Claudia Exner was born in Schlema, East Germany, were she grew up under Russian occupation with strict control of media, travel, and the niceties of ordinary life, like chocolate and free speech. Claudia takes pride in being a voice for change as she and a group of schoolmates protested in Berlin in 1989 that resulted in the re-unification of East Germany. After “the wall” came down she studied Marketing and Communications at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. During a vacation to Hawaii in 2001 she met her husband and life partner which prompted her move to the USA and becoming a citizen.