THE METRO ATLANTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS LOOKING FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES INTERESTED IN MENTORING OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE JUST STARTING OUT IN THE GLOBAL MARKET.
THE CHAMBER WOULD LIKE TO CONNECT COMPANIES THAT ARE JUST STARTING TO EXPORT WITH EXECUTIVES OF MORE EXPERIENCED COMPANIES WITH SIMILAR, BUT NOT COMPETING, PRODUCTS.
MANY BUSINESSES MAKE THE CHAMBER THEIR FIRST STOP WHEN PLANNING AN EXPORT PROGRAM, SAID TOMMY TURNER, TRADE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITH THE CHAMBER, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH GLOBALFAX ON OCT. 24.
“RATHER THAN JUST GIVING THEM A LIST OF SERVICES TO CALL, WE WANT TO HOOK THEM UP WITH SOMEONE THAT CAN GIVE THEM AN OVERALL IDEA OF A MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL PATH TO FOLLOW,” SAID MR. TURNER. “GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS BECAUSE OF LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE EXPENSE INVOLVED. WE DON’T WANT ANYONE TO END UP IN A CONVOLUTED TANGLE OF DISTRIBUTORSHIPS THAT JUST DOESN’T WORK.”
A PROTOTYPE MODEL OF THE MENTOR-MENTEE RELATIONSHIP HAS ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED BETWEEN TWO ATLANTA COMPANIES, SAID MR. TURNER, AND THE CHAMBER IS READY TO START BUILDING UP A LIST OF BUSINESSES WILLING AND ABLE TO ACT AS MENTORS.
COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE QUALITY CONTROL, OFFICE MACHINERY, AND MATERIALS HANDLING INDUSTRIES HAVE ALREADY APPROACHED THE CHAMBER, AND ARE WAITING FOR SUITABLE MENTORS, HE SAID. HE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DEVELOP A LIST OF POTENTIAL MENTORS THAT CAN BE ASSIGNED ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE MENTOR PROGRAM CALL BILL WEILLER OF PURAFIL, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE PROGRAM, AT (770) 662-8545; FAX (770) 263-6922, OR MR. TURNER CAN BE REACHED AT (404) 586-8461; FAX (404) 586-8464.