Governor’s Trader of the Year and Emerging Trader of the Year Awards to be presented by Governor Christine Gregoire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Event details:
5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 16, 2010,
Columbia Room, Columbia Tower Club
701 5th Avenue, Seattle

SEATTLE (February 23, 2010) – On March 16, 2010, Governor Christine Gregoire will recognize the winners of the 2010 Governor’s Trader and Emerging Trader of the Year Awards and discuss the importance of Washington’s international trade activities. The awards will be presented at a reception held at the Columbia Tower Club in coordination with the Washington State Department of Commerce’s TRADE WEEK.

The World Trade Club annually presents the Governor’s Trader of the Year and Emerging Trader of the Year Awards to a firm or individual that has demonstrated outstanding achievements in international trade. In 1996, Governor Lowry honored the World Trade Club and acknowledged the importance of international trade to our State by lending the name of his office to the award. In 1998, in order to recognize smaller businesses, the World Trade Club added a second award, the Governor’s Emerging Trade of the Year, recognizing a firm or individual having a more recent entry into Washington’s international trade arena.

Applications and/or nominations for the awards are taken each winter, and judged by an independent selection committee, which reviews all applications and selects the winners. The committee changes every year, and is generally comprised of representatives from our state’s bilateral trade organizations, members of the public and private sector, and other trade leaders. World Trade Club board members facilitate the meeting and may observe, but do not vote.

Last year, a group of 150 local and state government officials, business, logistics, finance and banking professionals were in attendance at the ShoWare Center in Kent, WA, to congratulate the two winners, MulvannyG2 Architecture (Trader of the Year) and Sonosite, Inc. (Emerging Trader of the Year).

“MulvannyG2 is honored to receive this award and to be part of Washington State’s long list of innovative companies. We commend the World Trade Club’s dedication to helping grow our state through international trade. Without organizations like the World Trade Club and the Washington State Department of Commerce we could not have become an internationally recognized architecture firm,” said Mitch Smith and Ming Zhang, Senior Partners of MulvannyG2.

Established in 1946, the World Trade Club is one of the oldest and largest international trade organizations in Washington. Its mission is to provide a forum for the business community to acquire practical skills for international business; give briefings on international trade issues; expand the understanding of business practices of U.S. trading partners; and develop long-term strategic contacts to advance international business. The Club has regular meetings in downtown Seattle or Eastside locations. The meetings feature noted experts who make presentations on international trade topics. The Club also organizes skill sessions and seminars to provide in-depth information on very specific issues of interest to our members.

Media interested in attending the Awards Reception should contact World Trade Club Co-President Allison Clark, [email protected] or 206-878-3710, ext. 3264.

About Athena Marketing International:

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Athena Marketing International (AMI) provides international marketing, business development and strategic consulting services to U.S. food & beverage manufacturers. Its objective is to assist high quality, emerging U.S. food and beverage producers develop into major global brands. In addition, AMI serves as an advisor to its clients’ senior management, offering counsel on international marketing, business development, foreign joint ventures and alliances, strategic planning, media and promotion, distribution, and foreign language packaging. AMI works closely with CEOs, business owners, and senior executives of their food and beverage client companies to expand their businesses, reduce expenses, increase profits and develop a long-term sustainable global business platform. For more information about AMI, please visit athenaintl.com.

Media Contact and Inquiries for AMI:
Autumn Best, Marketing Manager:
[email protected]
Tel. +1.206.749.9255
Fax +1.206.624.8826

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