Kirk Adams - DEC Chairman and Worldwide Account Manager, Fedex Services

Kirk has 20 years experience in the transportation industry from operations to sales. Industry segments include truckload, LTL, small package Express and Ground as well as International Import and Export. Most recently his focus has been on Fortune 100 companies with regards to how their joint ventures and mergers will effect their Supply chain decisions. In the past he has worked with small startup companies and helped them set up Supply chains that were responsive to their needs and growth strategies.

Joe Anderson - Dynamic Financial Management LLC, an Allstate Insurance Agency

Joe is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran university in Tacoma, Washington with a BBA in Accounting and Finance. Joe is also a graduate of the Hartford School of Insurance and the Leadership Idaho Agriculture. His experience includes Commerical Lending as a credit analyst and commerical lender for 4 years, including work with international businesses. Joe joined the Hartwell Corporation in April of 2005 and covers property and casualty insurance licenses, as well as property management, agriculture and international business. Joe is involved memeber of the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Idaho Agriculture Association, Affordable Housing Management Association, and the Idaho Eastern Oregon Seed Association.

Vince Brascia - DEC Vice Chairman

Vince Brascia (vdbrascia@N0SPAM.spectek.com ) is the Traffic Manager of SpecTek, a division of Micron Technology, Inc. where he is responsible for export, import, and domestic transportation and compliance. Vince has 25 years of transportation experience. Prior to employment with Micron in 1998, Vince was the Import Manager of an international freight forwarder's San Francisco branch. Vince is a Licensed Customhouse Broker, and he has worked in the Ports of Reno, Atlanta, and San Francisco. In 1981, Vince received a B.S. in Management, specializing in International Finance, from the University of Nevada at Reno.

Pat Collins - DEC Treasurer

Patrick Collins (pcollins@micron.com) has over 18 years of experience in foreign trade. A graduate of the University of Idaho and the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird), Patrick currently oversees import and export regulatory compliance for Micron Technology, Inc. and its global subsidiaries. In addition to a regulatory background, including extensive dealings with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Patrick is experienced in the application of terms of sale/Incoterms in foreign contracts, foreign market access and transportation. Patrick lives in Boise with his wife and two children.

Gary DeGrange

Gary DeGrange is a Vice President with U.S. Bank’s Global Trade Services Department in Boise. He has over twenty-three years of international banking experience with an emphasis on international trade finance. His territory includes Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern Washington where he assists companies both large and small with their international banking needs. In addition to his membership with the Idaho Export Council, DeGrange also works with the International Trade Alliance in Spokane, The Rocky Mountain World Trade Center in Denver, and the Nevada World Trade Council in Reno. DeGrange is a frequent speaker at public forums and college courses and enjoys sharing his knowledge of international business.

Ying Donegan

Ying is the owner of 7E International Enterprises, a consulting firm specializing in China sourcing and manufacturing consulting. She is also a consultant on how to do business successfully in China, manufacturing operation set-up, supply chain analysis and manufacturing outsourcing in China. Working together with her business partners in China, Ying helped many businesses reduce their costs and improved their time to bring new products to markets.

Before started her own business, Ying worked for eight years in the US, in computer peripherals, telecommunications and commercial product industries. Before came to the US, Ying worked in a household electronics company in China for two years, working with leading international companies to introduce new technologies to China and setting up joint ventures. Her most recent employment experience was with Hewlett-Packard as a Systems Management Engineer. She worked with HP’s worldwide manufacturing centers and contract manufacturers for new product introduction, quality improvement, cost saving and distribution of LaserJet products.

Ying was educated in both America and China. She holds a Masters Degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, a M.B.A. and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Shanghai for Science & Technology, China. She also studied in Germany for a year and enhanced her international experience.

Jim Hogge

Jim is an Idaho native. Jim obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the College of Idaho in 1971, a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of West Florida in 1991, and a degree in accounting from Boise State University in May 1993.

Before joining the Boise State University staff, Jim completed a military career, retiring from the U. S. Air Force in 1991. The majority of his career was devoted to flying. He flew the F-111 for over 10 years. The remainder of his career was focused on the development and testing of new aircraft systems.

Jim Hogge has been with the Idaho Small Business Development Center since 1992. He has served as the State Director of the Idaho Small Business Development Center since July 1995. Idaho Small Business Development Center provides high quality consulting and training services to improve the success of entrepreneurs in Idaho by using the combined resources of the Idaho SBDC, the private/public sector, and Idaho’s colleges and universities.

Jim also helped start the TechHelp program for Idaho manfacturers, the TechConnect Program for high entrepreneurs, and the TECenter at Boise State University.

Andy Hedden-Nicely

In his role as President of HNA Impressions Management in Boise, Idaho, Mr. Hedden-Nicely is responsible for planning, organizing and creating a variety of communication materials and strategies to support identified client needs. Mr. Hedden-Nicely holds a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Public Relations from Oklahoma State University. He was the founding publisher of the Boise Weekly and has an extensive background in all aspects of marketing.

Beau Parent - Regional Sales Manager, DAWAR Technologies

Beau Parent joined the Idaho Export Council in 2005. As Regional Sales Manager, Western North America & International Sales, DAWAR Technologies, Beau has the primary responsibility of his company’s recent expansion in exports to Europe. As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), DAWAR Technologies designs and manufactures man-machine interface systems for multiple market segments, including medical, industrial, instrumentation and military. DAWAR Technologies, which was founded in 1883, does not manufacture any standard, off-the-shelf products. Everything that DAWAR manufactures is custom designed for each of its customers and their individual projects.

Mr. Parent has had extensive experience with the challenges that face smaller companies starting to move towards greater export business. As his company is an OEM for major equipment manufacturers, the sales activities are direct person-to-person contacts with engineers and purchasing managers. Thus, the process towards greater exports for the small specialty OEM has different challenges than a finished goods supplier selling to distributors or companies with standard off-the-shelf product lines. He brings this experience and struggles of contacting and scheduling sales appointments with the right individuals from eight to twelve times zones away to the IEC as a resource for other small companies in Idaho.

Mr. Parent received his MBA in from Boise State University. He has a broad depth of knowledge and experience in the banking, retail, and electronic manufacturing industries. In previous career positions, he has actively been involved in the import and export of various consumer goods.

Mr. Parent has lived in the Treasure Valley since 1980 and has been active in community affairs and organizations, including the American Lung Association, National Ski Patrol and Idahoans for Term Limits.

Brent Williams - Esquire, Avoture Business and Property Law

H. Brent Williams is a managing member of Avoture Business & Property Law, pllc., in Boise, Idaho. He practices in international, business, and property transactions. He has extensive international experience and has conducted business in Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, South America and Asia. Mr. Williams graduated from Saint Louis University Law School with honors in international and comparative law. Prior to practicing law in Idaho, Mr. Williams was an international business development manager for Monsanto Company.

Meredith A. Taylor (J.D., LLM)

Meredith Taylor is a PhD candidate with the World Trade Institute in Berne, Switzerland. Her specialization is in International Trade Law and the World Trade Organization. She is presently teaching international business, economics, and law-related courses at Boise State University. She has lived and worked in Europe, traveled extensively, and speaks German.