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Fourth Annual Global Trade and Investment Symposium in Macon
February 9, 2023 at 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Interested in understanding how the world comes to Georgia? Join Christopher N. Smith, Attorney at Law and Global Atlanta for the Fourth Annual Statewide International Trade and Investment Symposium in Macon, where we’ll unpack the intricate connections between the state and the global economy.
The evening event at Wesleyan College will feature leading voices from across the state representing the countries, companies, and industries underpinning job-creating investment and keeping Georgia undeniably connected beyond the U.S.’s borders.
Agenda:- 6:00 – 6:15 PM: Arrival and Networking at Amphitheater
- 6:15 – 6:20 PM: Welcome Remarks
- 6:20 – 7:00 PM: Moderated panel discussion
- 7:00 – 7:10 PM: Moderated Q&A session
- 7:10 – 8:00 PM: Reception in Burden Parlor
Meet our speakers:
Ambassador Luís Cláudio Villafañe Gomes Santos, Consul General of Brazil
Luís Cláudio Villafañe Gomes Santos, diplomat, historian, and biographer was born in Rio de Janeiro on September 18, 1960. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Brasilia and a bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy from Rio Branco Institute (Brazilian diplomatic academy). He also has graduate studies in Political Science at New York University and a master’s and a doctorate in History from the University of Brasilia.
As a diplomat, he served at the Brazilian Financial Office in New York (1990-1994), and at several Brazilian Embassies including Mexico City (1994-1996), Washington (2000-2003), Montevideo (2003-2006), and Quito (2006-2010). He also served at the Brazilian Mission to the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (2010-2014), in Lisbon. He was the Ambassador of Brazil to Nicaragua from 2017 to 2022. Currently, he is the Consul General of Brazil in Atlanta (USA). He is the author of several books about Brazil’s foreign relations history. He has published several articles in journals in Brazil, the United States, Europe, and Latin America, including one in the collection “História General de América Latina”, published by UNESCO. He is married to Sabrina Duque and the father of four children.Regina Maddox, Executive Director, Next Generation Manufacturing
Regina Maddox is the Executive Director for Next Generation Manufacturing (NGM) and has served in this role since the organization’s founding in 2011. NGM connects manufacturers with the resources they need to share best practices, innovations, and networking. The organization is based in Georgia and includes more than 2,000 manufacturer participants from throughout the U.S. representing all sizes and manufacturing verticals. Manufacturer engagement includes direction from the NGM Advisory Board, and outreach to manufacturers via the Annual Signature Event, Women’s Leadership Event, C-level Roundtables, Young Professionals Group, and strategic meetings and plant tours.
Prior to her current role, Regina was the Program Director for the AeA Southeast Council. AeA is a global technology nonprofit organization with over 3,000 member companies that served as the voice of technology for policy both on the state and federal levels.
Regina has a Communications degree from the University of Kentucky and her background includes experience in hotel sales and management with Marriott Corporation.
Mike Schiavone, VP Operations and Finance, General Manager, Terma Inc.
Mike Schiavone has roughly 20 years of aerospace and defense experience. Mike is the Vice President of Finance & Operations and General Manager for Terma Inc. He oversees finance, operations and engineering functions for the U.S. subsidiary with business oversight of the North American Surveillance & Mission Systems business. Mike also has P&L responsibility for Terma Inc. Prior to joining Terma, Mike was the Deputy Chief Financial Officer of Saab Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Saab Group where he assisted in the creation of Saab Inc. as a U.S. Special Security Agreement (SSA) aerospace and defense subsidiary with foreign ownership. He was key to executing various M&A and organic growth initiatives as well as new business captures. Prior to Saab, Mike served in various program, financial, and business development roles at Sensis Corporation, a U.S. aerospace and defense company, before it was acquired by Saab. Mike graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and earned an MBA at Syracuse University. Mike lives in the city of Atlanta.Regie Zandonade, Manager, Forquimica
Hosted by:
The event will be held in the Taylor Hall Amphitheatre of Wesleyan College, 4760 Forsyth Road. Parking is available in Lot A on the corner of Forsyth Road and Tucker Road. Taylor Hall is adjacent to the parking lot, and event signs will direct you to the amphitheater entrance. There will be a reception in Burden Parlor. There will be limited seating.
View the campus map here The amphitheater is on the south side of Taylor Hall, #5 on the map. Reception is in Burden Parlor, which is in the Olive Swann Porter Building, #10 on the map.***This is a free event but registration is required
Sponsored by:
Christopher N. Smith, LLC Attorney at Law
