Silicon Valley Global Trade Organization and Leaders to Receive International Awards in Africa

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women in International Trade – Northern California (WIT-NC), a chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), has been named the OWIT Chapter of the Year. Additionally, Chairwoman Vicki Wilkerson and President Leslie August each will receive the OWIT Woman of the Year award.

These international awards recognize leadership, awareness and advancement of significant trade issues, organizational support, professional development and significant chapter improvement/development. WIT-NC is a non-profit organization founded in 1989. For almost 30 years, WIT-NC, an all-volunteer association, has been a trusted resource for the San Francisco Bay Area, providing programs, training and education in global trade compliance, targeted to local trade professionals. As an active force in the international trade community, WIT-NC works to expand business skills and public awareness of international trade issues.

Women in International Trade – Northern California will receive the Organization of Women in International Trade Chapter of the Year award in Nairobi, Kenya at the Annual OWIT Board of Directors Meeting on October 26^th, 2018. WIT-NC leaders and recipients of the Woman of the Year Award, Vicki Wilkerson, Chairwoman and Leslie August, President will accept both awards – in person – in Nairobi following OWIT's 18^th Annual World Conference on October 25^th.

WIT-NC, Ms. Wilkerson and Ms. August received the awards for the robust programming, active chapter development, community partnerships, student development and significant support and promotion of the worldwide Organization of Women in International Trade.

WIT-NC produced 8 monthly educational programs and 1 webinar during the award year that addressed significant trade issues: Annual Chinese New Year Program with Baker & McKenzie, Post-Election US Trade Policy and Impacts on Trade Compliance, U.S. Anti-Boycott Regulations (webinar), Encryption Export Controls and the Internet of Things, "OWIT" in Silicon Valley: The International Connection, Country of Origin, Crouching CCATS, Hidden ITAR, How to Establish Transaction Value in "Related Party" Transactions, Legal Eagles / Mock Trial: Reasonable Care. These timely trade programs were presented to WIT-NC membership, the local business community as well as representatives of the U.S. Commercial Service.

WIT-NC produced 2 monthly programs focused on professional development in global trade compliance: Trade Compliance from Different Industry Perspectives and How to Advance Your Career in Trade.

Two Board members and one WIT-NC member presented a panel on careers in trade to California State Maritime University (CSUM) students at their annual Women in Maritime Leadership Conference. CSUM also became the 2nd WIT-NC Educational Sponsor and WIT-NC supported CSUM cadets in volunteering for WIT-NC to make valuable industry contacts and referrals. These cadets became WIT-NC official greeters at special monthly programs where they volunteered in uniform and were provided high visibility and opportunities to network with trade industry professionals.

WIT-NC also partnered with our local customs broker and freight forwarder association, CBFANC, to host Representative U.S. Representative Jackie Speier at an international trade industry dinner and presentation. Congresswoman Speier is recognized for being the first member of Congress to advocate for fundamental reforms to end the epidemic of sexual assault in the military and on college campuses, and she is leading the fight against sexism in the fields of science and technology. Representative Speier addressed the state of post-election trade policy.

WIT-NC Executive Committee members took time to present the highly-successful WIT-NC sponsorship program to participants at the OWIT Spring Board meeting. And they mentored struggling OWIT chapters in other states.

Finally, WIT-NC dedicated significant financial, Board and volunteer resources to promoting OWIT by hosting the last Fall Board Meeting. Promotion of OWIT included the establishment of a partnership with the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) which made WIT-NC the international trade education resource for their members and introduced OWIT to many new Bay area companies. This SCCC partnership also resulted in an internet T.V. interview on Ding Ding TV of WIT-NC's President which was streamed globally and especially viewed in China.

For additional information contact Amy Papendorf, Marketing Director, WIT-NC - [email protected], 267 575 0732 cell.

SOURCE Women in International Trade - Northern California

Related Links

http://www.wit-nc.com