Karina Amaluisa
Economist. Specialized in economic international relations, trade promotion and business strategies, advises businessmen and associations in starting or strengthening exports, coordinates the participation of Ecuador in World Exhibitions and negotiates bilateral investment agreements.
Her experience in both public and private sectors has given her a better understanding of the Ecuadorian exporter reality as well as the challenges of competing in a globalized world. She has also been able to see the international market trends and consuming habits in different countries by participating in more than fifteen official and trade missions.
She has also participated as expositor in several seminars, conferences and training workshops for the development of an export culture. Using the techniques of an export audits, she has provided technical support to the agro-industrial, flower and textile sectors for the definition of export capacities.
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Churchill is the Director of the Milwaukee U.S. Export Assistance Center of the U.S.Department of Commerce. Paul has held this position since 1995. His responsibilities include representing the Under Secretary for International Trade in relationships between the Department and representatives of the business community, state government and civic groups; presenting the program and policy positions of the U.S. Department of Commerce; and providing assistance to the Wisconsin business community in expanding their exports throughout the world.
Prior to accepting his present position Paul served the U.S. Department of Commerce as an International Trade Specialist in the Milwaukee U.S. Export Assistance Center since 1984.
Paul has taught Global Marketing courses at Waukesha County Technical College and appeared as a guest lecturer at other Wisconsin colleges; he earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Paul is a NASBITE certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) an achievement which certifies his knowledge in the highly varied practice of global business.
Paul serves as an advisor to the board of directors of the Milwaukee World Trade Association and he's Executive Secretary of the Wisconsin District Export Council.
As the Southeastern Wisconsin Export Development Manager and Latin America Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Bureau of Export Development., Susan Dragotta works with local companies interested in expanding their export sales. Susan joined Commerce in 1999 after working in international business development for several Milwaukee-area companies.
Susan has traveled extensively in Latin America and Europe. Her Spanish language capability has made Latin American business development her focus, in both her private and public sector positions.
Susan is currently co-chair of the Education Committee for the Milwaukee World Trade Association, and Vice Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Global Education and Trade Center at Waukesha County Technical College. She has taught courses in global business for the University of Phoenix and Ottawa University, and is a frequent guest speaker at the UW Milwaukee and Marquette. She has provided training to her counterparts in other states through the State International Development Organization. Susan has an undergraduate degree from UW Madison, and a graduate degree in International Business Management from UW Milwaukee.
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Alison Heiser (conference facilitator)
Alison Heiser is Principal of Alison Heiser Associates, a consultancy that provides strategic marketing capabilities to CEOs and their executive teams. Alison brings deep experience in developing and leading implementation of corporate and brand marketing strategy that delivers significant bottom-line results across a variety of industries and business situations. Rooted in classical consumer goods marketing at Procter & Gamble, she is a talented change agent in organizations seeing to improve their customer focus oand marketing.
Alison's extensive career includes VP of Marketing for Kimberly-Clark's consumer businesses in North America and Europe, Chief Customer Officer at Banta Corporation, acquired by RR Donnelley, and VP of Marketing for Groupe Michelin. She has also worked as a consultant with Accenture, leading marketing and customer strategy client engagements for Fortune 100 companies implementing CEO led enterprise-wide customer transformation initiatives. Alison earned her MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and her BS in Communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Leaman, as the Trade Commissioner of Mexico in Chicago, participates in the promotion of services in support of Mexico's foreign trade in the Mid West of the United States. The main responsibilities of the Trade Commission of Mexico-ProMexico are promoting investment opportunities for companies doing business in Mexico and marketing of Mexican products and services in the ten Midwestern states, from the Dakotas and Nebraska in the West, to Ohio in the East. The Trade Commission of Mexico in Chicago also provides information on trade opportunities; NAFTA matters, such as trade preferences; market trends; Mexico's economic developments, industrial sectors, subcontracting opportunities, laws and regulations, among other subjects, to assist companies to do business in the United States and in Mexico. Miguel is the Trade Commissioner for ProMexico in Chicago and has held previous posts as the Minister of Trade Affairs, Economic Counselor and Assistant Commercial Counselor at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. and Bancomext representative in Chicago. Miguel has worked for the Government of Mexico since `974 in both the Treasury and Commerce Departments. He has served in such posts as Deputy Director Bilateral Trade Negotiations, Head of the Office of Safeguards, and Coordinator for the Unit of International Economic Information.
Lencioni has directed Wisconsin's Mexico Office since it was established in 1994. In 2002, his company, LGA Consulting, began working as the exclusive Mexico contractor with the Wisconsin Department of Commerce while offering legal, fiscal, sales, and technical trade consulting services to U.S., European, and Asian companies trying to do business in Mexico and Latin America. Prior to his work with Wisconsin, Vince served as Sub-Director of International Commerce and Investment for the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, where he later served as a Board member. He also worked for Costco in San Diego as Assistant to the Vice President for Mexico in charge of all aspects of export operations. Prior to Costco, he worked in marketing and operations for Tratec of California in its Chula Vista and Tijuana offices where he assisted U.W. companies with joint ventures and investment projects in the maquiladora sector. In 2000, Vince became a fully certified Mexican attorney. Currently, he serves as the General Manager of LGA Consulting, a full service business consulting firm in Mexico City focused on assisting new to market companies, companies already active in the market, and Mexico-based sales offices and subsidiary operations of U.S. companies. Prior to his affiliation with the State of Wisconsin, Vince was a Minnesota Viking fan but has since come to his senses -- kind of.
Dick Leinenkugel, Secretary of Commerce for the state of Wisconsin, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Marquette University with a B.S. in Business Administration. He went on to serve as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps. Leinenkugel began his career with the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company in 1987 where he started out as a District Sales Manager/Chain Sales Manager. He currently serves as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company and Group Manager, Specialty and Craft Brands, for Miller Brewing Company. He was appointed to the Waukesha County Board of Supervisors where he represented Menomonee Falls from 1997 through 2000. He was appointed Secretary of Commerce in September 2008.
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News Article: "Leinenkugel named Commerce Secretary"
Robert Mescal
Mescal joined the Bemis company in 1998 and currently President of Bemis Mexico. Bob has experienced the global marketplace from several different perspectives; he grew up in Argentina, Brazil and Peru and has been on several international assignments throughout his career. Bob began his career with Goodyear in São Paulo and has spent all his professional life in the international arena. Bob also has lived and worked in Mexico for six years. He is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. Bob graduated with a BA from Washington & Lee< University and a MBA from Wharton.
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James H. Parker
Parker is currently Vice President, Industrial and International Sales at Pierce Manufacturing where he has been a model ambassador for over thirty years. Beginning his career on the floor, Jim's ethics and hard work, as well as education over many years quickly placed him on the fast track to success. Parker held various positions within his career at Pierce, most recently VP of domestic sales for half the country and the country of Canada; VP sales of government, homeland security and rescues and in his current role, Jim leads a team who specialize in customizing fire fighting vehicles for refineries, municipalities, and governmental agencies throughout the world. Jim has extensive travel experience, while building relationships and strategically managing the sale for long term growth and success. Aside from his work responsibilities, Jim enjoys travel, golf, time with family and friends, and music.
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Reece is a Project manager, Lean Six Sigma (Supplier Excellence) for Rockwell Automation. His focus is in Tecate & Monterrey Mexico and Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He previously worked for Kohler, Bank of Nova Scotia, and the University of Wisconsin Systems. Originally from Jamaica, Mr. Reece earned both the BBA and MBA degrees from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
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Rioja has served as Wisconsin's Honorary Ambassador to Peru since 2000. He is also currently an EIGER Board member and Director of their International Affairs. Mr. Rioja has extensive experience in Peru and has worked on behalf of the Lima Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce there. He also served as the Latin American Managing Director and the Export Director for Oshkosh Corporation, the Truck Division Manager for Volvo Peru S.A., and worked for Kenworth Motor Truck in Seattle and Bogota. He is also very active with Rotary, both in Peru and in Wisconsin. Mr. Rioja has won numerous recognitions for his work in international trade, including an invitation to the White House to meet with President Clinton.
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David Thiel
David Thiel is the Trade Mission Chair for the Northeast Wisconsin Regional Economic Partnership (NEWREP). NEWREP is a regional group of economic development professionals representing 16 counties and the Menominee Nation. Their mission is to increase business through regional projects. As such, they conduct an annual business plan competition, provide software for a regional business retention program and conduct trade missions. The first trade mission took place in February of 2009. Six companies spent two working days in Mexico City, which resulted in 1.9 million dollars of expected sales. NEWREP's partners for this trade mission were the NE Wisconsin Technical College, the NE Wisconsin International Business Development Program, the Milwaukee Export Assistance Center and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. A second trade mission is being planned for early 2010 to South America. Mr. Thiel is also the Executive Director for the Waupaca County Economic Development Corporation.
Alejandro Tribin was born and raised in Colombia but has been living in the US for over 13 years and working with the Colombian government for the last 9. After obtaining his B.A in business with a major in International Trade from Florida International University, Alejandro discovered his true passion-- promoting trade and investments between the two countries that he loves. During the curse of his work he has helped companies like ACE hardware, True Value, American Hotel Register, Vans Inc, Grainger, Navistar, and many more; discover and benefits of doing business with Colombia. He also serves as an expert for Colombian government officials on business development and market trends in the Midwest.
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Video: Why You Should Invest in Columbia
