom Cakes • CupcakesLollys • Cookies • Brownies

Candies • Muffins6014 Penn Circle South

412.361.2306 • vanillapastry.com

Tues-Fri: 9-6 • Sat: 9-4 • Sun:10-2