MARY ELLEN LAWSON, RECENTLY PROMOTED DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE FOR THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WILL ENCOURAGE INCREASED AG EXPORTS TO ASIA WHILE CONTINUING TO PROMOTE STRONG TRADE RELATIONS WITH LATIN AMERICA.
RECENTLY RETURNED FROM HONG KONG, WHERE SHE REPRESENTED THE DEPARTMENT AT THE FOOD MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE’S ASIA MART TRADESHOW, SHE TOLD GLOBALFAX IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THAT THE OUTLOOK FOR GEORGIA PRODUCTS IN THE PACIFIC RIM IS “EXCELLENT,” ESPECIALLY FOR THE STATE’S SPECIALTY FOODS AND PARTICULARLY PECANS.
SHE ADDED THAT SHE WILL TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PROMOTING GEORGIA EXPORTS IN ALL WORLD MARKETS, BUT THAT THE STATE’S BRUSSELS OFFICE IS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMOTIONS IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE DEPARTMENT TWO YEARS AGO, MS. LAWSON SPENT SEVERAL YEARS WORKING AS A COTTON BROKER. THE TRADE DIRECTOR’S POSITION HAS BEEN VACANT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE RYAN THORNTON LEFT TO JOIN THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY, TRADE AND TOURISM.
MS. LAWSON IS A GRADUATE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF COTTON IN MEMPHIS AND HOLDS A BACHELORS DEGREE IN FINANCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA AND A MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DEGREE IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FROM MERCER UNIVERSITY.
SHE IS ACTIVE IN ATLANTA’S INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS A MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, WORLD TRADE CENTER ATLANTA, GEORGIA COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ATLANTA WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND IS SERVING ON THE EXECUTIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA’S PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF AGRICULTURE.
SHE MAY BE REACHED AT (404) 656-3740; FAX, (404) 656-9380.