Global Market Resources from International Trade Experts

Global Chamber® Chicago, Denver and Cincinnati... PLUS SBA offices in Illinois and Colorado AND the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment are collaborating to share best resources available to entrepreneurs.

Whether you are interested in starting a business, applying for a business loan, exporting or improving an existing business, this forum is a good point of reference for you.

Watch the discussion HERE.

Today’s small business owners have a myriad of resources available to help them start, run, and grow their business, including government programs and agencies that provide free assistance in the way of education, information, advice, funding, and more. Take your business to the next level with the resources available for business.

Speakers

Margo Markopoulos has served as the Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce, Office of Trade and Investment since 2015, and as Export Program Director since 2012. Bringing over 20 years of international experience to her position, Margo leads the Department’s strategies to increase Illinois’ exports and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the State. In her capacity as Office Director, Margo manages Illinois’ regional foreign offices, located in six countries and the Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) program, which assists hundreds of companies annually to expand globally through exports.

Mike Fazio is an Export Finance Manager with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Based in Chicago, he works with banks and SBA Resource Partners throughout Illinois and Wisconsin to increase access to capital for small business exporters. Previously, he was a Financial Analyst in SBA’s Office of Credit Risk Management, a Lender Relations Specialist and District International Trade Officer at SBA’s Wisconsin District.

Patty Brewer is one of the newest Export Finance Managers for the Small Business Administration in Colorado joining 21 colleagues around the nation who help small businesses finance their exports. Immediately out of Grad School, she started as a volunteer at the Galveston Small Business Development Center and continued as an employee for six years before moving to EXIM Bank. She is one of the few EXIM employees who has worked in multiple lending divisions, Business Credit, Trade Finance, and Trade Credit Insurance. In the past three years, she processed more than $186 million in short-term insurance transactions. During her ten years in Trade Finance, she completed 152 transactions supporting agricultural equipment, trailers, printers, heating systems, silos, and tractors.

Moderator

Jeffrey Campos Executive Director of Global Chamber®** Chicago & Denver**

Jeff has a rich history of developing partnerships with industry, community, and government leaders that drive revenue gains under strict market and budgetary, he was appointed as the Executive Director for Global Chamber Denver in late 2015 and most recently CO-Executive Director in Chicago. He looks forward in connecting Denver’s and Chicago’s leaders, companies and communities in more successful cross-border trade and investment to accelerate global business growth, increase community success to change the world.

Global Chamber® is a growing and collaborating community of CEOs, executives and leaders in 525 metro regions around the world... connecting member businesses to new opportunities and advancing growth and success. It's the only chamber of commerce in the world operating in hundreds of locations that helps exporting, importing and investing members to connect through warm introductions to clients, partners, projects and resources.