SBAIC Panel Discussion: International Trade & Business Development Opportunities

Description

Dear SBAIC Members, SBAIC cordially invites you to our upcoming Panel Discussion on international trade and business development opportunities on May 20, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The purpose of the event is to learn about commercial trade and marketing opportunities from three organizations that specialize in helping small businesses generate new sales, new customers, and receive market intelligence to make strategic decisions. Our panelists include Bill Fanjoy, Managing Director for Domestic Commercial Engagement for Prosper Africa, Aaron Miller, Director of the International Business Development program at the Virginia Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) at George Mason University, and Ellen Meinhart, International Trade Manager for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. A brief biography and description of their services are listed below. 

Bill Fanjoy is the Managing Director for Domestic Commercial Engagement for Prosper Africa, a U.S. Government-led initiative which aims to coordinate strategic engagement and outreach to U.S. companies to substantially increase two-way trade and investment in Africa. Bill has successfully led U.S. business and trade missions to Africa, and, subsequently, served as Acting Senior Commercial Officer in Kenya, Ghana, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Kuwait and Jordan. Prosper Africa offers a robust package of U.S. Government services and resources to support U.S. and African businesses with help closing deals, provide access to a specialized toolkit for comprehensive trade and investment support, and available U.S. government support. 

Aaron Miller is the Director of the International Business Development Program at the Virginia Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) at George Mason University. His trainings are recognized by NASBITE as an accredited training center for the Certified Global Business Professional Certification. The Virginia SBDC International Business Development Program works with Virginia-based firms to enhance their global success. The certification program provides confidential counseling, training, and customized research to help companies mitigate risks, prioritize markets, identify financing, grow export sales, and receive custom market research and analysis, consultation on trade and global business, business planning checklists, and referrals to other specialized agencies and coalitions. 

Ellen Meinhart is the International Trade Manager for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)’s Northern Virginia office, where she helps Virginia-based firms increase sales revenues through exporting. Ellen has managed Starting Gate Global, an outsourced business development company, where she executed market entry and growth strategies for international companies entering the U.S. She has launched a Microsoft/ Australian Capital Territory-funded business development initiative for local IT companies and has international export experience through working at two manufacturers, Krauss Metalworks and Sonax, in Germany. Some services available to Virginia-based members include access to Virginia’s In-Country Business Development contractors in 75 countries that provide on-the-ground research and customized business meetings with pre-qualified potential clients or partners, grants to subsidize international business expenses, and, hosting services for trade missions and tradeshows to jumpstart your business development.