Press Release Sep 25 2008
SDWTC Gala amid Forklifts and Ferraris
San Diego World Trade Center Recognizes
Leaders in International Trade
October 2
nd,
2008, SAN DIEGO - From 3:30-7:30pm, will mark the San Diego World Trade Center's
(SDWTC) 31st Annual Awards Gala, where the local international business
community unites to commemorate the 2008 Exporter, Importer and Service
Provider of the Year, as well as the Essence of World Trade Award
honorees.
"Our
Gala could not be held at a more important juncture for San Diego's
international trade and economic development community," said Elizabeth
Foster, SDWTC Chair. "The turbulent world economy, different trade
policy positions of the presidential candidates, and the local November
ballot initiative promoting the double-decking of the Tenth Avenue
Marine Terminal for commercial development all make for a dynamic
intersection of critical issues."
Bella
Heule, SDWTC President/CEO, explains, "We chose the unique venue of
this year's Annual Awards Gala to showcase the Working Waterfront,
which creates an estimated $1.8 billion in economic impact, and
directly employs about 19,000." A dock-side
warehouse, filled with some of the 500,000 high-end vehicles processed
annually by Pasha Automotive Services, will create the platform for the
awards ceremony, followed by a festive waterfront networking reception
and dinner. Guest speakers, Dan Griswold, Director of Cato Institute's
Center for Trade and Policy Studies, and John Adeyemi Adeleke, CEO of
World Trade Center Lagos, Nigeria, will present U.S. and international
perspectives on "Navigating U.S. Trade Policy" in a new administration.
SDWTC
hosts its Annual Awards Gala to celebrate companies that demonstrate
excellence in international trade and, thereby, exemplify the mission
of the SDWTC, which is to position San Diego regional business for
international recognition and global market success. This year's
nominees for 2008 Exporter of the Year are: Bill Hay International,
Callaway Golf, DJO Inc., Goodrich Aerostructures, KESDEE, Palomar
Technologies, Quake Global, and SportKat.
2008 Importer of the Year nominees include: Bamboo Buddy, Ethertronics, Inc., and Sage Green.
This
year's nominees for 2008 Service Provider of the Year are: Cange
International, Inc., CFS International Capital Corp, Eastern Car Liner
Americas, Inc., Global Connect, InterAmerican Group, ITC Diligence,
Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Western Bank, Stephen Gould
Corporation, Vinculum Communications, World Trans Services, and Zisser
Customs Law Group.
The
Essence of World Trade Award will be presented on behalf of SDWTC by
Mayor Jerry Sanders to William Hall, Owner, Vivistar Corporation, and
Commissioner Emeritus, Unified Port of San Diego.
List
of sponsors: Save Our Working Waterfront, San Diego County Regional
Airport Authority, Port of San Diego, City and County of San Diego,
Donovan's Steak and Chop House, FedEx, Palomar Technologies, Pasha Automotive Services, San Diego Business Journal, Sony Electronics, Inc., Tatum LLC, USD Ahler's Center for International Business, Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank N.A., and WD-40 Company.
Reb Risty
Marketing & Programs Director
619.615.0868 x109
rristy@wtcsd.org
