WTCBN Announces 2018 World Trade Celebration
BUFFALO, NY (Aug. 6) – World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara (WTCBN) president Craig Turner announced today that World Trade Celebration 2018, the premiere international trade event of the year, will be held on Thursday, September 20 at the beautiful new event facility, Events at the Wurlitzer, in North Tonawanda. Patrick Whalen, executive director for the Niagara Global Tourism Institute (NGTI) will serve as keynote speaker.
“We’re thrilled that Pat has agreed to be our keynote speaker for World Trade Celebration this year,” said Turner. “Pat’s involvement with World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara goes back to its earliest beginnings, and his leadership in our bi-national region’s efforts to grow international trade has been extensive. As we celebrate our 30th year serving Western New York and Southern Ontario’s international trade community, we’re looking forward to hearing Pat’s review of our region’s success and challenges, as well as his outlook for the future.”
Whalen currently serves as the executive director for the Niagara Global Tourism Institute. Before joining the NGTI, Pat served for 8 years as the COO of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc. (BNMC). In addition to managing the BNMC day-to-day operations Pat was the BNMC’s unofficial “entrepreneur–in-residence" working to foster collaboration & job creation on campus and throughout the bi-national region.
Among a number of businesses Pat started is Fulfillment Systems International (FSI), a technology driven logistics services provider, which grew from a 1-man startup in '85 to a firm with over 200 employees in 5 locations in Canada, Europe, and the USA before being sold to UPS in 2000. It is now part of UPS Supply Chain Solutions. Pat sits on the board of directors of: the Canadian American Border Trade Alliance; WNY Public Broadcasting; Health Science Charter School; Council of the Great Lakes Region; New Buffalo Capital; and the Richardson Center Corp.
World Trade Celebration 2018 also includes the networking reception of the year for Buffalo Niagara’s international trade community, featuring the opportunity for companies involved in international business to showcase their organization and initiatives to our international business audience.
Prior to Whalen’s keynote address, WTCBN will be hosting a panel discussion featuring WNY and Southern Ontario companies’ response to the current international trade environment.
World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara is celebrating its 30th year in 2018. Its mission is to assist companies in Western New York and Southern Ontario to find success beyond their domestic markets. WTCBN is part of the World Trade Centers Association.
Click here for more details and to register.
Sponsorships are available: Being involved in Buffalo-Niagara’s highest profile business event of the year. World Trade Celebration attracts an average of 500 international business professionals from various industries including the region’s leaders in manufacturing, technology and government from New York State and Southern Ontario, Canada. These attendees will be attending in 2015 and seeing your message and company at the event. Please contact us for more information.
