8:00 AM: Registration, Networking, Trade Exhibition & Breakfast Buffet

8:30AM: Welcome & Morning Keynote  “Global Economic Outlook: Agony or Ecstasy”

9:30 AM: Breakout Sessions A1 & A2

10:30 AM: Refreshment Break

10:45AM: Breakout Sessions: B1 & B2

11:45AM: Luncheon Registration, Pre-Luncheon Networking, Trade Exhibition

Use this time to visit the exhibitors and to network with speakers, sponsors and attendees.  A full luncheon will be served.

12:30PM: Luncheon and  Keynote Presentation “Celebrating Export Excellence”
Hear from a panel of local exporters about their successes, challenges and strategies 

2:00PM: Dessert Reception, Networking, Trade Exhibition

3:00PM: Conference Concludes

Breakout Session Topics and Schedule

Effective Strategies for Global Online Marketing

Presented by Pete Juratovic, WebpageFX

Are you a global company trying to grow your business? Then you know how hard it can be to compete with all the other companies in your industry. The best way to get ahead in your industry is actually easy — you just need to use the Internet to your advantage with a good search engine optimization (SEO) strategy.

What happens when you have a digital marketing strategy focusing solely on the growth of your business?

• Your company will start to show up in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
• Potential clients can find your company online and contact you at their convenience.
• You can attract new clients you couldn’t reach before.
• You’ll develop a reputation as an thought leader and authority figure in your industry.

Objectives:

-We will go over the exact digital marketing strategies that have helped domestic and global companies grow online.

– We help you determine which strategies make sense for your business and how to prioritize.

– You will learn ways to understand what potential clients are doing on your website, where exactly your leads are coming from, and which on and off line marketing tactics are producing the highest ROI.

– You will learn how using a focused content marketing strategy with online marketing will help your company achieve quality leads.

– We will discuss a few out of the box online marketing tactics we’ve used to help our global clients net huge results.

GDPR:  Is Your Organization Ready for the Most Important
Change in Data Privacy Regulation in 20 Years?

Presented by David Ross, Principal, Baker Tilly

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) governs the collection, processing, use and storage of personal data relating to any individual in the EU  as well as EU citizens living abroad. The regulation applies to all organizations processing and holding the personal data of these individuals, regardless of the organization’s location.  GDPR becomes effective on May 25, 2018 and penalties for non-compliance are significant.

Considerations include

• Assessing your organization’s GDPR footprint
• Do you know where your organization’s GDPR-covered personal data resides and how it is used?
• Data minimization
• Do you practice privacy by design or by default?
• Defining your risk threshold for GDPR
• Are you prepared for the “right to be forgotten” and “data portability”

Fraud Detection and Prevention:
Presented by Amy Sahm, SVP and Manager, International Group at Fulton Financial Corporation,
and Cindy Wessner-Schaeffer, V.P. Fraud Risk Group Manager at Fulton Financial Corp 

Mitigating the Risks of Global Tariff Policy Changes

Presented by Ronald Shepherd, Vice President at UPS Trade Management Services Inc.
and Randy Campbell, Administrator, FTZ 147 

Potential  changes in trade policies by the U.S. and our trading partners, including tariff increases and trade agreement re-negotiations, will  impact exporters and importers and the effects will be felt throughout the supply chain. Learn about strategies for risk assessment and tools that can be used to help mitigate the effects  of trade policy change.

Breakfast Keynote

Our Panel of Exporters Will Share Their Experiences, Strategies, Challenges and Successes

Christian Flowers, Director of Global Sales
Adhezion Biomedical, Wyomissing, PA

Janet Gilbert, President
J. P. Gilbert Co., Inc., Boyertown, PA

       Saskia Foley, CEO and President of RADIUS®

Visit the Trade Exhibition during breaks, before the luncheon program and during the Dessert Reception to learn more about the products and services of our local trade experts.

2018 Trade Conference Exhibitors (to date):

• African Global Super Center
• Baker Tilly
• FTZ 147: Central Pennsylvania’s Foreign Trade Zone
• Fulton Bank International Group
• Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
• Mid-Atlantic ~ Eurasia Business Council
• Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
• Stevens & Lee/Griffin International, LLC
• UPS
• US Commercial Service ~ Philadelphia Office
• WebpageFX

Showcase your firm as a premier resource! Learn more: ITC 2018 Exhibitor Form

Thank you to the following sponsors (to date) for their contributions to this year’s trade conference!

Silver Level Sponsor:

Bronze Level Sponsors:

Our Strategic Partners:

Sponsor opportunities are available. Learn more:  ITC Sponsorship Form 2018

Discounted Rates Available to Qualifying Companies

If you are a small or medium sized company, and have an exportable product or service, we can offer you a discounted rate of $45.00 for up to 2 participants through funding provided by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development and the US Small Business Administration, under the STEP program.

In order to qualify, a company must meet the U.S. Small Business Administration’s definition of an Eligible Small Business Concern, which is defined as an entity that:
–  Is organized or incorporated in the United States;
–  Is operating in the United States;
–  Meets the applicable industry-based small business size standards

The following three forms need to be completed and emailed to:  info@wtccentralpa.org

1. STEP Client Application Form
2. Certification Regarding Debarment 
3. Self-Representation Regarding Eligible Small Business Concern