Chapter News

New Chapters Onboard

Some members of the founding board of the new Ottawa Chapter with Canadian Senator Marie-P. Poulin.  [l to r], Alexandra Logvin, Amanda Neadow, Heather Stokes, Senator Poulin, Rachelle St. Denis, Daniela Michaud, Josie Mousseau  and Joelle Hamilton.

OWIT is pleased to welcome two new chapters – one in Ottawa, Canada and another in Phoenix, U.S.!
 
Congratulations to OWIT Ottawa on its official launch June 1, attended by over 70 people. Special guest speaker for the evening was the Honourable Marie-P (Charette) Poulin, a former president of the Liberal Party of Canada and the first woman to chair the Senate Liberal Caucus, who applauded OWIT for its global reach and for providing  networking opportunities for women around the world.   Gail Morris and Susan Baka of the International Board welcomed Ottawa into the OWIT fold. 

The president of the Ottawa chapter, Amanda Neadow, is grateful for the support received during their set up and launch, “Amanda deVogel, OWIT Toronto, and Gail Morris, VP of Chapter Development, have both been a huge help to the launch of this chapter and we really appreciate their support.”  Looking to the future, “I am eager to reach out to businesses within Ottawa,” she says. There is a huge need for a chapter in this city.” Its website can be found at www.owit-ottawa.ca

A chapter in Phoenix, Arizona will be launched in September. “One of our goals is to explain both the differences and similarities of international and domestic supply chain issues to companies,” says Judith Lukas, President.

Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the U.S. and the twelfth largest metropolitan area – just ahead of San Francisco. The metro population increased by one million, or 32%, from 2000 to 2008. “We have many defense, aerospace and high-tech companies but no robust international organization for the many people in international business,” explains Judith. “A few of us found each other last year and put together a plan for OWIT-Phoenix.” Its website, www.owitphoenix.org, is up and running.

Geneva Rebranded

Last fall our Geneva Chapter rebranded itself OWIT Lake Geneva. Founded in 2001 as Geneva Women in International Trade (GWIT), OWIT Lake Geneva has striven to foster international development opportunities reaching approximately 300 women and men in Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland over the last eight years. “We are excited to more firmly align our brand with the larger OWIT network. Uniting with other chapters around the globe will enhance the networking capabilities of both OWIT and our chapter. We look forward to more fully participating in, and contributing to, OWIT’s global forum, exchanging best practices, industry information, and new ideas.”

There are not many cities in the world that house such diverse professional communities, bridging the gap between private, public, non-governmental and governmental sectors. OWIT Lake Geneva can be found at www.gwit.ch.

OWIT-New York at World Trade Week
[l to r] Amanda Barlow (OWIT-NY), Philip Wyatt (WorldNet International), Javier Grenobles (WorldNet International), Donna Shira (OWIT-NY), Courtney Lutterman (OWIT-NY) & Lucy Richardson (OWIT-NY)
[Photo courtesy of Marcela Solano]

Every year, the New York region's international trade and logistics community dedicates a week in May to celebrate World Trade Week (WTW) offering a full agenda of educational seminars, global business networking events and an Awards Breakfast that recognizes exemplary contributions in the field.  The week begins with the Awards Breakfast on Monday morning where outstanding companies that have grown through global expansion are recognized.  On May 17, OWIT-New York exhibited at this breakfast for the first time and found this to be an ideal marketplace to meet fellow international traders to learn the latest trends in our industry and to promote the organization and chapter. One of the key organizers of the event was OWIT-NY programming chair Lene Skou, Deputy Director, Weismann Center for International Business.

In addition to the WTW Monday morning kick-off breakfast, OWIT-NY also co-sponsored a cocktail networking event with the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce (MCC) on Wednesday evening. The event was free to all OWIT and MCC members.

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