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WTC Review | Philadelphia Spring 2017

March 16, 2017 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - Follow World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia updates, member highlights, trade and event announcements, special reports, and more with the latest WTC Review. A Message From The President Linda Mysliwy Conlin I recently had the opportunity to discuss the importance of trade with Mexico with Business Editor, Fabiola Cineas of Philadelphia Magazine. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Greater Philadelphia Region was the 12th-largest exporter in the country in 2015, with Mexico the Region's third-largest export market behind Canada and the U.K. In fact, Mexico also represents 13 percent of all the companies WTCGP has assisted over the last ten years. The WTCGP is committed to helping our client companies access opportunities in major markets like Mexico - especially during this transitional time for global trade policy. The bottom line is: free and fair trade drives our economic growth and creates jobs in our region. Click here for Philadelphia Magazine story. If you attended our Global Business Conference on March 1st, you will understand why it received such positive reviews. In short, there was no better time to hold a conference touching on the challenges and opportunities of trade. Again, many thanks to all of our expert speakers who delivered in-depth content, leaving our audience wanting to hear more. Read the summary in our newsletter and click on our photo gallery to learn more. Click here for photo gallery. As Spring approaches, it also signals the time of year for our Annual World Trade Centers Day Awards and Celebration . After 9/11 the World Trade Centers Association, in cooperation with the United Nations, chartered a day in May for all World Trade Centers to celebrate "World Trade Centers Day," to honor global peace and prosperity through trade. On May 11th at the National Constitution Center, we will gather the international business community and once again honor a global business leader and two member companies for their global vision, achievement and contribution to making Greater Philadelphia a world-class region. I am delighted to announce that Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware has been selected to receive our 2017 Global Business Leadership Award. Our 2017 New Jersey Member Company of the Year Award will be given to Destination Maternity of Moorestown, NJ, and DFT of Exton, PA, will be receiving our 2017 Pennsylvania Member Company of the Year Award. Our congratulations to all our award recipients! I invite you to attend and celebrate with us on May 11th! Click here to register. Throughout the year, we remain committed to providing you with informative and timely programs to support your global success. Please refer to our calendar of events and join us for our upcoming events on China, Mexico and Cuba, among others. We also hope to hear more from you. Follow us on social media and if you aren't already a member of the WTCGP, please consider joining. Sincerely, Linda Mysliwy Conlin President, World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia WTC Review | Philadelphia Spring 2017 View Online View PDF This post updated Tue March 28 2017 11:12 AM EDT - Fitzpatrick title incorrectly stated as President and CEO. To learn more about WTC of Greater Philadelphia, please click on the source link below. Read More

Philadelphia Announces Honorees for WTC Day

March 14, 2017 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - Dan Fitzpatrick of Citizens Bank to receive Global Business Leadership Award along with Member Companies of the Year Honorees - Destination Maternity and DFT® Inc. Each year, WTCGP recognizes the global achievements of individuals and companies whose contributions have helped to make Greater Philadelphia a world-class region. This year, WTCGP has selected Dan Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, to receive our Global Business Leadership Award. Through his leadership at Citizens Bank and board service with many corporate, charitable, and business-related organizations, Mr. Fitzpatrick has helped to shape a vibrant future for our communities, positioning our region as a strong global competitor. We are also pleased to announce our 2017 Member Companies of the Year - Destination Maternity for New Jersey, and DFT for Pennsylvania. Please join us on May 11th at the National Constitution Center at our World Trade Centers Day Annual Awards and Celebration when we will gather the international business community to honor Dan Fitzpatrick, Destination Maternity and DFT. Destination Maternity is the world's leading maternity apparel retailer. Formerly known as Mothers Work, Inc., Destination Maternity Corporation is a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: DEST) with over $500 million in annual sales. Since 1943 DFT® Inc. has manufactured world class, problem solving, in-line, axial flow, nozzle style silent check valves and severe service control valves. Reserve your seat today! To read the original article, please click on the source link below. Read More

Annual Global Business Conference - What A Lineup!

March 7, 2017 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - Now, more than ever before, we need to remain engaged and up-to-date on what's happening in global trade and we did just that at our 14th Annual Global Business Conference on March 1, 2017. At a very quick glance, here's a just a snippet of the conference: Mark Schaltuper presented intense BMI research with up-to-the-minute statistics, including possible scenarios for NAFTA negotiations. In our Markets to Watch segment, Andrea Montanino provided an update on BREXIT; Rick Rossow told us why India should be on everyone’s target list; David Hamod explained why Middle East markets still prefer US products and services; John Andersen shared good news on Argentina, Peru, and Costa Rica, and why they make sense for our region; and all moderated by Julie Mostov who kept the conversation going. Africa! We heard from Ngozi Bell, Chris Massaro and Dr. Christine Martey-Ochola, who shared how they have been successful in doing business in Africa, “a continent of opportunity.” Jim Clifton of Gallup, Inc. who gave a candid view of what the world is thinking and the least likely places to find the world's next entrepreneurial rainmakers, accompanied by Vipula Gandhi who gave a worldview of the workplace of the future and why the ASEAN Region remains a growth market, and all skillfully guided by world trade expert Grant Aldonas' provocative questions. Click here for Conference pics To read the original article, please click on the source link below. Read More

AC Gateway, NJ's Leading Infrastructure Project

February 13, 2017 - GALLOWAY, NJ, USA - Stockton’s Atlantic City Campus Wins Award as N.J. Leading Infrastructure Project Alliance for Action Cites Partners in Atlantic City Gateway Project Stockton University’s Atlantic City campus was recognized as one of New Jersey’s Leading Infrastructure Projects with an award from the New Jersey Alliance for Action, a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of over 2,500 business, labor, professional, academic and government leaders. The campus is part of the $210 million Atlantic City Gateway Project, which includes an academic building which will eventually accommodate 1,800 students, residences for 530 students, a parking garage with over 800 spaces and a new office tower for South Jersey Gas. The campus, currently under construction, is expected to open in fall 2018. The Gateway Project is a public-private partnership with Atlantic City Development Corp. or AC Devco, at the intersection of Atlantic, Albany, and Pacific avenues in Atlantic City. “Stockton is pleased to be recognized for the impact its Atlantic City campus will have on the city, the region and the state,” said Stockton President Harvey Kesselman, who accepted the award on behalf of the university. “Our mission is to provide a high-quality, affordable, accessible education to a diverse population, enabling more college students to stay in New Jersey and more graduates to succeed in their chosen fields. In addition to the proven benefits of having a highly educated workforce available, the construction and then continuous operation of this facility will provide an ongoing economic stimulus as businesses expand to serve our students, faculty and staff, many of whom will live in the city.” “The university is grateful for this award, which includes many of our partners, such as AC Devco, county and state government, South Jersey Industries, unions and professional contractors, all of us working cooperatively to bring this project to fruition,” Kesselman said. The Alliance awards program was created to highlight innovative, pioneering and landmark construction initiatives that greatly impact the state’s economy and to honor the businesses and organizations that work together as partners to ensure the project’s success, said Alliance President Philip K. Beachem. “The Stockton University – Atlantic City Gateway project is a great example of what can be done when organizations work as a team to develop a fantastic project,” Beachem said. The 6th annual awards ceremony was held Feb. 10 at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, N.J., and highlighted several billion dollars in infrastructure projects and their impact on New Jersey. The Alliance also recognized these organizations for their work on the project: Atlantic City Development Corp.; Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders; Atlantic County Improvement Authority; Elkus Manfredi Architects; HLW International, Inc.; Joseph Jingoli & Son, Inc.; NJ Economic Development Authority; Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters; SOSH Architects; South Jersey Building & Construction Trades Council; South Jersey Gas. Media Contact: Maryjane Briant Maryjane.Briant@stockton.edu / (609) 652-4593 To view this article in its original form, please click on the source link below. Read More

Just How Much Does Philly Trade With Mexico?

February 9, 2017 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - In this Philadelphia magazine business feature, World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia President Conlin hints at the possible impact of a change in trade policy with Mexico. Mexico was Philadelphia’s third-biggest export market in 2015. To learn more about this issue, click the link below to view the article in its entirety. To read the original article, please click on: Full Article (via phillymag.com). To learn more about WTC Greater Philadelphia, please click on the source link below. Read More

Comcast Newsmakers Spotlight: WTC Philadelphia

January 27, 2017 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - Jill Horner of Comcast Newsmakers speaks with Linda Mysliwy Conlin, President of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, about connecting regional companies to global markets. View Video Read More

Phila Member Lenox to Produce Presidential Gifts

January 17, 2017 - BRISTOL, PA, USA - Lenox Selected to Produce the Official Inaugural Gifts For the President and Vice President of the United States on Inauguration Day For the eighth consecutive inauguration, Lenox Corporation has created the official Inaugural gifts from the American people, given to the President and Vice President of the United States. On January 20, 2017, Lenox on behalf of the American people will present the custom-made, one-of-a-kind engraved crystal bowls at the Inaugural Luncheon following the swearing-in ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol. Lenox offered these stunning gifts to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), and the design was approved by the committee. Lenox Corporation, the oldest and most prestigious maker of crystal and fine china in the United States, has designed and created the Inaugural gift for the incoming president since George H. W. Bush in 1989. For each Inauguration, the Lenox team of experts work for months to create a gift that encapsulates the spirit of the American people and the new presidency. "It is my pleasure to accept Lenox's official gift for the 58th Inaugural Ceremonies," said U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugurations. "Lenox has once again created a thoughtful and beautifully-crafted gift fitting of this historic occasion, and I look forward to presenting it to the President and Vice President on behalf of the American people." After working on this project for more than five months with master glass-cutter Peter O'Rourke, Timothy Carder, Lenox Vice President of Design, handed over the stunning pieces of craftsmanship to Senator Roy Blunt at an intimate ceremony held earlier today on Capitol Hill in the Rules Committee Hearing Room. The inspiration for the bowls comes directly from the work of Pierre L'Enfant and Andrew Ellicott who created the layout for the plans of the city of Washington, and defined the borders of the District of Columbia. The bowl for the President features an illustration of the White House on one side overlooking the Jefferson Memorial on the opposite side. For the Vice President there is an image of the Capital overlooking the Lincoln Memorial, and each bowl has a compass rose cut into the base with the points of the compass aligned correctly with the buildings. The bowls are made of lead crystal and are 12 inches in diameter and will be placed on top of black cherry wood bases that bear an inscription of the date and occasion engraved into silver-plated plaque. "Lenox is honored to have been the first American china to be used in the White House and to have been selected as the designer and manufacturer of choice for the past 28 years to produce the Inaugural Commemorative Gift for the President and Vice President of the United States of America," said Katrina Helmkamp, CEO of Lenox Corporation. For 99 years, Lenox has created fine china dinnerware for the White House as well as the vice president's official residence, over 300 U.S. Embassies and more than half of the governors' mansions. Lenox became the first American china to be used in the White House in 1918 when President Wilson commissioned the company to create a 1,700-piece service bearing the presidential seal in raised gold. Over the years, Lenox has created new state services for five additional presidents - Roosevelt, Truman, Reagan, Clinton and George W. Bush - that reflect not only the style of the day, but the timeless beauty of Lenox's renowned ivory china. About Lenox Corporation Founded in 1889, the Lenox Corporation is the largest manufacturer, designer and marketer of tabletop products in the United States. Lenox markets products under the Lenox, Reed & Barton, Dansk, and Gorham brands. Lenox's products which include dinnerware, stemware, flatware, giftware, and seasonal products are sold around the world through fine department and specialty stores, as well as online. For more information, please visit the Lenox website: www.Lenox.com. To view the original source article, click on the link below. Read More

Belisario Re-Elected to Board of WTC Philadelphia

January 5, 2017 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel Partner Re-Elected to Board of World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia Martin G. Belisario will continue to serve as board’s secretary. The Philadelphia intellectual property law firm of Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel is proud to announce that partner Martin G. Belisario will continue to serve on the board of directors of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and will continue to serve as the organization’s secretary. The mission of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia is to accelerate global business growth for companies in the region. Since 2002, the organization has assisted companies in generating more than $1.5 billion in increased export sales and has helped create nearly 20,000 jobs. To learn more, visit www.wtcphila.org. Belisario practices intellectual property and technology law, including technology licensing, trademarks, copyrights, counseling and litigation, and representation before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and foreign patent offices. His patent practice focuses primarily on the mechanical arts, including transmissions, HVAC systems, small appliances, medical devices, software and electro/mechanical devices. Belisario’s experience encompasses a broad range of intellectual property and technology issues, including litigating disputes concerning validity and infringement of patents; providing opinions on patent infringement and validity; supervising the preparation and prosecution of both U.S. and foreign patents for large high-technology portfolios; and providing counsel on IP portfolio strategy, including protection options. After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University, Belisario went on to earn his law degree from Widener University. Prior to joining Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP, he was a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP and Panitch Schwarze Jacobs & Nadel, P.C. He began his career as a patent examiner with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.About Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP – Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP is a boutique intellectual property law firm with offices in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. The firm’s IP law practitioners provide strategic litigation, licensing and counseling service relating to patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, domain names and Internet issues domestically and internationally. The firm’s long-standing relationships with a network of associates worldwide enable its attorneys and advisors to provide clients with global intellectual property advice and protection. Media Contact: Sarah Larsonsarah@furiarubel.com / 215-340-0480 To read the original article, please click on the source link below. Read More

It's Been a Great Year!

December 30, 2016 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - A Message From The President We'll be fifteen years old in 2017! For those of you who have been with us from the beginning, you know the milestones we've reached and the opportunities that exist for us as a World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia. This year we are particularly proud of the success our companies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have achieved. With the guiding hand of our trade counselors, these exporters, many of them small and medium‐sized businesses, now have customers around the world ‐ registering over $174M in increased export sales.Their success is our success and it's at the heart of what we do as a member‐based, 501(c)3 non‐profit organization. This year we partnered with the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia and area business and civic leaders, as part of a national Brookings/JP Morgan Chase "Global Cities Initiative" to launch a dynamic export strategy to drive economic growth and job creation for the Greater Philadelphia Region. The resulting "Export Plan" for Philadelphia underscored that there are many more businesses in the Greater Philadelphia region who can and should be exporting ‐ and need the services of the WTCGP. As part of our commitment to the international business community to provide timely and relevant information on the global economy and celebrate our global leaders, this year's key signature events and international meetings included: Annual Global Business Conference headlined by former Ambassador to China and to Singapore Governor Jon Huntsman Business Roundtable with US diplomats from the ASEAN region Meeting with visiting delegation from Tianjin China through our WTC network Our only fundraising event ‐ World Trade Centers Awards and Celebration where we honored Jerry Sweeney, President, CEO, and Trustee, Brandywine Realty Trust and member companies of the year, Bradford White (PA) and Sunhillo (NJ) Every day the WTCGP opens its doors to help "grow trade" in the Greater Philadelphia region thanks to our member companies, and sustaining and leadership partners. As we continue to grow trade, we need to ensure that we can continue to expand this important work. If you believe in our mission, please consider making a tax‐deductible contribution. Click here and give what you can. If you're considering becoming a member of the WTCGP, we've added an additional benefit, exclusively for the WTCGP ‐ discounted membership at the Pyramid Club. We will be glad to provide further details. We wish you happy holidays! As we navigate a global economy in transition, we look forward to working with you in 2017! Thank you again for supporting the WTCGP. Linda Mysliwy Conlin President, World Trade Center of Greater PhiladelphiaTo learn more about WTC of Greater Philadelphia, please click on the source link below. Read More

PGC Uses WTC Network to Connect Patients-Treatment

December 29, 2016 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - A 47-year-old woman whose CT scan shows several pulmonary nodules visits a doctor in Shanghai. The doctor, who that day may have seen as many as 200 patients, tells her she mostly likely has cancerous lesions in her lungs and will need chemotherapy and surgery to remove all 7 of them. He doesn’t perform a biopsy. Photo: Ruth Wu (left), Dr. John Bennett (center) Fortunately, this woman is one of a growing number of people in China who are seeking medical care in the United States, and can afford it. In her case, a medical tourism agent in China reached out to Ruth Wu, President of Premier Global Care (PGC) and Ruth stepped into action. After an appointment with a pulmonary doctor at Penn Medicine, it was determined that the woman did not require chemotherapy or surgery, as the lesions were too small and low in density to be diagnosed as malignant. Instead, the doctor told her not to worry and suggested a six-month follow-up. Premier Global Care, a newly created medical tourism company was established to fill the growing need and desire for China’s growing middle class to receive life saving medical care in the United States. China’s medical care procedures are standardized and due to high volume, doctors are forced to seek the fastest treatments, leading to increased medical errors. Every year an average of 60,000 Chinese seek medical assistance abroad, especially for conditions related to China’s pollution problem. A recent article in Time Magazine reported that by 2020 lung cancer cases in China are expected to top 800,000. PGC was established under the Devon International Group (DIG). Since 2002, DIG has been a member of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) and has received trade counseling and access to WTCGP global networks to create a long-term China strategy. In 2004, WTCGP Manager of Export Services Ron Drozd established the CEOs' China Operations Club, a closely-knit group of 45 peer companies who participate in informative roundtable presentations by China specialists and share business challenges and best practices. Ron Drozd commented, “The World Trade Center provides a platform of services, networks and international opportunities for members to grow their businesses. In June, both Devon International Group and Premier Global Care participated in a trade delegation we hosted for the World Trade Center Tianjin, China. Talks from this inbound delegation prompted Ruth to travel to Tianjin where the WTC network would help her to meet with numerous partners and potential customers. A second WTCGP Tianjin delegation came to Philadelphia in early November and had meetings with PGC and Dr. John Bennett, founder of Devon International Group. Two weeks later both Ruth Wu and Dr. Bennett traveled back to China to further develop the business relationships." For the past year, PGC has been working in China to create personalized medical tourism packages for Chinese people seeking anything from critical medical care and In Vitro Fertilization to corporate executive physical exams. Once a patient has connected with PGC, Ruth Wu will work with her team to create a personalized package. First step to a personalized package – review the patient’s medical records and connect with the hospital in Philadelphia (or other US city) most suitable for the patient’s case to come up with the best treatment plan. After discussing the plan with the patient and his/her family, the PGC team will handle all necessary details which may include: obtaining a Visa; arranging housing and transportation to and from hospital and doctor appointments; providing translation services, organizing tourist excursions for family members, and providing other needs such as weekly food shopping. Once the patient returns to China, PGC continues to provide assistance with prescription refills; medical report translation and other needs that may arise such as remote follow up sessions. PGC has brought over 30 patients from China to the United States, most often to Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Ruth Wu works closely with Philadelphia International Medicine, which matches international patients and physicians with access to a network of world-renowned doctors, surgeons and hospitals. Sometimes time is of the essence, as in the case of a three year old girl who had received radiation in China for a tumor that was growing inside her mouth. Unfortunately, by the time the toddler arrived at New York’s Lenox Hill hospital, the cancer had advanced and doctors were unable to save her life. “I accompanied Baby Yao to Lennox Hill Hospital. It was heart breaking to see that we got to Yao, a precious 3 year old, too late for treatment. I ask myself often what if her parents had sought out help a few months earlier,” says Dr. John Bennett, CEO of Premier Global Care. ” PGC is currently managing 4 patients in the Unites States and their prognosis is great. One of those patients is a 34- year old woman who was recently diagnosed in China with cirrhosis of the liver. Chinese doctors told her that she had ten years to live. Follow-up tests in the United States determined she did not have cirrhosis of the liver – she was fine. “She and her husband are so happy about this result” says Ruth Wu. “I have a mission now to help more patients to get the proper care and to avoid unnecessary procedures.”About Premier Global Care (PGC) Premier Global Care is a medical tourism company leveraging Devon International Group’s years of experience in the healthcare and medical industries. PGC is dedicated to advanced medical treatment and personalized patient services. Devon International Group has built an extensive relationship in northern, mid and southern China over the past 15 years, and has an office in Shanghai and a factory in Nantong. To read more about Devon International Group (DIG), click on www.devonintlgroup.com . Written by Graziella DiNuzzo. Additional World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia Success Stories: http://www.wtcphila.org/news/category/success-stories. Read More

WTC Review | Philadelphia 2016 Issue No. 4

December 21, 2016 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - Follow World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia updates, member highlights, trade and event announcements, special reports, and more with the latest WTC Review. View Online View PDF To learn more about WTC of Greater Philadelphia, please click on the source link below. Read More

Exclusive Pyramid Club Offer for WTC Phila Members

December 16, 2016 - PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA - We’ve partnered with the Pyramid Club to give WTC Philadelphia members an opportunity to meet, network and take advantage of the many conveniences offered when you need to take care of business - downtown! “My office is in the suburbs but I often have to meet clients in Philadelphia. I recently joined the Pyramid Club through my [WTC Philadelphia] membership and I have already hosted a series of meetings, used the discounted parking and have impressed new clients with my new “downtown meeting place,” says Jeff Ji, President U-Combination Technology. “And I’m starting to meet new potential clients.” View offer details (wtcphila.org) Become a World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia Member today! www.wtcphila.org/join Current Philadelphia Members: To find out how to access this benefit contact Office Manager and Membership Coordinator Susan Farrington at 215-586-4249 / sfarrington@wtcphila.org. Read More