Tampa Bay Export Alliance To Host 2016 International Town Hall

April 27, 2016

 
 
TAMPA, Fla. / April 27, 2016 / The Tampa Bay Export Alliance (TBEA), a cooperative effort between the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and Pinellas County Economic Development, today announced that it will host its 2016 International Town Hall on May 6 at Port Tampa Bay in Tampa. The event, which will kick off World Trade Month, will offer an in-depth look at the people and programs driving international business growth in Tampa Bay.
 
“Our international efforts in Tampa Bay are creating a standard for regional collaboration nationwide,” said J.P. DuBuque, Interim President & CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation. “The Tampa Bay Export Alliance model is working. This effort is increasing export business for local companies and strengthening our relationships with top trading partner countries like Canada, Costa Rica, and Chile.  The International Town Hall is a must-attend for any organization interested in learning more about our region’s growing international footprint.”
 
“This year our focus at International Town Hall is the discussion with the community.  We’re working in collaboration with Tampa International Airport, Port Tampa Bay, as well as our partners at the U.S. Commercial Service and Enterprise Florida,” said Mike Meidel, Director of Pinellas County Economic Development. “The key catalyst in all of this is the input of our regional business community. We’re looking forward to a lively conversation with the audience that will spark new ideas for increasing exports and growing the Tampa Bay brand globally.”
 
The International Town Hall will begin with breakfast and feature an expo for guests to visit before and after the program. The expo will offer attendees the chance to mingle with experts who provide services and support to exporters including training, counseling, grants, financing, and logistics.
 
Elected officials from Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties will open the program by welcoming attendees and discussing the importance of exports and international trade to the region’s economy. City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, City of Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos, City of St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, Hillsborough County Commissioner Chairman Lesley “Les” Miller, Jr. and Pinellas County Commission Chairman Charlie Justice will speak.
 
Agenda highlights include:
– A keynote presentation from Jabil, the St. Petersburg-headquartered leader in global supply chain management and electronic manufacturing. Jabil’s Vice President of Advanced Analytics Solutions, Mundit Bajaj, and Director of Solution Innovation, Ross Valentine, will present “Jabil InControl™: Digitizing the Supply Chain Through Intelligent Control,” a demonstration of the company’s proprietary supply chain management system.
– Michael Trestl, Edelweiss’ Head of Corporate Development, will share the story of the airline’s steady growth in the Tampa Bay market since establishing direct flights from Tampa International Airport to Zurich four years ago. Trestl will discuss Edelweiss’ future expansion plans in the market.
– A panel discussion, “Tampa Bay on the Global Stage,” featuring Paul Anderson, President & CEO of Port Tampa Bay; Santiago Corrada, President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay; David Downing, Executive Director of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater; J.P. DuBuque, Interim President & CEO of Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation; Chris Minner, Vice President of Marketing of Tampa International Airport; and Mike Meidel, Director, Pinellas County Economic Development
 
The six panelists will discuss how tourism, export development, the arrival of two new post-Panamax gantry cranes at the port and the expansion of Tampa International Airport are positioning the region for a more prominent role on the international stage and collectively driving Tampa Bay’s future economic growth.
 
Tampa International Airport is the Platinum Sponsor for the 2016 International Town Hall.
 
Other major sponsors include Port Tampa Bay, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Copa Airlines, TECO, USFSP College of Business, and USF World. Expo participants include Bay Area Manufacturer’s Association, Brazil-Florida Business Council, Enterprise Florida, Ex Im Bank, World Trade Center Tampa Bay, FRAMCO, America’s SBDC, Women in Trade Tampa Bay, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
 
Tickets, which cost $45 per person and include breakfast, can be purchased online.  Discounts are available through promotional partners. The International Town Hall will open for registration and networking at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at 10:00 a.m.
 
For more information about the Tampa Bay Export Alliance and to register for the International Town Hall, visit http://tampabayexportalliance.com/.
 
About The Tampa Bay Export Alliance
The Tampa Bay Export Alliance (TBEA) is a cooperative effort between Pinellas County Economic Development and the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, formed in 2014 to grow jobs and capital investment by increasing the international export of products and services within the bi-county area.  The TBEA conducts joint export activities, such as seminars, trade events and trade missions, and supports the export-related growth initiatives of regional economic partners, including Tampa International Airport and Port Tampa Bay.
 
The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation
The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation  works to develop and sustain a thriving local economy through the attraction, retention and expansion of high-wage jobs and capital investment in Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace.  Our efforts are focused on growing locally established companies as well as recruiting corporate headquarters and regional operations in targeted industry sectors including Information Technology, Financial and Professional Services, Life Sciences, Defense and Security, Manufacturing, and Distribution and Logistics. The Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation exists because of the generous support of over 100 investors from the local community. For more information, visit tampabayedc.com.
 
About Pinellas County Economic Development
Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) works with existing businesses to encourage expansion and seeks to attract new companies with high-wage careers to our community. Through investment tools, business classes, professional consulting services, trade missions to open new markets, and strategic partnerships, PCED fosters a pro-business environment and promotes the Ideal Business Climate of Pinellas County, Florida.