Central Lakes College to host 'Export Essentials' series

A series of three programs on selling in the global marketplace begins Feb. 17 at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

Ed Dieter, deputy director of the Minnesota Trade Office, leads a trio of presenters for "An Introduction to Exporting" from 9 a.m. to noon, with a networking lunch afterward.

The export process will be examined, including assessing your export readiness, making the sale, arranging shipments and collecting payment.

The second program is from 9 a.m. to noon March 17, also with a networking lunch with a topic of International Market Research, with Dieter and Mary Jo Stangl, international education adviser for the Minnesota trade Office.

This session presents a resource guide to help businesses make the best decisions about internationally marketing products and services. It will cover the best markets, market-entry barriers, cultural considerations, trade leads and company lists.

The final program of the series is planned April 21 with "Finding and Motivating the Right Foreign Business Partner." The session is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes lunch. Dieter will be joined by Mark McNeil, chair of the international practice group at the law firm Lindquist and Vennum PLLP.

Locate, qualify, select and motivate independent distributors and representatives. The seminar will include market entry strategies; legal definitions of distributors and agents; strategies for locating and selecting the right distributor; elements of a distributor agreement; and how to motivate and cultivate distributor loyalty.

All sessions begin with registration at 8:30 a.m., and the cost is $50 per session with advance registration, $55 for walk-ins. It includes a light breakfast, refreshments, lunch and materials.

The Business and Industry Center at Central Lakes College is a co-host as well as the site. Other sponsors are Minnesota Small Business Development Centers, Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corp., Brainerd Lakes Chamber, Cass County Economic Development Corp., Morrison County Community Development, and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

For more information, e-mail mto.edu@state.mn.us or mail to Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, MTO-Education, First National Bank Bldg., 332 Minnesota St., Suite E200, St. Paul, MN, 55101-1351.