Program Spotlight: Trulaske Trade Trek provides experience-centered learning

The International Trade Center provided a group of 22 Trulaske College of Business undergraduate students with an opportunity to travel to St. Louis in April as part of a newly launched, experience-centered learning opportunity called Trulaske Trade Trek. Students experienced global trade in action by visiting with exporters, importers, government and local trade resource professionals, local trade assets, and trade service organizations from across the St. Louis region.

Stop #1 on the Trade Trek was a visit to Sunnen Products Company. Founded more than a century ago, Sunnen has a long tradition of innovation. Their products have evolved from simple manual tools to advanced CNC machining processes, continually pushing the boundaries of precision engineering. Sunnen’s precision honing systems, tools, and abrasives are used in a wide range of industries including performance engine parts, aerospace components, energy exploration equipment and medical devices. The company’s products are integral to manufacturing processes that require high levels of accuracy and efficiency. Sunnen operates sales, service, and manufacturing facilities in 14 countries worldwide. This extensive network allows them to provide comprehensive support and solutions to their international customers. 

Sunnen has been recognized for its excellence in exports, receiving the prestigious “E Star” Award for Exports for the third time in 2024. This award recognizes Sunnen’s commitment to quality and innovation in the global market. 

Stop #2 of the Trade Trek adventure included a visit to the World Trade Center St. Louis. The World Trade Center St. Louis connects the business community to the people, companies, data and government agencies that make up the fabric of global commerce in the greater St. Louis region. In 2022, the St. Louis metropolitan area exported USD 14.2 billion, a 35.2% increase from the previous year, making them the 29th largest exporter among U.S. metro areas. Companies located in the St. Louis region benefit from the community's global connectivity worldwide. 

Trulaske College of Business students heard from global professionals like Paul Toskin from Commerce Bank, Jennifer Schwesig at Armstrong Teasdale, Caitlin Murphy at Global Gateway Logistics, Warren Anderson at Commercial Service St. Louis, Alexander Matlock at the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s International Trade & Investment Office and Stella Coen-Sheehan at the World Trade Center St. Louis about best practices for companies engaged in global trade and career insights for global business professionals.

For Stop #3, and the last stop for Day 1, the Trulaske Trade Trek students connected with Adam McBrady, Retail Manager at Urban Chestnut Brewing Company (UCBC). 

UCBC is an independent craft brewery based in St. Louis, Missouri, known for its innovative approach to brewing that blends tradition with modern creativity. Founded in 2011 by former Anheuser-Busch brewmaster Florian Kuplent and former Anheuser-Busch sales and marketing staff member David Wolfe, UCBC embraces a "Beer Divergency" philosophy, producing both classic European-style beers and experimental, contemporary brews. The brewery operates multiple locations in St. Louis, including its flagship Bierhall in Midtown and the Grove Brewery & Bierhall. UCBC is also committed to sustainability, with initiatives such as solar power, composting, and a focus on local ingredients. In 2015, the company expanded internationally by acquiring a brewery in Wolnzach, Germany, situated in the Hallertau region, which is known for its hop production. 

Stop #4, and the first stop for Day 2 of the Trade Trek, was a visit to the Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company. Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company is a family-owned, second-generation chocolatier based in St. Louis, Missouri. Dan Abel, Jr., Chief Chocolate Officer at Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company, shares insights into the company’s global supply chain and daily operations.

Founded in 1981 by Dan and Rosalie Abel, the company has grown to become a renowned name in the world of premium chocolates. They are known for their handmade chocolates, including truffles, caramels, and craft chocolate bars, made with high-quality, sustainable ingredients. The company sources cocoa beans and other key ingredients from all around the world, ensuring the highest quality flavor profiles for their chocolates. 

Students learned more about the company’s commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability. The company uses Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate and sugar, and their products are free from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and hydrogenated oils. In 2014, they began sourcing 100% Fair Trade Certified cocoa and cane sugar. 

In 2019, the company expanded its portfolio by acquiring Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier, a historic brand with roots dating back to 17th-century France. Today, Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company operates multiple retail locations across the St. Louis area and distributes its products nationally through a gourmet wholesale division.

Stop #5, and the final port of call for the Spring 2025 Trade Trek, was to a key link in the trade infrastructure hub for the St. Louis region.  St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is the primary airport serving the St. Louis metropolitan area in Missouri. Located approximately 14 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis, it is the busiest airport in the state. The airport has a rich aviation history, having once served as a major hub for Trans World Airlines (TWA) and having played a significant role in the early development of commercial aviation. STL features two terminals: Terminal 1, which handles most airlines; and Terminal 2, primarily used by Southwest Airlines. Known for its distinctive mid-century modern architecture designed by Minoru Yamasaki, Lambert remains an important transportation hub, offering a range of domestic and limited international flights, as well as cargo services.

Students visited with Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, airport director, and Brian Kinsey, assistant director of marketing & business development, to learn more about the role the airport plays in the global connectivity of the greater St. Louis region.

In recent years, the airport has established itself as a key player in the live animal export industry with its Live Animal Export Center. The center, inaugurated in June 2021, is the first of its kind in the nation. It was developed in collaboration with the World Trade Center St. Louis, the STL Partnership, and the Midwest Cargo Hub Commission. The facility is designed to handle the export of live animals, primarily breeding livestock, to various global destinations. STL’s central location within the U.S. makes it an ideal hub for shipping live animals, with approximately 58% of U.S. farms and 51% of U.S. agricultural production operating within a 500-mile radius of the airport.

In December 2024, an expanded version of the Livestock Export Center was unveiled, enhancing its capacity to handle greater volumes of exports more efficiently. This center positions STL as a vital hub for live animal transport, contributing to the growth of global exports and supporting the agricultural community. 

The Trulaske Trade Trek offers a unique opportunity to connect classroom concepts with real-world applications, deepening students’ understanding of career paths and professional expectations. In this student reflection piece, the author recounts their experience highlighting the hands-on insights gained through the Trulaske Trade Trek. Through personal observations and key takeaways, the reflection captures the transformative value of experience-centered learning and its role in shaping future student goals.