Via Global Perspectives Academic Year 2015-2016 Temple University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted the Going Global series event, “Doing Business in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania.” Like previous events, the Going Global series is intended to promote business and investment opportunities in emerging markets.
"On that Tuesday morning, I did not know that fourteen years later, I would lead the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia. I was barely four months into my job as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development, attending a meeting in upper Northwest DC. Suddenly, the meeting organizer was interrupted by her military aide, whispering in her ear. She abruptly concluded the meeting, as we gasped at the jumbo screens with scenes of the burning Towers. People emptied from the building, hastily trying to make cellphones work. A colleague and I grabbed one of the few taxi’s and made it back to the Commerce Building adjacent to the White House. The scene was out of a disaster movie with cars jamming the streets in a hurry to leave DC and what was believed to be an impending strike at the White House or Capitol Building. I got in my car and made my way across the River to Virginia, where I will never forget the plumes of smoke rising from the Pentagon. Safely at home, the phone rang. It was Commerce Secretary Don Evans checking to see if everyone was ok. I, like so many others, will never forget that day." Linda Conlin, WTCGP President
On July 31st, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske and the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia hosted a Business Community Engagement roundtable, facilitating conversation between CBP and trade partners. The roundtable format, led by WTCGP President Linda Conlin and held at the offices of White and Williams LLP, provided an opportunity to discuss CBP’s impact to the economy and to hear directly from trade partners about pressing issues, current trends, and concerns to better facilitate legitimate trade that is vital to the health of both the local and national economies. CBP has direct responsibility for enhancing U.S. economic competitiveness. By reducing costs for industry and enforcing trade laws against counterfeit, unsafe, and fraudulently entered goods, CBP is working to enable legitimate trade, contribute to American economic prosperity, and protect against risks to public health and safety.
Mr. Kerlikowske brings four decades of law enforcement and drug policy experience to the position. He formerly served nine years as the Chief of Police for Seattle, Washington. When he left, crime was at its lowest point in 40 years.
Previously, he was Deputy Director for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, where he was responsible for more than $6 billion in federal assets. Mr. Kerlikowske was also Police Commissioner of Buffalo, New York. The majority of his law enforcement career was in Florida where he served in the St. Petersburg Police Department. He was elected twice to be President of the Major Cities Chiefs, which represents the largest city and county law enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada. He has received numerous awards and recognition for leadership, innovation, and community service. He served in the U.S. Army where he was awarded the Presidential Service Badge. Mr. Kerlikowske holds a B.A. and a M.A. in criminal justice from the University of South Florida.
“Whether in a formal round-table discussion or more relaxed setting such as our Summer Social, the China Club builds important relationships–and even friendships. It is one of the things that we do best–connecting our member companies so that they share the value of their market experience and learn from one another, often ending in partnered strategies,” said Linda Mysliwy Conlin, WTCGP President.
On Thursday, June 18th, 2015 we had a Roundtable Discussion, at the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia, with the Honorable Salvador Behar, Legal Counsel for International Trade of the Ministry of the Economy of Mexico in Washington, D.C., hosted by Carlos I. Giralt-Cabrales, Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia. Behar discussed Mexico’s growing economy, the impact of recent reforms on trade and investment, and opportunities for companies in the Greater Philadelphia region to do business in Mexico. Some highlights covered in the discussion included:
Mexico is the region’s second largest export market in the Greater Philadelphia Region, after Canada, representing nearly 10% of overall exports. View Behar's presentation "NAFTA RELOADED: Strengthening Competitiveness in North America" Tuesday, June 2nd, WTCGP President Linda Conlin, Marketing and Program Manager Graziella DiNuzzo and International Business Development Intern Giuseppe Luca Tota celebrated Festa della Repubblica, Italian National Day. Attendees gathered at Drexel University Gerri C. Lebow Hall along with the Consul General of Italy, Andrea Canepari, who presented the “Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia Recognition Award” to Nick DeBenedictis, Aqua America Chairman and CEO, and Dr. Joe Gonella, Jefferson Dean Emeritus.
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