Meet the Board
Thomas Lienhard
PRESIDENT
Thomas is a dual citizen born to a Swiss father Robert who's father and relatives came to the United States in 1909 to continue the family business of Embroidery begun in the St. Gallen region of Switzerland. Originally from Sulgen, Oetlishusen and also Bischofzell.
As a child thomas lived in Colombia, Peru, the United Kingdom, Milan Italy and has traveled extensively throughout Germany, Switzerland and Europe.
Thomas is actively involved in several aspects of the Society including Finance Committee, Target Shooting at August 1 as well as coordinating a target shooting competition event. Thomas helps with the Samichlaus event quite personally (his identity is secret to the children) and enjoys helping with the many activities throughout the year.
Thomas is responsible for distributing electronic communications that the Swiss Society produces (Email, Website, Social Media etc.) and was directly involved in the recent redesign of the new website and re-branding of the Swiss Society with new logo, fonts and graphics.
John Willis
CO-TREASURER
John was President of the Swiss Society of Boston from 2014 to 2020. John is a dual citizen of Switzerland and the United States and travels often to Switzerland where his mother's side of the family still lives close to Geneva. John spends weekdays in downtown Boston where he is a real estate litigation attorney and most weekends at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire and organizes the Swiss Society of Boston's hiking and skiing trips there. He climbed Kilimanjaro in 2017 and finished New Hampshire's 48 4000-footers in 2019. John is also a member of the board of Friends of Switzerland (FOSI), and has been a member of the Swiss Societies of New Orleans and New Hampshire. John graduated from Stanford University and Tulane Law School.
Stephan Oehler
CO-TREASURER
Stephan has been in the board of the Swiss Society of Boston since 2018. Stephan is a Swiss Citizen and US permanent resident with families on both side of the Atlantic. Stephan was previously member in the Swiss Society of Houston and New York before he and his family left the US to live in Sweden. After four years in Sweden they returned to Boston. Currently, Stephan is working as CFO at Keolis Commuter Services, LLC the company who manages and runs the Boston commuter rail system (purple lines). He graduated from the University of Applied Science, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Paulette Cardinaux
VICE PRESIDENT
Paulette has been on the Board for over 30 years. She manages several aspects of our First of August celebration every year. Paulette runs the raffle and coordinates donations coming in from many retailers.
Paulette also helps with the Fondue, Raclette and other Events throughout the year.
Her Swiss Roots :
"I am a dual citizen of Switzerland and the United States. My father was born in Bern . His father was born in Tour de Paix - Canton de Vaud - I am also In the Society of Bern from my Grandmother’s side who is a Gerster. My Swiss Uncle, Oscar Bidder, was the first person to fly a plane over Switzerland 
. My father had dual Citizenship was in the US State Department ( American Embassy in Rome). He also was a Liason with the Swiss Embassy and also worked with The World Food Program in Rome. I went to High School In Rome Italy. We also traveled and I also lived in Africa Asia
and Europe."
Marco Perucchi
VICE PRESIDENT
Andrea Grealish
BOARD MEMBER, MEMBERSHIP
Andrea was born to a Swiss father (Hans Mueller) and Australian mother (Pam), Andrea grew up in the Swiss Society of Boston, and has been a member for most of her life. As a board member, Andrea now takes care of the Membership and Mailings.
"I am married to Kevin, and have 2 children, Aly and Katey. I work as a Physician Assistant in Women’s Health, and my passion is playing soccer. One of our best family vacations was a 2-week trip to Switzerland, showing off my homeland."
Michael Gloor
BOARD MEMBER
Brigitte Falke
BOARD MEMBER
William Haggard
BOARD MEMBER
Claude Abacherli
SECRETARY
Olivia Engl
BOARD MEMBER
Olivia is a real estate agent, working in the Boston North Shore area. She was born and raised in Ticino, the Italian region of Switzerland. In 2013, she graduated from École Hôtelière de Lausanne with a Bachelor in International Hospitality Management.
"I was very lucky to have the opportunity to work in several stunning Swiss cities, including Basel, Bern, Lucerne, Olten and Ascona. In 2017, my husband and I moved to Cambridge, for what was supposed to be a temporary adventure. We fell in love with the North Shore and finally settled down in Swampscott, where we are now raising our three young children. We will always have a strong connection to our home-country and are excited to be part of a great community that shares the same love for Switzerland."