Dinner Meeting: International Marketing

December 16, 2009
6:00 pm	to	9:00 pm

“Considering non-traditional markets for small business growth” – Experience shows that most small business develop a market and settle into a comfort zone which is fine until the market dries up. Difficult market conditions require creative and aggressive thinking which includes looking for non-traditional markets such as exports, procurement, and cultural market opportunities. The Mid-Hudson SBDC has been involved in providing assistance to local businesses in exploring these markets and has recently completed a trade mission to China which is already producing benefits for Mid-Hudson companies. The speaker will share some of these experiences and discuss the perils and tribulations of doing business in a different cultural setting.

Dr. Arnaldo J. Sehwerert, of Woodstock, New York, is the Regional Director of the Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center in Kingston, NY, a professional services office that provides general business counseling for small business and entrepreneurs in New York State’s Mid-Hudson region.

Previously, Dr. Sehwerert was President of the DMS-RAPP Collins Direct Marketing agency in Venezuela that is part of the Publinversiones Advertising Group and Omnicom Group’s Rapp Collins Worldwide.  Dr. Sehwerert was responsible for the financial integrity of the company and bottom line results, and was involved with client management for firms such as Sanofi-Winthrop Laboratories, Hewlett Packard, William Grant & Sons, British American Tobacco, Mobil Oil, Unilever and Honda.

Dr. Sehwerert was one of 3 from Ulster County that recently travelled to China to meet with members of the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA). TEDA is the most successful industrial development zone in China, representing over 4,600 businesses and over $50 billion in cumulative investment. The SBDC-TEDA agreement provides for mutual economic development cooperation and will provide a basis for concrete support of New York – and thus Ulster County – firms starting or growing their sales activities in the China market.

Dr. Sehwerert received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY in 1977; his Master of Science in Management from SUNY Binghamton in 1971; and his Bachelor of Science degree at State College, New Paltz, NY in 1969. He is a Past Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the IAA – International Advertising Association, Venezuela Chapter; Past Member of the board of the Venezuelan Direct Marketing Association and of Marina del Rey Yacht Club; and a current Member of the Board of the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce.

BMA-HV meetings are held at the Ship Lantern Inn, Rt. 9W, Milton, NY • 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

To register for this event click here.