Roxanne Baumann, Director of Global Engagement for WMEP Manufacturing Solutions, has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Finance Advisory Council.
Baumann’s appointment is effective immediately and will run through Aug. 7, 2022.
Baumann’s experience and advice will be helpful to the U.S. Department of Commerce in effectively addressing and enhancing a full range of financing options for U.S. exporters, U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo noted in making the appointment.
The U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Finance Advisory Council (TFAC) is comprised of 25 private-sector members representing a broad range of companies, products, services, trade finance, public policy and economic development organizations, and academia. The chairperson of the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the national director of trade finance for the U.S. Small Business Administration serve as ex-officio members.
TFAC supports the U.S. Department of Commerce’s strategic goals of enhancing job creation by strengthening companies’ export capabilities and reducing the costs and complexities associated with exporting.
“The trick is to go after the best opportunities with the least risk and understand the export process and where to get impactful business support,” Baumann said. “We can stop missing out on revenue, wasting time, chasing unproductive markets, creating unnecessary expenses, and getting poor results from sales channel partners. Education and getting strategic is key.”
Baumann has led the WMEP’s highly successful ExporTech™ program since 2009. Under her leadership, more than 300 Wisconsin manufacturers have completed ExporTech™ export expansion strategies while averaging more than $1 million in new revenue the first year.
Baumann has more than 25 years of private-sector manufacturing global sales management experience, most notably with Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson Inc.
“I am honored and humbled by this appointment and opportunity to serve Secretary Raimondo,” Baumann said. “Our small and medium-size enterprises nationwide need to enhance their understanding of proactive exporting and have a national voice to their everyday export challenges. I look forward to providing real-world insight and practical business solutions to the U.S. Department of Commerce.”
The Wisconsin ExporTech™ program has been built on collaborations with key trade finance banks; U.S. Commercial Service; Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; Wisconsin International Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection; SBA/EXIM programs; and the SBA/STEP grant as administered through the WEDC.
The ExporTech™ program has earned several U.S. Department of Commerce and Wisconsin Governor’s Export Achievement awards, while Baumann received the U.S. Department of Commerce’s NIST MEP Innovator of the Year Award.
“I believe Roxanne will be an excellent addition to the Trade Finance Advisory Council and will leverage her skills and learnings to greater nationwide impact,” WMEP Executive Director and CEO Tim Wiora said.
Recently, Wisconsin’s ExporTech™ became virtual, ensuring an even greater reach to companies anywhere in Wisconsin.
Export trade is a huge boost for economic growth, raising incomes, creating jobs, reducing prices, sparking innovation, extending product life cycles, increasing workers’ earning power, and shielding small and mid-size businesses from domestic market downturns.
“The trick is to go after the best opportunities with the least risk and understand the export process and where to get impactful business support,” Baumann said. “We can stop missing out on revenue, wasting time, chasing unproductive markets, creating unnecessary expenses, and getting poor results from sales channel partners. Education and getting strategic is key.”