Kirk Adams - DEC Chairman and Worldwide Account Manager, Fedex Services

Kirk has 20 years experience in the transportation industry from operations to sales. Industry segments include truckload, LTL, small package Express and Ground as well as International Import and Export. Most recently his focus has been on Fortune 100 companies with regards to how their joint ventures and mergers will effect their Supply chain decisions. In the past he has worked with small startup companies and helped them set up Supply chains that were responsive to their needs and growth strategies.

Joe Anderson - Commercial Lines Account Executive, Western States Insurance Agency

Joe Anderson currently works as a Commercial Lines Account Executive with Western States Insurance Agency in Boise. He has two clientele goals: to minimize corporate business risk and to make companies more attractive to the insurance marketplace. The natural result of these goals is a large reduction in his clients Total Cost of Risk (TCR). TCR includes worker productivity down-time, claims, loss of experience, reputation and future opportunities due to non-core risks in the workplace. Other results include lower costs for insurance, better coverage, and a more profitable operation.

Mr. Anderson began his insurance career with Marsh of Boise in 2001 and quickly built up a sizable group of clients with a focus on growth companies, and industry niches of real estate, commercial agriculture, international business, and hard-to-place product liability risks. He has reviewed worldwide contracts for insurability, and property and liability exposures for one of the largest construction firms in the Northwest. He has also worked with exporters to secure their products and payments, as well as cover their liability exposures overseas.

He holds Accounting and finance degree from Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma and is a graduate of the Hartford School of Insurance and Leadership Idaho Agriculture. Mr. Anderson co-founded the BNI chapter Treasure Vally Accelerators. Joe currently is a member of the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, the Meridian Kiwanis, Idaho Affordable Housing Association, Building Owners and Managers Association. He is also a federally-appointed member of the Idaho District Export Council.

Joe can be reached at his Boise office at 208-383-6876 or by e-mail at

janderson@N0SPAM.wsi-insurance.com

Vince Brascia - DEC Vice Chairman

Vince Brascia (vdbrascia@N0SPAM.spectek.com ) is the Traffic Manager of SpecTek, a division of Micron Technology, Inc. where he is responsible for export, import, and domestic transportation and compliance. Vince has 25 years of transportation experience. Prior to employment with Micron in 1998, Vince was the Import Manager of an international freight forwarder's San Francisco branch. Vince is a Licensed Customhouse Broker, and he has worked in the Ports of Reno, Atlanta, and San Francisco. In 1981, Vince received a B.S. in Management, specializing in International Finance, from the University of Nevada at Reno.

Pat Collins - DEC Treasurer

Patrick Collins (pcollins@micron.com) has over 18 years of experience in foreign trade. A graduate of the University of Idaho and the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird), Patrick currently oversees import and export regulatory compliance for Micron Technology, Inc. and its global subsidiaries. In addition to a regulatory background, including extensive dealings with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Patrick is experienced in the application of terms of sale/Incoterms in foreign contracts, foreign market access and transportation. Patrick lives in Boise with his wife and two children.

Gary DeGrange

Gary DeGrance (gary.degrange@N0SPAM.usbank.com ) is a Vice President with U.S. Bank's Global Trade Services Department in Boise. He has over twenty-three years of international banking experience with an emphasis on international trade finance. His territory includes Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming where he assists companies both large and small with their international banking needs. DeGrange is a frequent speaker at public forums and college courses and enjoys sharing his knowledge of international business.

Ying Donegan

Ying is the owner of 7E International Enterprises, a consulting firm specializing in China sourcing and manufacturing consulting. She is also a consultant on how to do business successfully in China, manufacturing operation set-up, supply chain analysis and manufacturing outsourcing in China. Working together with her business partners in China, Ying helped many businesses reduce their costs and improved their time to bring new products to markets.

Before started her own business, Ying worked for eight years in the US, in computer peripherals, telecommunications and commercial product industries. Before came to the US, Ying worked in a household electronics company in China for two years, working with leading international companies to introduce new technologies to China and setting up joint ventures. Her most recent employment experience was with Hewlett-Packard as a Systems Management Engineer. She worked with HP’s worldwide manufacturing centers and contract manufacturers for new product introduction, quality improvement, cost saving and distribution of LaserJet products.

Ying was educated in both America and China. She holds a Masters Degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, a M.B.A. and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Shanghai for Science & Technology, China. She also studied in Germany for a year and enhanced her international experience.

James Hogge

James is an Idaho native. James obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the College of Idaho in 1971, a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of West Florida in 1991, and a degree in accounting from Boise State University in May 1993.

Before joining the Boise State University staff, Jim completed a military career, retiring from the U. S. Air Force in 1991. The majority of his career was devoted to flying. He flew the F-111 for over 10 years. The remainder of his career was focused on the development and testing of new aircraft systems.

James Hogge has been with the Idaho Small Business Development Center since 1992. He has served as the State Director of the Idaho Small Business Development Center since July 1995. Idaho Small Business Development Center provides high quality consulting and training services to improve the success of entrepreneurs in Idaho by using the combined resources of the Idaho SBDC, the private/public sector, and Idaho’s colleges and universities.

James also helped start the TechHelp program for Idaho manfacturers, the TechConnect Program for high entrepreneurs, and the TECenter at Boise State University.

Beau Parent - Sales iGineering Manager, Dittmar Development LLC, dba Easy-Piper

Beau Parent joined the Idaho Export Council in 2005. As Sales iGineering Manager for Easy-Piper (www.easy-piper.com), Beau has the primary responsibility of domestic sales and exports to Europe. Easy-Piper sells to the food service industry, greatly reducing the risk of repetitive motion injuries in retail and commercial bakeries. While new to the marketplace, Easy-Piper has already been validated by OSHA.

Mr. Parent has had extensive experience with the challenges that face smaller companies starting to move towards greater export business. He has experience with OEM product companies building components for major equipment manufacturers and the sales activities with direct person-to-person contact with engineers and purchasing managers. The export process for the small specialty OEM and small companies new to the market has different challenges than larger finished goods suppliers selling to distributors or companies with standard off-the-shelf product lines. He brings this experience and struggles of contacting and scheduling sales appointments with the right individuals from eight to twelve time zones away to the IEC as a resource for other small companies in Idaho.

Mr. Parent received his MBA in from Boise State University. He has a broad depth of knowledge and experience in the banking, retail, and electronic manufacturing industries. In previous career positions, he has actively been involved in the import and export of various consumer goods.

Mr. Parent has lived in the Treasure Valley since 1980 and has been active in community affairs and organizations, including the American Lung Association, National Ski Patrol and Idahoans for Term Limits.

Brent Williams - Esquire, Avoture Business and Property Law

H. Brent Williams is a managing member of Avoture Business & Property Law, pllc., in Boise, Idaho. He practices in international, business, and property transactions. He has extensive international experience and has conducted business in Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, South America and Asia. Mr. Williams graduated from Saint Louis University Law School with honors in international and comparative law. Prior to practicing law in Idaho, Mr. Williams was an international business development manager for Monsanto Company.

Meredith A. Taylor (J.D., MILE)

Meredith Taylor is a doctoral candidate with the University of Berne in Berne, Switzerland. Her specialization is in the International Trade Law and the World Trade Organization. Her research is focused on agriculture negotiations, subsidies, dispute settlement, and development issues within the WTO. She received training in WTO trade-related topics as a graduate of the World Trade Insitute where she earned her Masters in Interational Law and Economics. Her academic background also includes a Juris Doctorate from the University of Idaho College of Law and a B.A. in Political Science and Certificate in Health Public Policy from Duke University. Academic distinctions include: Rotary Ambassadoral Scholar, Lord Rothermere Scholar (Oxford University, Comparative Law and Liability), and Coca-Cola Scholar.

Meredith is presently teaching international business, economics, and law-related courses at Boise State University. Her community activities include membership and/or involvement in: The Boise Committee on Foreign Relations, Idaho's District Export Council, The Congressional Award Program, Girls' State and Nation, and Rotary International. She has lived and worked in Europe, traveled extensively, and is proficient in German.

Jason Prince - Attorney- Stoel Rives LLP

Jason Prince is an attorney with Stoel Rives LLP, a full-service U.S. business law firm, where he represents and counsels exporting businesses on international commercial transactions and dispute resolution, as well as compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Export Administration Regulations. Mr. Prince holds a bachelor's degree from Davidson College, a master's degree from the University of Cambridge, and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Prior to law school, Mr. Prince lived in Tokyo, Japan, working as Deputy Press Secretary to Nobuteru Ishihara, Member of the Japanese House of Representatives and Japan's Minister of State for Administrative and Regulatory Reform. Before joining Stoel Rives, he clerked for Judge Susan H. Black on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

James Corpstein - J.R. Simplot Food Group Division

James Corpstein is the International Customer Development Supervisor at the J.R. Simplot Food Group Division, focusing on import and export coordination and compliance. He holds a degree in International Business Administration from Boise State University, and is a Licensed Customs Broker, certified through U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

James has a background in the semiconductor industry, working for the Transportation and Logistics Department at Micron Technology for several years. Most recently he was a Traffic Manager at Nunhems USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Bayer Crop Science, coordinating domestic and international movements of agricultural products.