Honor roll of U.S. exporters - best US exporters

Business America, July 26, 1993

Selling American products and services in other countries has become an increasingly important national objective as a way to create jobs and otherwise boost the U.S. economy and improve our trade balance. Those U.S. companies that make special efforts to increase exports are not only helping themselves--they are helping their country as well. The same holds true for various other organizations that provide export services. These companies and organizations deserve recognition. As the U.S. government's magazine on international trade, Business America continues its "Honor Roll of U.S. Exporters." The honor roll includes winners of the President's "E" Award for excellence in exporting and as many other winners of export achievement awards as we can collect. We ask our readers to inform us about state and local exporting awards that may have escaped our attention. Write or call us: Business America, Room 3414, U.S. Department of Commerce, Wash., D.C. 20230; tel. (202) 482-3251.

Area Export Awards

NEWARK, N.J.--A businessman, a local chamber of commerce, and a county international trade commission are the winners of the 1993 New Jersey Mentor Award for exporting, according to State International Trade Director A. Philip Ferzan.

The winners were:

* Thomas G. Gaspar, managing director of Product Line Management International in Warren, N.J., a firm that specializes in managing major global product lines. During his more than 30-year career, he has served as a member of the Governor's Commission on International Trade and as Chairman of the Commission's Education Subcommittee. He is an active member of the U.S. Department of Commerce's New Jersey District Export Council. Gaspar has also conducted graduate seminars in international trade at the American University Graduate School for International Management, and Princeton University, where he has been named Visiting Fellow of the University's Woodrow Wilson Foundation.

* The Metro Newark Chamber of Commerce. The chamber hosts a number of overseas trade missions and conferences to address opportunities and challenges for Garden State businesses in the European Community. It also sponsors an Export Matchmaker Trade Fair and Conference which seeks to increase exports by matching businesses ready to do business overseas with those who have the resources and experience to introduce them to the new markets. The program has resulted in more than $7 million in contracts for New Jersey businesses since its inception in 1989. The chamber has conducted an import/export training program since 1991; held at Essex County Community College, the program is designed to ensure that the next generation of business people will be fully versed in the intricacies of international trade.

* The Cumberland County International Trade Council. The council's primary goal is to inform and develop overseas business opportunities for companies in Cumberland County. With members drawn from government and industry, the council provides a regular series of meetings, seminars, and field trips for potential exporters that focus on their specific requirements and opportunities. The council also supports businesses already engaged in overseas commerce through the sharing of its information and resources.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.--Edward Keible, Corporate Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Committee of Raychem Corporation of Menlo Park, Calif., has been named Export Executive of the Year by the Northern California District Export Council. Keible is President of Raychem's export arm, the Raychem International Corporation, which conducts operations in 30 countries and has revenues of $300 million. Raychem makes material science products.

Keible has assisted small enterprises in his international work for the American Electronics Association. As a past chairman of the AEA Japan Trade Group, he has led a campaign aimed at penetrating the Japan high-tech marketplace in concert with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative.

Keible's export marketing techniques and strategies have positioned Raychem to compete effectively, to increase the firm's global market share, and to become a leader in the global material science marketplace.