December 10, 2004 - The Oakland Export Assistance Center organized an International Trade Risk Management Seminar. The event focused on how to mitigate risk when doing business abroad for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a special emphasis on China. The event was largely attended, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee highlighted the event by presenting an Export Achievement Certificate to Jody Terazzas of The Griffin Company. This company was recognized for its export success to Jordan. The Griffin Company was also a recipient of the Free Gold Key Service in Spain as part of the U.S. Commercial Service's Global Diversity Initiative.

The topics that were covered at the International Trade Risk Management Seminar included:

• Finding the Right Business Partner Overseas - Mr. Rod Hirsch
• Intellectual Property Right Protection - Ms. Jennifer Boger
• IT/Telecom Industry Sector Perspective - Ms. Danielle Kriz
• Patent and Trade Mark Issues - Ms. Elaine Wu
• FedEx Services - Mr. Ray Brown
• Overseas Private Investment Corporation: Investment Insurance Programs - Mr. Forrest Metz
• EXIM Bank: Export Financing - Mr. Jim Lucchesi
• China Trade Risk Management - Mr. Sean King
• China Legal Aspects of Doing Business - Mr. Zhaoyang "Paul" Li
• Reducing Risk in Doing Business with China with Hong Kong as a Trade Portal - Mr. Anthony Wong
• Grease-Le$$: How to Thrive without Bribes in Developing Countries - Ms. Loretta Graziano-Breuning

Click here for the speakers' biographies and a detailed agenda of the event.