From Paul Zito, Vice President of International Development at the Regional Growth Partnership:
Export Success is a 10-month program presented by RGP and the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce to help companies develop an export plan in order to begin exporting or to improve the efficiencies of their export processes. The program has been very well received and has the support of the US Commercial Service, Ohio Development Services Agency, UPS, the University of Toledo and many others. It has helped Toledo to be recognized by Global Trade magazine as having one of the top 8 export assistance systems in the US. Over 50 companies from around the region have participated as students of this program and many have taken the program several times such as Bionix, Surface Combustion, SkyLife Tech, NAMSA, and APT/Swivellink.
The next edition of Export Success begins Friday, February 26. We already have 8 companies signed up.
We have many positive developments for Export Success 2021 including the fact that it will now be a statewide program with the support of the Ohio Development Services Agency’s (DSA) export office. This is a great honor and recognition of the program. DSA is promoting the program heavily as is the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s marketing department. See the attached schedule and list of mentors for Export Success 2021 and this link: https://www.toledochamber.com/exportsuccess.html
Each student company attends ten monthly virtual sessions the content of which flows from analyzing overseas markets, to the international sales process, to logistics and finance/payments and to other issues affecting the export process. The only assignment for the students is to present their export plan at the end of the program.
We have some excellent speakers and mentors that support this program. Speakers come from US Dept of Commerce, Fifth Third, Huntington, Communica, ExIm Bank, SBA and others. It is wonderful that they offer their time and expertise to Export Success. This makes the $2000 fee quite attractive. In addition, the IMAGE (International Market Access Grant for Exporters) program from Ohio DSA covers the cost for most companies.
To find out more or to get involved, here is Paul's contact info.
D. Paul Zito
Vice President of International Development
RGP Northwest Ohio
A JobsOhio Network Partner
Two Maritime Plaza
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Tel. 419 252 2700, ext 304
Mobile Phone 419 350 3647
e-mail: zito@rgp.org
