NCWTA 2003 Conference Agenda

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Session Presentations

Session I—New Directions

Bob Graham, Managing Partner, Ridge Partners LLC
A Perspective on Survival
This presentation will discuss manufacturing in the global IT market and its impact on U.S. manufacturers. It will provide some background on globalization and include the topics of a product-based market, the global design and supply chain, U.S. government policy, and what all this means for businesses in North Carolina.

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Session II—Compliance

John Fee, Attorney, Alston & Bird
Customs Compliance
Jon will provide an update on the most recent developments with the security-related Customs programs, C-TPAT, CIS, and the proposed advance manifest rules. He will fill us in on some of the important details of new and proposed free trade agreements with countries in the Americas and elsewhere. Jon will also cover the recently announced safeguard petitions filed against textiles from China, as well as other recent developments in Customs and trade matters, such as the proposal to license AES filers, the proposed FDA recordkeeping rules, the status of this year's Miscellaneous Trade Bill, and the proposal to return Customs to a regional structure as part of the Department of Homeland Security.

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Session III—Security
Brendan Hewson, Senior Vice President of International Services, Corporate Security, Bank of America
Traveling Safely
When planning to travel today, safety is foremost in many people’s minds. This presentation will provide attendees with mental approaches to safe travel; the means to have confidence in traveling; and practical ways to conduct yourself while traveling, including where to stay to keep yourself safe, what to do, and what not to do.

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Session IV—New Directions

Geret De Piper, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, CSX World Terminals
Doing Business in China
Successful completion of international business in China is the result of hard work in understanding the culture and business environment prevalent in your industry. Understanding partners and the legal basis under which you will operate allows for a happy ending and can lead to additional business opportunities. CSX World Terminals will share what we have learned and discuss needed reforms for reducing the risk associated with doing business in China.

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Phil Marlowe, President, Acuitive Solutions
Air Without Error— Air Freight Management Tools for Shippers
Air freight is typically the most expensive transportation service option available, yet many companies invest little thought or energy into their processes to decide when, why, and how they use it. Without having the proper tools at your disposal to help you correctly calculate total expected charges for a given scenario, it is impossible to make an informed decision. This presentation will unravel the complexities and show shippers what they can do to better manage their air freight programs. Go to www.AcuitiveSolutions.com for more information.

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Conference Banquet
Nancy Hauge, (Formerly of Second City Improv), and Founder and Partner, 54th Street Partners
The Courage to Laugh
Throughout Nancy's more than 20-year career, she has served as a senior human resources executive as well as a corporate officer in both private and public corporations. Prior to cofounding 54th Street Partners, Nancy provided services to a global client portfolio through her management-consulting firm, Hauge and Associates. Nancy was a founder and vice president of human resources for two high-tech start-ups, Ridge Technologies and Crag Technologies. Prior to Ridge, Nancy served as vice president of people at Noah's New York Bagels, vice president of human resources for Gymboree Corporation, and held senior management positions in human resources, strategic planning, and quality, at Sun Microsystems. A sought after public speaker, Nancy's work in organizational dislocation, humor in the workplace, and social consciousness in business has been recognized by graduate schools, public companies, and national publications. Nancy currently sits on the board of directors of The Telemedia Accelerator, Broadway Digital Entertainment, Global Accelerator, and Tidex. She is a former regent of Holy Names College. Nancy attended the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago and spent the first years of her career as a comedy writer and stand-up comedian.

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Session V—New Directions
Dan St. Louis, Director, Hosiery Technology Center
Dan St. Louis is the Hosiery Technology Center director at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, North Carolina. Under his direction the center, in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, developed the software “Basic English for Hosiery,” which translates hosiery terms and processes in three foreign languages. The center also led an industry consortium that introduced the first standard methodology for the testing of socks. The Hosiery Technology Center now has a full testing facility and tests products for major retailers and manufacturers throughout the country. In 2002, the center started a major effort in research and development to prototype new products for the industry and to help suppliers get new products to the marketplace. Dan received his B.S. in textile technology from North Carolina State University.

Kim Williamson, Marketing Director, Chemtex
Technology Transfer: Techniques that Meet the Needs of the Global Market
Chemtex, with headquarters in Wilmington, is spreading the good news about business in North Carolina by providing solid performance and customer satisfaction to clients worldwide. For more than 30 years, Chemtex has collaborated with technology transfer partners to deliver over 100 projects in China, Italy, Russia, Korea, Thailand, Pakistan, Mexico, and other worldwide locations. In 2002, Chemtex signed agreements for 10 projects—its most successful year ever. Chemtex’s asset delivery techniques, combined with beneficial technologies, are meeting the needs of the global market. Useful techniques and anticipated trends will be presented.

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Session VI—Compliance
John Quealy, Port Director, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
Partnerships and Trade Compliance
John J. Quealy is presently the interim port director for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection under the Department of Homeland Security. He is responsible for the oversight and coordination of the three border inspection agencies (Immigration, Customs, and Agriculture) located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Prior to this appointment, he was the port director for the U.S. Customs Service, Service Port of Charlotte, overseeing $200 million in duty collections and the implementation of international trade regulations throughout North Carolina. He has 32 years of experience with customs and has a business degree from Pace University, NY.

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Conference Wrap-Up—New Directions
Dr. Alan Shao, Professor of Marketing, Director, Undergraduate International Business Program, Belk College of Business Administration
Alan T. Shao is professor of marketing and director of undergraduate international business programs at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has published in over forty refereed journals and is the author of his second book entitled Marketing Research: An Aid to Decision-Making. He is also executive research director at Ashton Brand Group and CEO of Apex Global Group. He lectures extensively throughout East Asia and is a marketing research consultant to numerous businesses. Dr. Shao received his Ph.D. in marketing from The University of Alabama.

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Trade Testimonials

Dr. Roy Archambault, President, Xero Products
Going Global Gets Easy
Dr. Roy Archambault, DPM, ABFS, is the president of Xero Products, a Wilmington, North Carolina, company for the concept, patent, manufacture, and distribution of medical products. Prior to Xero, he practiced medicine as a podiatric surgeon, was owner of a company that manufactured scrub gowns for imprinting, and was licensed as a real estate broker in North Carolina. Roy holds a B.S. degree in chemistry and zoology and received his doctorate from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He is on the board of directors for NCWTA and the Cape Fear Executive Council.

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Wayne Cooper, President and CEO, TelecommUSA, Ltd.
Financial Services to the Unbanked
Wayne P. Cooper, with more than 35 years of international business experience, is the founder, president, and CEO of TelecommUSA, Ltd. He has served as Honorary Mexican Consul for the past 22 years and has been on the board of directors of the American Countertrade Association (ACA) for the last 10 years. He currently serves as treasurer for ACA and actively works to develop global trade through his involvement with many other international committees nationwide. He averages more than 50 speeches a year on international trade issues and has testified before the U.S. Senate regarding the promotion and support of countertrade as a valuable tool for U.S. exporters. In November 1994, President Carlos Salinas of Mexico named Wayne recipient of the prestigious award "Order of the Aztec Eagle." This is the highest award given by the Government of Mexico to a foreign national and is the equivalent to the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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