Barbara Grober Sobel, president of Sobel Family Foundation and collector of art together her husband Clifford M. Sobel. Clifford M. Sobel (born 1949, Brooklyn, New York) is an American business executive, financier, Republican fundraiser, U.S. diplomat and former ambassador. Most recently, he served as the United States Ambassador to Brazil. He was nominated for the post by President George W. Bush on May 23, 2006, confirmed by the United States Senate on June 29, 2006, and sworn in by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on July 20, 2006. He presented his credentials to the Brazilian Foreign Ministry on August 2, 2006. Ambassador Sobel is the 53rd Chief of Mission to Brazil. He resigned as Ambassador in August 2009.