DEC Chair
Kimberly Brown
Amethyst Technologies
Chief Executive Officer
Expertise: ExporTech, President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa, Gold Key services, government advocacy, healthcare services in developing countries.

DEC Vice Chair
Shawn Levsen
UPS
Regional Director of Brokerage Product Development
Expertise: Export Pricing, Export Logistics, Export Documentation, HS Codes, Incoterms, Export Compliance, Duty Drawback, Supply Chain, Doing Business in China, Asia, Oceania

DEC Treasurer
Ken Sanchez
Chesapeake Specialty Products
President and CEO
Expertise: Manufacturing, shipping, customs and tariffs, trade shows, market research/market entry strategies, doing business in China, IP Protection, setting up in-country sales agents, President’s E-Award for Exports application process.

Executive Secretary
Jose Maciel
U.S. Export Assistance Center in Baltimore

STATE TRADE DIRECTOR
Jessica Reynolds
Maryland Department of Commerce
Senior Director, Office of International Investment & Trade
Expertise: ExporTech, Export Maryland/SBA STEP grant, virtual trade missions/Governor’s trade missions, Maryland export data.

Jose Alonso
Murray Corporation
International Sales Manager
Expertise: ExporTech, UM Global Export Consulting program, MDCP grant recipient, Hannover Messe trade show, U.S. Dept of Commerce 51% content requirements

Bob Zhang
Howard County Economic Development Authority
Head of Business Development
Expertise: China expertise, strategic business consulting, trade missions, diplomacy, website and e-commerce localization, fluency in Chinese; Asia rep. for Maryland Horse Industry Board; Governor’s Commission on APA Affairs.

Funlayo Alabi
Shea Radiance
CEO

Paul Amico
International Energy + Utilities Practice, Jensen Hughes
Vice President

Oussama Ashy
WSC, Inc.
Director, Business Development
Expertise: International sales and marketing strategies, identifying partners, sales to foreign governments, joint ventures, business culture, Trade Winds, President’s E-Award.

Rebecca Bellinger
University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business
Executive Director, Center for Global Business
Expertise: ExporTech, Startup/incubator best practices, export education, early stage business, student consulting services to companies with global business challenges.

Thomas Boyer
IR Tools
President

Nora Campbell
National Aquarium
Director of Sales

Lee Connor
John S. Connor, Inc. 
President 
Expertise: Competitive rates for freight forwarding, transportation and logistics services, supply chain management, incoterms.

Kimberly Daniels
Mercantile Logistics & International Trade, Inc.
Chief Executive Officer

Dr. David Di Maria
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Senior International Officer & Associate Vice Provost for International Education
Expertise: Internationalization of higher education, academic partnerships and protocol, market intelligence, student recruitment, commission-based agents, international travel safety, student and scholar immigration, intercultural communication, cross-cultural negotiation, lean management.

Dr. Gloria Ekpo
Health Kiosk for All
Chief Executive Officer

Matthew Fernandez
Contiem Inc.
Chief Administrative Officer

Dr. Sandeep Gopalan
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

Phil Grove
Ellicott Dredge Enterprises
Director of Business Development
(DEC CHAIR 2019-2021)
Expertise: ExporTech, Commercial diplomacy, advocacy for international government tenders, Ex-Im financing, USTDA programs, OPIC project finance, partnering for foreign contracts, U.S. Commercial Service programs.

James Hayes
Global Government Affairs, Tenable
Senior Vice President

Ronald Huther
Thales Defense and Security, Inc.
Director, International Business Development
Expertise: Export compliance, management of wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of European parent company.

Ngozi Irondi-Azubike
Triumf Consulting
President/Owner

Alex Koff
Venable LLP
Partner
(DEC Chair 2014-2015)
Expertise: ExporTech, General Counsel coverage, including international business transactions & contracts, intellectual property disputes, international arbitration, regulatory compliance, customs matters, export controls, FCPA, Jones Act issues.

Carl Livesay
General Manager, Mercury Plastics MD 
(DEC Vice Chair 2016-2017)
Expertise: ExporTech, ITAR, FAR, DFAR, AS9100C, AS9100D, manufacturing process optimization, export readiness assessment, gap analysis, leveraging social media, lean manufacturing, aerospace & defense industries, contract manufacturing.

Patricia Marshall
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Business Advisor

Jill McClune
Avon Protection Systems
General Counsel, US
Expertise: Defense and emergency responder contracts worldwide, distribution/agency programs, federal compliance including ITAR/EAR, defense manufacturing, business & technology council resources. Defense communities.

Paulette Mpouma
Africa Memory Game
Inventor and Owner
Expertise: Doing Business in Africa, Consumer goods exports to West & Central Africa, early-stage business, Sub-Saharan Africa website localization & Social Media.

Maurice Nick
Under Armour
Senior Supply Chain Manager

Kwabena Osei-Sarpong
RIFE International
President & CEO
Expertise: Trade Winds, Group Gold Key programs, Export MD grant programs, doing business in Africa, green/renewable energy expertise, international sales and partner development.

Bobby Patton
Patton Electronics
CEO
(DEC Chair 2018-2019)
Expertise: ExporTech, Export financing, Ex-Im Bank products including credit insurance, supply chain, privacy concerns, high tech manufacturing, partner identification, sales channels, patent applications, IP issues.

 Norman Pavlak
TD Bank NA
Vice President Global Trade Finance

Mariana de Gorordo Rutherford
Defense Exports & Brokering
CEO
Expertise: ITAR certified professional, ECoP-ITAR (expert compliance certified in ITAR).

 Bruce Simon
Survice Engineering
Senior Advisor

John Strayhorn
Global Insurance Services
President

Shelley Workman-Raspa
McCormick
Head International Trade Compliance Americas
Expertise: Food/Beverage industry, FCPA, regulatory compliance, Process improvements (Kaizen), Dangerous Goods (hazmat), SAP/GTS