meet the team
the “vanbassador”
As a former US diplomat, i’ve decided to shed the suit and travel AROUND THE world in my converted Sprinter van to interview global ecommerce entrepreneurs about their stories and the actionable insights they’ve gained along the way.
In addition to to my role as the “Vanbassador,” I also serve as the Chief Strategy Officer for the California International Trade Center, part of the California government's strategy to increase exports through small business ecommerce growth. I’m an active Chairman of the Getting to Global Initiative which runs online ecommerce accelerator programs across the globe and manages the www.export-connect.org platform, one of the largest public/private partnerships in North America with support from the Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Export-Import Bank and with backing from Facebook, Google, BigCommerce and eBay to help small businesses sell online, overseas.
I manage a team to deliver ecommerce acceleration in partnership with the Small Business Development Centers. I sit on the advisory board of the lifestyle venture capital fund, WellinderShi Capital, and consult for celebrity skincare such as Paris Hilton ProDNA, retailers such as REVOLVE and branded agriculture such as Califia Farms to help them navigate the ever-shifting cross-border ecommerce waters.
over the past 15 years,
I’ve developed a unique straight-talking interview and event style with a sprinkle of humor and a dash of irreverence. I’ve kept audiences engaged running countless workshops, webinars and conducted hundreds of video interviews with entrepreneurs across the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Asia for government agencies, industry partners and brands.
Pre-COVID you would often catch me hosting a “pit stop” running “Cross-border Incremental Growth” workshops at Nasdaq’s Entrepreneurial Center, eTail West, The Irvine Chamber of Commerce, California International Trade Center, Long Beach Convention Center, Port of Long Beach, Chicago’s IRCE, ASBDC’s Annual Event, New York’s Global Retail Forum, and London’s eCommerce Expo. My members-only events like those for the Council for Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and the Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA) have garnered industry acclaim and helped launch brands into the global marketplace.
All this to say, my background, expertise and insatiable need for attention has spawned a transformation into self-proclaimed video host, taking my show online and experimenting with bringing on-demand industry insight and story-telling to screens worldwide.
My first run was as the host of the show bearing the same name as the public/ private initiative I started called Getting to Global.
After securing financing from Facebook, Google, Pitney Bowes, USPS and signing partnerships with the Small Business Administration and the Export-Import Bank, I began capturing insights from entrepreneurs who were attending my Getting to Global workshops.
Kenneth Cole (left) at Transperfect’s Global Retail Forum
When the California Chancellor’s Office for Economic and Workforce Development asked me to advise on how they could spark more local companies to go online and start selling internationally…
I hopped in the van and started heading West.
Ok, I might have been heading there anyway… If you haven’t heard, California is a pretty nice place to spend time in a converted Sprinter van.
I joined the California International Trade Center as their Chief Strategy Officer and we began building ecommerce accelerators, running workshops, webinars and leading training programs together with Global SF, Small Business Development Centers, U.S. Commercial Service, the LA Chamber, Long Beach Chamber, the LA Mayor’s Office, Community College Faculty and the World Trade Centers in LA, NorCal & San Diego.
It was here that the concept took hold
The number one thing companies need now is to hear from each other. How are they succeeding? What road blocks have they overcome? What little hacks were they using to gain traction online in new markets?
So I felt compelled by the need and my accumulated skill-set to take to the road and capture these insights real-time. I serve as an amplifier for these inspiring and insightful stories on how brands are staying local and going global.
And so, from this grain of California sand was birthed…