Exporting is not complex and represents an opportunity to significantly grow your business.  Some of Iowa’s biggest companies get half their sales overseas but you don’t have to be big for exporting to be a big part of your business.  The internet has made it easier to find customers and to be found by customers; the rest is shipping, paperwork and getting paid.  There are a lot of resources at the local, state and federal level to help you decide whether to export, where you might want to export to and how to export profitably.

Attend the FREE Entrepreneurs’ Exchange, Business Growth through Exporting, on February 21, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in McAllister Hall, Room 104G on the NIACC campus.  Businesses of all sizes are welcome and encouraged to attend this event.

Debbie Franklin is the Iowa Small Business Development Centers International Trade Center Director servicing businesses in the specialized area of exports. She has 30 years combined experience in wholesale manufacturing including the development and growth of international business through global trade banking, supply chain management, and export logistics.  Debbie is a NASBITE International Certified Global Business Professional and an IRS Enrolled Agent.  She holds a BBA in Marketing from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington.

Patricia Cook serves as an International Trade Specialist at the Des Moines U.S. Export Assistance Center which provides Iowa businesses guidance to reach foreign markets.  She has a bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista University, a master’s degree in International Administration from the SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont and is a NASBITE International Certified Global Business Professional.

To ensure adequate space for this event, RSVPs for the Entrepreneurs’ Exchange are appreciated.  For vendors who market goods or services, a limited number of FREE display tables are available.  Please email incubator@niacc.edu or call 641-422-4384 or toll-free at 1-888-GO NIACC, ext. 4384. 

The national NACCE Innovation Award winning NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center provides college level courses and degree programs in entrepreneurship, as well as comprehensive consulting services for business start-ups, existing industries and owner transitions in the North Iowa region.   Space is available for start-up businesses in the North Iowa Business Incubator. For more information, contact the NIACC JPEC at 641-422-4111.

# # #

Ref # 3611