The Central Valley International Business Forum was held on the morning of April 7th, 2008 at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. The event was initiated by Congressman Jerry McNerney CA-11, and sponsored by the United Parcel Service (UPS), the Port of Stockton, and the University of the Pacific, School of International Studies. The co-sponsors were the Export-Import Bank (EX-IM), Northern California World Trade Center (NCWTC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the U.S Department of Commerce, U.S Commercial Service, as well as the Sacramento and Merced Centers for International Trade Development. Eighty four individuals attended this free Central Valley International Business Forum to gain knowledge on how to start and grow international trade opportunities in the global marketplace.
Upon arrival, Congressman Jerry McNearney, Colleen Litkenhaus and George Tastard U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Commercial Service awarded Bill Kenney of BK International and Kevin Stevens of Linden Nut Company Export Achievement Certificates acknowledging them for excellence in exporting.
The purpose of this International Business Forum was to outreach and share international business resources to help expand business opportunities and sales for the constituents of the greater San Joaquin County and adjacent areas. The topics addressed included the federal, local and private industry logistic resources in support of small businesses; ways to leverage U.S. free trade agreements; and how to finance new business opportunities abroad. Opening remarks were given by Congressman Jerry McNerney, followed by key note speaker Colleen Litkenhaus, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Domestic Operations for the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service. Litkenhaus gave an overview of the U.S. Commercial Service and the possible benefits of a U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement of which President Bush signed into legislation the morning of the conference in Washington D.C.
Following the key note speaker, came highlight topics presented by Jim Lucchesi, Senior Business Development Officer U.S. EXIM Bank; Jerry Avila, Senior International Trade Specialist, SBA/ OIT; Bill Lewicki, Marketing Director, Port of Stockton; with Jim O’Neal, SBA District Director as the moderator for the event. After a fifteen minute break, the morning was capped off with, an interactive eight panel discussion where attendees asked specific international business questions. Panel participants included Jim O’Neal, SBA District Director, Jim Lucchesi, Senior Business Development Officer U.S. EXIM Bank; Jerry Avila, Senior International Trade Specialist, SBA/OIT; Bill Lewicki, Marketing Director, Port of Stockton; Sheree Olson Prokes, Account Manager, UPS; Jeannette Benson, Director, Merced CITD; George Tastard, Director, CS Sacramento; and Gillian Murphy, Director, San Joaquin Delta College SBDC. The Sacramento Export Assistance Center received eight new perspective clients and Sacramento USEAC staff will followed up during the month of April.
Following the Central Valley International Business Forum, Bill Kenney and Kevin Stevens provided a tour of walnut orchards in Linden, California to Colleen Litkenhaus, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Domestic Operations for the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service; Greg Mignano, Network Director Pacific Northwest; and George Tastard, Director, CS Sacramento. And to end the day, Ms. Litkenhaus met with Garrett Ashley, undersecretary for international trade for the State of California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to review the State of California International Business Agenda and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s upcoming Travel and Trade Missions Schedule. Ms. Litkenhaus’s reaffirmed support to the State of California’s international trade promotion activities and thanked Ashley for the State of California close working collaboration with USCS.
