World Trade Day 2021

Positioning For The New Global Economy

Staying Relevant, Connected, and Ready

 

 

White Logo

Register Today!

$79 Registration Fee

+$20 to Attend The VIP Morning Meet-And-Greet

WTD 2021 Save The Date

Conference Summary

The World Trade Center Atlanta and Georgia Department of Economic Development, International Trade Division present our 5th Annual World Trade Day Conference on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.  This year’s Trade Talk, “Positioning for the New Global Economy – Staying Relevant, Connected and Ready,” will explore how the coronavirus pandemic has transformed the way we approach international trade and what it will take to shift business processes and focus to be ready for growth in a post-COVID-19 world. Reserve May 4th on your calendar and plan to join us and our commitment to global trade!

This historic event will honor the international trade community and your contributions to our region’s economic power. It will convene CEOs, policy-makers, scholars, and thought leaders to discuss today’s most pressing trade issues and opportunities to build a robust regional economy.

In 1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially proclaimed a national observance for global trade benefits each May in the United States. Since then, each U.S. President has renewed this declaration, asking for communities across the nation for their commitment. The World Trade Center Atlanta, one of 320 centers of international business exchange worldwide, responds to the call with its 5th Annual World Trade Day on May 4th, 2021.

Last Year’s World Trade Day Platform

Keynote Speaker

Ken Berta Color Ii

Ken Berta

Executive Director
Global Health Crisis Coordination Center (GHC3)

Prior to joining GHC3, Ken was the Global Lead for Strategic Partnerships and Alliances at Philips Healthcare, responsible for managing relationships with Electronic Health Record (EHR), technology and application partners that impact the ecosystem of Philips customers and users.

Ken has broad experience working with public partners, such as The Air Force Research Labs (AFRL), the Department of Veterans Affairs, FEMA, NATO, and the Ohio Department of Development, and Fortune 100 companies, including Philips Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, Dell Technologies and Hewlett Packard, and as a strategic advisor to large healthcare providers such as Ohio Health, The Kettering Health Network, The University of Toledo Health Network and Emory’s Innovation Hub led by 11|ten Innovation Partners.

As co-founder of Cedar Grove Creek, LLC. Ken is a principle in the firm’s consulting arm, MBTC Strategy Consultants. Cedar Grove Creek is one of the founding investors of the Ohio Tech Angle Fund, a private/public economic development partnership with the Ohio Department of Development.

Ken started his career as a VA researcher, surgical technician and medical device designer and quickly became head of Global R&D for Ferno-Washington, one of the world’s largest private manufacturers and distributors of emergency medical products.  After serving as the General Manager of Global Operations for YSI Life Sciences (now Xylem) he turned to public service to found the non-profit Wright Center of Innovation for Advanced Data Management and Analysis (renamed daytaOhio) where he served as EVP. This state-sponsored organization was made up of the AFRL, five universities and 60 companies building Big Data solutions for Medicine, Energy and Defense.

With over 30 years of healthcare technology, strategic consulting and venture capital experience, Ken has designed and launched dozens of products, has been awarded five international patents, started seven companies and received an executive appointment (The Order of the Ohio Commodore – The highest honor awarded a citizen) from the Governor of Ohio.  Ken holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Wright State University and an MBA in international business from the Williams School of Business at Xavier University.

Featured Speakers

Headshot Paige Alexander

Paige Alexander

Chief Executive Officer
The Carter Center
Headshot Brian (Britt) Buchanan

Brian “Britt” Buchanan

Managing Director
Accenture
Dorfman

Robert “Bob” Dorfman

Managing Director
UBS Asset Management
Headshot Zaheer Faruqi

Zaheer Faruqi

President
Aventure Aviation
Headshot Mario Gonzalez

Mario Gonzalez

International Business Consultant
University of Georgia
Sowady Lor

Sowady Lor

Chief Explorer Officer
Sweetwater Brewing Company
Headshot Bobby Martin

Robert “Bobby” Martin

Executive Director, Head of US Fixed Income Investment Specialists
UBS Asset Management
Elliott Paige

Elliott Paige

Director, Air Service Development
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Headshot Jeff Portman

Jeff Portman

Board Director
Portman Holdings
Headshot Carlos Ronderos

Carlos Ronderos

Regional Director, Latin America
World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)
Headshot Lisa Senters

Lisa Senters-McDermott

Owner/CEO
Jet Senters Aviation
Headshot Thomas Smith

Thomas Smith

Global Sales Director
J&S Chemical Corp
Ken Spett

Ken Spett

President & CEO
GF Health Products
Headshot Scott Wang

Scott Wang

Vice President, Asia Pacific
World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)
Headshot Edem Yevutsey

Edem Yevutsey

Executive Director
World Trade Center Accra, Ghana

Agenda

08:00 – 10:00  Networking & Exhibit Hall (General Admission)

08:30 – 09:15  VIP Morning Meet & Greet (VIP Ticket Holders & Speakers/Sponsors)

10:00 – 10:15  Opening Remarks

10:15 – 10:40  Keynote Speaker (Ken Berta, GHC3 Public Health Crisis, Technology & Information)

10:40 – 11:00  Networking / Exhibit Hall

11:00 – 11:15  Speaker Session 1

  • Breakout Room 1 – Elliott Paige (Airport) Transportation
  • Breakout Room 2 – Edem Yevutsey (WTCA Africa) Geopolitical Forces

11:15 – 11:30  Speaker Session 2

  • Breakout Room 1 – Zaheer Faruqi (Aventure Aviation) Aviation & Aerospace
  • Breakout Room 2 – Mario Gonzalez (SBDC) Imports

11:30 – 11:45  Speaker Session 3

  • Breakout Room 1 – Ken Spett (GF Health Products) Medical Manufacturing
  • Breakout Room 2 Lisa Senters (JSA) Airlines/Aviation

11:45 – 12:05  Networking / Exhibit Hall

12:05 – 12:15  Global Leadership Award Presentation / Networking / Exhibit Hall

12:15 – 12:30  Speaker Session 4

  • Breakout Room 1 – Sowady Lor (Sweetwater Brewing) F&B Consumer Products
  • Breakout Room 2 – Scott Wang (WTCA Asia) Geopolitical Forces

12:30 – 12:45  Speaker Session 5

  • Breakout Room 1 – Robert “Bobby” Martin & Robert “Bob” Dorfman (UBSFinancial Services 

12:45 – 01:00  Speaker Session 6

  • Breakout Room 1 – Carlos Ronderos (WTCA Latin America) Geopolitical Forces
  • Breakout Room 2 – Thomas Smith (J&S Chemical) Chemicals Manufacturing

01:00 – 01:30  Networking / Exhibit Hall

01:30 – 02:30  Panel Discussion – Brian “Britt” Buchanan (Accenture), Moderator

02:30 – 03:00  Networking / Exhibit Hall

03:00 – 03:15  Wrap-up Discussion with GDEcD & WTC Atlanta

03:15 – 05:00  Networking / Exhibit Hall

Presenting Sponsor

Gdecd

Platform Sponsor

vLink

Committee Members

Ismael Fernandez Profile

Dr. Ismael Fernandez

Co-Chair
Cornell Hazelton

Cornell Hazelton

Co-Chair
Danila

Danila Rizo Palmieri

VP Programs
Max Sutherland

Max Sutherland

Co-Chair
Mary Waters

Mary Waters

Co-Chair
vLink
Tagline Logo
Portman Holdings
Ciber
Gdecd