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State-Designated Investment Officials
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A Wealth of Local Opportunities

50 States and the District of Columbia

Each U.S. state has its own constitution and a three-branch system of government that mirrors that of the Federal government. Local government generally include two tiers: counties (sometimes called boroughs or parishes), and municipalities, or cities/towns. In some states, counties are divided into townships.

Territories

Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are islands under the jurisdiction of the United States that are not affiliated with any state and have their own governments.

Indian Nations

The original indigenous tribes of the United States, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, are constitutionally recognized as sovereign governments at the same level as state or territorial governments. There are 562 federally recognized Indian nations (or tribes) in the United States. Approximately 40% of these tribes are located in Alaska, while the remaining 60% are located in 33 states in what is known as Indian Country.

   

Alabama

Gary Walton
Foreign Affairs Officer/FDI Manager
Alabama Department of Commerce
T: (334) 590-5982
401 Adams Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104
www.madeinalabama.com

Alaska

Jenae Erikson
Project Manager
Alaska Department of Commerce
333 Willoughby Ave., 9th FL, State Office Building
Juneau, AK 99801
www.commerce.alaska.gov

American Samoa

Lina (Magdalene) Petaia
Director of Commerce
American Samoa Department of Commerce
A.P. Lutali EOB, 2nd Floor, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799
www.doc.as.gov

Arizona

Fernando Garcia
Executive Vice President of International Trade and Investment
Arizona Commerce Authority
T: (602) 845-1282
100 N 7th Ave., Ste. #400
Phoenix, AZ 85007
www.azcommerce.com

Arkansas

Olivia Womack
Director, Business Development
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
T: (501) 541-5129
1 Commerce Way, Ste. 601
Little Rock, AR 72202
www.arkansasedc.com

California

Maria Onorato
Foreign Direct Investment Program Manager
Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development
T: (916) 291-8323
1325 J St. #1800
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.business.ca.gov

Colorado

Caitlyn Roth
Market Engagement Manager
Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade
T: (720) 501-8854
1600 Broadway #2500
Denver, CO 80202
www.choosecolorado.com

Connecticut

George Norfleet
Executive Director
AdvanceCT
T: (860) 571-6206
450 Columbus Blvd., Ste. 5
Hartford, CT 06103
advancect.org

Delaware

Megan Kopistecki
Senior Manager, Business Development
Delaware Prosperity Partnership
1007 North Orange St. Ste. 317
Wilmington, DE 19801
www.choosedelaware.com

Washington, D.C.

Kathrine VanLiew
Director of Business Attraction
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
T: (202) 661-8670
1495 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
wdcep.com

Florida

Madison Lawson
Vice President, International Investment
SelectFlorida
T: (407) 625-6013
201 Alhambra Circle Ste. 610
Coral Gables, FL 33134
www.selectflorida.org

Georgia

Hillary Maddox
Director of Operations
Georgia Department of Economic Development
T: (404) 290-6804
75 Fifth St. NW #1200
Atlanta, GA 30308
www.georgia.org

Guam

Edward Camacho
Business and Economic Development Manager
Guam Economic Development Authority
T: (671) 647-4332
590 S. Marine Corps Dr., #511
Tamuning, GU 96913
www.investguam.com

Hawaii

Dennis T. Ling
Administrator, Business Development and Support Division
State of Hawaii Department of Business
T: (808) 587-2755
250 South Hotel St. 5th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
invest.hawaii.gov

Idaho

Jason Barnes
Manager of Business Attraction
State of Idaho Economic Development Division
T: (208) 287-0779
700 W. State St.
Boise, ID 83702-0093
commerce.idaho.gov

Illinois

Margo Markopoulos 
Director
Office of Trade and Investment
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
C: (312) 636-9456
100 W. Randolph St. Ste. 3-400
Chicago, IL 60601
www.illinois.gov/dceo

Indiana

Matt Saltanovitz
Vice President, Global Business Development
Indiana Economic Development Corporation
T: (219) 798-0618
1 North Capitol Ave., Ste. 700
Indianapolis, IN 46204
www.iedc.in.gov

Iowa

Mark Laurenzo
Manager, Business Development
Iowa Economic Development Authority
T: (515) 348-6191
1963 Bell Ave., Ste. 200
Des Moines, IA 50315
www.iowaeda.com

Kansas

Molly Flores
Senior International Business Representative
Kansas Department of Commerce
T: (785) 845-0290
1000 SW Jackson St. #100
Topeka, KS 66612
www.kansascommerce.gov

Kentucky

Lindsey DeRosa
Communications Specialist
Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
T: (502) 234-8535
300 W. Broadway St., Frankfort, KY 40601
ced.ky.gov

Louisiana

Paige Carter
Chief Business Development Officer
Louisiana Department of Economic Development
T: (225) 342-4058
C: (504) 376-7809
617 North 3rd St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802
www.opportunitylouisiana.gov

Maine

Wade Merritt
President
Maine International Trade Center
T: (207) 541-7408
2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 204
Portland, ME 04101
www.mitc.com

Maryland

Aisha Booker
Director, International Investment and Trade
Maryland Department of Commerce
T: (443) 799-1481
401 E. Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
business.maryland.gov

Massachusetts

Jeevan Ramapriya 
Executive Director
Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment
T: (617) 973-8543
136 Blackstone St. 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-office-of-international-trade-and-investment

Michigan

Rachel Donaldson
Managing Director, Global Attraction
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
T: (517) 930-7124
300 N. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48913
www.michiganbusiness.org

Minnesota

Elise Buchen
International Business Development Manager
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
T: (651) 387-0335
180 Fifth St. E, Ste. 1200
St. Paul, MN 55101
joinusmn.com

Mississippi

Luigi Dominighini
FDI Economic Development Specialist
Mississippi Development Authority
T: (601) 359-2907
www.mississippi.org

Missouri

Subash Alias
CEO
Missouri Partnership
T: (314) 954-0522
120 S. Central Ave. Ste. 1275
St. Louis, MO 63105
www.missouripartnership.com

Montana

Brigitta Miranda-Freer
Executive Director
Montana World Trade Center
T: (406) 243-6982
C: (406) 544-0127
Gallagher Business, Bldg 257
Missoula, MT 59812
www.mwtc.org

Nebraska

Cobus Block
Director, International & Business Recruitment
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
T: (531) 510-1251
245 Fallbrook Blvd, Suite 002
Lincoln, NE 68521
opportunity.nebraska.gov

Nevada

Audrey Summers
Business Development Coordinator
T: (702) 486-2718
1 State of Nevada Way, 4th Floor
Las Vegas, NV 89119
goed.nv.gov

New Hampshire

Adam Boltik
International Trade Resource Manager
New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs
T: (603) 271-0331
100 North Main St., Ste. 100/P.O. Box 1856
Concord, NH 03301
www.nheconomy.com

New Jersey

Bill Noonan
Chief Business Development Officer
Choose New Jersey
One Gateway Center
11-43 Raymond Plaza W #1420
Newark, NJ 07102
www.choosenj.com

New Mexico

Melinda Allen
President and CEO
New Mexico Partnership
T: (505) 247-8500
1720 Louisiana Blvd. NE #312
Albuquerque, NM 87110
www.nmpartnership.com

New York

Carin M. Rising
Senior Director, International Partnerships
Empire State Development
C: (347) 714-0650
esd.ny.gov

North Carolina

Anders Victor
Director, Business Development
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
C: (919) 236-3459
150 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1200
Raleigh, NC 27601
www.edpnc.com

North Dakota

Rich Garman
ED&F Director
North Dakota Department of Commerce
1600 E. Century Ave., Ste. 6, P.O. Box 2057
Bismarck, ND 58503
www.commerce.nd.gov

Northern Mariana Islands

Derek Sasamoto
Acting Executive Director
Northern Mariana Islands Department of Commerce
T: (670) 234-6245
6Q52+29H, Capitol Hill
Saipan, MP 96950
www.developcnmi.com

Ohio

Justin Kocher
Senior Director of International Business Development
Jobs Ohio
T: (202) 658-9510
41 S. High St. #1500
Columbus, OH 43215
www.jobsohio.com

Oklahoma

Sarah Short
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
T: (405) 255-3248
900 N. Stiles Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
okcommerce.gov

Oregon

Melissa Murphy
Business Recruitment Officer
Business Oregon
T: (503) 986-0123
121 SW Salmon St., World Trade Center
Portland, OR 97204
www.oregon.gov/biz

Pennsylvania

David Briel
Deputy Secretary, Office of International Business Development
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
T: (717) 720-7361
400 N. St., 4th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120
dced.pa.gov

Puerto Rico

Ella Woger-Nieves
Chief Executive Officer
Invest Puerto Rico
200 Convention Blvd., The Hub, Ste. 301 San Juan, PR 00907
www.investpr.org

Rhode Island

Melody Weeks
Executive Vice President
Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
T: (401) 278-9170
135 Iron Horse Way
Providence, RI 02908
commerceri.com

South Carolina

Jon Baggett 
Deputy Director for Global Business Development
South Carolina Department of Commerce
T: (803) 737-0434
1201 Main St., Ste. 1600
Columbia, SC 29201
www.sccommerce.com

South Dakota

Joe Fiala
Deputy Commissioner
South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development
711 E Wells Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
www.sdgoed.com

Tennessee

Karel Abboud
Global Director of FDI and Trade
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
T: (615) 626-0982
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., 11th Floor
Nashville, TN 37215
www.tnecd.com

Texas

Larry McManus
Director of Business & Community Development
Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office of the Governor of Texas
T: (512) 936-0100
P.O. Box 12428 
Austin, TX 78711
gov.texas.gov/business

U.S. Virgin Islands

Celina D. Morris
Director, Marketing
U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority
T: (340) 714-1700
8000 Nisky Shopping Center, Ste. 620
St. Thomas, VI 00802
www.usvieda.org

Utah

David Carlebach
COO, Managing Director, International Programs
World Trade Center Utah
T: (435) 640-0724
60 E. S. Temple St., Ste. 300
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
www.wtcutah.com

Vermont

Tim Tierney
Director of Business Recruitment
Vermont Department of Economic Development
T: (802) 505-5496
One National Life Dr., 6th Floor
Montpelier, VT 05620
thinkvermont.com

Virginia

Antje Abshoff
Managing Director, International Business Investment
Virginia Economic Development Partnership
T: (804) 545-5705
901 East Cary St.
Richmond, VA 23219
www.vedp.org

Washington

Radi Simeonova
Managing Director
Washington State Department of Commerce
T: (206) 265-2921
2001 6th Ave. #2600
Seattle, WA 98121
choosewashingtonstate.com

West Virginia

Angela Mascia
General Manager, Europe
West Virginia Department of Economic Development
T: (304) 558-2234
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East
Building 3, Ste. 600
Charleston, WV 25305
westvirginia.gov

Wisconsin

Fanfu Li
International Business Development Director
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
T: (608) 210-6868
C: (312) 905-3492
201 West Washington Avenue
Madison, WI 53703
www.wedc.org

Wyoming

Wendy Lopez
Business Recruitment Manager
Wyoming Business Council
T: (307) 631-2157
214 W. 15th St.
Cheyenne, WY 82001
www.wyomingbusiness.org

 

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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