Dr. Len Frey, dean, College of Business, reappointed to Arkansas District Export Council

September 3, 2010 -- Dr. Len Frey, dean of the College of Business at Arkansas State University, was recently reappointed to the Arkansas District Export Council. Dr. Frey was initially appointed in 2005, serving a four-year term, and has been reappointed for an additional four-year term. On August 17, Dr. Frey was presented with a certificate of reappointment by Francisco Sanchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Senator Mark Pryor, and Representative Vic Snyder. The presentation was made during the Arkansas Exporters Roundtable Luncheon at the Clinton Presidential Library.

Dr. Frey notes, “It is important that we continue to increase export activity in order for the U.S. to maintain its place as an economic leader. The purpose of the Arkansas District Export Council (DEC) is to support Arkansas companies in this effort. The ASU College of Business, through its International Business Resource Center and professors like Dr. Kelly Fish, Dr. Gauri Guha, and Dr. Clint Relyea, is taking an active role with the Arkansas DEC in providing training and consulting to Arkansas companies engaged in exporting their goods and services around the world.”

The nation’s 56 District Export Councils (DECs) are organizations composed of leaders in local business communities. The District Export Councils are closely affiliated with the U.S. Commercial Service's U.S. Export Assistance Centers. District Export Council members are appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. These international trade professionals use their knowledge and international business experience to act as consultants to small and medium-sized businesses wishing to export their products into markets outside the United States.

More than 1,500 exporters and export service providers throughout the United States volunteer their time to promote numerous trade-related activities. For more than 30 years, DECs have served the United States by assisting companies in local community exportation, thus promoting the nation’s economic growth and creating new and higher-paying jobs for individual communities. (Visit the National District Export Council website for more information.)

This year, the Arkansas District Export Council sponsored the first-ever Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Global Trade on May 17. Four Arkansas companies were recognized for their successful exporting strategies. Governor Mike Beebe presented  the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Global Trade to AmerCable Incorporated of El Dorado, winning in the large manufacturer exporter category; Weldon, Williams and Lick Incorporated of Fort Smith winning in the small/medium manufacturer category; Cobb-Vantress Incorporated of Siloam Springs, winning in the large agribusiness category; and Keith Smith Company Incorporated of Hot Springs, winning in the small/medium agribusiness exporter category.

For more information on the Arkansas District Export Council, contact Patricia Gonzalez (Patricia.Gonzalez@trade.gov), executive secretary, Arkansas District Export Council and director, U.S. Export Assistance Center, Arkansas, at (501) 324-5794.

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