1st Global Seven (G7) Awards Tremendous Success!!!

A Publication of Houston International Trade Development Council Inc.

June 2014
Second Quarter 2014
Volume 2 , Issue 2
ifocus
Special points of interest:

2014 Upcoming Events
International Mixer Septem-
ber 18, 2014
Trade Mission to Panama
November 12-16, 2014

2015 Upcoming Events
Global Seven (G7) Awards
Houston Global Trade
Inside this issue:
Presidents Message 2
Global Seven Awards
Continuation
2
From the Chairman 3
Upcoming Events 3
Global Initiatives 3
Committee Chairs 3


International Focus Quarterly Newsletter
International Trade Center
11110 Bellaire Blvd., Suite 222
Houston, Texas 77072
Www.houstontrade.org
Continuation Pg 2
Trade reduces poverty, free and fair trade is the great equalizer
Non Profit 501 3

This year the Houston International Trade Devel-
opment Council is excited to announce the success
of the debut 1st Annual G7 Awards Presentation,
recognizing Houstons top international busi-
nesses and academic achievers. Presenting spon-
sors included Petro Stone Energy, City of Houston
Office of Business Opportunity, Blue Cross Blue
Shield, H-E-B, and many more.

Our very special guest, Robert Mosbacher Jr.,
formally sworn in as the ninth President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Invest-
ment Corporation (OPIC) in 2005, shared a very
enlightening inaugural keynote address entitled
The Importance of International Trade to Houstons Economic Future..

Attendees had an opportunity to participate in a multi-cultural experience filled with festive entertainment
and international cuisine from diverse global regions. A portion of the proceeds received from the G7
Awards will be used to support two high impact objectives: fundraising for educational scholarships and
future global trade mission outreach initiatives.



Glen Gondo, Carlicia Wright, and Val Thompson Blue Cross Blue Shield Family
Dr. Parvin Bagherpour HCC HCC International Scholarship Recipients
Trade Mission to China Continuation from Pg 1
Continuation from pg 1 Global Seven (G7) Awards

Special Business Achievement Honorees included:

Special Honoree: Global Impact Award for Ellen Goldberg, Past Immediate President of Sister Cities of Houston
Outstanding Corporate Citizen - Kenneth Yellowe, CEO of Global Energy USA

Outstanding Non-Profit Organization - Hon. Teta Banks, Executive Director at the United Nations Association of
Houston

Outstanding Advocate - Mario C. Diaz, Director of Aviation at Houston Airport System

Excellence in International Service - Sonia Clayton, President & CEO of Vrtual Intelligence Providers LLC

Excellence in Exporting - Vernon Darko, President of Equip XP LP

Excellence in Importing - Glen Gondo, President & CEO of Sushic LLC

International Rising Star Award - Troi Taylor, PMP President of Taylor Construction Management LLC
Page 2 ifocus

Presidents Message
We're extremely excited to announce and celebrate in our 2nd quarter International Focus (Ifocus)
newsletter the success of our debut Global Seven (G7) Awards & International Students scholarship presentation. The stel-
lar event of 450+ guest was held at the Hilton Americas-Houston May 16, 2014.

The keynote address was delivered by Houston's own Robert Mosbacher Jr. who gave a passionate speech on how it is a
great time for Houston area Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) participate and succeed in International trade. Our
Global Seven (G7) Honorees were a who's who of an all star cast Houston area International business and corporate lead-
ers. Awards were presented categorically in Outstanding Corporate Citizen, Advocate and nonprofit organization. Also
Excellence in Exporting, Importing, International Business Service and International Rising Star

I would like to thank our generous sponsors who made the Global Seven (G7) Awards possible: PetroStone Energy, City
of Houston Office of Business Opportunity, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, H-E-B, International Trade Center, Star
Learning, River Oaks Jeep, HMSDC, VALWU International, UCIBN, Houston Community College, GMS Dental Centers and JD Metals.
We're also excited to announce the roll out of our first " Houston Global Trade Conference & Expo" 2015 The purpose of the conference &
expo is to showcase Houston area Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Construction and Information Tech-
Val Thompson
President & CEO
Ellen Goldberg & Alice Chen Ximena Murillo & Nino Kvaraia
UPCOMING EVENTS
Celebrating Diversity August 22, 2014
2014 Trade Missions to Panama November 12-16, 2014
International Mixer sponsored by International Trade Center
Houston Global Trade Conference & Expo
Page 3 Volume 2 , Issue 2
From the Chairman, Dr. Jim Wu
I'm pleased to announce the success of our 2014 Global Seven (G7) Awards. Many thanks to our sponsors BlueCross
BlueShield of Texas, the City of Houston, H-E-B, JD Metals and our table sponsors & Individual tickets purchasers.

Chinese investment in the United States doubled in 2013, driven by large-scale acquisitions in food, energy and real
estate and as the largest energy headquarter of the United States, Houston will be more attractive for Chinese Inves-
tors. After achieving two trade missions from Houston to China in 2013 and set up a office in Tianjin, China, Houston
International Trade Development Council will organize three trade missions in 2014.
We will invite more Chinese Petroleum Equipment Manufacturers including offshore and onshore to visit Houston and
help them to find investment opportunities in Houston.

Based on the their request, Oil Fields, Oilfield Services Companies, and Small and Mid-size Oil Equipment Manu-
facturer and Services Companies will be the target for Chinese Investors. We're looking forward to our upcoming " Houston Global Trade
Conference & Expo May 2015.
Dr. Jim Wu, Chairman
Join us May-2015 for the unveiling of our 1st Global Trade Conference held in Houston. Our purpose for hosting a trade conference is to
showcase visiting business and government delegation from developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America and the products and
services they offer to Houston area Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The conference will foster networking opportunities for mutual benefit
at relationship building that will help any International Initiative you may be considering.
GLOBAL INITIATIVES COMMITTEES
Mia Guo Smith, Chair, HITDC: Asia Initiatives Committee
Mrs. Mia Smith has served as Executive Assistant with Houston International Trade Development Council since 2013, and is
currently serving the Houston International Trade Development Council new Asian Committee. As a serial entrepreneur,
Mrs. Smith currently owns Everything Handcrafted, LLC, with a handcrafted jewelry and accessories retail store, ASHA
Handcrafted Jewelry, located at Rice Village, Houston, TX. Besides her business, Mrs. Smith works closely with US-China
International Business Network on projects.
Mrs. Smith graduated from Yanan University Accounting program in 2007 in China, and Texas Southern University MBA program in 2010. As
one of the best MBA students of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business, Mrs. Smith earned multiple scholarships from the Business School and
its alumni affiliates, local Chamber of Commerce, Emerging Minority Business Leaders, and National Womens Business Council.
Nkem Aji-Alala, Chair, HITDC: Africa Initiative Committee
Nkem Oji-Alala serves as President of the U.S.Bilateral African Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors for the United
Nations Associations- Houston Chapter and as an Advisory Board Member for Houston International Trade Development
Council, Inc.

Mr. Oji-Alala is a Business Warehouse Intelligence Consultant for Energy companies by profession. He has worked as a Da-
tabase Administrator for Affiliated Computer Services, Senior Business analyst for Reliant Energy and Direct Energy, Project
Lead (Engineering Operations and Initiatives) for GE Oil & Gas, and Siemens Energy (Wind Power). He is very passionate
about International Trade in Africa and invested in its positive image.
Bringing The World Together Through Trade
Vanessa J. Garcia, Chair HITDC: Latin America Initiatives Committee

Vanessa J. Garcia is the co-owner and manager of Royal Carusa Shipping. As a small business the company specializes in
exporting vehicles and heavy equipment to Latin America with offices in Miami and Houston. Each office receives and
loads the different commodities into ocean freight containers.

Vanessa is a determined young professional developing a dynamic career in entrepreneurship and management utilizing
communication skills, cultural awareness and an engineering background to lead projects within the logistics and export
industry. She has received a Bachelor's of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Miami and a Master's in International
Business from Hult International Business School. She was born and raised in Miami, FL and has recently moved to Houston, TX.

ifocus
International Focus Quarterly Newsletter
A Publication of Houston International
Trade Development Council Inc.
Houston International Trade Development Council
International Trade Center
11110 Bellaire Blvd., Suite 222
Houston, Texas 77072
Phone: 832-448-0537
E-mail: Vthompson@houstontrade.org
Bringing The World Together Through Trade

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