The World is Open for Your Business

You will learn:

  • How to get started with international business development.
  • How to find reputable business partners overseas using the Department of Commerce.
  • Programs and resourced available to help connect to international buyers and partners.
  • How SBA financing can work for you.
  • How the SBA helps small business exporters.

Speakers:

Shannon Fraser
International Business Development
U.S. Commercial Service-Silicon Valley – U.S. Department of Commerce

Shannon Fraser serves as an International Business Development Specialist at the U.S. Commercial Service office in Silicon Valley, where her sectors of specialization include smart grid and clean energy. In partnership with Foreign Commercial Service officers at the Embassies and Consulates worldwide, Shannon works with Silicon Valley-based companies to expand their exports to overseas markets, thereby spurring economic growth, job creation, and innovation for small-and-medium enterprises based in the Silicon Valley region. In 2011, Ms. Fraser was awarded a U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award and a Bronze Medal Award for her contributions to advancing international convergence of global smart grid standards.

Jeff Deiss
International Trade Finance Manager-Western US
US Small Business Administration (SBA)-Office of International Trade, San Francisco, CA

Jeff Deiss (pronounced “Deese”) is a Regional Export Finance Manager with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). He provides export assistance and solutions for small businesses. Jeff opened SBA’s San Francisco, CA export office in late 2013.

About ASL Emerging Business Group: Best Practice Series

Abbott, Stringham, & Lynch (ASL)  Emerging Business Best Practice Series consists of lunchtime seminars that address ideas and facilitate discussions around financing, operations, building a team, and other areas essential to the success of emerging businesses.

ASL established the Emerging Business Group to help start-up and growth companies. The Emerging Business Group provides a knowledge resource center of best practices for emerging businesses to streamline systems and operations, reduce regulatory risk, market themselves effectively, and free up entrepreneurs to focus on the business at hand.