b'GLOBAL BUSINESSGLOBAL MARKET RESEARCH IN ACTION:TRULASKE STUDENTS SUPPORT BUSINESSES THROUGH INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER Student ProfileBY KRISTA HINRICHSSixteen University of Missouri & Trulaske College of Business undergraduate students are directing their time, attention and talents this semester to help four small-to-medium sized companies based in Missouri and Illinois grow their sales internationally.As interns with the MU International Trade Center, the students conduct global market research to assist the companies with new market identification and evaluation. All projects are tailored to the individual companys product and industry sectors of interest.Through this experience, interns gain valuable hands-on data analysis, projectBENJAMIN SCHIEBER management and presentation experience, along with real-world insights intoBusiness ManagementTOP EXPORTERS GATHER VIRTUALLYglobal trade. The participating companies receive in-depth county and industryLast semester I joined the University of Missouri sector analysis that can be used to support and guide future decision making. Trulaske College of Business International Trade AT THE 2022 MID-AMERICA TRADE SUMMIT Companies working with the center this semester include:Center as an Intern. Thanks to Jackie Rasmussen Diva Maker Hair Prosthetics (Kansas City, Mo.), a manufacturer and supplierand Krista Hinrichs, CGBP outstanding mentor-of premium quality prosthetic wigs and hair replacement products andship, my group learned how to create a global BY JACKIE RASMUSSEN Dusty Cruise, president and CEO of Missourisolutions; market selection matrix, crunching data to find the Enterprise, who provided detail on CONNEX, aMSSC, LLC (Collinsville, Ill., and Owensville, Mo.), a manufacturer of stencilingcountries where our client would succeed most. In The event alsoThe University of Missouri International Tradenew advanced supply chain and manufacturingequipment and supplies and water activated tape dispensers, and aaddition, I learned how to leverage databases to featured aCenter, along with trade assistance partners fromnetworking database designed to support U.S.distributor of markers and inkjet printers and ink; find potential local partners contact information. across the region, recently hosted the annualFinally, I learned to be mindful of different business panel of tradeMid-America Trade Summit to bring together topmanufacturers access to needed materials.OTT Enterprises (St. Louis, Mo.), a family-owned and -operated companycultures and how to remain respectful regardless experts whoexporters, global trade leaders and trade assistanceThe event also featured a panel of trade experts whoproducing small-batch, handcrafted liqueurs and brandies; and of where I conduct business. I recommend this shared feedbackproviders from across Mid-America. shared feedback in response to global management,Save the Girls Touch Screen Purses (Belleville, Ill.), a purse company withprogram to anyone interested in gaining skills This years featured presenters included: marketing, supply chain and trade finance questionsunique designs allowing users to text, accept calls and perform smartphonein business analytics and international business in responseposted by summit attendees. Led by Anthony Ross, to globalChris Jones, executive vice president of industryassociate dean and chair of the colleges Manage- functions all securely from their purse. literacy.management,& services for Descartes Systems in Massachusetts,ment Department, the panel included: who shared insights into why global supply chainTom Dustman, international sales director for marketing,performance is so hard to predict and suggestionsSunnen Products Co.THE MU INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER, supply chainas to what company leaders can to do about It. Jim Foley, author and global trade consultanthoused in the Trulaske College of Business utilizes the time and talent of student interns and MU and tradeTami Lange, CEO of Save the Girls Touchscreenwith the Illinois Small Business Development Centerfaculty, along with leading market research financePurses in Illinois, and one of seven Trade SummitCaitlinMurphy,CEOofGlobalGatewaydatabases, to conduct customized research to Outstanding Exporter Honorees. Lange drew onLogistics in St. Louis, Mo. questionsher own experiences and successes to share tipsMark Klein, managing director of lending accountsmeet the needs of companies seeking to growth posted byto developing niche markets and expanding inter- with EXIM Bank their sales internationally. This research provides insights the participating companies can use to summitnationally. During the summit, seven organizations from foureffectively evaluate global market opportunities attendees. Susanne Evens, founder and CEO of AAA Transla- statesacrosstheMid-Americaregionwerein a timely, meaningful and affordable way, posi-tion, Inc. in Missouri, who shared guidance on howrecognized as Outstanding Exporter Honoreestioning them to strategically enter new markets to break though the communication boundariesfor their export successes: and expand in the global marketplace. The centers often linked with doing business internationally. DataLocker (Kansas)goal is to promote economic development and aid Michael Strope, vice president of sales & marketingEWR Radar Systems (Missouri)in the international decision-making of Missouri for MSSC LLC in Illinois and a 2022 Trade SummitMSSC LLC (Illinois)MU International Trade Center interns for Spring 2023, pictured left to right,businesses, while providing MU studentstomor-Outstanding Exporter Honoree. Strope sharedOTT Enterprises (Missouri)front to back: Hannah Nash, graduate assistant Navya Kola, Sophy Silva, Maryrows business leaderswith opportunities for tips, tactics and techniques link to finding, vetting,Save the Girls Touchscreen Purses (Illinois)Bransford, Clare Herrington, Kit Krippner, Begim Tokhirjonova, Frank Pantoni,experiential learning.SMART Reproduction (Arkansas)Nick Arciszewski, Nathan Fox, Ronan Adkins, Alec Centa, Jackson Blackwell, managing, motivating and evaluating distributorWhite River Hardwoods (Arkansas) Brennen Healy, Lucas Hayes, Nat Boos and graduate assistant Michael Hatley. relationships. Not pictured: Jordan Chaffee and graduate assistant Nithya Koritala.14 MANAGEMENT MATTERSMANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT 2023 ANNUAL REPORT 15'