MGTA Education Program
European Union
February 12, 2008
7:30am Registration
8:00am–4:00pm Program

What will you learn?
The European Union is one of the easiest markets to enter for US exporters, but the trading landscape is ever-changing. During this seminar, experienced professionals will provide the most up-to-date information for you to navigate the operating environment and profitably conduct business with European Union countries.

Who should attend?
Business and international trade professionals thinking about the EU market, entering the EU market or already conducting business in the EU; international trade professionals in the areas of business development, trade compliance, contracts, international sales and marketing, and shipping and logistics.

Agenda

7:30	Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00	Welcome and Introductions – Julie Dreke, Cargill
8:15	The European Union: What’s New? – Roger Prestwich, Metropolitan State University
8:45	New Legislation, Authorized Economic Operator (Trade Compliance/Security) – Markus Schweininger, Cargill EU
9:45	Break
10:00	How to Read the EU Directives: What Applies to My Product? – Yvonne Halpaus, QNET LLC
11:00	Pricing for Profits on Your Sales – Tom von Kuster, Amex, Inc.
12:00	Lunch (provided)
1:00	VAT: Money Back Guarantee? – Lorri Ann Hurst, TTM International
2:30	Break
2:45	Enter the EU: Products, Intellectual Property & Competition – T. Michael Davis, Scandia-Germania-Davis, PLLC
3:45	Market Research for the EU: Resource Guide – Mary Jo Stangl, Minnesota Trade Office, Department of Employment & Economic Development
4:00	Adjourn

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About the Speakers

T. Michael Davis founded Scandia-Germania-Davis, PPLC of St. Paul, Minnesota and practices in areas of intellectual property, business-related matters, and litigation, including trademarks, copyrights, licensing, international business law, contracts, Internet matters, and trademark and patent litigation. He is continually developing and managing relationships with clients and law firms across the United States, Scandinavia, and Central Europe. He began his career as relates to law as a page/assistant with the Minnesota State Senate in 1991. He has been associate attorney with Patterson, Thuente, Skaar and Christensen, P.A., a mid-sized intellectual property law firm located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a law clerk and associate with the New Jersey/New York offices of Peri & Stewart, L.L.C., the American affiliate of the Oslo, Norway based law firm of Føyen & Co. Ans. Earlier, he worked briefly as an intern and pro-bono research attorney for the International Red Cross’ Institute Henry-Dunant in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Davis is admitted to practice in New York, Minnesota, and New Jersey. He has been affiliated with the New Jersey State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Austrian-American Chamber of Commerce, and the Civilekonomföreningen of New York City.

Yvonne Halpaus is senior partner at QNET LLC, a quality assurance and international trade consulting firm specializing in CE-Marking and European Directive consulting. QNET LLC is headquartered in Elk River, Minnesota, with European Union offices in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Lorri Ann Hurst is the founder and managing director of TTM International, a Minnesota-based VAT refund claims presentation service. Since incorporating in 1993, the company has prepared more than $30 million in VAT-refund claims and helps 900-plus client companies manage their VAT refund claim programs. Ms. Hurst has presented VAT refund seminars throughout the United States for world trade organizations, travel agencies, and chamber of commerce.

Roger Prestwich is an associate professor and director of international business programs and international programs for the Metropolitan State University College of Management. Previously, Mr. Prestwich was Education Programs Director at the Minnesota Trade Office and Director of the World Trade Conference Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1999, he received World Trade Week, Inc.’s Special Service Award from Governor Ventura for outstanding contribution to international trade in Minnesota. Very active in the international trade community, his current and past affiliations include St. Paul-Minneapolis Committee on Foreign Relations (Chair), British-American Business Council of Minnesota (Chair), Nominations Committee of UNA, American Committees on Foreign Relations, Minnesota International Center, Midwest Global Trade Association, and Academy of International Business.

Markus Schweininger joined Cargill in September 2007 as a senior member of the EMEA customs team and Cargill’s global customs function. As EMEA customs compliance manager, he is the lead for strategic customs projects in the region. He has more than nine years of experience as a trade compliance and supply chain professional in various operational, strategic, and project management roles. He began his career at Infineon Technologies (formerly Siemens Semiconductor) as a member of the supply chain and logistics team. He also worked on a number of major supply chain, trade, and logistics projects. Mr. Schweininger also worked at Lucent Technologies (now Alcatel-Lucent), where he was responsible for the global trade compliance and import/export operations. He managed the implementation of the company’s trade compliance program, which included transitioning to an outsource model. His responsibilities included governance and management of the operations, performance management, continuous improvement, and supply chain/trade solution design and implementation. Mr. Schweininger lives in Germany near Nuremberg.

Mary Jo Stangl conducts international market research workshops for the Minnesota Trade Office, the state’s official export development arm. A training generalist with experience developing program and training for a variety of business and community organizations, she is currently working with subject matter experts to develop exporter programs and curriculum.

Tom von Kuster is currently the Manager of Business Development for AMEX, Inc., a Minneapolis-based export management company. Mr. von Kuster was a founding director of Cymbet, a venture-backed solid state battery firm. He is also a founder of LogLogic, a California-based security log analysis appliance maker, and an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas. Mr. von Kuster is a graduate of Princeton University and has an MBA from the University of Minnesota, where he completed coursework for a PhD in finance. He is active in the angel/venture capital community, and serves as an advisor or interim officer to several early-stage companies. In the past few years, companies for which he has served as an early investor/advisor have been venture funded or acquired, including Swarmcast (funded by strategic Asian investors), CimaNanoTech (funded by Nikko AntFactory and strategic Asian investors), LogLogic (funded by Sequoia, Worldview, and TeleSoft), NuSpeed (purchased by Cisco), NT International (purchased by Entegris), Land-5 (acquired by Tandberg Data), and SurvivaLink (purchased by Cardiac Science).

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Meeting Specifics

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

European Union
7:30am Registration
8:00am–4:00pm Program
Doubletree Park Place Hotel
Cost:* $120 members; $170 nonmembers; $60 students

*$10 discount if registered and paid by February 5, 2008. Please register by noon on February 7, 2008. No refunds for cancellations after noon on February 7, 2008.

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Directions
Doubletree Park Place Hotel
1500 Park Place Blvd
St. Louis Park, MN 55416-1527
(952) 542-8600

• From I-94 Eastbound (from St. Cloud): Take I-494 South to I-394 East. From I-394 East, take the Park Place Blvd/Xenia exit. Turn right at the stoplight. Turn right at 16th Street West. The hotel will be on the right.
• From I-94 Westbound (from St. Paul): Exit onto I-394 West.*
• From I-494 Westbound (from airport): Exit onto Hwy 100 North, then exit onto I-394 West.*
• From I-694 East- or Westbound: Take Hwy 100 South and exit onto I-394 West.*
• I-35 North- or Southbound: Exit onto I-94 West, then onto I-394 West.*

*From I-394 West, take the Park Place Blvd/Xenia exit. Turn left at the stoplight. Take the overpass to 16th Street West and turn right. The hotel will be on the right.

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Cooperating Organizations:
College of Management - Metropolitan State University
Commercial Service - U.S. Dept of Commerce
Minnesota Trade Office (MTO)
St. Paul College
U.S. Small Business Administration

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