globalEDGE Business Beat with guest Jade Sims
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: February 19, 2021
Don DeCorte has worked in the resistance welding industry for 40 years; he started his career in Detroit in 1979. Don is a Certified Electronics Technician from RETS Electronics School in Detroit, and a specialist in industrial automation and robotics, resistance welding, and controls systems. He’s spent the last 27 years working for RoMan Manufacturing Inc. in Grand Rapids MI, and his responsibilities include managing sales, marketing, applications engineering, and recruitment and training of international representatives. Don has traveled extensively to 40 countries.
Don is a member of the West Michigan District Export Council, and has been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to promote and assist export efforts of small businesses in support of the mission to grow exports. Here Don shares his experience and lessons learned from a career in international manufacturing.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: February 11, 2021
Recently retired, Martha Gabrielse is an experienced banking executive and member of the West Michigan District Export Council (DEC). Her areas of expertise include Global Trade, Trade Finance, Risk Management, Credit, Banking, Corporate Finance, Strategic Planning, and Accounting. She holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame.
Here Jade and Martha discuss her career in financial services, how she found herself there, back before international business became an area of study. She also draws on her career as a banker to share what companies considering international sales need to know—beyond just getting paid.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: February 10, 2021
Erkan Kocas is the Assistant Director for International Trade Research at the Michigan State University International Business Center. In addition to overseeing much of the research done at the Center, Erkan directs the student teams and manages the globalEDGE website. Erkan also teaches 'International Management' both at the undergraduate and graduate level and he received an 'Instructor Excellence Award' in Spring 2019. Prior to joining the Broad College of Business Erkan worked in different roles for more than 15 years at companies with extensive global reach such as Xerox, Thomson Reuters, and Citrix. Erkan graduated from the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University with a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management, and currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. program at the College of Education studying Higher Adult and Lifelong Education (HALE).
In this conversation, Erkan speaks with Jade about what brought him to Michigan and to MSU from Istanbul, Turkey, and his experiences working with MSU students in and out of the classroom.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: February 09, 2021
Maureen Lyon is an accomplished senior manager with a proven track record in domestic and global business. Skilled in business process development, order management, import/export, and project management, she is an effective communicator and team builder across all organizational levels, with the ability to bridge cultural and communication gaps. Maureen is also experienced successfully launching and implementing mergers. She is a graduate of Providence College and Thunderbird School of Global Management.
During this interview, Maureen and Jade discuss her work with Dematic in West Michigan. Dematic designs, builds, implements, and supports automated system solutions for warehouses, distribution centers, and production facilities. The huge increase in online sales in 2020 has allowed the company to grow and hire more employees as companies look for more efficient solutions to increase the capacity in their facilities. Maureen has spent much of her career working and living in China, and talks a bit about the changes she’s seen and how she expects business with China to reemerge post-pandemic.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: February 08, 2021
Alyssa Tracey is the Director of International Trade at Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Alyssa’s program provides assistance to Michigan companies interested in exporting, including training, consulting, and financial reimbursement. She has spent her career working in economic development, and holds a BA in International Relations from Michigan State University and an MA in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan.
Here, Jade and Alyssa talk about many resources available for exporters via the MEDC, and how those programs have changed and expanded to better assist small- and medium-sized companies during the pandemic.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: February 05, 2021
Abdulrahman Bakir is Vice President in the Saudi Office at Ministry of Investment in the United States. He’s worked in the GCC, US, South America, Europe and West Africa in both the public and private sectors. His current role in the diplomatic mission is to develop, attract, and expand quality investments for sustainable national economic growth. Abdul has a degree in Manufacturing Engineering & Management from the University of Nottingham and a degree in Corporate Finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
In this interview, Abdul discusses the historic and modern ties between Michigan and Saudi Arabia, as well as opportunities for new partnerships. He also discusses Saudi Vision 2030, described as “expressing long-term goals and expectations and it is built upon our country’s unique strengths and capabilities. It guides our aspirations towards a new phase of development – to create a vibrant society in which all citizens can fulfill their dreams, hopes and ambitions to succeed in a thriving economy.” More concretely, advancements in solar production and advanced technologies are areas that the Kingdom will continue to pursue as it moves forward to diversify the economy and respond to the global needs of the twenty-first century.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: February 02, 2021
Jean Schtokal is an international trade attorney with 20-plus years' experience at Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith PC. She works in the areas of exporting, distribution, manufacturing and licensing agreements as well as the establishment of foreign and domestic subsidiaries, branch offices, joint ventures and strategic alliances. In addition to her practice, Jean holds many leadership roles including: Chair of the West Michigan District Export Council, member of the Advisory Board for the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) at Michigan State University, co-chair of the Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan and is the Executive-In-Residence at MSU's International Business Center-The Eli Broad College of Business. She has an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale and has been included in Best Lawyers in America® 2011-2021 for International Trade and Finance Law. As a result of her efforts, Foster Swift received the prestigious President's "E" Award for Export Service in 2020. Only 39 companies in the US were recognized.
In this interview, Jade and Jean discuss US laws around exports and technologies—and the fact that they’re always evolving. Jean discusses the February 17th program, “TikTok, WeChat & More: Talking Tech and IP in the U.S. & China” where she will speak as a panelist on the topic.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: February 02, 2021
As Senior Program Manager for the MU International Trade Center, Jackie Rasmussen coordinates the global market research activities and student internship programs of the Center. The research completed for participating companies provides them with information they can use to effectively evaluate global market opportunities in a timely, meaningful and affordable way. Jackie currently serves as President of the NASBITE International Board of Governors, an a not-for-profit membership organization supporting training and education in the field of global business. NASBITE also oversees the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) accreditation. Jackie is past Chair of the NASBITE International CGBP Governance Council (a position she held from 2013-2018). Jackie holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Oklahoma State University, and is a Certified Global Business Professional.
In this interview, Jade talks to Jackie about all of the great resources available through and provided by NASBITE, including the National Small Business Exporter Summit, where award-winning small businesses discuss their paths to finding success through export sales. NASBITE also offers lots of online training and assistance program, including the new Trade-Passport.org site.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: January 27, 2021
Stephanie Kelly, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of Community Colleges for International Development (CCID). The organization, founded in 1976, has been helping member schools further their internationalization initiatives and develop globally competent workers for the past 40 years.
CCID offers networking as well as online and in-person training to faculty and administrators to create globally engaged learning environments. While some of this work involves study abroad, CCID also assists with other exciting and creative activities that bring global cultures and business into the classroom, like cross-border team activities that engage students at different schools in different countries to solve modern international business issues. While there are currently only 3 colleges in Michigan that are members, the organization is open to engaging new partners around the country to further its goals of modernizing and globalizing the workforce in an effort to strengthen U.S. competitiveness.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: January 26, 2021
Sam Kaplan is the director of the Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management located at Highline College. The Center works with education and industry throughout Washington on workforce development issues. Previously, Sam ran the Trade Development Alliance connecting Seattle-area businesses with international opportunities, worked on foreign affairs issues for a U.S. Representative, and publishes the weekly e-newsletter, International Need to Know.
Given Seattle’s strategic position as a real gateway from Asia and also located so close to the Canadian border (as we are in MI), Sam talks about how tightly its economy is tied into the world’s. The current pandemic has really forced us to consider the global relationships that we take for granted in terms of supply chains as well as how we interact with the world more generally.
Here, Jade and Sam discuss moving forward both as a society and in terms of global trade in the short and medium terms.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: January 25, 2021
Allie Fox VanDriel is an International Marketing Specialist at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s International Marketing Program, where she has assisted Michigan companies grow their exports around the globe for five years. Allie is a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP), a graduate of Michigan State University, and holds an MBA from Central Michigan University.
The program provides all levels and types of assistance to companies interested in beginning or expanding global sales, from market research to consulting to technical information (certificates, labeling) and international trade shows and trade missions. Working with Food Export, financial assistance is in many cases available for Michigan company marketing efforts.
Allie and Jade talk about what the international travel activities entail, and what companies can expect by participating. There are lots of upcoming trainings online and in-person that serve as great resources.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: January 22, 2021
John Christian is President and CEO of CAPA Global Education Network. CAPA is based in Boston but is a truly global organization with employees located all over the world, focused on bringing U.S. students abroad for professional formation experiences.
The organization has existed since 1972, but given the global pandemic, has had to pivot quickly to find ways to continue to offer its services. CAPA works closely with several colleges and programs at Michigan State University, as well as other schools and institutions around the U.S., to tailor programs to the academic and experiential needs of its partners. John and Jade talk about the challenges of educating with a global mindset given current challenges and a backlash against globalization.
John and Jade talk about the challenges of educating with a global mindset given current challenges and a backlash against globalization.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: October 30, 2020
Over two and a half million jobs in the US are dependent upon trade with China. MI exports alone make up about 30,000 of those jobs. As one of the most globally connected states, our relationship with China is critically important.
Jade Sims, Assistant Director for International Trade Programs from Department: MSU-CIBER (International Business Center) at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, had a conversation with Craig Allen, President US Business Council.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: June 12, 2020
On Tuesday, June 2, 2020 the Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan held a webinar titled, "The New USMCA And Its Implications For Michigan Agricultural Business In Canada." The webinar was led by the Consul General of Canada in Detroit Joseph Comartin & Guests.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development's International Marketing Program, Consul General of Canada in Detroit Joseph Comartin, Quebec Delegation's Martine Hébert, and guests discuss the new U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement, its updates from NAFTA, and their implications for Michigan businesses engaging in trade with Canada.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: May 16, 2020
On May 13, 2020, a virtual event addressed the issues of tariffs and trade. This roundtable highlights the stories of Michigan businesses that have been impacted by current tariffs, as well as provides a Michigan economic overview and potential action items to reduce or eliminate individual effects.
Speakers Include:
- Mark Becker, Director of International Supply Chain, Cherry Central Cooperative
- Anne Hoef, Treasurer, Mabuchi Motor America Corp.
- Dave Milligan, President, National Association of Wheat Growers
- Greg Schroeder, Director of Global Customs and Trade, Amway
- Brad Taube, Business Director, Trace Zero
- Charles Ballard, PhD, Economist, Michigan State University
- Jean Schtokal, Shareholder, Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith PC
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: May 05, 2020
Doug Barry lives in Washington, D.C., where he is Senior Director of Communications and Publications at the U.S. China Business Council (USCBC) and adjunct professor at George Washington University. Doug has worked in the private sector as a strategic communications consultant, assisting clients in industries including healthcare, data analytics, and higher education. He has also held posts in Washington and throughout Asia at the US Foreign and Commercial Service. Earlier in his career he worked as a journalist for ABC News in New York and London. He has written several books and numerous articles on international trade for businesspeople. As a spokesperson, he has been quoted in The New York Times, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, and many other publications and broadcast news outlets.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: May 05, 2020
Anna Rose Benson is a student in the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University, majoring in Marketing and Spanish. Already during her time at MSU, she has participated in two education abroad programs, has become President of the student Marketing Association, and Senior Vice President of Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. She plans to enter the Master of Science in Market Research program upon completion of her undergraduate degree.
Anna Rose chose MSU and the Broad College not just because of their reputation, but also because of the experiential opportunities they offer and global networks of alumni. She has found her instructors to be experienced and caring individuals, and believes that the opportunities she’s given at MSU will help her to be a successful global brand manager upon completion of her studies.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: May 05, 2020
AnnMarie Schneider is the director of the Canadian Studies Center at Michigan State University, as well as the Director for Program Planning and Development of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. She is especially involved in Michigan’s trade relationships and has focused on shared infrastructure and supply chain, including the new Gordy Howe Bridge and as well as ports and rail connections.
Most of us in Michigan tend to take our relationship with Canada for granted, and see Canadians as very much like us. In this segment, AnnMarie talks about the fact that Canadians do not see the relationship the same way but see us as quite different from them. She discusses how important our differences are, and how they enrich our relationship and opportunity to learn from each other.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: December 05, 2019
Hosted by Jade Sims, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Kendra Kuo, Director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Kendra and Jade discuss the services provided to Michigan companies through Kendra’s office, including the upcoming ExporTech™ export incubator and accelerator that will take place in Lansing from February to March 2020.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: December 05, 2019
Hosted by Jade Sims, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Paul Jarzombek, Chief Operating Officer at LR International. Paul and Jade discuss common concerns for companies new to international shipping, including the new INCOTERMS 2020 and why it’s important to have a great relationship with your freight forwarder.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: December 05, 2019
Hosted by Jade Sims, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Noel Nevshehir, Director of International Business Services and Industry 4.0 Strategic Partnerships at Automation Alley.
Noel talks about the international business services provided by Automation Alley, including the difference between trade shows and trade missions and how a company can take advantage of these opportunities to get to know foreign customers and grow sales. More information is available on the Automation Alley website.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: December 05, 2019
Hosted by Jade Sims, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Alyssa Tracey, Director of the award-winning International Trade Program at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
This program provides both technical assistance and financial incentives to Michigan’s small- and medium-sized businesses that support international sales. This includes training, consulting, market research, overseas offices, organization of trade missions, website optimization, legal advice, and financial reimbursement for marketing-related expenses.
Jade and Alyssa discuss how to access these services; more information (including upcoming trade missions) is available at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/export/
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: December 05, 2019
Hosted by Jade Sims, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Jean Schtokal, Shareholder at FosterSwift Law Firm and Chair of the West Michigan District Export Council (DEC).
The District Export Councils are comprised of volunteers appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to assist small- and medium-sized businesses with their export activities.
In Michigan, they provide consulting, training programs, and support for the almost 15,000 exporters. Jean and Jade discuss how to contact these professionals for assistance and upcoming programs that Michigan companies can take advantage of.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: December 05, 2019
Hosted by Jade Sims, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Kendra Kuo, Director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Kendra shares information about where companies can go to conduct market research when considering foreign markets, from MSU’s globalEDGE to the Market Diversification Tool on Export.gov.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: November 20, 2019
Gigi Ngcobo is a Senior at Michigan State University, majoring in Finance and User Experience Design. She currently serves a President of the MSU Women’s Association for Venture capital and Private Equity and Vice President of Spartan Blockchain Solutions. As an advocate for the development of emerging markets, she organized the inaugural MSU African Business Symposium; recordings from the event are available on globalEDGE Business Beat. Gigi aspires to help solve her community’s most pressing issues by establishing enterprises and strengthening the African business ecosystem. This interview is part of a series with students about their experiences inside and outside of the classroom that prepare them for careers in international business.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: November 20, 2019
Jackie Smythe is a second-year student at Michigan State University planning to study Supply Chain and Sustainability. Jackie spent two weeks in Costa Rica in 2018 studying “Business Sustainability and Entrepreneurship.” This experience led Jackie and three of her colleagues from the program to launch a start-up business, INFKNIT Apparel, a reversible, sustainable clothing company with a practical approach to clothing design. In this interview, we discuss the resources through MSU that assisted in the company’s launch. This interview is part of a series with students about their experiences inside and outside of the classroom that prepare them for careers in international business. You can visit the company website for more information.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: November 20, 2019
Valerie McNamera is a first-year student at Michigan State University studying Business and International Relations/Pre-law. Valerie spent two weeks in Ireland over the summer in a program entitled “Globalization, Nationalism, and the Changing Face of International Trade” looking at Ireland’s place in the global business community and how it’s being affected by Brexit discussions. She is currently working as a student assistant in the International Business Center in the Eli Broad College of Business where she does research, assists with the globalEDGE website, and writes for the blog of trade issues. She wants to be an international business contract lawyer. This interview is part of a series with students about their experiences inside and outside of the classroom that prepare them for careers in international business.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: November 12, 2019
Hosted by Jade Sims, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Jay Kennedy. Jay is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed to the Department of Criminal Justice and the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP) at MSU. He focuses much of his research on brand protection issues faced by small and medium-sized enterprises and has developed a tool for businesses to help them make better brand protection decisions and create brand protection strategies globally. You can contact the A-CAPP Center and follow their work on their website.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: November 12, 2019
Hosted by Jade Sims, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Kari Kammel, Assistant Director of the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP) at MSU. Kari discusses their educational outreach efforts, including their online Professional Certificate in Anti-Counterfeiting and Brand Protection. She also talks about issues surrounding e-commerce and how companies can proactively combat intellectual property issues in that space.
You can contact the A-CAPP Center and follow their work on their website.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: November 12, 2019
Hosted by Jade Sims, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Jeff Rojek, Director of the Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP) at MSU. Jeff talks about the Center, his background in law enforcement and how he became interested in brand protection, and how he and his team help Michigan businesses through their research, training and certificate program, their practitioner journal The Brand Protection Professional, and their annual Brand Protection Summit held here in East Lansing.
You can contact the A-CAPP Center and follow their work on their website.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: October 18, 2019
Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan: 2019 African Business Symposium PANEL: Friday, October 4th, 10:40 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Entrepreneurship & Doing Business within Africa. This session featured:
GRACE HSIA CEO Warmilu
VICTOR TOBENNA EZENWOKO Senior Manager, Business Development at Sunray Ventures
W.E. DA'CRUZ Co-Founder Virtual Global Consultant Group
DISCUSSION MODERATOR - JADE SIMS Assistant Director for International Trade Programs
The Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan hosted the African Business Symposium 9:30-1:30 PM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 2019 at the Wharton Center's Jackson Donor Lounge, East Lansing, MI. Session II was a panel discussion; Entrepreneurship & Doing Business within Africa. This is the panelist's presentations, a separate blog features the panelist's discussion.
SPONSORED BY: THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTER, THE YEAR OF GLOBAL AFRICA, AND WAVE VENTURE CAPITAL, TECHNOLOGY, & ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN EMERGING MARKETS.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: May 09, 2017
Hosted by Tomas Hult, this segment of the globalEDGE Business Beat is an interview with Jade Sims, International Trade Specialist, International Business Center, Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University.
They discuss What the Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan is, and what some of the topics that they cover. Jade shares a sample of previous speakers, and how someone can join the Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan.
Tomas Hult is Professor and Byington Endowed Chair in the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. Natalie talks with Tomas about MEDC’s international trade programs, how a company can engage with MEDC and get trade assistance, how the Regional Export Networks (REN) work in Michigan, and a menu of international trade services the more than 15,000 companies in Michigan that trade internationally can take advantage of in being competitive globally.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: July 03, 2015
Tomas Hult speaks with Jade Sims, International Trade Specialist, in the International Business Center, Michigan State University. The interview focused on core competencies in exporting and international trade.
These knowledge competencies include the areas of Global Business Management, Global Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Trade Finance. Jade elaborates on why these are the four core areas for a company to have knowledge when conducting global business. There are also five “threads” within these four core areas that are critical, including Documentation, Legal and Regulatory Compliance, Intercultural Awareness, Technology, and Resources. Jade discusses how much effort a company should spend on figuring out these issues before deciding to engage globally.
Speaker: Jade Sims, Michigan State International Business Center
Air Date: September 03, 2014
Tomas speaks with Jade Sims, international trade specialist at the International Business Center at Michigan State University; they discuss the Michigan Export Growth Program and its impact on the community.