Why China Matters to the Heartland – 2023 Launch Event

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Why China Matters to the Heartland - 2023 Event

January 31, 2023 - Virtual Webinar

On Tuesday, January 31st, 2023, USHCA hosted the highly anticipated 2023 Launch Event for our annual report, Why China Matters to the Heartland. Leaders from across the Heartland region gave presentations, including representatives from Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Ohio, and Kansas. 

Each speaker provided insights into a unique aspect of what China means to their own states, communities, and organizations. Some examples include how a Chinese company revitalized a small town, the legacy of a 40-year sister city relationship between St. Louis and Nanjing, as well as how schools in the Heartland have worked to serve their Chinese international students amidst a pandemic and political scrutiny. 

Click here to go to the Why China Matters homepage to download a copy of the report. 

This easy-to-access report examines the multi-faceted relationship that each of the Heartland states has with China. First launched in 2022, it has become a much appreciated resource for state and local leaders as well as educators across the Heartland.

Speakers:

Panelist

Karla Orozco

Director of FDI,
World Business Chicago

Karla Orozco

Karla Orozco has 10+ years of experience in international affairs, supporting both the public and private sectors, government affairs and strategic alliance creation. During her career, she has held various government positions, including Director for Economic Affairs at the Mexican Consulate in Chicago, Consul for Economic and Cultural Promotion at the Mexican Consulate in Guangzhou, Director for Bilateral Tourism Cooperation, and Deputy Director of European and Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She holds a BA in International Trade and Economics from Tec de Monterrey and a Double Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and the University of Peking.

Karla's Bio

Panelist

Mary Ma

Managing Director,
Illinois China Office

Mary Ma

Mary Ma holds the position of managing director of the State of Illinois China office. Her responsibility is to provide a wide range of services to strengthen business relations between IL and China, to assist Illinois companies especially small and medium enterprises export to China, and to promote foreign direct investment in Illinois. State of Illinois China office is one of the six foreign offices of the Illinois Department of Commerce’s Office of Trade and Investment (OTI), headquartered at Chicago. The OTI strives to raise Illinois’ profile as a global business leader through a network of professionals focusing on improving the state’s economy worldwide.

 

Prior to this position, Mary was the Secretary General of Center for China and Globalization (CCG) Shanghai, which is a leading Chinese independent think tank dedicated to the studies of global governance, global affairs, global trade & investment, global migration, and global talent policy. During 2008-2017, she worked at US. She took the position as the director of Illinois SBDC International Trade Center and MBDA Export Center at Chicago,funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Small Business Administration. Having contributed to the organization’s achievements over trade and investment promotion, she was the recipient of the President’s “E” Award for highest recognition for excellence export promotion service in the U.S.

 

Mary Ma has 20 years’ extensive experience in international trade and global logistics management. She was a senior executive at a Fortune 500 Chinese SOE overseeing its overseas subsidiaries in Asia and Europe. Her managerial expertise centers on international ocean shipping operation, shipping agency and terminal management in the field. She holds an MBA degree and Public Administration certificate from Northern Illinois University; she also has a MA in International Trade and Supply Chain Management from University of International Business and Economics in China. She was an affiliated researcher on Global Policy at Northwestern University. She is a NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) with the 1000th NASBITE CGBP honor. She is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and other global trade organizations. She also joined the board of CASIC (Council of American States in China)and takes the role as program coordinator of CASIC.

Mary's Bio

Panelist

Katie Rosenberg

Mayor,
City of Wausau, WI

Mayor Rosenberg

Katie Rosenberg was elected mayor of Wausau in April 2020. Prior to her mayoral bid, Rosenberg served two terms on the Marathon County Board as Supervisor for Marathon County’s District 1 in addition to working as an integrated marketing manager at a Fortune 500 company. 

 

Over the last two and a half years as mayor, Rosenberg has focused on the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, inclusive growth through economic and community development, and ensuring Wausau residents have access to safe drinking water. Under her tenure, the United States Department of State worked with the Ethiopian Community Development Council to open Wausau’s first refugee office in 20 years at the end of 2021. Rosenberg also worked with the City’s Community Development Department, along with state and federal economic development engines, to plan for, gain policymaker approval, and work with developers to construct hundreds of new housing units, from market rate to workforce, in the City of Wausau. At the end of 2022, Wausau’s new drinking water facility will open, filtering nearly five million gallons a day for all Wausau utility users and removing PFAS in that process. 

 

Rosenberg earned her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and her master’s degree in Strategic Communications from The George Washington University.

Mayor Rosenberg's Bio

Panelist

Fanfu Li

International Business Development Director,
Wisconsin Economic Development Cooperation

Fanfu Li

Fanfu Li is an international business development director with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). In this role, he is responsible for promoting economic growth in Wisconsin through attracting Asian companies and investments to Wisconsin and helping Wisconsin companies export their products and services to Asia. Fanfu has over 25 years of international business development experience.

He has identified, negotiated and executed numerous merger and acquisition deals, joint ventures and strategic partnerships to help companies drive their global expansion. He has worked for major global companies such as Caterpillar, Kimberly-Clark, Eaton and CNH Industrial to grow their international business in Asia, Europe and the Americas. He also has experience in supporting U.S. companies in exporting their products to Asia. Fanfu holds an MBA in international business from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in packaging from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Hefei University of Technology in China.

Fanfu's Bio

Panelist

Melinda Osterberg

Regional Economic Development Director,
Wisconsin Economic Development Cooperation

Melinda Osterberg

Melinda Osterberg is a Regional Economic Development Director with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). At WEDC, she assists communities and businesses in North Central Wisconsin to access state and federal resources and to increase capacity for community and economic development. With more than 19 years experience in this field, Melinda has assisted Wisconsin communities with planning and economic development activities, including management of broadband, school facility, and comprehensive planning projects.  She resides in Plover, Wisconsin with her partner, who is employed in the paper industry, and two children.

Melinda's Bio

Panelist

Samantha McCabe

Director of International Student Services,
University of Wisconsin Madison

Samantha McCabe

Samantha leads the charge of ISS to advocate and support international students studying at University of Wisconsin-Madison. As Director, Sam works closely with campus administration and Big Ten University colleagues to create policies and practices that support international students in the most inclusive and engaging way.

Sam has traveled to many different countries, including South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, the Bahamas, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand. She also lived for a time in Spain, Namibia, and Brazil.  Outside of her volunteer duties, she enjoys playing indoor and outdoor volleyball, the many summer activities in Madison, and exploring different cultures and countries through food and social exchange.

Samantha's Bio

Panelist

Tim Nowak

Executive Director,
World Trade Center St. Louis

Tim Nowak

As Executive Director, Tim Nowak oversees the delivery of valuable international related services to regional companies. Leveraging a strong network of business connections and government agencies, World Trade Center St. Louis provides customized trade research to identify global opportunities, trade-and investment-focused events, key business contacts and introductions, and training and educational programs. Nowak joined World Trade Center St. Louis in 2007, bringing years of experience in business development, domestic and international sales, and management. He has extensive international working experience in Europe, Asia-Pacifc, Middle East, South America, and Africa. Nowak has managed and directed international sales organizations in the medical industry, including distribution and direct-sales strategies. Born and raised in St. Louis, Nowak holds bachelor’s degrees in marketing and logistics from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a MBA from Webster University. He currently serves as adjunct faculty at Washington University in St. Louis.

Tim's Bio

Panelist

Craig Allen

President,
The U.S.-China Business Council

Craig Allen

On July 26, 2018, Craig Allen began his tenure as the sixth President of the United States-China Business Council (USCBC), a private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing over 200 American companies doing business with China. 

 

Prior to joining USCBC, Craig had a long, distinguished career in US public service. His last government position was as US Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam (December 2014–July 2018). 

Before that, Craig served in Washington as Deputy Assistant Secretary for China (2012–2014) in the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia (2010–2012). 

 

He served previously as Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in South Africa (2006–2010), and as Senior Commercial Officer at the US Embassy in Beijing (2003–2006). When in Beijing, he was promoted to Minister Counselor rank in the Senior Foreign Service. 

 

While on a foreign service assignment to the National Center for APEC in Seattle (2000–2002), Craig worked on APEC summits in Brunei, China, and Mexico. 

 

Earlier posts were as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer and Commercial Attaché at the US Embassy in Tokyo (1995–2000), as Commercial Attaché at the US Embassy in Beijing (1992–1995), and as Director of the American Trade Center in Taipei (1988–1992). 

 

He started his career in government in 1985 as a Presidential Management Intern in ITA at the Department of Commerce. 

 

Craig received a M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University (1985), and a B.A. in Political Science and Asian Studies from the University of Michigan (1979).

Craig's Bio

Panelist

Kyle Dillingham

Oklahoma Musician Ambassador

Kyle Dillingham

Kyle Dillingham, of Oklahoma City, started playing the violin when he was nine. While still in high school, Dillingham was featured twice on Nashville's Grand Ole Opry and had performed with legends Roy Clark and Hank Thompson. He later went on to receive his bachelor's degree in instrumental music performance from Oklahoma City University. Dillingham has taken his music to 41 countries earning him the title of "Oklahoma's Musical Ambassador." He has performed for the King of Malaysia, the Princess of Thailand, Beijing Central Conservatory (broadcast on Chinese national television) and Singapore's National Day Celebration. Dillingham has also performed for many government leaders including the Japanese, Thai and Saudi Arabian Ambassadors as well as for many US Ambassadors while abroad. Kyle has also championed the commissions and performed the premieres of 8 new works for solo violin and symphony orchestra - collaborating with many orchestras worldwide!

Kyle's Bio

Panelist

Amy Lei

VP,
Fuyao Glass Corporation of America

Amy Lei

Amy Lei is the Vice President of Fuyao Autoglass Corporation of America located in Moraine, Ohio. Amy is passionate about supporting foreign direct investment (FDI) into Ohio. She previously led Asian business development and business intelligence at JobsOhio, where she oversaw all Asian offices in Japan, China, South Korea, India and Taiwan. Amy’s teams focus on identifying and attracting Asian companies to invest in Ohio. Prior to joining JobsOhio, Amy was a project manager at Prometheus Investment Group. Amy also worked at Northwestern Mutual, Bank of China and China Merchants Securities. Amy received a Master of Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.

Amy's Bio

Panelist

Cindy Elliot

Board Member,
Sister Cities International

Cindy Elliott

Cindy Elliot was raised in a small town in Illinois, attended Southern Illinois University, and got bit by the international bug while being an exchange student with University of Innsbruck, Austria and after graduation moved to the global city of Miami, Florida for the start of her career as a university administrator.  While studying for her Master’s in Public Administration, she assisted the German media to articulate the unification process after the Wall came down.  In 1998, she was chosen as the initial Dean of the Virtual College at Fort Hays State University (FHSU) and moved to Hays, Kansas. Elliot entered international education through strategic partnership development with universities across the globe.  FHSU was the first American university approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education to offer bachelor’s degrees to Chinese students without requiring them to study abroad.  She oversees this unique partnership, hiring over 60 faculty to live and teach in China, and since 2001, has graduated over 10,000 Chinese students.  In addition, in 2016, she was a recipient of a Fulbright Scholar International Education Administrator Award to France. She was elected to a first term on the SCI Board in 2016 and, as a result, has brought the knowledge of opportunities to sister cities in Hays, KS and to other SCI chapters in Kansas as Interim State Representative.

Cindy's Bio

Panelist

Craig Allen

President,
The U.S.-China Business Council

Dr. Molly Coye

Dr. Molly Joel Coye is an executive in residence at AVIA, a network of large health delivery systems seeking to advance care delivery transformation through the identification and deployment of effective digital solutions, and a member of the board of directors of Aetna, Inc.

From 2010-2015, she served as chief innovation officer for UCLA Health and head of the Institute for Innovation at UCLA, where she led the health system in identifying new strategies, technologies, products, and services to support the large-scale transformation of health care. She also advised technology developers, investors, national health systems, and policymakers about disruptive technologies and business models that accelerate transformation.

From 1999-2010, she founded and served as CEO of the Health Technology Center, the premier forecasting organization for emerging technologies in health care. She also served as commissioner of health for the State of New Jersey, director of the California Department of Health Services, and head of the division of Public Health Practice at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene.

An elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, she is a member of the board of directors of Aetna, Inc., and serves on the advisory boards of several organizations. She has also served as a board member of the American Hospital Association and the American Telemedicine Association, and chaired the boards of the American Public Health Association and PATH, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in global health.

 

Dr. Coye's Bio

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