"Make it Monday" forum - Celebrating World Trade Month!

Celebrating World Trade Month!  Stories told of Exporting from Alaska.

As we celebrate May as World Trade Month, we recognize that over 300 Alaskan businesses export, contributing $5.2 billion in sales. 96% of Global Consumers reside OUTSIDE of the U.S. Anchorage is located midway between Asia and Europe. Have you thought there may be additional market opportunities elsewhere in the world for your goods or services? Join us at “Make it Monday” to learn how local businesses grow their sales with ‘trade’ in tourism, e-commerce, and brick-and-mortar sales channels.

Moderator: Debbie Franklin, U.S. Commercial Service

Panelists:

• Dale Wade, Alaska Railroad
• Norm Chance, Sky Airparts International
• Zoi Maroudas, Bambino’s

PLUS, a new member presentation from VOA Alaska.

Have a specific question for the presenters?
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Debbie Franklin joined the U.S. Dept. of Commerce in October 2015 as the International Trade Administration’s Director for U.S. Commercial Service – Alaska where she currently serves on several of the agency’s Global Teams, SelectUSA Regional Champion, and Executive Secretary for the Export Council of Alaska.  Previously Debbie established and directed the International Trade Center with Iowa Small Business Development Center where she trained and counseled small businesses on international finance, marketing, compliance, and global logistics as a NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional.  Her hands-on international business experience comes from 29 years in retail and   wholesale manufacturing, marketing, and sales. She also spent 7 seasons as a personal and small business federal tax preparer as Enrolled Agent.
 

Dale Wade is Vice President Marketing & Customer Service, effective March 10, 2013.  He joined the Alaska Railroad as VP Business Development in early January 2012. He is a 30-year veteran of the freight transportation industry, involved in all aspects of freight service logistics, sales and marketing. Most recently Wade was Founder and President of GoldStar Logistics Solutions in Anchorage. Previous experience includes managing director and transportation consultant for AFMS Transportation Management in Portland, Oregon; national account executive for FedEx Corporation in Anchorage; and sales manager for CF Freight in Anchorage. Wade served as a vice president with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Anchorage Chapter. He studied Business Administration at the University of Anchorage Alaska with a focus on sales and strategic negotiations. Born in Racine, Wisconsin, Wade moved to Alaska in 1978.
 

Norman Chance is CEO of Sky Airparts International, an Alaska-based global aircraft parts distributor. Sky Airparts supplies aircraft parts to over 810 customers in 35 countries, supporting everything from spacecraft to legacy general aviation aircraft. Norman completed his MBA at Western Governors University, and is currently completing his Doctorate in Aerospace at Oklahoma State University. Norman is a proud board member of the District Export Council of Alaska.




 

Best known for Bambino's Baby Meals, Zoi Maroudas founded the company to provide the highest quality of nutritious and delicious foods. Maroudas a restaurateur, medical student and has worked in medical field for over a decade in geriatrics and neurosurgery, before creating Bambino's. Since then, Maroudas won a number of awards, including the 2017 Gold Pan award for best company, 2017 Best Organic Brand by American Choice Awards, 2016 and 2017 Symphony of Seafood awards, Manufacture of the Year in Alaska, and Top 40 under 40. She is a frequent guest speaker at Allergy Foundation conferences, pediatric association, Alzheimer’s assignation and speaks about entrepreneurship, nutrition, and parenting. Maroudas manages a storefront in Spenard where she offers her imported olive oil alongside various consumer goods.
 

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