International State of Metro Phoenix 2021

Since 2007, many years BEFORE the formation of Global Chamber® 6 years ago, we've been monitoring and supporting international business in Phoenix Metro, both inbound (FDI) and outbound (exporting).

We don't just talk about international business, or put political spin on it... we create a report card and grade it. This year the official report card grader was the one and only Hank Marshall of City of Phoenix.

Watch the program HERE.

This year our keynote speakers included Jane Spicer, CEO of Daphne's Headcovers. Above Jane is pointing to a world famous 'Tiger' head cover for Tiger Woods. She leads exporting for the firm to over 75 countries and growing! Don't miss her presentation and ALL of them. Jane talked about how she saved her company by going global and exporting.

Hank had introduced the 'dog ate my international report card', and this year he revised thinking about the grading system in consideration of the impact of Covid on everything.

International State of Metro Phoenix 2021

Keynote Speakers

Hank Marshall - Economic Development Executive Officer at City of Phoenix / Metro Phoenix International Report Card

Mel Sanderson - Mel Sanderson Consulting & Board Member at Western Rare Earths / Regional Leader Perspective on the International Report Card

Emily Cloke - British Consul General in Los Angeles / Metro Phoenix and the UK, Progress and Opportunities

Jack McCain - Director, State and Local Government Affairs at American Airlines / Airline Recovery - Domestic, International, Tourism and Business

Representative Lorenzo Sierra - Arizona State House of Representatives / View from the Arizona House on Mexico, tourism, infrastructure and a unified North America

Jeff Campos - President & CEO at Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce / Global Business from the West Valley

Jane Spicer - CEO at Daphne's Headcovers / Exporting to Overcome Economic & Business Challenges

M. Brett McMickell Ph.D. - President and CEO at AgJunction / Exporting World-Class AgTech from Scottsdale

Doug Bruhnke - Founder/CEO at Global Chamber® / Moderator

City Sponsors - Thank You!

Over the years we've had professional experts and leaders other than Hank also provide the report card over the years starting with Rodrick Miller (GPEC) and including Chris Camacho (GPEC), Rudy Vetter (GPEC), Rick Buss (Peoria), Jeanine Jerkovic (Surprise) and Rob Millar (Scottsdale). Along the way we've also had dozens of keynote speakers including business, non-profit and city leaders from Mayor Kate Gallego to exporters and more.

Check out last year's ISOM PHX HERE led by City of Scottsdale. HERE is the event from 2019 led by City of Peoria. In 2018 we featured then future-Mayor Gallego's first discussion on global business.

Speaker Bios

Emily Cloke is British Consul General in Los Angeles. She is the senior representative of the UK government in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii. In this role, she promotes trade and investment, scientific cooperation, tackling climate change, creative and media collaborations and educational partnerships between the UK and the southwestern United States. She also oversees delivery of essential consular services to a 600,000-strong British resident community and British visitors.

Emily has a range of policy, commercial and international experience working for the British Government. Her recent roles include as Deputy CEO for the UK-Africa Investment Summit hosted by the Prime Minister in 2020, and as a senior leader in the Department for International Trade’s Sectors Group, overseeing export and investment promotion for industry sectors including aerospace, advanced manufacturing and education. She has worked overseas as Trade Director for the British Embassy Tehran, setting up and leading the UK’s trade section and strategy following the re-opening of the British Embassy in 2015, and as Head of Trade at the British Embassy Sweden. Her wider experience includes advising on the creation of the world’s first Green Investment Bank, and leading the Ministerial private office for the Minister of Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs/Minister for Women & Equalities. Emily started her career as a lawyer in the City of London and studied law at Cambridge University.

Hank Marshall - Economic Development Executive Officer at City of Phoenix. Hank was named Economic Development Executive Officer in March 2013. He oversees the department's International, Business Development and Business Retention/Expansion programs and initiatives. The team is charged with the pursuit of opportunity that advances economic prosperity for the city of Phoenix.

Prior to joining the city of Phoenix, Hank was Senior Vice President of International at the Arizona Commerce Authority. Hank was one of the key executives that assisted with the launching of the Arizona Commerce Authority in July 2011. From 2005 to 2011, Hank served as the CEO of AISLE21, an international consulting firm.

Hank serves as the British Honorary Consul to the state of Arizona. He was raised overseas and spent many years in int'l corporate assignments. Hank received his B.S. ME from Rutgers in 1982. He resides in Ahwatukee with his wife Ann while his two sons attend university.

Jack McCain - Director for State and Local Government Affairs at American Airlines. Jack McCain is a reserve Naval Aviator and graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Georgetown's School of Foreign Service. He is working as American Airlines’ Director for State and Local Government Affairs out of their Phoenix hub.

Regarding his military service, Jack was deployed four times in the Pacific, Persian Gulf, and recently returned from Afghanistan where, as an Afghan Hand, he flew alongside Afghan pilots in the Blackhawk. Prior to that was a leadership instructor at the Naval Academy and a Search and Rescue Pilot in Guam.

Rep. Lorenzo Sierra - Arizona House of Representatives. Rep. Sierra is son of a Vietnam veteran and copper miner, Lorenzo came up through the public school system in Tucson’s impoverished Sunnyside School District. He was the first in his family to make it to – and through – college, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Arizona State University. He began a career in corporate communications, creating award-winning marketing and community development projects that earned him a career in Fortune 100 and 500 industries.

His roots and experiences drive his passion for local and statewide community service and advocacy. His proven ability to innovate and collaborate, bringing meaningful improvements to individuals and communities, has earned him appointments to:

• Maricopa Association of Governments – Economic Development Commission
• Secretary, Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone’s Hispanic Advisory Board
• WESTMARC
• City of Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Commission
• Hispanic Leadership Forum del Oeste
• Vice-Chair, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Chicanos por la Causa – Health and Human Services Committee
• Xico (Latino-based arts organization)

Having experienced the American Dream firsthand, Lorenzo is determined to give back. Investing in education, creating good jobs and building strong neighborhoods are a cornerstone of his service, delivering on the promise of the American Dream for those he serves. Lorenzo and his wife, Rhonda, are proud to call Arizona home. They are raising their family, including two very friendly dogs, in the heart of Avondale.

Jane Spicer - CEO at Daphne's Headcovers. Jane started Daphne’s Headcovers when she was 16 years old and has turned it into a global brand. She is a Phoenix native and has lived in Shrewsbury England and San Diego, California but the Arizona sunshine made Phoenix home. Jane wants to live in a world filled with innovative businesses that make the world a better place and force field around her computer that repels cat hair.

What started as a 16 year old girl’s fundraiser to buy her first car now soars in over 75 countries! Daphne’s Headcovers can be found on over 200 professional golfer’s bag, including legends in golf such as Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda and more. Daphne’s Headcovers are aviailable in the top resorts in every hemisphere. Ms Spicer is a first generation American and has used her loved for visiting family to develop a brand that exports worldwide.

Jane is the recipient of the Top Women in Business, the Spirit of Enterprise Award from ASU, Positively Powerful Women, Forbes Top golf companies, Top Female Exporter of Arizona, Conde Naste top golf product, National Golf Foundations most innovative golf company award and the Exporter of the year and many more. Jane is actively involved with charities internationally that speak to heart; The First Tee of Phoenix, Golf Fore Africa, Els for Autism, American Cancer Society and others globally. She has two amazing children, and four rather naughty cats. When she isn’t working she can be found hiking, skiing, practicing yoga, golfing or sailing. One of her many passions are working with young entrepreneurs to help them see their dreams come to fruition.

M. Brett McMickell Ph.D. - President and CEO at AgJunction. Dr. McMickell was appointed AgJunction’s President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2020. In September 2019, he served as AgJunction’s Chief Operating Officer, where his responsibilities included leading Sales, Global Customer Care, Engineering, Program Management, and Operations. Dr. McMickell began his career at AgJunction in August 2017 as the Senior Vice President of Global Product Development. Prior to joining the AgJunction team, Dr. McMickell held a variety of leadership positions at Honeywell Aerospace including serving as the Senior Director of Engineering in charge of Actuation Systems. He brings experience from leading electrical, software, and mechanical system development. He was awarded the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Lawrence Sperry Award for his achievement in the advancement of small satellite technology, Dr. McMickell holds an M.B.A. in Global Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. He also received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah with a certificate in Mechatronics.

Doug Bruhnke - Founder/CEO at Global Chamber®. Doug is a global entrepreneur dedicated to helping leaders successfully reach new markets with less risk across 525 metros - everywhere! He is a two-time expat with Dupont in Tokyo and Singapore with over 30 years of global business experience in nearly all countries and segments. Doug is also regional advisor for U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and a member of global groups including Arizona District Export Council. He has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Utah and an EMBA from Michigan State University, and is co-inventor on 5 patents. Doug was born in Mt. Kisco, New York and is now based in Scottsdale, Arizona and Palo Alto, California. He and his wife of 39 years are most proud of their daughter, a nurse practitioner at Stanford Health Care. Hear the Global Chamber® story here.

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. Global Chamber® is a registered trademark of Global Chamber, LLC.