North Texas District Export Council (NTDEC)
2010 Annual Plan

Mission Statement:
The District Export Councils (DEC) contribute leadership and international trade expertise to complement the U.S. Commercial Service's (USDOC) export promotion efforts through counseling businesses on the exporting process and conducting trade education and community outreach.

The primary objectives of the NTDEC are to educate the community about free trade and its benefits and include 'how to' education to promote exports by companies in our area. The Council also lobbies state and federal legislatures to promote issues that can have a positive affect regarding international trade for the North Texas region. The NTDEC works specifically with the North Texas U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) to accomplish our goals.

Education Committee

Export Forum - Roger Cunningham
Export Forum provides North Texas exporters the opportunity within a roundtable discussion format to learn from and interact with North Texas DEC members and other North Texas exporters regarding their experiences and insights in overcoming specific exporting challenges. Export Forum programs consists of informal presentations by several North Texas DEC members followed by a roundtable discussion where your questions can be answered and your experiences can be shared. The goals of Export Forum is to provide education on common exporting challenges faced by North Texas exporters and to develop a community where North Texas exporters can learn from one another concerning common exporting issues.

Export University - Daniel Ogden & Oliver Sintobin
Export University is a nation-wide education program offered by District Export Councils which provide training in various aspects of exporting. Export University has been recognized and is supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a premier international trade education and train program. The North Texas DEC Export University program is conducted by North Texas District Export Council members who are proven leaders with current experience in exporting.

Exporting with the Experts - Karen Hart
Exporting with the Experts provides in a classroom setting practical advice on exporting to students at various North Texas colleges and universities  This program introduces export marketing principles and practices from experienced exporters to prospective or early stage exporters.

Advanced Events - Daniel Ogden & Scott Sullivan
The North Texas DEC holds discrete seminars and conferences targeted at North Texas companies on advanced topics in exporting presented by experts in their fields, including U.S. Bureau of Industry & Security conferences on export compliance.

Legislative Affairs Committee - Daniel Ogden

Legislator Outreach
The North Texas DEC holds individual meetings with targeted legislators to further their knowledge of the NTDEC and further the importance of international trade issues for the North Texas business community. NTDEC members also visit their federal and state legislator offices to introduce DEC´s as a resource.

Legislator Communications
The North Texas DEC, on an occasional basis, communicates with North Texas legislators by letter, phone, or in writing regarding issues of vital interest to the North Texas international trade community.

International Trade Legislative Forums
The North Texas DEC hosts, in conjunction with selected legislator offices, international trade legislative forums where North Texas exporters will be able to interface with legislators on various issues related to international trade. The NTDEC will also co-host these events with the U.S.Chamber of Commerce.

Trade Policy Committee - Sanmi Akinmulero
Identifies trade issues that are of common interest to all Texas DEC´s.

Electronic Communications Committee

Marketing - Oliver Sintobin
Increase recognition through various media outlets. Expand the networking Internet to group tool “Linked In”.

Web Site - Radi Al-Rashed
The NTDEC will work with the other Texas DEC´s to upgrade our website. Add FAQ´s regarding current issues and archive past data. NTDEC will work with the Camino Real DEC to develop web site advertising rate schedules as a method of raising money. Federal and state legislative developments and updates affecting the international trade community will be posted to the NTDEC website on a regular basis.

Texas Exporters Resource Guide - Radi Al-Rashed
Distribute and promote the Texas Resource Guide. Solicit comments, questions and suggestions for improving the guide in the future printings and include a list of FAQ´s from exporters and buyers.

Counseling - All
Each member will recognize DECs in their business outreach efforts, optional to use new DEC business cards, referrals from USDOC personnel or website, and to include diversity and rural outreach efforts.

Membership - Executive Committee
The Executive Committee addresses all new applicants for membership in conjunction with the DEC Secretary (USEAC).