Export Stories Podcast

In this episode of the Export Stories Podcast, host Betsy Olim sits down with Cindy Allen, a global trade expert and former Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance at FedEx Logistics, to unpack the growing complexity of international trade. With over four decades of experience, Cindy shares her journey from an entry-level customs clerk to leading compliance strategy at some of the worl...

Many of you know, because I mention it frequently, that I grew up in Memphis.  And if you are from Memphis,  because of its proximity, you might have been lucky enough to visit one of the most beautiful and most interesting of American cities - New Orleans . The history is so fascinating. And, if you are in the export or import business, you are going to be very excited to hear my conversation wit...

Ever since Millionpodcasts.com named Export Stories Podcast as #6 of the Best International Trade Podcasts, I thought it might be nice to invite the #2 podcast to be our guest.  They are known as The Trade Guys podcast with Scott Miller and Bill Reinsch. What we decided to do was record a joint podcast.  It was so much fun talking to them, and you will learn a great deal – I promise.  So here are...

To celebrate our 60th episode, an accomplishment of which I am very proud, I looked to a new subject that we haven’t remotely explored – the world of literary management.  How fortunate to be able to welcome a delightful guest - Emily Sweet who is the Partner, Strategy and Communications with Park, Fine, & Brower , a world-renowned literary management agency.  Though very closely aligned with publ...

I always enjoy interviewing U.S. manufacturers with a long history of export because they are, in some ways, the heart of what Export Stories Podcast is all about.  Today’s guest, Blanca Ramirez, works for one such remarkable company, and has some wonderful stories to share from her long experience in international trade.  Blanca is the Green Hydrogen Solutions Manager for Lectro Dryer, a Kentucky...

In our last episode with Ohio State’s CIBER’s Dr. Michael Knemeyer and Dominic DiCamillo , they proudly referred to Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business’ National Center for the Middle Market .  Such an important resource center; so, I am delighted to have as today’s guest the Managing Director, Doug Farren .    We had a great discussion about the varied work that they do.  I know you will find...

Sixteen of the U.S.’s great academic institutions host what is called The Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBERs) , created by an act of Congress. Through my great fortune, and some effort, we are lucky to host the Ohio State CIBER, with Michael Knemeyer , Professor of Logistics, Marketing & Logistics and International Programs through CIBER, and Dominic DiCamillo , Seni...

We’re back – finally - for year 7 of Export Stories Podcast .  I’m pinching myself.  Thank you for joining us. I was very determined that our first episode of 2025 would be about AI and exports.  I found the perfect guest for a ‘deep dive’ discussion.  He is Paul Edelblut, Vice President of Global Operations for Vantage Labs.  We are so honored to have Paul join us.  You’ll hear the voluminous que...

You have probably noticed that I keep coming back to the subject of agriculture on this podcast – for very good reasons – it is critical to the U.S. export economy.  And then it occurred to me – here, practically in my own backyard, in Shelby County, TN, we have the most amazing not-for-profit organization – Agricenter International.  So, it is our good fortune that the President and CEO, John But...

What a great conversation we have lined up for you today!  Our guest, Andrew White, is the President of Comptus, a New Hampshire manufacturer and seller of commercial environmental sensors and controls. You will learn what they do and how they serve many important markets.   Andrew earned his Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard University, and an MBA from Plymouth State University.   When...

It is a pleasure to have as our guest Chris Wingo, Founder and Managing Director of China Sage Consultants.  A native of Southern California, Chris has been dedicated to helping businesses thrive in China since 1997. He is now considered an expert on SME strategies for China and Asia.  I really enjoyed our conversation and, given his history and experience, I think you will be fascinated by his ex...

I like to think of today’s episode as a sixth generation of this podcast.  That’s because I was introduced to today’s guest, Brian Genjian, by a guest from our 1st year’s podcast, C.J. Pinajian. (BTW, you can go back and listen to that episode through our website) Brian has a long, diverse career in international trade and logistics, and he shares many of these stories.  While we talk a little int...

Our guest, Peter Clement, shares some very valuable financial information for exporters.  Peter is the Senior Vice President for International Financing at Rosenthal & Rosenthal, Inc. , with Headquarters in New York, New York.   Peter specializes in providing expertise in trade finance for international corporations.  Here’s a rhetorical question– what exporter does not need some kind of financial...

Welcome back to Export Stories Podcast 2024! There is a reason why Argentek was named Exporter of the Year in Delaware for 2023 by the U.S. Small Business Administration . And to explore what makes this exporter so special, we have the good fortune to be joined by Andres Molanes, Andy to his peers, the founder and CEO of Argentek. Their claim is ‘distributing the world’s most innovative tech’ , bu...

In today’s podcast, we visit with a Virginia company, and we get rather technical with you.  That’s because our guest, Kevin Speers, is CEO and Co-Founder of SPLICE, a technology company that has created a data sharing and translation system that automates processes.  Mouthful? yes.  Understandable?  Of course, because Kevin talks to us about his company, and explains the services they offer the e...

With this episode, I’m going to introduce you to a company that offers products with such intriguing flavors as Rose Hip, Chrysanthemum Honey , Ginger , and Cranberry .  The company is Koval Distillery , and I had a marvelous conversation with our distinguished guest, Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart, co-founder and President.    Prior to opening KOVAL Distillery , one of the largest fully independent and...

Let me tell you a story about today’s podcast.  So, you are going along, growing your export business and it’s very exciting. And you are very pleased with yourself. The time comes to meet with your tax advisor. He or she explains what you need to do and what options you have, and then it’s the end of the presentation. Wait a minute? He or she never brings up the possibility of creating an IC-DISC...

For this episode, we go to Ohio for a manufacturing story.  We explore the global oil and gas industry from an insider who knows the ropes. Our guest is Sandy Winans, Global Trade Compliance Manager for Altronic.  You may not be familiar with Altronic if you are not connected with the industry, but they play an instrumental part (that’s a pun) in how pipelines run safely. We speak with Sandy speci...

Welcome back to Export Stories Podcast 2023.  This is the 2nd in a two-part series of Iowa episodes .  You may remember my lauded episode with Transagra. I am very excited to interview today’s guest.  He has received numerous accolades and awards for his success as an entrepreneur, developing new markets in Africa for U.S. products. His name is Eddy Djagou and he joins us from his company headquar...

Thank you for joining Export Stories Podcast 2023.    Speaking to us from Portland, OR is Richard Biggs , Director, North America for Trade Horizons . Richard is a global business development executive with a wealth of hands-on experience spanning diverse industries, economies, and cultures. His journey is a great story unto itself.    We had a marvelous discussion about his international market e...

Welcome back to Export Stories Podcast 2023.  Today, we travel virtually to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.  This episode is our podcast podcast .  That’s right, we are speaking to a very experienced podcaster whose work includes exploring global business trends.  Our guest is Jeff Ostroff , Principal of Jeff Ostroff & Associates, LLC. Jeff is the creator of the Looking Forward podcast, which covers...

Welcome back to Export Stories Podcast 2023.  South Dakota – home of the Badlands and Mount Rushmore – is also a prolific exporting state. In case this is surprising to you, just listen to what our experienced guest has to say about it.  We were honored to speak with Luke J. Lindberg,  President & CEO of South Dakota Trade , an association responsible for strengthening the state’s competitiveness...

For this episode of Export Stories Podcast 2023, we visit a dynamic region of the country centered around Huntsville, Alabama, known for NASA and space related industries; but, of course, it is so much more.  We are joined by two guests today, Anne Burkett of the North Alabama International Trade Association (NAITA), a non-profit business-driven membership trade association., and Deborah E. McGee...

Welcome to our Intermodal episode of Export Stories Podcast 2023.  Every exporter within earshot of this podcast has stories to tell about their logistics experiences. To make sense of current and future trends in the intermodal industry, we were honored to speak with Donna Lemm, the Chief Commercial Officer for IMC Companies. IMC is an influential logistics provider headquartered in Collierville,...

Welcome back to Export Stories Podcast 2023.  You don’t need to be a science nerd to enjoy today’s episode; but you might just become one after listening.  Figuratively speaking, we traveled to Iowa to speak to our guests Lisa Sakai, President and CEO and Dr. Becky Quesnell, COO, leaders of an innovative and fascinating company – Transagra. Transagra manufactures natural health solutions for anima...