Gallion Elected to Chair DEC National Steering Committee:
Don Gallion was recently elected by the DEC National Steering Committee to Chair the body. Mr. Gallion is Chairman, President and CEO of FCX Systems, Inc., and exporter of aviation ground service equipment located in Morgantown, WV. Mr. Gallion is a long time member of the West Virginia DEC and currently serves at its Chair.
Hernandez Sworn in as Director General:
On October 12, 2005, Israel Hernandez was sworn in as the 11th Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and Director General of the Commercial Service. White House Chief of Staff, Andy Card administered the oath of office as Secretary Gutierrez and First Lady Laura Bush observed.
In his remarks after his swearing in, Hernandez said, “my job is to secure [the Commercial Service’s] future for the benefit of our organization and for future entrepreneurs.” Focusing on the changing world economy, Hernandez outlined his five major goals: client service, eliminating a “one size fits all” approach to overseas markets, cost recovery, investing in automation and technology, and finally, investing in the professional development of the Commercial Service Staff.
2005 DEC Conference Summary:
The 2005 National DEC Conference “Free Trade and Fair Play: Navigating the Dynamics of a Global Economy,” convened in Washington, D.C. this year, beginning on Wednesday, September 14 with a steering committee meeting, regional market overviews, and one-on-one appointments for attendees with Commercial Service officers at the U.S. Department of Commerce. A reception in the DOC lobby featured Congressman Phil English (PA); Neal Burnham, DAS for Domestic Operations of the Commercial Service, and DEC Conference Planners John Huddle (VA-DC DEC Chair), Fontaine Bell (MD/DC DEC Chair) and Phyllis Shearer Jones (MD/DC DEC Co-chair). U.S. Government trade promotion agencies and conference sponsors staffed tabletop booths at the reception, further setting the tone for the next two days of trade education and networking.
On Thursday at the primary venue, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Congressman Clay Shaw, Jr. (FL) spoke, and the morning session featured a keynote speech by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. Workshops focused on trade finance and free trade and tips for talking to Congressional representatives. Thursday’s lunch speaker was Daniel T. Griswold, the Director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute. In the afternoon, attendees had the option of visiting Capitol Hill or meeting with Commercial Service officers. A sunset cruise on the Potomac River, sponsored by FedEx, capped off the day.
On Friday, attendees were treated to two dynamic speakers, OMB Director Douglas Holtz Eakin and Acting Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade Peter Lichtenbaum. Workshops that day addressed export enforcement strategies, DEC best practices, and Internet marketing. The conference lunch featured James Lambright, Chairman of Exim-Bank, and the wrapup by the DEC Conference Committee tied it all together and announced the 2005 DEC Conference Resolution.
This conference drew 189 DEC members, U.S. Commercial Service representatives, speakers and sponsors from all over the United States. I would like to thank all of those who helped organize the Conference, in particular, Steering Committee members Jan Sandhouse Hurst and Rush Deacon; Maryland/Washington, D.C. chair W. Fontaine Bell, co-chair Phyllis Shearer-Jones, and member Dennis Noah; Virginia-Washington, D.C. chair John Huddle and members John Saylor and Dewey Chester; and Laura Hellstern of CS Domestic Operations.
New Orleans USEAC/DEC Update:
I am pleased to report that the New Orleans USEAC has reopened its doors for business. The office, located in the World Trade Center, had minor damage. The staff of the USEAC is currently working with a multi-agency task force to conduct an economic assessment of the damaged Gulf Region.
As many of you know, next year’s DEC Conference will be hosted by the Louisiana DEC in New Orleans. Members of the Louisiana DEC are hard at work to make sure that the 2006 DEC Conference will be the best one yet.
Commerce Senior Staff Update:
In addition to Israel’s confirmation, David McCormick was recently confirmed at the new Under Secretary for the Bureau of Industry and Security. Mr. McCormick previously served as President and Director of Ariba, Inc., and before that as President and CEO of FreeMarkets, Inc., both publicly traded software and services companies. Prior to that, he worked as a consultant for McKinsey & Company and served in the United States Army, where he was a veteran of the first Gulf War. Mr. McCormick received his bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his master’s degree and Ph.D. from Princeton University.
Ambassador Frank L. Lavin, President Bush’s nominee to be the next Under Secretary for International Trade testified before the Senate Finance Committee on October 18th. His nomination has now been forwarded to the full Senate for consideration. If you would like to read Amb. Lavin’s testimony or watch the hearing please visit the Senate Finance Committee’s website at http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearings.htm.
David Bohigian was recently nominated by President Bush for the position of Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance (MAC) in the International Trade Administration. Mr. Bohigian currently serves as the director of the Office of Policy and Strategic Planning at Commerce. As the principal policy advisor to the secretary, he formulates and recommends policy positions and initiatives for the department. His focus has been on economic and fiscal policy, as well as energy, manufacturing, trade and financial services.
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