This content was published: September 15, 2022. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PCC along with international trade community welcome federal contingent
Photos and story by James Hill
Portland Community College, the Global Trade Center and local international trade community rolled out the welcome mat for a group of important guests last week.
On Sept. 6, the Small Business Administration, PCC’s Oregon Small Business Development Center Network (OSBDCN) Global Trade Center and the International Trade Partners in Oregon welcomed the Office of International Trade Associate Administrator Gabe Esparza and Pacific Northwest Regional Director Michael Fong to Portland.
The guests toured local small business exporters and attended a VIP dinner where guests engaged in conversation focused on small business exporters, those selling to customers outside the US and ways to support these businesses in becoming stronger through the current economic conditions.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler chats with the contingent that included PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings (center).
The welcome party included PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings, Mayor Ted Wheeler, PCC Pathway Dean Jen Piper, PCC SBDC Director Tammy Marquez-Oldham, OSBDCN Global Trade Center Liaison David Kohl and International Trade Partners from US Department of Commerce, Business Oregon, SBA, Port of Portland, Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, and Prosper Portland.
The dinner conversations flowed through discussion of observations about resources, financing, and systemic gaps that SBA and the federal government may want to consider addressing in the future to support small business exporters as they recover. The group also discussed how the international trade partner resources can align and work in collaboration. The SBA is looking to reinvigorate its collaboration and partnerships in the Pacific Northwest and play a greater role in developing and advancing a unified regional export strategy.
The dinner was followed by a Small Business Exporter Roundtable on Sept. 7 at the World Trade Center in Portland. The roundtable provided insights on the importance of SBA resources, the Oregon International Trade partner resources, trade advising and training, and identification of capital through the SBA and other resources.
The planning for this event was lead by PCC SBDC and Global Trade Center Director Tammy Marquez-Oldham in collaboration with SBA District Director Marty Golden, OSDBCN Global Trade Center’s David Kohl, Department of Commerce Kellie Holloway Jarman, Business Oregon’s Amanda Welker and Alexa Byer, SBA’s James Newton and the Portland of Portland’s Doug Smith.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »