NASBITE (National Association of Small Business & International Trade Educators) Past, Present & Future, Part II

NASBITE Future

President as of April 21, 2012, Laurie Wolff ( Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL) had many things to say about the future of NASBITE.  This year she would like to see several things happen:

• Get the recertification process going for the CGBP.  There are 1000 who have been certified, 313 in this year alone.  This certification is valid for 5 years.
• Finish the strategic plan.

When asked what she is most passionate about, Laurie said: to keep, establish and develop relationships: bridge the gap between educators, trade trainers and practitioners to improve the quality of international trade. One way she plans to do this is with businesses at trade shows.  Tell them how important it is for them to have a comprehensive knowledge base to do global business: be familiar with the  barriers, supply chain, clearances, Somali pirates and more.  It is not enough to be an expert in one area, in today’s global business, one must have a general competency in all areas of trade.  Professionals also need standards of excellence and best practices. NASBITE has the resources and expertise to do this.

Laurie Wolff, newly elected President of NASBITE

In 1999, Laurie Wolff shares, 30% of Americans thought free trade was bad for America.  Today, 50% of Americans think free trade is bad.  Many think that exports have decreased over the past years, but in reality last year had the highest level of exports ever.  Challenges to trade are still present, in fact they are even more important today.  Globalization of students is a bigger job with fewer resources.  All these are reasons for NASBITE to educate and certify.

Barbara Moebius has her own theories as to the future of NASBITE.  She says that NASBITE is poised to take off in leaps and bounds over the next 12 years.  It will grow into an organization that self-manages rather than depending on a host institution.  There will be more staff especially to manage the CGBP. The Distinquished Fellows Council of Past Presidents will see to it!

Anmmar Alsaggaf, first time NASBITE attendee. Interning with the CITD and preparing for the CGBP.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Anmmar Alsaggaf who is a young man majoring in entrepreneurship at Fresno State, CA. who attended the NABITE conference for the first time. His director at the CITD where he is an intern rewarded him with the opportunity.  (The CITD in Fresno is funded by the State Center Community College District.) When asked why he wanted to attend, Anmmar who was born in Saudi Arabia, answered that he wanted to learn all he could for a career in international trade. While attending Anmmar learned about the vision that links education and business and that even though regions are different it is okay.

He wants to attend the Thunderbird School of Global Management and pursue a masters in International Business.  He met all sorts of alumni from the school at the NASBITE conference and found that most of the presenters of the sessions were graduates of the school as well.  One of his goals is to get the CGBP certification before graduate school.  He said that employers check out the CGBP group on LinkedIn and he wants to be in that group.

Anmmar summed up his experience with NASBITE: “There is no better place to be at, for what I want to do.”