GATEWAY CA 2011 EXECUTIVE LUNCHEON SPEAKERS INCLUDED:

DR. GLENDA HUMISTON

Dr. Glenda Humiston was appointed by President Obama on August 23, 2009 to serve as the California State Director at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Development.  Click here for full bio.

One of the current projects being pursued by the USDA is building rural prosperity through regional collaboration.  This plan supports existing regional efforts to foster sustainable growth and business development in rural California.  One of the main components of the implementation strategy for this effort is the advancement of President Obama’s goal to double exports through the National Export Initiative (NEI).  Dr. Humiston will share her insights on how businesses of all sizes and industry focus can successfully position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities currently emerging as a result of the NEI and surrounding economic development related efforts. Another main objective of the USDA, which connects to the import/export conversation, is the California Biofuel Market and Goods Movement Strategy.  This strategy will create and enhance intermodal transfer centers that allow barge delivery of freight to the Port of Oakland from the Ports of Stockton and Sacramento, as well as rail connections that would deliver product to the Port of Long Beach and connect with other southern points. 

GATEWAY CA 2011 EXECUTIVE LUNCHEON PANEL INCLUDED:

Rounding out the Gateway California Executive Luncheon Program was a panel made up of leading executives who all play different, yet critical roles, in California’s export/import field.  The lineup of influential panelists included:

• Todd Acker, Regional Manager, International Sales, SFO/Bay Region, FedEx - Bio
• Michael Jacob, Vice President, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association - Bio

• Joseph Massucco, Senior Vice-President, US-PACRIM, Aero Precision - Bio

• Lisa Dolan, Vice President, Strategic Sales, ALOM - Bio