History & Personnel
Dr. William R. Bennett, Emeritus Professor of Marketing and International Business at the University of Alabama, founded the Trade Center in 1979. AITC was one of the first university-based small business development centers in the country that focused specifically on international trade. Following Dr. Bennett's retirement in 1983, Ms. Nisa Miranda, who had helped Bennett establish the Center while completing her MBA, was promoted to Director. Miranda would oversee the Center's growth and development for the next 21 years, helping the Center become designated as SBA's State Model of Excellence in International Trade. (Miranda has since moved on to become Director of the University of Alabama's Center for Economic Development.)
In 2004, Mr. Brian Davis, who had served as the Trade Center's Associate Director since 1985, took over as Director. Davis is the former president of the Alabama World Trade Association (AWTA) and NASBITE International. In addition to serving on the University's Advisory Board for International Business, Davis also teaches an import-export class at the Culverhouse College of Commerce & Business Administration.
AITC currently employs several consultants:
- Michael J. Brooks, Assistant Director - Research & Training
- Carolyn Turner, International Trade Specialist
- Pablo Diaz, Export Trade Consultant
- Deborah van der Toorn, Export Trade Consultant
- Amber Summers, Project Accountant
- Karla Jordan, Administrative Assistant
In addition to the professional staff, AITC employs up to 20 Research Fellows as part of its research staff. The Research Fellows are hired on a competitive basis, and consist of graduate and undergraduate students with expertise in market research, business strategy, foreign relations, political science, and foreign languages. Mr. Brooks has been in charge of hiring and training the research staff since 1998; Brooks also serves as the Center's Senior International Trade Specialist.
The Trade Center is part of the Alabama Small Business Development Center Network, a statewide network of 10 management and technical assistance centers.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a United States government agency that provides support to small businesses. The SBA was created by way of the Small Business Act of July 30, 1953.
Read more about this topic: Alabama International Trade Center
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