Our Guiding Principles
1.
We represent the families of the victims we serve. Our mandate comes from the families, period.
2.
We do not accept donations, or any form of payment, from victims or their families, whether or not we represent them.
3.
We do not accept donations from any government or any government-related organization.
4.
Our work is centered around the cases we accept. We minimize all other activities, such as general advocacy and side causes. We leave related functions, such as government accountability or mental health for victims post-release, to other nonprofit organizations that are focused on and experts in those areas. Our bottom line—that is the measure of our success—is cases solved.
5.
We are not self-interested in self-promotion. If we cannot take credit for a case we have solved because credit needs to go to others, such as a government leader, so be it. Our mandate is to bring people home to their families.
6.
We do not employ “nonprofit professionals.” Everyone on staff at Global Reach is devoted to the cause, which has been, and is, a part of the fulfillment of their life’s work.
Our History
There have been kidnappings throughout U.S. history. The first high-profile kidnapping victim in the United States was Charley Ross in 1874. In 1932, the Lindbergh baby was kidnapped, capturing national attention. Over the last 75 years, kidnappings have increased steadily, becoming a standard tactic for criminal enterprises. Mexican cartels, for instance, have created an industry around it. Many terrorist groups have also embraced kidnapping to raise funds through ransoms or to force governments into making political concessions such as sanctions relief and prisoner exchanges. Some nations have even translated kidnappings into an element of statecraft, which the U.S. government refers to as wrongful detentions.
Yet, this historical recounting of the business of kidnapping is a very different thing from a kidnapping crisis at hand. The family that suddenly finds itself with a loved one taken hostage overseas must quickly become an expert on the practicalities and realities of the situation, learning all about the culture and country where their family member is being held, the terminology that applies, and how the U.S. government is configured to address their case. These are not easy tasks for the family thrust out of the everyday life they know, beset by anxiety over the fate of their loved one, and dismayed by the absence of information and the lack of control.
Global Reach was conceptualized by some of the field’s most accomplished experts and practitioners, building on years of experience in complex negotiations and humanitarian diplomacy. Among the leading inspirations for its creation was the post-government work of the late Governor Bill Richardson, whose tireless efforts through his Richardson Center for Global Engagement brought numerous unjustly detained Americans home.
While Governor Richardson passed before Global Reach was formally established, his legacy continues to guide much of the philosophy and approach. Together with his longtime colleague Mickey Bergman, they demonstrated what was possible when a small, discreet network of trusted negotiators acted with skill, integrity, and compassion. Their work supported the successful releases of Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner from Russia, along with many others in preceding years.
As cases became more complex and operational demands grew, it became clear that a broader platform – with the necessary depth in mediation, analysis, logistics, and fundraising – was needed. By 2022, discussions were already underway to create an organization with these fully integrated enhanced capabilities.
With the Governor’s untimely passing in September 2023, Mickey and Steve Menzies recognized the urgency of bringing such a vision to life. At a moment when at least 16 hostage cases were still active, the transition from concept to organization could not wait. Global Reach was born out of that necessity – a structured evolution designed to meet the expanding scope of global hostage and wrongful detention crises.
The joining of forces into Global Reach was agreed upon immediately, and three weeks later, Steve, Mickey, and Cameron Hume visited Caracas to meet with senior Venezuelan officials building upon prior engagements. These efforts contributed to the release of 13 Americans held by Venezuela just before Christmas of 2023. At the same time, following Hamas’ October 7th cross-border attack into Israel, the need for coordinated response became even more urgent. Families of dozens of hostages reached out to Global Reach for help. Under the leadership of now-Chairman Steve Menzies and CEO Mickey Bergman, the Global Reach team mobilized rapidly, developing strategies, rallying mediators, and conducting shuttle diplomacy that contributed to the release of over 100 hostages in November. By the end of 2023, Global Reach had already matured to a fully operational firm and was working on 16 active cases, not including the cases it was directly involved with in Gaza.
Each member of Global Reach’s leadership is an expert and is focused on cases from different perspectives—from inside government or as a nonprofit, and with different capabilities emphasized from investigations to citizen diplomacy. Beyond their individual depth of knowledge and experience, each member of the leadership team has a successful track record of collaboratively working on cases with others in addition to successfully working on cases individually, all in various countries around the globe.
Our chairman, Steve Menzies, has provided the leadership and vision to conceptualize Global Reach. Previously, he helped design and implement multiple rescues, and led negotiation missions to Venezuela and Russia. Additionally, through his private foundation, he developed the operational and investigative capabilities that are now a part of Global Reach, and which led to the release of over a dozen hostages held by terrorist organizations, as well as the evacuation and liberation of hundreds of Americans trapped in Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul.
Our CEO, Mickey Bergman, has undeniably made the greatest impact on the field after his longtime partner Governor Bill Richardson. Functioning as our Chief Intergovernmental Mediator, Mickey has, for decades, worked with officials from many nations that the U.S. government cannot, and has engaged them to resolve a great number of difficult cases. The persistence of Mickey’s efforts over time brings to Global Reach an invaluable intuitive understanding of the strategy and tactics that can resolve a case.
Our Chief Investigative Officer, Kieran Ramsey, previously served in federal law enforcement, leading U.S. government efforts for kidnappings worldwide including as Director of the U.S. Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell (HRFC). Kieran’s depth and scope of knowledge and experience worldwide are invaluable to Global Reach.
Our Chief Engagement Officer, Stacia George, has worked on highly-consequential conflict resolution matters in the field and between opposing parties. She has advised and facilitated post-conflict reconciliation and has real-world experience shaping outcomes. She utilizes this experience to support recovery strategies for Americans held abroad by identifying the terms and needs of detaining parties.
Our Chief Strategy Officer, Eric Lebson, has had a long successful career in the field, leveraging his time as a national security official to help numerous families understand their situation and chart a strategy for proactive engagement. There are few other people who have the acumen and understanding of the political functioning of the United States government and many foreign governments.
All that Global Reach has become is a reflection of its dedicated staff who devote their time, energy, and passion to the cause. In recognizing Governor Bill Richardson’s founding contribution, annually each May, Global Reach awards the “Gov. Bill Richardson Heart of a Patriot Award” aka the “Billie” to former government officials who selflessly dedicate their time, energy, experience, political capital, and reputation to freeing Americans held hostage or detained abroad. The first award will be given in May of 2024 at the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation gala in Washington, D.C.
“Pull quotes from Bill Richardson. Diam volutpat commodo sed egestas egestas fringilla volutpat blandit phasellus.”
