9:45 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Event Details:
Join the exporting to Canada and Mexico presentation organized by the U.S .Small Business Administration in collaboration with U.S. Commercial Service Export Assistance Center, Virginia Small Business Development Center, International Office, SBA Export Loans, State of Virginia STEP Program, BizWorks, Chesterfield Economic Development and the Virginia Hispanic Chamber, host. We will present on assessing exporting capabilities and Exporting 101: things to consider, export readiness and available resources for new to export companies including grant information. The goal of this presentation is to provide small business owners who may be interested or are currently exporting goods or services to learn more about the exporting process. Exporting is a tremendous way to balance your business, create new sales opportunities and broaden your horizons.
Exporting to Mexico and/or Canada:
Nearly 96% of consumers live outside the U.S., and two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power is in foreign countries. If you’re a small business owner, find out how it works with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for your trade needs. SBA's Office of International Trade provides information on its Trade Tools for International Sales page to help small businesses explore opportunities in other markets. Learn about U.S. trade agreements, find information on regulations and laws, and explore programs and services for small businesses who want to go global. Register today to learn about SBA’s export program.
Date: September 17th, 2024
Time: 9:45am - 12:00pm
Location: RVA Chamber Office (Hybrid Option Available on Zoom, select during registration)
10700 Midlothian Turnpike, Suite #200
Richmond, VA 23455
Speakers:
Marci Posey - Economic Development Specialist
U.S. Small Business Administration
Marci Posey, Economic Development Specialist, SBA, is a 24 year employee of the federal government having worked prior at USDA and Department of Homeland Security. She is also a veteran that served in the Army, Washington, D.C. and the Air Force, Elmendorf, AFB, Anchorage, Alaska.
Olga Molnar - International Trade Specialist, Richmond, Virginia
U.S. Commercial Service
Olga comes to the U.S. Commercial Service with over 15 years of experience and connections in international trade, foreign direct investment, international economics, commercial diplomacy and U.S. economic development. In her previous role as Vice President of Business Development for the Greater Richmond Partnership, Olga promoted Richmond and the Commonwealth at large, as the best location in the country for international businesses. In her current role at the U.S. Commercial Service (CS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, Olga assists companies that are new to exporting or expanding to new markets by offering them a full range of expertise in international trade. Olga is an active member of the Education Team and leads education efforts in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is the Board Member of the Study Virginia Consortium.
Chris Van Orden - Assistant Director, International Business Development
Virginia SBDC - George Mason University
The Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network is a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration, George Mason University, and premier institutions throughout Virginia that helps grow and strengthen Virginia businesses through professional business advising, training, and business resources. The Virginia SBDC's International Business Development program supports Virginia-based small businesses through confidential counseling, training, and customized research to help companies mitigate risks, prioritize markets, identify financing, and grow export sales.
Hannah Robertson-Forrest - Senior Grants Manager and Virginia’s STEP Project Director
Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), International Trade
Ms. Hannah Robertson-Forrest will provide an overview of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership’s resources for Virginia companies interested in exporting, including VEDP programs, services, and international trade shows and trade missions. Ms. Robertson-Forrest will provide additional details about Virginia’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the SBA, which supports small businesses in Virginia to access global markets and generate international sales for their goods and services.
Martin Short - Lead Economic Development Specialist
U.S. Small Business Administration
Martin is a native of Brunswick County and graduated from Brunswick Senior High School and St. Paul’s College. Martin worked with for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in the South Carolina District Office as the Economic Development and Public Affairs Specialist. Martin’s job was to promote and expand the SBA’s brand, services, and resources offered by the agency. In addition, he supported the office with creating and cultivating significant partnerships throughout South Carolina. Currently, Martin serves as the Lead Economic Development Specialist and Public Information Officer for the SBA Virginia-Richmond District Office. In this role, his job is to expand the agency’s brand and reach throughout Virginia. Martin’s overall background consists of economic development, entrepreneurship, business development, management, and workforce development.
Miguel Peñaloza - Export Finance Manager, Office of International Trade
U.S. Small Business Administration
The Office of International Trade (OIT) is SBA’s ongoing initiative to support small businesses by providing support to banks through three core export loan programs. These SBA-backed loan programs provide lenders with tools to support small businesses that are either exporting or are thinking of exporting. This presentation will provide an overview of the loan programs available today. Miguel Peñaloza is part of a team of Export Finance Managers focusing on the promotion of the export loan programs. Prior to joining the SBA, Miguel worked as a Loan Specialist with the U.S. Export-Import Bank (ExIm Bank) as well as a Membership Manager with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). His background in lending provides a unique understanding of the financing needs for small business exporters. Miguel is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese.