PRESS RELEASE 

Kent, Ohio - November 21, 2002 The annual Foreign-Trade Zone Workshop hosted by NEOTEC on November 21 brought together more than 60 attendees from a variety of companies throughout Northeast Ohio who learned valuable information regarding the Foreign-Trade Zone program.  NEOTEC, administrator of Foreign-Trade Zone 181, hosted the annual event at the Kent State University Student Center in cooperation with the Council of Logistics Management and the Northeast Ohio Logistics Network.  Dozens of participants evaluated the workshop as having met or exceeded their expectations, and said they would recommend the workshop to others.

“The Foreign-Trade Zone Program is an important tool for success in the global marketplace, and this workshop is held annually to explain why and how,” said Ron DeBarr, President & CEO of NEOTEC. 

The workshop was structured to provide basics of the Foreign-Trade Zone program as well as an in-depth analysis of the program’s benefits.  Included on the half-day agenda were several presenters who provided their expertise in the FTZ field:  Randy Campbell, President & CEO of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones in Washington, DC, with an overview of the FTZ program; Chris Burnham, president of the Summit County Port Authority, who provided a Benefits Analysis; Sam McLinn, Chief Inspector for the U.S. Customs Service, with insight into U.S. Customs’ role in the FTZ program; Stephen Gould, Gould & Associates, who discussed the impact of the Foreign-Trade Zone on the supply chain; and Brandi Hanback, president of TradeStar Advisory Services in Annapolis, Maryland, who presented in-depth information about operational procedures as well as the FTZ sub zone program. 

	“Great speakers.  Very beneficial to companies running FTZs!”   Tisha Goss, Kennametal Inc.
	“Should be expanded to an entire-day program—great job!”  Majeed Makhlouf, Roetzel & Andress
	“I believe FTZs are a very underutilized tool for many businesses.”   Stuart Schmidt, Emery Customs Brokers

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The Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium (NEOTEC) is a regional economic development partnership including Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Summit and Trumbull counties, built to improve market access through the development of the Northeast Ohio Logistics Network and to promote international commerce through the administration of Foreign Trade Zone 181.

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