Keynote Speaker

Michael Flaherty, Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner

Michael Flaherty is the Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner, Canadian Consulate General Minneapolis. As Canada’s Senior Trade Commissioner he is responsible for the delivery of the commercial programming of the Consulate General in the Midwest. The Consulate’s commercial program focuses on trade and investment development, as well as science and technology linkages.

 

Prior to his posting in Minneapolis, Mr. Flaherty held a similar post in Buffalo and was the Consul and Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta where he managed the investment & corporate relations program for the Southeast U.S. Michael joined in the Department of Industry in 1990 and held several senior positions with Canada’s Investment Promotion Agency, Industry Canada’s Small Business Secretariat and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Prior to joining Industry Canada, Michael spent 6 years on parliament Hill in Ottawa as a political assistant to a Member of Parliament, the Minister of State for Small Business, the Minister of Agriculture, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of Canada. Michael received a BA from the University of Western Ontario 1984, is married, and has two children.

 

Presenters

"Think Export"

Karen Dunlap, President of Dunlap International

A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Karen received her degrees in Spanish and History from Mount Mercy College, lived in Spain and Mexico, and has worked in various aspects of international trade throughout her professional career. Her 30 plus years of international business experience includes international banking, exports operations for an Iowa manufacturing firm and export management.

In 1990, Karen launched Dunlap International, Inc. to provide export documentation and logistics assistance to companies that do not have their own international operations staff. From a simple documentation service, Dunlap International, Inc. has continued to meet the changing needs of her clients by adding in-house training and customized consulting on specific trade problems.

Dos and Don'ts

Learn how two eastern Iowa companies broke into international markets. The companies will outline the challenges they faced and will offer advice to companies in the beginning phases of exporting.

 

Dave Buchheit, Vice President of Operations, Farm Tek

Dave Buchheit is the Vice President of Operations for Engineering Services and Products Company (ESAPCO). With its corporate headquarters in South Windsor, Connecticut and its manufacturing and distribution center in Dyersville, Iowa, ESAPCO began exporting in 1992. Today, ESAPCO provides services and products to over 50 countries around the world. To successfully meet the challenges presented by today’s ever-changing business climate, Dave Buchheit relies on his 35 years of private business and supply chain management experience. Dave is currently responsible for all operations at the Dyersville, Iowa facility.

 

Jalel Aossey, Midamar Corporation

Jalel Aossey was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he resides with his wife and three children. He is a 1997 graduate of Cornell College where he majored in International Business. Jalel has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa, and embraces cultural diversity.

 

Jalel is a Director at Midamar Corporation, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a family owned business that has pioneered the Halal food industry in North America since 1974. Prior to joining Midamar, Jalel worked with Prudential Financial Services. Currently Jalel consults and speaks to organizations throughout North America and overseas on topics including, Understanding and Marketing to the Halal Food Industry, and How to Conduct Business in the Middle East. Jalel’s main goal at Midamar is to further develop the strength and diversity of the Midamar Halal brand and supply chain services in the global market.

Over the years with Midamar, Jalel has been quoted in numerous media stories including features in the “Wall Street Journal,” “Los Angeles Times,”and several US and International publications.

 

Resource Panel

This panel of business leaders will address a number of exporting topics including compliance issues and freight forwarding before turning to the audience for a question and answer session.

 

Freight forwarder - Anthony Padula, Lynden International

Tony Padula is a native of Chicago where he currently resides.  He began his freight forwarding career in 1989 while attending DePaul University working 5 years for Perfect Express handling Air/Ocean export operations.  In 1993, shortly after graduating from DePaul he joined up with Phoenix International where he spent 18 years.  Starting off in the Chicago Air Export department, after 2 years he moved to Detroit, MI where he started up their own export operation.  Shortly thereafter he moved into Sales and eventually became Branch Manager.  In 2010, Tony moved back to his hometown of Chicago and currently handles International Sales at Lynden International.     

 

International Accounting - Ken Furst, McGladrey

 

Legal Counsel - Nicholas Abou-Assaly, Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC

Nicolas Abou-Assaly is a member of Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC and has been with the firm since 1997. He has a general transactional practice including corporate and business transactions and real estate. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Mr. Abou-Assaly immigrated to the United Sates in 1975. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Business in 1989 and The University of Iowa College of Law in 1992. He has proficiencies in the language and cultures of the Middle East. Prior to joining Simmons Perrine, Mr. Abou-Assaly was an in-house attorney with Exxon Corporation in Houston, Texas.

 

International Financial Advisor - Paula Sestito, U.S. Bank

Paula Sestito is a Vice President in U.S. Bank’ s International Banking Group. As a Global Trade & Payments Consultant, she focuses on the entire global payment landscape and works closely with companies and correspondent banks located in Wisconsin, Iowa and Northern Illinois to provide solutions tailored to meet international banking needs. Paula has 20+ years of transaction banking experience including global trade services, shortterm trade finance and international cash management.