Global Enterprise

Description:

In today's global economy, even the smallest of businesses must have an international vision not only to thrive, but also to survive. This seminar will review the international market development process and government resources available to Massachusetts businesses engaged in international trade.

The seminar will review the export/import process and discuss the different players involved in the international trade transaction. Issues to be covered include: determining export readiness; assessing and researching potential international markets; identifying and selecting potential partners internationally; global trade regulatory compliance; international payment and financing, and more.

Presenter Information:

Stephen Coffey
Founder & President of Thousand Hills Coffee Company, LLC

Stephen Lewis Coffey is the Founder & President of Thousand Hills Coffee Company, LLC (THCC). THCC was formed to supply the United States with quality Arabica coffee from Rwanda and to help subsidize, support and promote education in Rwanda sponsored by the Paraclete Foundation of South Boston, Massachusetts. THCC is a social enterprise; many businesses, nonprofits, institutions and places of worship buy and serve the coffee. Just a few years old, it has already been mentioned in the New York Times, LA Times, Boston Herald, Boston Metro and many other media outlets. THCC has already been featured at Macy’s NYC flagship store for the Rwandan Peace Basket/Path to Peace kickoff. More recently, Sam Adams has combined Thousand Hills’ coffee with stout beer. Stephen has a background in small business, importing, law and government. In 2007, Stephen was named one of Boston Business Journal’s top 40 under 40. Stephen is a native of Boston, Massachusetts and has his bachelor’s degree in business and JD in law from Suffolk University.

Ms. Paula Murphy
Massachusetts Export Center, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center

Paula Murphy is founder and director of the Massachusetts Export Center, part of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network. She has over twenty years of international business experience in both the public and private sectors.

The Export Center helps Massachusetts firms to export their products and services overseas. Paula helps exporters through counseling, technical assistance, training, market research, and publication development. In addition, she has organized several overseas marketing activities, such as trade shows and trade missions. She oversees the Export Center’s operations throughout the state, including the Center’s offices in Boston, Worcester, Holyoke and New Bedford. State-wide, the Massachusetts Export Center generates significant economic impact each year – in 2007, companies reported over $170,000,000 in export sales as a direct result of the Massachusetts Export Center’s assistance.

In addition to her role at the Export Center, Paula teaches graduate level international marketing and export/import operations at Boston University. Previously, she served as international trade counselor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was an international marketing consultant with Hagan & Company, where she served as the New England agent for a number of foreign government agencies, including the Irish Trade Board (now Enterprise Ireland), the Australian Trade Commission and others.

Paula has led the Massachusetts Export Center to receive numerous awards, including the 2008 Presidential ‘E’ Award, the highest honor the federal government can give to American people, firms or organizations that have made significant contributions to the increase of American exports. She was named the 2008 and 2005 Massachusetts State Star by the Association of Small Business Development Centers. She is currently President of the Greater China Business Council of New England and board member for the British American Business Council of New England and the District Export Council of Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Suffolk University and is a Certified Global Business Professional.

Andre Porter
Governor's Office of Small Business Development

Andre M. Porter has been managing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (OSBE) since May of 2008. As Executive Director, he is responsible for planning, developing, managing, coordinating and monitoring the state's overall small and micro business development efforts. He is also responsible for developing ideas and legislation to improve small business competitiveness and for monitoring legislative and administrative policy changes for potential impact to small businesses. The primary objective of OSBE is to successfully assist businesses to create, maintain, and relocate jobs to Massachusetts.

Prior to his current position, Andre Porter spent eight years as the Deputy Director of the City of Boston’s Office of Business Development. In this position he was responsible for the Boston Main Streets Program which funds 19 commercial districts across the City; small business lending; commercial real estate and business development finance; technical assistance for entrepreneurs and small business owners; and numerous resources and services that encouraged neighborhood and business development across the City.

Some of the achievements of the Office of Business Development under Andre Porter’s leadership include the financing of over 53 commercial real estate projects totaling more than $400 million in development costs; funded and provided design assistance to over 300 façade improvement projects totaling more than $25 million in construction costs; assisted over 80 restaurant projects through the Neighborhood Restaurant Initiative, resulting in more than 500 new jobs; developed and launched the Boston Hotel Loan Fund which brought in more than $6.5 million in fee income; developed and launched the Community Change Card program, a technology-based customer loyalty card for small neighborhood retail businesses across the City.

Prior to working for the City of Boston, Mr. Porter spent fourteen years in the banking industry where he was a commercial real estate lender, asset manager, and workout specialist for several Boston-based banks. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Tufts University.

Ms. Edith Silva
State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance

Edith Silva has played a key role in helping worldwide companies define their business strategy and has been instrumental in building the operational infrastructure that drives sustainable business performance. In June 2007, Ms. Silva was appointed to the position of Executive Director, The State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance. Prior to her appointment, Ms Silva served as a member of the Executive Management team of Virgin Life Care Inc. (part of the Virgin Investment Group); She served as a member of the executive management team for the Tower Group (a financial services research and advisory consulting firm) and has held management positions with Fidelity Investments and Price Waterhouse’s management consulting group.