Massachusetts Export Center StaffOne of the Massachusetts Export Center's key strengths is its highly capable and experienced staff. The Massachusetts Export Center's team is uniquely qualified to help businesses export. Each staff member has private sector international business development experience ranging from five to over twenty years. In addition, because of the Export Center's certification requirements under the Association of Small Business Development Centers, each staff member is required to undergo 24 hours of professional development training each year. This ensures that staff members stay up-to-date on the latest issues affecting exporters. The Massachusetts Export Center has a dedicated, resourceful and creative team that works well with clients and partners alike.
In addition to our staff, the
following interns are working as research assistants at the
Staff BiographiesPaula Murphy, Director
The Export Center helps Massachusetts firms to export their products and services overseas. Paula helps exporters through counseling, technical assistance, training, market research, and publication development. In addition, she has organized several overseas marketing activities, such as trade shows and trade missions. She oversees the Export Centers operations throughout the state, including the Centers offices in Boston, Worcester, Holyoke and New Bedford. State-wide, the Massachusetts Export Center generates significant economic impact each year in 2006, companies reported over $160,000,000 in export sales as a direct result of the Massachusetts Export Centers assistance. In addition to her role at the Export Center, Paula teaches graduate level international marketing and export/import operations at Boston University. Previously, she served as international trade counselor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and was an international marketing consultant with Hagan & Company, where she served as the New England agent for a number of foreign government agencies, including the Irish Trade Board (now Enterprise Ireland), the Australian Trade Commission and others. Paula has published numerous articles and books on international trade. She has been awarded the National Leadership Award in International Trade by the National Council on Community Service and has led the Massachusetts Export Center to receive numerous awards. She was named the 2005 Massachusetts State Star by the Association of Small Business Development Centers. She has served on the boards of several non-profit international trade organizations and is currently a director of the British American Business Council of New England. She is also a founding board member of the Greater China Business Council of New England. She was recently appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez to the District Export Council of Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Suffolk University and is a Certified Global Business Professional. P. Ann Pieroway, Western Massachusetts Regional Program Director Ann is the Western Massachusetts regional program director for the Massachusetts Export Center and the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network. Based in Holyoke, Ann helps Western Massachusetts companies develop their export plans. In addition, she coordinates export programs and seminars in Western Massachusetts. Ann has over 20 years of experience, having owned her own apparel business and having held several senior marketing and retail positions. She holds an MBA in finance from Florida State University. Julia Dvorko, Central Massachusetts Regional Program Director
Previously, Julia worked at the MSBDC State Office in Amherst, two joint ventures in Russia and a division of Volvo in the North of Sweden. During her career, she has also completed consulting assignments for two Fortune 500 companies and a number of small businesses in the U.S., Ukraine and Russia. She has a MBA degree from the University of Massachusetts, and a Ph.D. from Moscow State University. In 2006 she received a designation of the NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional, achieving the all-time highest score for the CGBP exam. Julia is fluent in English, Ukrainian, Russian and French, and has a working knowledge of several other languages. Marie Hladikova, Trade Services Manager
Additionally, Marie helps to coordinate the Partners for Trade export seminar series, which delivers a broad range of training programs for Massachusetts businesses at every stage of the export process. She is also coordinator of the International Trade Reporter e-newsletter and manages the Export Centers intern program. Marie co-authored several papers in the area of international marketing and has presented her research at national and international conferences. Marie graduated with a degree in international business, summa cum laude, from Salem State College and received Certified Global Business Professional designation from the North American Small Business International Trade Educators Association in 2006. Marie has lived and worked throughout the EU, is fluent in Czech and Slovak, and has traveled throughout the world. Nancy Lowd, Senior International Trade Advisor Nancy has more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of international business, specializing in international marketing. She has worked with companies of all sizes, including Fortune 500 and emerging growth companies, as well as government agencies and universities. Nancy began her career in Nancy was Vice President of International Marketing and Sales for Ziff-Davis Events, a leading integrated media company, and a part of The Softbank Corporation, the global Internet and information services conglomerate. Prior to serving as VP of International Marketing and Sales she was Vice President of European operations and oversaw ZD’s expansion throughout Europe. She developed and managed global marketing partnerships with leading IT vendors such as Microsoft, IBM, BT, France Telecom, and others. Prior to joining ZD, Nancy was a management and marketing consultant, developing US market entry and expansion strategies for European and Asian companies. Nancy is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and
also holds a Master’s Degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of
Advanced International Studies ( BreAnne Yothers, Assistant Trade Specialist
Previously, BreAnne worked with Direct Relief International in California where she organized numerous fund raising events for disaster relief in developing countries. She lived in the U.K. while completing her studies at Oxford University. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts magna cum laude with a bachelors degree in International Management. BreAnne has working knowledge of French and Mandarin and has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Latin America.
Catherine Reid Cornwell, Publications and Web Manager For almost twenty years, Cathy has been designing publications for the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network. She is also an integral part of the Massachusetts Export Center team. Based out of the MSBDC's state office at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Cathy designs and edits all internal and external publications for the Massachusetts Export Center and the MSBDC. In addition, she manages several MSBDC websites, including the website for the Massachusetts Export Center. Cathy also handles the registration process for all Partners for Trade export training programs. She received a bachelor's degree from UMass Amherst.
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Seminars and Events |
Export Growth Initiative |
Export Compliance |
Paula
is founder and director of the Massachusetts Export Center, part of the
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network. She has over twenty
years of international business experience in both the public and private
sectors. 