Export Stories Podcast

Welcome back to Export Stories Podcast 2023.  You don’t need to be a science nerd to enjoy today’s episode; but you might just become one after listening. Figuratively speaking, we traveled to Iowa to speak to our guests Lisa Sakai, President and CEO and Dr. Becky Quesnell, COO, leaders of an innovative and fascinating company – Transagra. Transagra manufactures natural health solutions for animals, plants, and forage production. When you listen you will learn what that means and hear their stories of export success.Apparently, the world is very interested in buying U.S. products that are sustainable, all natural, and organic. Transagra also happens to be one of many successful exporting companies that is run by women.We had a wonderful discussion.  After you’ve listened, we would love for you to share your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.I want to thank our wonderful sponsor of today’s podcast, the North Carolina District

Welcome back to Export Stories Podcast 2023.  Prepare to be wowed by today’s guest!  Our theme for this year is the 50 States, but we haven’t stopped there.  Some of our most important and interesting exports come from the U.S. territories.  Today’s episode focuses on Puerto Rico and a very successful entrepreneur, jewelry fashion designer, manufacturer, and exporter. Her name is Joan Laureano, the creator & owner of the fashion jewelry and accessories brand, KRYSTALOS, and the international Catholic brand sensation, DEVOZIONI. Her stories of developing her business from scratch and her expansion into export markets are ones you will want to hear. I want to thank our wonderful sponsor of today’s podcast, the North Carolina District Export Council.  They are doing the everyday work of supporting U.S. exports. After you’ve listened, we would love for you to share your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. Thank you very much

Export Stories Podcast is back for 2023, and I am busting with excitement for this year’s line-up! Our theme for this year is the 50 States.  While we won’t be able to get to all of them, our guests will be exporters and service providers, large and small, from states all over the U.S. that we will highlight. They are going to share success stories – surprising stories – inspiring stories – all through the lens of what’s happening in the world today. Our first guest of 2023 is Jonathan Szucs, President of Advanced Superabrasives, a very large, influential U.S. manufacturer that quietly contributes to so many products that we use in our everyday life.Jonathan has lots of great export stories to share, which is why I am so happy to introduce him to you.I want to thank our wonderful sponsor of today’s podcast, the North Carolina District Export Council.  They are doing the everyday work of supporting U.S. exports.After you’ve listened, we would love for you to share your thoughts and comments, which you can post

I decided that it was high time we dedicated an episode to one of the U.S.’ most important exports – cotton.  That soft, billowy material we all love.  We are so honored to have as our guest Buddy Allen, the President, and CEO of the American Cotton Shippers Association. We had a great discussion where Buddy brought us up-to-date on the state of the industry and shared his stories about one of America’s most important export commodities. After you’ve listened, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. 

I was thinking that, given the supply chain challenges in which we continue to find ourselves, wouldn’t it be nice to bring in a guest with lots of all around experience? My friend Penny Register-Shaw has held executive positions at FedEx, Amazon, and Walmart over many, many years. It was a delight to chat with her about all of this experience and have her share some of her stories.After you’ve listened, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

Today’s esteemed guest on Export Stories Podcast 2022 shines a light on a global issue that many of us may take for granted – the availability of electricity.  Joining us from Florence, Italy is Claudio Pedretti, CEO of Green Climate Ventures and President of the Alliance for Rural Electrification. Many, many people in this world suffer from energy poverty, but fortunately Claudio and his organizations are addressing this problem.  Listening to his stories help all of us consider ways to improve the lives of people around the globe. After you’ve listened, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

I’m sure you have given thought or even had anxiety about cybersecurity in relation to your business.  I know that I have.  So, I found the perfect guest to help us focus our thinking about cybersecurity in the realm of international trade. Joining us is Danny Mizrahi of Contango IT, who provides important perspective and shares some enlightening stories.After you’ve listened, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

Among the topics we discuss are reasons for going global, advice on how to avoid some basic mistakes, and how you retain global customers.  Wendy shares several stories and anecdotes from her experience and outlined in her book, The Language of Global Marketing. After you’ve listened, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. 

Today’s episode of Export Stories Podcast 2022 is a subject I’m excited to talk about with my guest, Vincent Harkins, CFO of Landaira, Inc.. I’ve been following waste-to-energy for a long time.But what does waste-to-energy really mean?  Suppose you could take garbage, refuse, unwanted rubbish and muck, and, instead of burying it in the ground, you turned it into clean energy? Well, it’s real.  And the technology has evolved over time to where it is not only a feasible alternative to landfilling, but one that we need to consider for its benefits to reducing climate change.  After you’ve listened, we would love to hear your thoughts and comments, which you can post at https://www.exportstoriespodcast.com/ or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.  

Our guests are the co-founders of TheraTogs, which are “Therapy You Wear”.Lee Taylor, CEO, and Beverly (Billi) Cusick, Chief Science Officer speak with me about their incredible, innovative products which have become so important to the world of physical therapy. TheraTogs is now a globally established brand, but their export start-up stories of their trials and successes are fascinating. 

Today’s episode is dedicated to this important sector; and to help us understand the unique requirements of SME’s is a special guest and expert, Fred Baehner, Publisher of IBNewsmag and Co-founder of Intermark3, Inc.Thanks for tuning in and listening.

We can all agree that export business development on a large-scale can be challenging unless you have the right network of experts in place. Our guest today is a leader of one such organization. His name is Sherwin Pomerantz and his company, Atid E.D.I. Ltd., is a part of a very experienced global organization known as IBG Global. He explains all this in our episode as he joins us from Israel.

USGLC brings together more than 500 businesses and non-profits from across the country.  Their advisory council is made up of distinguished leaders including former Cabinet officials, members of Congress, and every living Secretary of State.To delve into what USGLC is all about, we are very fortunate to have as our guests Jeremy Tolbert, Deputy National Outreach Director for the Eastern Region, and Dr. John Glenn, Policy Director.Thank you for listening.  

To explore what is happening in the tradeshow industry today, we had a great conversation with Christine Kratz, International Sales Executive for the International Sales Group of RX Global (formally known as Reed Exhibitions). Thanks for listening.

Through their stories, Michael and Ishrat bring us an awareness of just what the export of higher education means to the U.S. and our trading partners around the world.  Did you know that higher education has been called the largest quiet exporter?  Well, tune in to learn more.  

Bobby’s passion for languages shines through as he brings us up-to-date on the world of written language translation and spoken language interpreting services.  And let us not forget the importance of sign language.  I believe you will enjoy this fascinating conversation. 

We get to go back in history to a time when the SS United States, the great passenger liner and America’s Flagship, was the fastest ship in the world.  And to share her stories, I am honored to speak with Susan L. Gibbs, the SS United States Conservancy’s President and co-founder.  She is, also, the granddaughter of William Francis Gibbs, the designer of the SS United States. With regard to the future of this amazing vessel, the SS United States Conservancy is a national nonprofit organization that is leading the global effort to save and repurpose the SS United States. 

John is completely bullish on the future of U.S. exports, which you will understand when you listen to our discussion and his telling of his export stories.

In addition to having vast experience in assisting U.S. exporters, she happens to be the daughter of former Senator and Governor of Tennessee, Lamar Alexander.   Leslee and I had a great conversation and we invite you to listen.   

We invite you to listen, and then join a conversation about this episode.  This is an important time for the export community to share what is happening in our sectors and how each of us is dealing with one of the most consequential health and economic events of our lifetime. Please reach out to me on exportstoriespodcast.com.  You can ask questions or post comments on the episode page.   We’re also on Twitter and Facebook! Thank you very much for listening and Happy New Year to all!