Thank You for Your Service!

Pictured from right to left are Carmela Mammas, USEAC Director, Helene Herman, Director of Global Marketing for Lee Spring, and Joe Schoonmaker, Chairman of NYDEC.

After seven years as a member of the New York District Export Council (NYDEC), Helene Herman, Director of Global Marketing at Lee Spring (http://www.leespring.com) will be retiring from the District Export Council.  Herman was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by Carmela Mammas, USEAC Director, for her service in promoting, helping, and nurturing exports among New York companies.  In particular, Herman was cited "for her noteworthy contributions to the New York District Export Council in furthering its goal of education and entrepreneurship in the international trade arena.  She guided the NYDEC Green Committee in their efforts to identify export oriented and environmentally minded companies." said Joe Schoonmaker, Chairman of NYDEC.  "Helene will be missed, but we thank her for her service to the Department of Commerce and to the New York business community." notes Mammas.  

Cooperation and education is the way to help more American companies and entrepreneurs export U.S. goods and services. The National Export Initiative (NEI) at its best. On Wednesday, July 25^th, this cooperation was in full evidence as the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) of the U.S Department of Commerce, plus the New York U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) of the U.S. Department Commerce, plus the New York District Export Council (NYDEC) joined together to produce an Export University 101 event aimed solely at the minority business community in the New York City area. Additional support was provided by the Bank of New York Mellon, whose facilities at One Wall Street, were put at the full disposal of the group.

Export University (EU) is a format pioneered by the volunteers of the District Export Councils around the country to help educate American business people about the benefits of exporting. EU brings together professionals from the local business community, who are experts in many of international trade and voluntarily pass on their expertise to people who are new to exporting, or are doing limited exporting at this time.

At this all day conference, the spotlight was on minorities who have traditionally been active in exporting, but needed to understand the process better. Notably, there were immigrants who understood the countries they came from, but needed to get a better perspective on U.S. rules and regulations. And, like all parts of the U.S. business community, they needed to hear from experts who have worked in foreign markets before about the best methods to sell their goods overseas and avoid many of the pitfalls in international trade.

The 35 attendees heard from bankers, marketing experts, insurance experts, freight forwarders and government trade specialists. In particular, K.L. Fredericks, Director of the Harlem USEAC led-off, talking about government programs designed to help small and midsize companies. She was followed by Manohar Sood, Vice President of Citibank who talked about international banking and the challenges to getting paid promptly. Next was Joe Schoonmaker with the Altus Multinational Group, who talked about trade credit insurance, with an emphasis on the programs of the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Next came Sidney Simon, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), who talked about licensing issues for certain products. And of course, moving goods from point A to point B could not be overlooked. That was presented by Travis Cook who is a freight forwarder with American River Logistics. Finally, an actual exporter, Henry Lapidos of Export Trade of America Inc., gave a full analysis on how to take your product from thought to reality. All the speakers are connected to the NYDEC.  

“Two-way trade through the New York-New Jersey Customs District increased by 18.0 percent, to $418.3 billion.” notes Eugene Spruck, a Weissman Center Fellow and Retired Chief Economist of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In an informative paper, Spruck reveals the significant participation our New York District ports contribute to our nation’s export efforts. Please read this informative and enlightening article entitled International Trade through the New York and New Jersey Region, Trade a Source of Stability in Chaotic Global Economic Environment.

February 22. New York City. At a meeting of the New York District Export Council, held at the law offices of McCarter & English on Park Avenue, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-14th) was the honored guest. Her purpose in attending was to honor the new members of the NYDEC and those members who were re-nominated for 3 year terms. The Congresswoman is a big supporter of the President’s National Export Initiative (NEI) and the American jobs it is helping to create.

Congresswoman Maloney handed out certificates signed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, who approves all members of the DECs. Please see the pictures above to see those who received their certificates.