Experience

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  Roberts Consulting

  • Northern California, United States

  • Proprietor

    • Oct 2021 - Present
    • Northern California, United States

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  Central California District Export Council

  • Fresno, California Area

  • Executive Secretary

    • Jan 2018 - Sep 2021
    • Fresno, California Area

    District Export Councils are organizations of business leaders from local communities, appointed by various U.S. Secretaries of Commerce, whose knowledge of and expertise in international business provides a source of professional advice for their region’s local firms. Closely affiliated with the U.S. Commerce Department’s Export Assistance Centers and the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, over 60 DECs that exist throughout the country support the U.S. Government’s export promotion efforts.Currently there are approximately 1,500 DEC members who volunteer their time and specialized expertise to assist small and medium-sized businesses in their local communities establish or increase export sales, thus promoting our country’s economic growth and creating new and higher-paying jobs for their communities. DEC members also sponsor and participate in numerous trade promotion activities, as well as advocate for effective trade policy positions.In addition, DECs play a major role in the planning and coordination of export activities for their communities. As a lead organization serving the international business community, DECs have the capacity to facilitate development of an effective export assistance network and can assist in coordinating the activities of trade assistance partners to leverage available resources. DECs also serve as a communications link between the business community and the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service, and support the export expansion activities of the U.S. Commerce Department in a variety of ways within their communities.While DECs are a creation of the U.S. Government and individual DEC members receive governmental appointments. neither DECs nor DEC members represent the U.S. Government in their capacity as DECs or as DEC members, respectively.

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  U.S. Commercial Service / U.S. Department of Commerce

  • United States
  • International Trade and Development
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Director

    • Jun 2001 - Sep 2021

    The U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce is a federal government agency dedicated to helping small-to-medium sized companies with their exporting strategies. Our experienced staff of International Trade Specialists located in the Bakersfield and Fresno U.S. Export Assistance Centers serve this highly diverse and multi-cultured business community!The Bakersfield & Fresno U.S. Export Assistance Centers are part of an international network consisting of 105 U.S. Export Assistance Centers across the country and a 165 offices in 82 countries. Our domestic and international offices are directly linked through a worldwide communications and information network which offers a unique and valuable service to U.S. exporters. For more information on how we can help your company with its exporting strategies, please visit our services1 page.

  • Project Officer

    • Jun 2011 - Dec 2011

    Executive Level Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Trade Mission to Turkey December 5-9, 2011. I recently recruited a full executive led trade mission to Turkey. Assistant Secretary Michael Camunez led the mission along with 16 companies, 5 other U.S. agencies for a total of 35 members attending. Details can be found at the following site: http://blog.trade.gov/2012/01/09/participants-in-the-renewable-energy-trade-mission-to-turkey-find-business-partnerships/ & http://export.gov/california/build/groups/public/@eg_us_ca/documents/webcontent/eg_us_ca_046419.pdf

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  U.S. Commercial Service

  • Bakersfield, California Area

  • Renewable Energy Team Leader

    • Oct 2003 - Sep 2006
    • Bakersfield, California Area

    Inaugurated the Renewable Energy Team for the U.S. Commercial Service from 2003 - 2006. This position allowed me assist renewable energy firms to export and gain in-depth industry knowledge within the sector. The following article contribution was printed in Power Engineering July 2006 http://export.gov/california/build/groups/public/@eg_us_ca/documents/webcontent/eg_us_ca_046420.pdfSeveral reverse trade missions from India were conducted during this time and are still considered successful in terms of trade missions.Acknowledgement for my efforts with the first 2007 Renewable Energy Trade Mission to Central Europe (http://export.gov/california/build/groups/public/@eg_us_ca/documents/webcontent/eg_us_ca_046422.pdf).

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  Air-Sea Forwarders

  • Greater San Diego Area

  • Office Manager

    • Sep 1990 - Sep 1998
    • Greater San Diego Area

    Managed the San Diego, California office of Air-Sea Forwarders, an international freight forwarder. Assisted clients with the logistics of transportation, letter of credits, State Dept. licenses, hazardous material for air transportation (IATA certified), and legalization of documents for exports. Responsible for client classification of HTS codes and complying with Export Administration Regulations (EAR).