INOV8 Notes: Export U is Feb. 14; AFS on the Move

A beautiful Friday brings us notes of interest to Arkansas entrepreneurs.

First, the Arkansas District Export Council will hold its second annual Export U on Thursday, Feb. 14. The free day-long event will take place at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce downtown.

Also, IA client Agricultural Food Systems of Siloam Springs is on the move (be patient and scroll down). But first, here’s the official presser about Export U, which really should be of interest to any aspiring entrepreneur or small-business owner:

ARKANSAS DISTRICT EXPORT COUNCIL, IN COOPERATION WITH THE ARKANSAS U.S. EXPORT ASSISTANCE CENTER, AND LITTLE ROCK REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCE “EXPORT UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM” FOR 2013.

January 16, 2013 – The Arkansas District Export Council will facilitate its second iteration of the “Export University Certificate Program” beginning February 14th, 2013 for Arkansas companies wanting to engage in international trade or expand sales into new international markets.

“Export University” or “Export U” is produced in cooperation with the Arkansas U.S. Export Assistance Center and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.  The training is built around the “Export University” series of courses on exporting designed by the National District Export Council that is a volunteer, non-profit network associated with the U.S. Commercial Service.

“Export U” will provide tools to help Arkansas companies launch an export initiative and gain new skills and adopt innovative techniques to increase international sales,” Graham Catlett, Chair, Arkansas District Export Council, said. Courses are designed to provide novice or experienced exporters with the tools they need to effectively organize their export operations and expand into new international markets.

The course offerings for 2013 will commence with the four-part “Export U Certificate Program” being offered in Little Rock at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.  The program will focus on identifying export markets; identifying international business partners; managing logistics and transportation; and managing international trade finance.  This program is designed for all levels of staff at companies that primarily sell into at least one market or region and seek to increase their capabilities to identify and communicate with buyers, banks, logistics intermediaries and others that are part of an export transaction.  This program requires a $100 registration fee for the series, and pre-registration is required at http://www.arkansasexport.com.

Dates and topics for the “Export U Certificate Program” include:

February 14, 2013 at 9:00-11:00AM  – International Market Development
February 28, 2013 at 9:00-11:00AM  – Identifying and Managing Overseas Representatives/International Contracts
March 14, 2013 at 9:00-11:00AM  – Managing International Logistics/Transportation
March 28, 2013 at 9:00-11:00AM  – Managing International Payment Mechanisms

Location of the program:

Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce
1 Chamber Plaza
Little Rock, AR   72201

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Potential participants are asked to take an Export Readiness Assessment at www.arkansasexport.com .  Companies that answer “YES” to seven of the nine questions are invited to register for the “Export U Certificate Program.”  Companies answering “YES” to fewer than seven questions on the Export Readiness Assessment should contact the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at (800) 862-2040 or (501) 683-7700 for training and assistance.

To register, and to learn more about Export University and the Arkansas District Export Council, visit  www.arkansasexport.com.

The Arkansas District Export Council is a private, non-profit organization bringing together experienced international business people who provide support, advice, and assistance to Arkansas companies interested in entering into or expanding into international markets.

The U.S. Commercial Service, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the only federal trade agency promoting exports in Arkansas through the Arkansas U.S. Export Assistance Center.

The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce is the principal business-driven leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic growth and development of the Little Rock Region to ensure that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen.

Contact Information:

Graham Catlett            Sean Kelley                                Kristi Barr
Chair                              Director                                      Director, Business Retention & Expansion
Arkansas DEC            U.S. Commercial Service          Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce
(501) 372-2121            (501) 324-5794                          (501) 683-7700

James Bledsoe
International Trade Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service
(501) 324-6544

AFS on the Move

Things are hoppin’ for IA’s own Agricultural Food Systems. You’ll remember AFS as the John Brown University startup that developed the Tender ID to accurately gauge the tenderness of beef still on the line. According to AFS founder Lawson Hembree, AFS is poised to “change the beef industry.”

Here’s more from Lawson:

Things are going great! Scheduled to do some testing with the USDA in three phases over the next three months to 1) validate the initial testing done by the inventor and 2) get the TenderID approved for the new USDA Tender / USDA Very Tender labeling they announced back in October. If the test results come out as expected, then we should be set to change the beef industry once testing wraps up.

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