ICES – International Cultural Exchange Services
International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES) operates under the regulations of the United States Department of State and is designated as an official Exchange Visitor Program.
ICES has been a member of the Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange (ALLIANCE) since 1997. It is governed by the policies of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET). As of 2010, ICES President John J. Crist had served two terms on the CSIET Board of Directors. CSIET establishes standards for operating International Travel and Exchange Programs at the high school Level, monitoring compliance, and disseminates information regarding International Educational Travel Organizations. ICES is a non-profit organization which aims to promote a peaceful world by increasing international awareness and understanding through cultural sharing experiences.
International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES) was founded in 1991 by John J. Crist in Atlanta, Georgia. John had previously worked in Youth Exchange Executive Roles for over 10 years in the United States, based in San Francisco and Santa Barbara, California and internationally in Brighton, Madrid and Stockholm.