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International
Staff and Offices
| The Wisconsin
Department of Commerce can call upon a wide variety of experiences in
international research, sales, shipping, banking, and
diplomacy in
order
to assist Wisconsin's exporting community. Staff are based in
Madison and outreach offices in other parts of the state in order to
serve exporters throught Wisconsin. Follow the link to learn
more
about our Wisconsin-based
staff. The
Department also contracts with professionals in key markets abroad.
Firms handling food
and agricultural products can also call upon the staff of the Wisconsin
International Agri-Business Center. |
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Wisconsin-based
Staff
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Mickey Judkins
serves as the Administrator of the
Division of Investment and Export and also directs the activities of
Forward Wisconsin. From 1987-present, Judkins has
been owner/president of Details, Inc., Eau Claire, a fine apparel
retail store. She has been a partner since 1990
in Rochon Land Investments, also of Eau
Claire. In 2006,
Governor Doyle appointed her to the Healthy Wisconsin
Task Force. Since 2004, she has served on the
Wisconsin Development Finance Board. In 2003,
she was president of the Eau
Claire Economic Development Corporation (ECDC), and served on
the ECDC board of directors from 2001-04. Mickey has a BA in Sociology
from UW-Eau Claire.
ph: (608) 266-6675 mickey.judkins@wisconsin.gov
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Mary
Regel directs Commerce's international trade services.
She joined the department in 1987, as the the
Western Hemisphere Specialist. Prior to that, she held several
positions at the
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. Mary served as the
founding President of the State
International Directors Association (SIDO) and is a member of the
Governor's Wisconsin International Trade Council, the Wisconsin
District Export Council, the Milwaukee World Trade Association, the
Wisconsin World Trade Center, and the International Institute.
ph: (608) 266-1767 mary.regel@wisconsin.gov
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Susan
Dragottais
the Outreach Consultant for Southeastern Wisconsin
(Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Kenosha Counties). Susan joined the
Department of Commerce after eight years in international sales with
Milwaukee-area
companies. She traveled extensively in Latin America and Europe,
supporting and developing distributor networks. She holds a bachelor's
degree in Spanish from UW-Madison, and a master's degree in
international business management from UW-Milwaukee. She is on the
education committee of the Milwaukee World Trade Association, the
Advisory Committee for the Waukesha County Technical College
International Trade Program, and a member of the International
Institute.
ph: (262) 691-5147 susan.dragotta@wisconsin.gov
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Stanley
Pfrang is an International
Consultant specializing in Canada.
Stanley started with Wisconsin's international trade program in 1987
and has served as Foreign Office
Liaison and International Research Specialist. He has coordinated the
Division's publications, websites, and statistical information. Prior
to joining
COMMERCE he was employed by Transportation Services, a freight
brokerage in Appleton. Stanley received an M.S. in Marketing and a B.A.
in Geography and International Relations from the University of
Wisconsin - Madison. He is a past president of the Madison
International Trade Association.
ph: (608) 267-0639 stanley.pfrang@wisconsin.gov
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Christine
Stamm coordinates
participation in trade shows and catalog
shows around the world. She also provides backup for our trade mission
program. Christine has more than 11 years experience as an exhibit
coordinator coupled with an additional 12 years experience in hotel and
event management.
ph: (608) 264-7824 christine.stamm@wisconsin.gov
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Brad
Schneider is our Outreach
Consultant who works with firms in
East Central Wisconsin. Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, he
worked as the
International Traffic and Service Coordinator for Brookfield-based
Fleck Controls, Inc. He has also worked for Kintetsu World Express,
Inc., a Japanese-owned freight forwarder, as an Operations Specialist
and Sales Representative. He received a B.A. degree in International
Relations, with an emphasis in Eastern Asia, from the University of
Wisconsin - Whitewater, graduating magna cum laude.
ph: (920) 420-1796 brad.schneider@wisconsin.gov
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Jennifer
Winner provides logistical
coordination for trade missions.
She also provides backup for our trade show program. Prior to joining
the Department of Commerce, Jennifer spent 15 years working in
corporate travel management. With a focus on negotiating travel
contracts, implementing travel policy and coordinating conferences and
international trade missions, Jennifer's background lends itself well
to her current position with the Division.
ph: (608) 266-0413 jennifer.winner@wisconsin.gov
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Beng
Yeapis
an international consultant specializing in Asia. Prior to joining the
Department of Commerce, Beng had worked as an international banking
officer and as a
commercial credit analyst at a large regional bank. She also taught in
Malaysia at the college
and elementary school levels. Beng is a past president of the Madison
International Trade Association. She is a board member of the
Wisconsin
Chiba Inc. and chairs the organization's Science-Technology
committee. She also serves on the Milwaukee World Trade Association
Education Committee. She has an MBA from UW-Oshkosh, a B.A.
from
UW - Eau Claire,
and a teaching diploma from Malaysia. A native of Malaysia, Beng speaks
and writes Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, and Taiwan dialects) and
Malay/Indonesian.
ph: (608) 266-1480 beng.yeap@wisconsin.gov
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Japan
External Trade Organization (JETRO)
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Kenji
Higashi serves
as the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Business
Advisor for Wisconsin. He works with Wisconsin firms
that
are interested in expanding their business ties with Japan.
Mr.
Higashi has more than 20 years of experience in Japanese automotive and
machinery industries. He continues to serve as an investment
advisor to the Chicago office of JETRO and a business consultant to
many American companies on their Japanese business. He is a
native of Japan who proudly became an American citizen in
2000.
In his spare time he likes to paint and is a member of Oil Painters of
America (OPA).
ph: (608) 266-9487 kenji.higashi@wisconsin.gov
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International
Offices Staff
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| Brazil
Office |
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After
15 years in international trade promotion with the U.S. &
Foreign
Commercial Service in São Paulo,
Magda Völker joined
some former co-workers to establish their own consulting firm, TVZ
International. The firm is the Wisconsin Department of
Commerce's representative in Brazil and also represents Ohio, Indiana,
and New
York. At the Commercial Service Ms. Völker had
country-wide
responsibility for all Industry Sector Analysis Reports, the Gold Key
Service, and Market Profiles and also prepared and supervised Trade
Mission and Official Delegation visits. By the end of her career at the
Commercial Service, she held the highest position available to a
non-American employee. Ms. Völker also represents the State of
Maryland in Brazil. Ms. Völker received a degree in Social
Sciences at the Catholic University of São Paulo.
Follow the link
for more information about the Brazilian market and our office in
São Paulo. |
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Claudia
Tomaselli
is a Partner at TVZ International. Ms. Tomaselli joined the
office at its inception in September,
1997. She has served as Commercial Assistant, Deputy
Director, and Interim Managing Director. Prior to that, Ms.
Tomaselli was associated with the U.S. &
Foreign Commercial Service in São Paulo as a Trade Center
Assistant and as an outside contractor responsible for U.S. pavilions
at major trade shows. Ms. Tomaselli, who speaks Portuguese
and English,
received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Industrial Design from
Fundação
Armando Alvares Penteado (FAAP) in São Paulo,
Brazil. Follow the link
for more information about the Brazilian market and our office in
São Paulo. |
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As
a Partner at TVZ International, Vânia
Zulatto
assists Wisconsin firms interested in entering the Brazilian
market. During seven years working with the Council of Great
Lakes Trade Office in Brazil she worked on trade missions for three
different governors. She also was involved with trade events
while working for the U.S. & Foreign Commercial
Service. Her private sector experience includes
being responsible for buying and pricing 2,000 items for Alternativa
Produtos Naturais e Integrais. She was also a store
Manager. She received her Bachelor degree in Social Sciences
from Catholic University of São Paulo, Brazil, and graduated
in Visual Communication at Escola Panamericana de Artes de
São Paulo. Follow the link
for more information about the Brazilian market and our office in
São Paulo. |
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Canada
Office
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In
July 2004 Nancy Ward
assumed the
role of Managing Director of the Canadian Trade Office of the Council
of Great Lakes Governors, representing Indiana, Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin. Previously she was the Director of Project Development for
the office. Prior to working at the Council, Nancy was an
Adult
Education Instructor for the Ottawa Board of Education and the Sales
and Marketing Coordinator for Arvin Ride Control Products, an
automotive parts company. Nancy completed an honors degree in Political
Science at Carleton University in Ottawa and a postgraduate designation
in International Business at Sheridan College in Oakville,
Ontario. In addition to her responsibilities at the Council,
Nancy currently sits on the executive board of the Organization of
Women in International Trade – Toronto and is the president
of
the International Trade Club of Toronto. Follow the link
for more information about the Canadian market and our office in
Toronto. |
| China
Office |
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A
native of Hudson,
Wisconsin, Paul Swenson
became the first director of
the Council of
Great Lakes Governors Trade Development Office in Shanghai, China in
2003. Prior to that he served as a consultant with the U.S. Commercial
Service attached to the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai. Paul is an honorary
board member of the China Clinical Chemistry Association, a lecturer at
Shanghai Medical University, and a volunteer for the Shanghai Pudong
Charity Hospital. Follow the link
for more information about the Chinese market and our office in
Shanghai. |
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Jane
Zheng
has been with the Council of Great Lakes Governors China Office since
it was established in 2003. In the past three years,
Jane’s worked on Governor Doyle’s China mission (
the largest trade mission in Wisconsin history), a mission organized by
the Lake States Lumber Association, and multiple delegations of
the Wisconsin Ginseng Board. Jane has organized
several wood and building material trade shows on behalf of Wisconsin
exporters. Prior to the CGLG position, Jane worked for the
U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service at U. S. Consulate in
Shanghai
specializing in the medical industry. Follow the link
for more information about the Chinese market and our office in
Shanghai. |
Europe
Office
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Kara
Smith is a
founding partner of
Taskforce Europe Services BV, which is headquartered in The Hague in
the Netherlands and has additional offices in the United Kingdom,
Germany, France, Norway, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. Ms. Smith has
served as the Director of Economic Development for the Ottawa County,
Ohio Community Improvement Corp. and as Director of International
Projects at the Hague Development Foundation. She has a BA from
Middlebury College and a Master's in International Affairs degree from
George Washington University in Washington, DC. Follow the link
for more information about the European market and our office in the
Hague. |
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Throughout
her 20+ year career, Kate
Clarke
has excelled at
championing and positioning companies and people. She has worked in
health care, corporate fundraising, project management, and local
economic development across Europe, South America and Australia. In
1998, Kate co-founded a non-profit library in Argentina which she
continues to assist in a Board capacity since moving back to the
Netherlands in 2001. An Irish citizen, Ms. Clarke speaks fluent Dutch
and Spanish. Follow the link
for more information about the European market and our office in the
Hague. |
Mexico
Office
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Vincent
Lencioni has directed
Wisconsin’s Mexico Office since it
was established
in 1994. In 2000 he became a fully certified Mexican attorney. Prior to
his work with Wisconsin, he was Sub-Director of International Commerce
and Investment for the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, the
largest foreign American Chamber in the world. His international
experience includes work for the Price Company (Costco) in San Diego as
Assistant to the Vice-President for Mexico in charge of all aspects of
export operations. He also worked in marketing and operations for
Tratec of California in its Chula Vista and Tijuana offices where he
assisted U.S. companies with joint ventures and investment projects in
Mexico. Follow the link
for more information about the Mexican market and our office in Mexico
City.
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