Joanna Savvides, President

Tel: 215-586-4240     E-mail:  jsavvides AT wtcphila DOT org
An accomplished global business development professional, Joanna Savvides has led the WTCGP since its inception. She has over 30 years of experience in international business. She speaks six languages and has worked internationally for such major corporations as IBM, Heinz and Campbell Soup Company. Joanna also established Transworld Ventures LLC, an export/import business development and management firm. She was a six-year member of the Agriculture Technical Advisory Committee, which gives technical advice to the US Secretary of Agriculture and the US Trade Representative on international trade issues. Joanna serves on several boards, including the Board of Visitors of the Haub School of Business- Saint Joseph’s University, World Trade Center Cyprus, The District Export Council of the Department of Commerce and the United Nations Association. She has received several awards and honors including Women of Distinction from the Philadelphia Business Journal, Global Citizen Award from the Consular Corps of Philadelphia, UNA Business Award and the Artemis Award. Joanna is a native of Cyprus and holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering/Agricultural Engineering and an M.S. in Industrial Production of Foods from the University of Belgrade.

Bruce Pansius, Chief Financial Officer

(& Interim International Trade Specialist for New Jersey)

Tel: 215-586-4245     E-mail:  bpansius AT wtcphila DOT org
Bruce Pansius is responsible for all the accounting, finance, legal and administrative functions of the WTCGP. Prior to joining the organization, Bruce established and ran a pleasure boat manufacturing company, Jersey Marine Industries, which he sold in 1994. Previously, he spent almost ten years at the Campbell Soup Company where he held positions in corporate audit, treasury, and international finance. Mr. Pansius earned a Master in International Business Studies from the University of South Carolina. and a B.A. in Business and Political Science from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He has extensive work experience in Latin America and speaks Spanish.

Dino Ramos, Director - Trade Services

Tel: 215-586-4246     E-mail: dramos AT wtcphila DOT org      
Dino Ramos oversees implementation of such programs as Latin American Trade Development Program, Developing International Opportunities for Industry Clusters, and International Design and Engineering Consortium. Dino has over 25 years experience in international trade management. As Export Sales Manager for the Hunt Corporation, Dino was responsible for sales and marketing in over 50 countries. His long tenure at Hunt included managing European sales, export sales forecasting, international sales and operational planning, export administration and international marketing and marketing services. Prior to Hunt, Dino spent five years working in Singapore as Far East Sales Manager for King Press and another five-year stint in Vietnam and Thailand for the U.S. General Accounting Office. Dino holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from East Tennessee State University. He is familiar with Greek and French and has some understanding of Chinese, Arabic, Thai and Vietnamese.

Ron Drozd, Manager - Export Services

Tel: 215-586-4240 (ext. 122)      E-mail: rdrozd AT wtcphila DOT org     
Ron Drozd is the Regional Export Network Coordinator for the Office of International Business Development of the PA Department of Community and Economic Development. He also provides trade services to companies in Montgomery, Delaware and Chester Counties. Ron holds an M.B.A. in International Business from Georgetown University and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska in Agricultural Economics, Political Science and Asian Studies. Ron lived and worked in Nagoya, Japan, and attended Nanzan University, where he became fluent in Japanese. Upon returning to the U.S., he worked as Assistant Treasurer for Fuji Bank's regional headquarters in New York and as Assistant Vice President for Citibank. Later, he joined Easylink Services as Country Manager for Japan where he applied his knowledge of marketing, finance, international business and the Japanese market to the e-commerce industry. Ron also launched his own consulting firm and has developed customized international trade strategies and implemented specific trade programs for a variety of clients.

Dale Foote, International Trade Specialist

Tel: 215-586-4240 (ext. 117)      E-mail: dfoote AT wtcphila DOT org      
Dale Foote is the international trade specialist for Bucks and Philadelphia Counties. In addition, he is responsible for establishing an import development program. Dale has over 25 years of experience with import/export sales and the marketing of technical products and services. He was formerly the President of Pegasus International Corporation. Dale is a graduate of Wittenberg University and is proficient in German. He and his wife adopted their two children from Brazil nine years ago.

Andrea Townrow , International Trade Specialist

Tel: 215-586-4240 (ext. 123)      E-mail: atownrow AT wtcphila DOT org      
Andrea Townrow is an international trade specialist. Andrea brought to the WTCGP extensive international business experience developing distributor networks for small to medium-sized manufacturers. Andrea has lived and worked in The Netherlands and Switzerland, where she worked as an international sales manager for National Seal Company, a geotechnical products manufacturer. Returning to the U.S., she was appointed international sales manager for Latin America, working on large scale mining projects. Andrea also worked as an international sales manager for Fendall Company, opening new markets worldwide for this safety products manufacturer. Andrea holds a B.A. in both International Business and in French from Rosary College and an M.B.A from DePaul University. Andrea is fluent in French and Spanish.

Diana Melnichenko, Trade Development Programs Coordinator

Tel: 215-586-4240 (ext. 118)      E-mail:  dmelnichenko AT wtcphila DOT org

Diana Melnichenko is responsible for market research, newsletter preparation, events planning, WTCGP membership and overseeing and coordinating projects assigned to interns. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia. Diana obtained her undergraduate degree from Kuban State University (Krasnodar, Russia) in Linguistics and Intercultural Communication and a Master of Arts in German from the University of Tennessee. In her native Russia, Diana worked for Atalan Information Systems, a Russian website developer, and taught English and cultural awareness of the US and Great Britain at the National Center for Additional Education. Diana is fluent in Russian and German.

Emily Olson, Office Manager

Tel: 215-586-4240 (ext. 124)      E-mail:  eolson AT wtcphila DOT org

Emily Olson plays a critical role in the organization, ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly. In addition to providing administrative support to WTCGP staff members, Emily coordinates logistics for WTCGP’s events and seminars. Emily has extensive experience in these areas. Prior to joining the WTCGP, she worked as a group sales associate at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and as a teacher and family life coordinator at the Parent-Infant Center in Philadelphia, PA. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Management from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, Emily also completed a certificate program in Professional Meeting Planning from Temple University. In her spare time, Emily enjoys exploring ethnic restaurants in Philadelphia with her friends.