Connect Locally Succeed Globally: Forum & Resource Fair

Secure your place in the global economy by attending the "Connect Locally, Succeed Globally" forum and business resource fair on Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Makray Memorial Golf Club in Barrington, from 7:30am to 1:30pm. It is sponsored by the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce and MEDUSA Consulting Group in Barrington.

This high-powered symposium of export and manufacturing professionals will provide business owners, manufacturers, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, marketers and other senior management with strategies and tactical "how-to" to expand sales across borders and overseas.

In this increasingly global age, economic growth in Europe, Asia and Latin America can have significant positive effects in the U.S. Over the past two years, overseas growth has picked up significantly and exports of U.S. goods have increased 44% — an encouraging sign since it means we're well on our way to doubling exports in five years.

Illinois exports totaled $50,058,000,000 in 2010, up from $41,626,000,000 in 2009 and $31,438,000,000 in 2000. U.S. exports in September 2011 increased 1.4 percent from August 2011 to a record $180.4 billion. September's exports of goods ($129.3 billion) were the highest on record.

Discussion will also look at reshoring — bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. According to Harry Moser, founder of The Reshoring Initiative, the massive U.S. trade deficit is a major cause of the decline of U.S. manufacturing over the past several decades, the high unemployment rate and debilitating budget deficit. Reshoring is actually easier than increasing exports, and is potentially the fastest and most efficient way to strengthen the U.S. economy.

The keynote speaker is Tami Overby, vice president for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce since July 2009. Overby is responsible for developing, promoting, and executing programs and policies relating to U.S. trade and investment in Asia.

She works closely with Chamber member companies, business coalitions, AmChams (American Chambers of Commerce Abroad), government leaders, and business executives to achieve their business objectives in this very important part of the world.

Presenter Mona Pearl draws a comparison to Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken" with navigating the global marketplace, which she says is "literally a vast network of untraveled roads…. with the potential of unparalleled growth for your business if the approach for bringing a product or service to market is carefully executed with commitment, purpose, and direction."

Pearl is the author of Growing Globally: Opportunities for Your Middle-Market Company Around the World and renowned for her out-of-the-box thinking to help companies grow their businesses across borders by leveraging global competitiveness and addressing diversity and cross-cultural issues.

The line-up of business, export and manufacturing experts also includes:
Rand Haas, MEDUSA Consulting Group;
Michael Howard, Regional Director, Midwest Region EXIM Bank U.S.;
Harry Moser, President and Founder of Reshoring Initiative US;
John Nevell, Regional Manager, International Trade Small Business Administration;
Patrick Hope, Director, U.S. Dept. of Commerce U.S. Export Assidstance;
Ronaldo Lopez, Business Development Specialist, Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center in Chicago;
Mohammed Faheem, Manager, Illinois workNet Center;
Jack Dye, Project Director, Applied Strategies International; and
Bonita Richter, Director, Illinois Small Business Development Center at Harper College

Connecting with the array of local, regional, state and federal resources available can help almost any business succeed globally through exporting. Several of these agencies, as well as local businesses and organizations, will be on hand to demonstrate or provide information, including: DCEO, USSBA, USAEC, IMEC, local SBDCs, The Business Ledger, Export Import Bank, Business and Career Services, the Lithuanian Trade Office, Mattson/Witt Precision Products, Inc., UPS and Two-Key Training Systems.

Cost for the forum and resource fair is $49/person or $325 for a table of eight. Online registration is at http://www.barringtonchamber.com or by phone, 847-381-2525. Walk-in registration may be available on the day of, but pre-registration is strongly recommended due to limited seating.