Exporting can be a lucrative way to grow your business, but knowing how to get started can be a daunting task. This spring the U.S. Commercial Services office is pleased to present regional experts on financing your exporting efforts at Seattle International Textile Expo,
Date: March 4th (Monday) 10:30-11:30 a.m.
SBA International Trade Finance Programs
A brief overview of the Small Business Administration’s Three Finance Programs (loan guarantees) for Exporters:
- Export Working Capital Program
- International Trade Loan Program
- Export Express Program
Pru Balatero, SBA Regional Manager
Mr. Balatero is responsible for the implementation of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s International Trade Finance Programs in Alaska, Northern Idaho and Washington States. He has over twenty years experience in the private sector in R&D, product design and manufacturing. He was general manager of an 85 employee manufacturing firm that exported products worldwide. Pru has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering.
Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington
The Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (EFACW) was created by the Washington State legislature in 1983 to provide export finance counseling assistance to small- and medium-sized exporters or prospective Washington-based exporters.
EFACW provides ongoing consulting services on every aspect of Export Finance for Washington State exporters including helping to negotiate the contract with your Buyer, payment terms, structuring the transaction and dealing with foreign exchange issues.
Doug Kemper is the President and CEO of the Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington
Doug has forty years of commercial banking and trade finance experience with regional and community banks based in Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles including Rainier/Security Pacific Bank, KeyBank, Washington Mutual Bank and Commerce Bank of Washington. He commenced his financial services career as a US Treasury Department/OCC National Bank Examiner based in Seattle and London.
He has served on the board of directors of several international business and educational organizations including as the Chairman of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle and the World Trade Center Tacoma.
Doug is a graduate of Oregon State University with a BS degree in International Business and the Pacific Coast Banking School.
U.S. Commercial Service
The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Located across the United States and in U.S. Embassies and Consulates in nearly 80 countries, our global network of trade professionals connects U.S. companies with international buyers, providing them with market intelligence, trade counseling, business matchmaking, and advocacy/commercial diplomacy support.
Whether you are a U.S. company looking to make your first export sale or expand to additional markets, or an international company looking to purchase products/services from the United States or find additional U.S. suppliers, we offer the expertise you need to connect with lucrative opportunities.
Young Oh’s Brief Bio: Ms. Young Oh, Senior International Trade Specialist of the U.S. Commercial Service Seattle is an export promotion officer for the U.S. Department of Commerce. Her current portfolio includes Service export – Education/Training, Travel/Tourism, and Consumer Goods (Apparel, Sporting Goods and Pet Products). Ms. Oh has over fifteen years experience in the private sector in economic development, global logistics and medical food manufacturing.
Ms. Oh has a Masters of Business Administration and Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Education.