November 9th – Presenters
Dominik Andrzejczuk
Managing Partner
Atmos Ventures
Dom has been involved in technology startups since the beginning of his professional career. He cofounded mobile payments startup Nooch, in 2010 and has since been involved in the fin tech vertical.
Most recently, he was the Product Lead at the Virtual Currency startup Sohalo, where he established global relationships with Fortune 500 companies, and developed the core social loyalty product.
Dom holds a degree in Physics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania.
Thom Barnhardt
Founder
CEE Business Media
Thom Barnhardt, originally from Charlotte, NC, is Founder of CEE Business Media, Inc., which organizes Digital and Physical Awards events focused on Central Eastern Europe (especially Business Services; and Digital/Tech). His niche is connecting CEE-based companies to international partners and investors. Awards are a big part of the events: CEE X-Tech Awards (21 October, Wroclaw), Texas-CEE Tech Summit (November 2021 in Austin), CEE Digital Services Matchmaking (Japan, US); and WolvesSummit (19-21 October); Japan-Central Europe Investment Summit & Awards (2022), and 10th CEE Business Services Summit & Awards (2-3 February 2022).
Previous positions: Bank America (corporate finance; 5 years, Virginia & NC), Arthur Andersen (corporate finance; Budapest), CocaCola Japan Corp (brand marketing, Tokyo).
Websites: www.BiznesPolska.pl, www.EuropeanBusinessServices.com, www.CeeOutsourcingAwards.com,
www.UsaCeeInvestmentAwards.com www.CeeDigitalServices.eu, www.CeeXTechAwards.com, www.JapanEuropeInvestmentAwards.com
Cătălin Briciu
Co-CE
Linnifian
With a background in Law and Economics and an interest in Business and Technology, Cătălin, widely known as Alin, is the binding element between us and the market, clients, or partners. He is among the founding members of Linnify and most importantly, his diverse set of skills qualify him as the Linnifian always prepared for the next step in our journey. He is constantly on a mission to help others bring value to the world in their unique manner, as he is a strong believer in people’s ability to reach their full potential only provided that their authentic creativity has space to evolve and transform into something bigger and better, capable of taking humanity to the next level.
Marina Bzovîi
Executive Director
Moldovan Association of ICT Companies
Marina Bzovîi is the Executive Director of the Moldovan Association of ICT Companies, the action leading association and the voice of the Moldovan ICT industry. Besides managing the day to day activities of the association, Marina has hands on and mindful of the interests of members and the ICT business community as a whole. Marina has extensive experience in the continuous dialogue with public authorities, strategizing on ICT policies, while critically analyzing political and legislative documents, and ensuring outreach of policies intended to develop the ICT sector. Marina is an active member of various working groups as representative of the ICT sector. She is currently leading the ad-hoc working group on digitization within the Economic Council to the Prime-minister of RM.
Marina holds a bachelor degree in law and earned her master degree in Informational law. She continued her studies in Networking and Cybersecurity and Project Management. Marina started her career by successfully coordinating a program focused on critical thinking and rule of law, working with some of the brightest international relations specialists and legal minds throughout the world. Previously, she worked for the leading law firm in Chisinau, focusing on ICT related projects and providing business advisory services to local and international companies.
Passionate about art, digitalization, E-commerce, cybersecurity, data protection, AI and other futuristic technologies.
Catalin Criveteanu
Catalin Criveteanu is the Managing Partner at Equilobe Software. He is a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer and Microsoft Certified IT Professional Involved in various .NET development projects ranging from web-based reporting applications to desktop or server applications.
Criveteanu is interested in the mobile app market and on new cloud applications. His specialties include Software development, Software design, Project management, Training, .NET Framework, Windows Presentation Foundation, Silverlight, ASP.NET, SQL Server
Adriana Cruz
Executive Director
Office of the Governor Economic Development and Tourism
Adriana Cruz is the Executive Director of the Economic Development and Tourism (EDT) division within the Office of the Governor. Cruz joins EDT with a robust background in economic development and business, having most recently served as the President of the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP). She will lead the teams within EDT charged with promoting Texas as the best state for businesses large and small, as well as the premier destination for national and international tourism and trade. She will also work closely with local and regional economic development teams to continue to expand job creation and economic growth in rural, suburban, and metro communities across Texas.
Prior to assuming this role Cruz was the President of the Greater San Marcos Partnership, the regional economic development organization established in 2010 to encourage and nurture economic growth in San Marcos, and Hays and Caldwell Counties. Cruz has more than 20 years of leadership experience in economic development, marketing, and international business. Cruz was also the former Vice President of Global Corporate Recruitment for the Austin Chamber of Commerce where she was project lead in high profile corporate relocations and expansions. Cruz holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin, has been married for 34 years to her husband Rik and has three grown children living in the Austin area.
EDT teams within the Office of the Governor include: Business and Community Development, Research and Economic Analysis, Texas Film Commission, Texas Military Preparedness Commission, Texas Music Office, Texas Workforce Investment Council and Travel Texas.
Alex Dianu
Chief Operating Officer
Softbinator Technologies
Alex Dianu is the Chief Operating Officer at Softbinator Technologies in Bucharest, Romania. Prior to joining Softbinator, he worked at Cornerstone Technologies International where he served as Business Development Manager, Senior Software Engineer, and then VP of Business Development. Alex holds a Bachelor’s degree in Informatics Engineering and a Master’s degree in Web Development and Database Design, both from the University of Bucharest.
Natalia Dontu
Administrator
Moldova IT Park
Ms. Natalia Dontu is the Administrator of Moldova IT Park, a role she assumed on 24 February 2020. She has been appointed by the Government for a period of 5 years.Natalia started her professional career 11 years ago with a local consulting firm, being involved in business development projects and attracting funding for public authorities.
In 2011 Natalia joined the Tax and Legal Services team of PwC Moldova, where she provided tax and business advisory services to local and international companies over the last 8 years. Natalia was also involved in many projects aimed at improving the tax policies and tax administration in Moldova, including the tax and legal framework for IT parks.Apart from this, Natalia has been an active member of business organisations working with the Moldovan Government and business leaders to foster a more favourable business climate in Moldova for foreign trade and investment.
For many years, Natalia was among the main contributors to various business directories on the Moldovan investment climate.Natalia graduated the Faculty of Business and Administration at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, as well as the Faculty of Law, Economy and Management at the University of Orleans. She also holds the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation issued by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (UK).
David Erickson
CEO
Screaming Box
Dave Erickson has 30 years of very diverse business experience covering marketing, sales, branding, licensing, publishing, software development, PR, social media, advertising, SEO, SEM, and international business. A serial entrepreneur, he has started, owned and run businesses in the USA and Europe, as well as doing extensive business in Asia.
Prior to ScreamingBox, he was a primary partner in building the Fatal1ty gaming brand and licensing program; and ran an internet marketing company he founded in 2002, whose clients include Gunthy-Ranker, Qualcomm, Goldline, and Tigertext.
As CEO of ScreamingBox, he focuses on the running of the business, strategic vision, marketing vision, operational efficiency and business development to his large personal network.
Stephen Frayser, MBA
Executive Director, STAR Park
Co-Director, MARC
Texas State University
Steve Frayser brings over four decades of experience in economic development, research park management and successful efforts to spur the innovation economy. He served as one of the principal staff directing efforts to create the original University of Nebraska Technology Park in 1996 and eventually became its President in 2003. Over the next nine years the Park added over 2,400 jobs, 300,000 square feet of laboratory, engineering and office space and over $68 million in private sector investment. In conjunction with corporate sponsors a $1.5 million need based scholarship endowment was created and 30 acres set aside for students to learn sustainability practices through experiential learning.
In November, 2012, Frayser became the first Executive Director of Texas State University’s Science Technology Advanced Research (STAR) Park and a new technology incubator/collaborative facility (STAR One). Texas State University with an enrollment of over 39,000 has been designated as a Texas Emerging Research University and is federally recognized as an Hispanic Serving Institution with unique strengths in materials, semiconductor technology, polymers, advanced nanomaterials, smart technologies and GIS tools development.
STAR One, the Park’s incubator has been expanded twice from its original 14,000 square feet to 36,000 and is now the largest lab-based incubator in the state. STAR Park has been expanded from 38 acres to 58 with an additional 40 acres under option. Since 2014, companies located in STAR One have funded over $2.5 million in university research, hired 17 Texas State graduates, and raised more than $50 million through equity and strategic alliance investments.
In August, 2017, Frayser was appointed co-director of the Material Applications Research Center (MARC). A university level innovation center created to establish Texas State as a leader in the formation of integrated strategic initiatives furthering creation of an innovation led economy through applied research engagement, and entrepreneurship. Key components include development of a university wide platform for identification and development of new multi-disciplinary collaborative strategic initiatives, a robust multi-disciplinary entrepreneurship effort focused upon new venture launches and a seamless structure for support of critical research resources for public and private collaborators.
In addition to his research park experience, Steve has served as Deputy Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Interim Director of Technology Commercialization for the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Economic Development Director for the City of Lincoln, Nebraska and Executive Director of Greeley/Weld County Economic Development in Colorado.
Frayser earned his MBA from the University of Nebraska – Omaha and served as a Public Service Fellow while working on his Masters in Public Administration at Colorado State University where he graduated with distinction with his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science/Public Administration.
He is active in the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) serving on its Executive Committee, chairing its Awards Committee and is an instructor for the Building Communities of Innovation training program. Frayser is also involved with SSTI, InBIA, UT-Austin’s TEXVMS mentor network, TEXGHS life sciences network, MassChallenge Texas, the Greater San Marcos Partnership and the Central Texas Chapter of SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment Materials International).
Elizabeth Jennings
Principal, International at Venture Atlas Labs; Board of Directors,
Healthcare at Southwest Angel Network
Elizabeth Jennings is the Managing Director of Venture Atlas Labs, a commercialization firm known for bringing innovative technologies to commercial success in some of the most challenging markets around the world. Her work in developing risk mitigation frameworks for early-stage startups are used by venture capital funds, private equity, and corporations on four continents.
She is on the Board of Directors for SWAN Impact Network focusing on healthtech deals for one of the fastest growing angel networks in impact investing in the US. She frequently offers keynotes and workshops at the intersection of commercialization and investment for international trade organizations, academic institutions, accelerators, and research centers to prepare entrepreneurs with real-world tools to make stronger decisions.
She serves on multiple international healthcare councils and accelerator program, as well as a board member and advisor to five healthtech startups. Following a decade living abroad, she speaks Spanish and Italian.
With nearly a decade living in South America and Europe, she speaks Spanish and Italian reasonably well, and Portuguese, French, and Dutch with good intentions.
Zuzanna Kobrzynski
Head of the Polish Investment and
Trade Agency Office, Houston
Zuzanna Kobrzynski, is the head of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency office in Houston, TX, which is a part of a network of six US based offices. Her office covers seven states in total. The Agency’s mission is to help Polish entrepreneurs expand and grow their footprint into the US market and to help encourage the flow of FDI in Poland.
Prior to joining the Agency, she ran the innovation program for the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland, administered a joint US and Poland program on innovation for Poland’s National Center for Research and Development, was the assistant director of NYU’s Center of the Cold War and the United States, and worked in both the US State and Federal governments in a variety of roles.
Ivo Konstantinov
Head of Economic Section
Trade Attache at the Embassy of Bulgaria U.S.
Ivo Konstantinov is currently the Head of Trade and Commercial Office, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United States of America. His main areas of operation are centred on imports-exports and trade facilitation, investment promotion, IT cooperation enhancement, agricultural development, R&D outsourcing and exchange, technology transfers, tourism promotion, travel and transportation and new business development between the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria.
John Lynch
American entrepreneur, writer, and speaker
John Lynch is an American entrepreneur who has been doing business in Poland since 1991. In 1992, Lynch founded LYNKA, which he has grown to become one of Poland’s leading corporate apparel and sportswear manufacturing companies. Like many Polish ventures, LYNKA started with three employees and very little capital, and grew to over $20 million in sales and 200 employees. LYNKA has been recognized by the international press as “one of the leading promotional apparel companies in the world.” In 2012, Lynka became the only company in CEE to be chosen by NIKE as an Official Apparel Supplier.
John has a distinguished business background. From 1992-1993, John was the marketing director for the First Polish American Bank. Before coming to Poland, John worked in management at Procter & Gamble, Bristol-Myers and Schering Plough. He was also a senior management consultant for the world-renowned consultancy, Marakon Associates in New York City.
John graduated from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1984, with a B.S. in Engineering. In 1989, John completed his MBA at The Wharton School of Business, and completed programs at I.E.S.E in Barcelona, and UMIST in Manchester as well.
John has been frequently featured in the Polish and International press as a role model for doing business in Poland. John has been featured in the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and US News and World Report. In March 2004, he was featured on the cover of Poland Monthly as one of “the country’s top entrepreneurs” and in that same year was named AmCham’s Entrepreneur of the Year.
In 1994, John founded the Kraków branch of the American Chamber of Commerce in Poland. He was elected to the Board of Directors of AmCham Poland in July 2002. John is fluent in Polish and Spanish, as well as his native English.
Blagovesta Mantchev
Business Development Manager
Industries & Tech Division
Invest in France
Blago holds a double BA in International Relations and Economics from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Blago has for the past fifteen years held various positions in different sectors of activity, such as the legal profession and recently in the steel / metallurgy industry as a national buyer. In addition to this, Blago worked for local level election campaigns as a “Project Manager”.
Blago enthusiastically joined the Invest division of Business France North America in December 2020, as a Business Development Manager in Chicago and mainly covers the Midwest but also Texas with a specialty in automotive and heavy industry.
Gábor Markocsány
Consul Vice-Consulate
Hungary in Houston
After graduating from business school with a degree in economics and international trade Mr. Markocsány started to work at a private owned Hungarian foreign trade company. He was in charge of design and coordination of complex programs in Latin-America and Asia.
He also managed civil engineering projects in Hungary and advised the Hungarian Foreign Trade Association. After joining the Hungarian export promotion agency in 2011, he was responsible for promoting complex technology exports of SME-s to Latin America, Asia and Africa. At the same time, he was the Private Sector Liaison Officer of the World Bank and the UN in Hungary.
Gabor started his foreign service in Mexico City as trade attaché, from where he got promoted to the Head of the Latin-American Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Hungary. In 2018, he was appointed to lead the new diplomatic representation of Hungary in Houston, TX.
Claire McCarthy
Consul General of Ireland, Southwest U.S.
Consul General Claire McCarthy was appointed as the Consul General of Ireland to Texas and the southwest United States in August 2019.
The Consul General represents the Irish Government in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas (and Kansas City, Missouri), Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Consul General McCarthy has previously served in the Embassies of Ireland in Uganda and Zambia as well as in a number of assignments in the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin, Ireland.
Before joining the diplomatic service, Claire specialized in youth participation and access to third level education. Claire McCarthy holds a Master of Arts (Hons.) in Women’s Studies and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Law & European Studies from the University of Limerick. She is from Bandon, County Cork.
Mary McEvoy
Vice President of Technology, Consumer and Business Services, IDA Ireland
Mary McEvoy is the Vice President of Technology, Consumer and Business Services for IDA Ireland, the government agency of Ireland responsible for assisting multinational companies to set up operations in Ireland.
Mary has been based in the Austin office of IDA for just over a year and prior to that was based in the Atlanta office. Mary has also previously worked for Enterprise Ireland assisting Irish companies export overseas. Mary is originally from the medieval city of Kilkenny in Ireland, holds a Bachelor of Business and Spanish from the University of Limerick and an MBA from University College Dublin.
David Nichols
Vice President
Product Management at AudioQuest
David Nichols is Vice President Product Management at AudioQuest. Nichols is an accomplished, innovative and adaptable senior level executive with extensive experience enhancing corporate performance of billion dollar firms through strategic product management. Key contributor adept at tactical product development, positioning, and promotion.
Marketing leader with a track record of success in highly competitive technical markets at high profile firms including Samsung, IBM and Sony. Talent for cultivating profitable alliances to explode sales and improve profit margins. Expert problem solver with well-developed market research and analysis skills. Recognized for developing innovative and successful new products and product lines
Simon Obstbaum
Ex-CTO
Crunchyroll
Simon Obstbaum is the former CTO for Crunchyroll. A Technology executive. Strategic focus, cutting-edge product vision. Effective at building high-performance teams in distributed environments. Proven track record within the highly competitive software development industry with a focus on innovative product development.
Flavian-Catalin Pah
Co-Founder
CTOtech
Flavian-Catalin Pah is the Co-Funder of CTOtech. A highly motivated tech enthusiast and business developer professional with a career in business growth and development, project management, investor relations, sales and quality assurance. He has hands-on experience in cost control and delivery, business appraisal, cost/benefit analysis and product development
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Maris Pril
Director of FDI and Business Development in USA
Estonian Investment Agency
With a background in operations, corporate governance and early stage investments, Maris is now representing Estonian Investment Agency in the US.
Based in San Francisco, her aim is to be the spokesperson of Estonia’s digital society, its compelling business environment and its startup scene and to promote foreign direct investments to Estonia.
She has been in the middle of Estonian startup ecosystem for much of mher career, among other things being the COO of Startup Wise Guys which has grown to be the biggest accelerator program in Europe, and also helping launch the Estonian startup visa program.
Valentin Robert
Business Development Manager
Invest in France
With a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in management in the United States, Valentin began his career as a Project Manager in the medical field in Los Angeles and then in Canada as a Sales Manager. He has been present in North America for 7 years now.
Valentin joined the Invest division of Business France North America in July 2020, as Business Development Manager in New York, and he supports North American companies in the Technological sectors (such as cybersecurity, semiconductors, AI, quantum, telecommunications, big data, IOT or smart cities) in their investment projects in France.
Attaché for Science and Technology
Embassy of France in the US
Renaud Seigneuric, Dr, PhD, HDR, serves as Attaché for Science and Technology. He is part of the French Office for Science and Technology (OST), based in Washington DC. His office in Houston covers Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
An Attaché for Science and Technology (or Science Attaché) acts as a liaison officer between main research and higher education institutions in France and their counterpart in the United States. Thus, a Science Attaché creates new and develops existing partnerships between French and American institutions in Higher Education, Science, Innovation and R&D, in a large panel of scientific fields (more about our programs herehttps://france-science.com/). His latest scientific event was a French American Innovation Days (FAID) entitled “Physical Sciences and Engineering Solutions for the Environment”.
Prior to joining the Embassy of France in the US, as a physicist by training, Renaud was tackling complex systems at the intersection of Biology, Medicine (especially in oncology) and Data Science (for instance as Visiting Scientist at the State University of New York). His research interests aimed at using cutting-edge instruments and methods, in a quantitative, integrative and translational approach. He holds 6 patents (2 pending), and has been selected into the Who’s Who in the World since 2013. He is the author of “Practice of Science” -a handbook for PhD students, post-doctoral fellows and Faculty- published a few months ago.
Szymon Stadnik
Director of Business
FRISTA
Szymon Stadnik is Director of Business Service Center of Swiss outsourcing group FRISTA. Board member of FRISTA RETAIL BUSINESS CENTER SP. Z O.O. Responsible for leading international center in Warsaw, which provides BPO services in area of Finance and Accounting, Administration, IT and Customer Service. Holds extensive experience in managing multicultural teams. Created new Shared Service Center for Tally Weijl group in Warsaw. Has many years’ experience in the role of CFO for Eastern Europe. Worked 5 years in KPMG as auditor. Started career as analyst in Unilevel group. Polish Chartered accountant, ACCA Member.
George Teodorescu
Regional Director, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine
Mixbook
George Teodorescu manages Mixbook’s Silicon Valley operations in Eastern Europe. Oversees and coordinates all administrative, HR, legal and logistical issues. Represents the team to outside organizations, liaise with executive staff in the company’s Redwood City HQ, and recruit engineers, designers, product managers, and other key positions.
Irina Tolstousov
Head of Country Brand Promotion
Invest Moldova Agency
Irina Tolstousov is Head of Country Brand Promotion for Invest Moldova Agency. An experienced Head of Brand Promotion Department with a demonstrated history of working in the public and private sectors. Skilled in marketing strategy, public relations, and brand promotion.
Van Truskett
Executive Director
Texas Innovation Center
Dr. Van N. Truskett has a track record of innovation, leadership, and attainment of business results in nanoimprint lithography addressing its introduction and use in the semiconductor, hard disk drive, and emerging market (bio, solar, LED, display) applications. She has over 14 years of technical, operations, and strategic leadership experience related to semiconductor equipment manufacturing and inkjet printhead R&D and product release. Her work has taken jetting technology from scholarship to practice in the US and Asia, enabling a novel path for lower production costs for the semiconductor industry.
Dr. Truskett played a critical role in a team that raised $150M in venture capital and developed a startup, Molecular Imprints, into a thriving enterprise that Canon acquired in 2014 to form Canon Nanotechnologies. Her accomplishments included developing dramatically higher resolution nanopatterning solutions at a lower cost of ownership compared to competitors. She was instrumental in the product release of over 10 nanoimprint lithography products and over 6 cutting-edge inkjet printing products. She has over 50 patents (US and international) constituting the core technology.
Dr. Truskett is a nationally recognized technology and business leader. She is the recipient of the 2014 Industrial Research & Development Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). This is a national chemical engineering award for innovation, creativity, and impact of bringing new product to market. In 2016, she was awarded The Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Technology Innovation from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering, and Science of Texas and also was selected as the Distinguished Engineering Graduate (DEG) from the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. The O’Donnell Award is the most prestigious state award recognizing Texas-based researchers for their pioneering work. The DEG award is the highest honor from the Cockrell School given to highly respected professionals, dedicated engineers, and supporters of higher education. In 2017, Dr. Truskett was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Chemical Engineers from the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. As of 2020, Dr. Truskett became a Board member of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Excellence (CIEE) of AIChE and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.
Dr. Truskett served as Director of Jetting Technology for Canon Nanotechnologies. Her groundbreaking developments, scientific contributions, and leadership of core technologies in semiconductor equipment manufacturing and inkjet printhead innovation were seminal to the company’s acquisition. Currently, Dr. Truskett is the Executive Director of the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Innovation Center and the Director of Technology Innovation Development in the Office of the Vice President of Research. She brings her expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship to foster and enable the commercialization of university-based discoveries and young startup companies to succeed.
Dr. Truskett received her Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University and B.S. from The University of Texas at Austin, both degrees in chemical engineering.
Danas Vaitkevicius
Counselor at Embassy of Lithuania to the United States, based in Washington, DC. Previous posts included Georgia, China and Lithuania.
Co-Founder & Director Of Product Design
ixperi
A recognized design leader, mentor, and community builder with over 16 years of experience out of which 9 years in digital consumer products, based in Bucharest, Romania.
Vucea is passionate about building and growing design teams and design communities and his mission is to help companies thrive through building meaningful products that customers need and enjoy using.
With a solid background in Visual Design and Interaction Design, Vucea can manage the whole Product Design process and guide a team through it, and with good skills in User Research, he can validate the work being done.
Vucea founded ixperi, a Digital Product Design consultancy studio that aims to help companies build amazing products that customers need and enjoy using.
Summit Key Contributors
Mortada Mohamed
President, World Affairs Council of Austin
Co-Chair – Texas-EU Business Summit
Mortada is the President of the World Affairs Council of Austin, and former Regional Trade Director for Europe, Africa, Middle East, for the State of Texas, Office of the Governor, Economic Development & Tourism Division, where he promoted Texas exports and foreign direct investment in these regions. This included the IT, energy, agriculture and food sectors. He is an adjunct professor of international business at several Central Texas universities and colleges. He has served as a speaker for the US Department of State International Speaker’s Program throughout North Africa
and the Arabian Gulf region. Mr. Mohamed presented in conferences both domestically and internationally, most recently at the Bahrain, Higher Education Council Symposium; “International Academy of Management and Business Symposium”, Istanbul, Turkey and the “World Investment Conference”, La Baule, France.
He is a volunteer consultant on behalf of ACDI/VOCA, funded by USAID, assisting in economic development programs in Eastern Europe, Africa and Siberia.
Mr. Mohamed serves on the University of Texas at Austin Center for European Studies Advisory Board; the Board of Governors of North America Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE); is a member of the Texas Economic Development Council and the District Export Council.
Mr. Mohamed has an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.
Ben Ramirez III
CEO
Cogitare Global, LLC
Cogitare Global assists the transformation of local companies into global competitors. Ben works with organizations to identify specific business goals and implementation strategies which match their objectives. He provides executives and their teams with the tools they need to achieve sustainable growth in a continually changing international marketplace.
Ben manages the Foreign Trade Zone of Central Texas with member companies’ annual exports totaling $250-$500 million. He was first appointed to the Texas Camino Real District Export Council by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. Ben is an Entrepreneur Advisor with Tech Ranch and serves as Vice President of the World Affairs Council of Austin and Executive Director of Austin’s Global Trade Center. Ben obtained a BA in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Michigan, and a JD from the University of Toledo
