January 27, 2011
Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel unveiled significant new international business initiatives as part of his annual State of the City Address Wednesday, a free, open-to-the-public event held at Richardson’s Eisemann Center.
The new initiatives include the formation of a Mayor’s Office of International Business, which will be administered by the Richardson Economic Development Partnership – a joint partnership of the City of Richardson and Richardson Chamber of Commerce – and the establishment within the Richardson Chamber of a new Richardson International Business Advisory Committee, which will offer expert input on the community’s international business development efforts.
The new initiatives are designed to accomplish three key objectives: (1) Attracting direct, inbound investment in Richardson by international businesses; (2) Supporting Richardson-based businesses’ international commerce activities; and (3) Opening new international markets and opportunities for Richardson businesses and innovators.
The initiatives grew out of the work of a task force of Richardson business and academic leaders with a demonstrated expertise in international business issues. Task force members included: Shaunna Black, President, Shaunna Black and Associates; George Brody, Founder, President & CEO, Globe Ranger; Charlie Chen, CEO, DFW Technology; Paul Peck, CEO, Global Supply Chain Solutions; Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Dean, UTD School of Management; Serge Pequeux, President and CEO, Airwalk Communications; and Jim Von Ehr, President and Founder, Zyvex Labs.
The Chamber of Commerce will hire a full-time staff member to run the new Mayor’s Office of International Business, and the new Richardson International Business Advisory Committee will become the fourth advisory committee connected to the Richardson Economic Development Partnership – the three existing groups are focused on real estate, retail and technology business issues.
In addition to the new international business initiatives, Mayor Slagel’s remarks touched on the Richardson City Council’s key goals in various “areas of excellence,” and the City’s 2010 accomplishments for each of those focus areas.