Trade Winds Mission and Business Forum: The Americas

04/03/2025 (8:00 AM)
04/11/2025 (5:00 PM)
(GMT-03:00) Sao Paulo
Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo

About

Join us in São Paulo for the largest U.S. government-led trade mission and business development forum. Organized by the U.S. Commercial Service, Trade Winds will feature meetings with U.S. commercial diplomats from 20 countries in The Americas, exciting conference programming, and plenty of networking. The registration fee for the forum is $750 per attendee.

Qualified U.S. businesses may customize their experience with optional business-to-business matchmaking meetings with interested buyers, agents, distributors, or joint-venture partners in Brazil (April 9), as well as Colombia and Uruguay (April 3 - 4), and/or Argentina and Chile (April 10 -11). The registration fee for this option, which includes the business development forum and one mission stop, is $2,200 for the first company representative ($4,200 for companies with over 500 employees) and $500 for each additional company representative. The registration fee for each additional mission stop is $1,200. Note: Additional costs may apply if translation services are needed during these pre-arranged matchmaking meetings, ranging from $300-$600/day.    

Hear from Past Attendees

Trade Winds was a very well-organized program. I was able to gather valuable intel on the surrounding countries, with clear action plans for next steps to grow our exports. I also want to say how impressed I was with the quality of companies set up for our B2B session. I expect a few different opportunities based on this stop.
- MSSC
(Collinsville, IL)

As a proud sponsor and participant, NOVA Power had the privilege of attending the US Trade Winds Europe and Eurasia Business Forum, held in Istanbul, Türkiye, with additional B2B mission stops in Milan and Warsaw. This event provided us with an invaluable opportunity to engage with U.S. commercial diplomats from around 15 countries across Europe and Eurasia.
-
NoVA Power Solutions (Sterling, VA)

"Trade Winds is one of the best ways to expand globally for U.S. companies. It’s the second time, we have participated in the Trade Winds and we have had some major deals done with the help of ITA professionals.
- Better Emissions (Floresville, TX)

Market Overviews

Learn about each of the Trade Winds markets by reading information compiled by our in-country Commercial Specialists on best prospects and actionable opportunities for your products and services.

Learn About Our Events

We invite you to explore the wide variety of events that we offer to help U.S. companies expand their global sales.

Agenda

03
Uruguay Matchmaking Stop
Uruguay Matchmaking Stop
Montevideo, Uruguay
Start
8:00 AM
End
5:00 PM
04
Colombia Matchmaking Stop
Colombia Matchmaking Stop
Start
8:00 AM
End
5:00 PM
Uruguay Matchmaking Stop
Uruguay Matchmaking Stop
Start
8:00 AM
End
5:00 PM
05
Travel Day
Travel Day
Start
8:00 AM
End
5:00 PM
06
Ice Breaker/Meet & Greet
Ice Breaker/Meet & Greet
Start
5:00 PM
End
7:00 PM
07
Networking Meetings
Networking Meetings
Start
10:00 AM
End
4:00 PM
One-on-One Meetings with U.S. Commercial Diplomats/Government Trade Experts
One-on-One Meetings with U.S. Commercial Diplomats/Government Trade Experts
Start
10:00 AM
End
5:00 PM
Opening Plenary
Opening Plenary
Start
3:30 PM
End
5:00 PM
Welcome Reception
Welcome Reception
Start
5:30 PM
End
7:30 PM
08
Breakfast, Welcome Remarks, Plenary
Breakfast, Welcome Remarks, Plenary
Start
8:00 AM
End
10:00 AM
One-on-One Meetings with U.S. Commercial Diplomats/Government Trade Experts
One-on-One Meetings with U.S. Commercial Diplomats/Government Trade Experts
Start
10:15 AM
End
5:15 PM
Lunch, Keynote, Plenary
Lunch, Keynote, Plenary
Start
12:30 PM
End
2:30 PM
Trade Winds Reception
Trade Winds Reception
Start
6:00 PM
End
8:00 PM
09
Breakfast and Plenary
Breakfast and Plenary
Start
8:15 AM
End
9:45 AM
B2B Matchmaking (Brazil Mission Stop)
B2B Matchmaking (Brazil Mission Stop)
Start
10:00 AM
End
5:00 PM
One-on-One Meetings with U.S. Commercial Diplomats/Government Trade Experts
One-on-One Meetings with U.S. Commercial Diplomats/Government Trade Experts
Start
10:00 AM
End
4:00 PM
10
Argentina Matchmaking Stop
Argentina Matchmaking Stop
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Start
8:00 AM
End
5:00 PM
Chile Matchmaking Stop
Chile Matchmaking Stop
Santiago, Chile
Start
8:00 AM
End
5:00 PM

Meet our U.S. Commercial Diplomats in the Region

John Breidenstine Speaker image

John Breidenstine

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Mexico

A career Senior Foreign Service Officer, class of Career Minister, John Breidenstine began his assignment as Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City in August 2023. Before his current assignment, John served as the Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs and ASEAN Regional Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok (2019-2023); Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs and Senior Commercial Officer for Europe at the U.S. Mission to the European Union (2015-2019); Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs in London (2011-15); U.S. Consul General in Hermosillo, Mexico (2008-11); Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia (2006-08); and Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City (2003-06). Prior to a 2002 reconstruction-related assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, John’s postings included: Ankara, Turkey (1997-2002); Tashkent, Uzbekistan (1994-97); Kuwait City, Kuwait (1991-93); and Munich, Germany (1990-91). Before joining the Foreign Service in 1990, John studied international relations at the University of Miami (1987-88) and at the Free University of Berlin (1988-89) and worked as an Account Executive for International Paper in New York City and Atlanta (1984-87). He is a 1984 graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina.

Timothy Cannon Speaker image

Timothy Cannon

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Panama

Timothy Cannon has been with the Department of Commerce since 2003. Prior to joining the Commercial Service, Tim was a Marine at the barracks in Washington, D.C. where he served as a Presidential Honor Guard. After the Marines he worked as a Personal Protection Officer. He then pursued a career in sales with Gallo Winery, Miller Brewing, and Red Bull. After the beverage business, Tim accepted a position with an aerospace company and while attending the Paris and Australian Airshows, Tim utilized the services of the Commercial Service. He was impressed with their assistance and decided to return to the service of the government as a Commercial Officer himself. Since then, Tim has served in Fargo, North Dakota on a domestic tour, Russia, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia and will be in Panama for the next four years.  

Keenton Chiang Speaker image

Keenton Chiang

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Peru

Keenton Chiang has served as Commercial Counselor and Head of Agency for the Department of Commerce at the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru beginning in August 2023. He was the First Secretary for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing from 2017-2022. He served as a DC-based China desk officer for the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2016-2017. He was the Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea from 2012-2016. From 2009-2012, he was the Commercial Consul at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, China.

Prior to joining the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, Keenton was an interim-executive officer at a start-up investment bank in Pasadena, California. Prior to that he worked as a Peace Corps volunteer for small businesses in Guatemala for two years. Before beginning his overseas experience, he was a senior manager of a 50-member team responsible for securitizing closed loans for the secondary market.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Humboldt State University. He received his MBA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (now Middlebury Institute). 

Martin Claessens Speaker image

Martin Claessens

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Chile

As the U.S. Department of Commerce’s senior representative in Chile, Martin manages an office of nine trade professionals assisting U.S. companies with market access and trade promotion in Chile and helping Chilean companies invest in the United States. Martin also advises the Ambassador on U.S.-Chile economic and commercial relations.  His previous assignments in the U.S. Commercial Service were Toronto, Canada; Kyiv, Ukraine; Bogota, Colombia; Mumbai, India; and Chicago, Illinois.
Nicole DeSilvis Speaker image

Nicole DeSilvis

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Brazil

Nicole DeSilvis was appointed as Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil, beginning Fall 2023. She joined the US & Foreign Commercial Service (CS) in 2008 as a Commercial Officer stationed in Philadelphia. In 2010, she was appointed as Commercial Attaché to serve a four-year tour in Bogota, Colombia. In addition to her Bogota duties, Nicole concurrently served a three-month temporary tour in Lima, Peru in 2013, as the Acting Senior Commercial Officer. From July 2014 through 2019, she served a five-year tour as the Senior Commercial Officer in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Ms. DeSilvis most recently served a four-year tour of duty from 2019 through 2013 as Counselor for Commercial Affairs in Mexico, Mexico City, including coverage in both Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Before joining CS, Nicole served as the International Trade Manager for the Temple University SBDC in Philadelphia where she was also an Adjunct Professor of International Business at the Temple Fox School of Business. Nicole’s past private sector experience includes working in international sales management for 15+ years in Fortune 100 and manufacturing companies, implementing export management and international sales programs.
Kenneth Duckworth Speaker image

Kenneth Duckworth

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy El Salvador

Daniel Gaines Speaker image

Daniel Gaines

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Guyana

Daniel Gaines is assigned to Georgetown, Guyana as the Senior Commercial Officer for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service (CS). Prior to this assignment, Daniel served as a Commercial Officer in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Nairobi, Kenya.  He has also served stints as the Acting Senior Commercial Officer for CS Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

Within the United States, Daniel served as the Director of the CS Phoenix Export Assistance Center (USEAC), as a Senior International Trade Specialist in the Northern Virginia USEAC, and has experience in Washington, DC from his time in the Office of the Assistant Secretary & Director General in Commerce Headquarters.

Daniel holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Business from the University of Alabama and a Masters in Global Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.  

Reinaldo Garcia Speaker image

Reinaldo Garcia

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Honduras

Reinaldo Garcia is currently serves as Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He manages an office of three trade professionals assisting U.S. companies with market access and trade promotion in Honduras and helping Honduran companies invest in the United States.  His previous assignment was with the Multilateral & Strategic Initiatives Team, Office of Western Hemisphere, in Washington, D.C., covering critical minerals, border security technology & passport technology, climate/clean tech, and distribution and logistics (supply chains) portfolios.  Reinaldo also served as the Deputy Director of the SelectUSA Investment Services Team. Prior to that, he served in Guangzhou, China from 2018-2021.  Before joining the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service, Reinaldo worked as the General Counsel for Latin America for a major U.S. real estate company. He holds a JD, a BA in Political Science, and postgraduate studies in international economic and trade law.  

 

 

 

Robyn Garfield Speaker image

Robyn Garfield

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Uruguay

Robyn Garfield is a career U.S. Foreign Service Officer. Most recently, he served as Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Mission to the European Union, where he led a team covering energy, transportation, and climate. In this role, he founded a global whole-of-government initiative to address climate and energy transition needs in Europe and Eurasia. Robyn previously served in the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of China and Mongolia and as Commercial Consul at the Consulate General in Shanghai overseeing transportation, aviation, travel and tourism, and environmental technology. Prior to joining the U.S. Government, Robyn managed large multi-cultural teams in five countries as a corporate strategist, general manager and entrepreneur. Most recently, he advised Samsung Group’s global business units on international strategy from its headquarters in Seoul. Prior to that, he held executive roles in Washington, D.C. and founded a company in Beijing. Robyn holds an MBA from INSEAD, an MA from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in Business and Intercultural Communication. 

Ryan Hollowell Speaker image

Ryan Hollowell

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Costa Rica

Ryan Hollowell is the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in San Jose where he leads the commercial diplomacy, export promotion and advocacy efforts in Costa Rica.  Ryan’s career with the Department of Commerce spans more than 15 years and includes assignments in Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Northern New Jersey and New York City. 

In Ho Chi Minh City, Ryan led the U.S.-Vietnam Industry Working Groups for Aviation, Energy, Healthcare, and Smart Cities, helping hundreds of businesses seeking to expand their work in Vietnam.  As the lead for Vietnam’s energy advocacy work, Ryan coordinated the efforts of 9 agencies and departments to advance key energy projects and policies.  Ryan also led the commercial signings for Indo-Pacific Business Forum, facilitating 7 signings for more than $11 billion.  

Prior to Ho Chi Minh City, Ryan was the Regional Commercial Officer and inaugural Digital Attaché for ASEAN at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore working on a regional and bilateral level promoting U.S. business expansion in ASEAN.  As the Digital Attaché, Ryan assisted U.S. companies in navigating policy challenges in the region focused on cybersecurity, data flows and data localization, and was instrumental in Singapore’s acceptance of APEC CBPR. 

Ryan also served on the U.S. side in the Northern New Jersey and New York City.  In between Commerce roles, Ryan joined a startup renewable energy company as the Director for International Business Development focused on reducing diesel consumption by telecommunications companies.  

Before joining the U.S. Department of Commerce, Ryan spent two years on Capitol Hill and two years with a lobbying firm focused on climate change policy.   

Ryan holds an M.B.A. in Finance and a M.A in International Relations from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Business with minors in Economics and Peace Studies from Xavier University.  

Jennifer Kane-Zabolotskaya Speaker image

Jennifer Kane-Zabolotskaya

Regional Senior Commercial Officer for the Caribbean @ U.S. Embassy - Dominican Republic

Jennifer is the Regional Senior Commercial Officer for the Caribbean based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  She coordinates U.S Department of Commerce activities across the DR, Haiti, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Previously, Jennifer was the organization’s Senior Advisor for Career Development and Assignments of the 250+ Foreign Service Officer Corps and advised on strategic staffing and resourcing policies and programs worldwide.  Other assignments include serving as the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Hungary; the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in London, UK where she monitored nascent HMG policies affecting U.S. interests in response to the pro-Brexit vote; the Senior Commercial Officer in Almaty, Kazakhstan; the  Commercial Officer at the U.S. Mission to the European Union; and the Commercial Officer at the U.S. Export Assistance Center Boston, MA.  Before joining the Foreign Service, Jennifer worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC and in the private sector as a consultant to the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).  Jennifer has an M.A. from George Washington University and a B.A. from Bucknell University.

Eric Olson Speaker image

Eric Olson

Regional Senior Commercial Officer - Southern Cone @ U.S. Embassy - Argentina

Eric Olson is the Commercial Counselor based at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires with responsibility for coordinating the activities of the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Southern Cone countries of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Eric’s previous assignments include: Commercial Attaché in Seoul, Korea, where he was a member of the U.S. team that negotiated the KORUS Free Trade Agreement; Senior Commercial Officer in Quito, Ecuador and Caracas, Venezuela; Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Recife, Brazil; Commercial Officer at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in West Los Angeles; and Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey, Mexico. Prior to his career in the Foreign Service, Eric worked in Washington, DC, in the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of the Western Hemisphere as the Deputy Regional Director. Before coming to Commerce, he worked in the U.S. Congress as a legislative assistant to Congressman Dan Schaefer of Colorado.
Eric earned an MA from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University in Washington, DC and a BA from the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. 
Matthew Poole Speaker image

Matthew Poole

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Colombia

Matthew has served in Bogota, Colombia since September 2023. Prior to his assignment in Colombia, he served as the Senior Commercial Officer in Montevideo, Uruguay where he was the first FCS officer in Uruguay in over 20 years.  Matthew previously served at the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru where he worked on important projects in security and defense, water and sanitation and agricultural equipment sectors.  Before Peru, Matthew completed a two-year assignment at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Chicago, Illinois.  In addition to his client-facing work in Chicago, Matthew served as the Global Finance Team’s subject matter expert for the accounting industry.

Prior to working for the Department of Commerce, Matthew worked for KPMG’s Advisory practice in Chicago performing financial due diligence for private equity firms and multinational manufacturing companies.  Matthew also served in the U.S. Army Reserve and retired after 20 years of service at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 

Matthew earned a BA in international relations from Boston University and a MS in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago.  He is registered as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with the State of Illinois.

 

Kennia Somerville Speaker image

Kennia Somerville

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Guatemala

Kennia Somerville is the Senior Commercial Officer in Embassy Guatemala. Previously, she served as the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in Embassy Bogota from where she also managed the Partner Posts in Ecuador and Bolivia and covered the ICT and healthcare portfolios.

She began her experience in the Western Hemisphere at the U.S. Consulate in São Paulo, Brazil where she managed the infrastructure, education, tourism, and the SelectUSA foreign direct investment program for the country. She also served at the Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center office where she oversaw a range of sectors, including advance manufacturing, and education for east Pennsylvania and Delaware companies. Prior to joining the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, Kennia served as an International Trade Specialist for a USAID-funded export promotion program which helped South African companies export to the U.S. She also worked on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, served as a Human Rights manager for Amnesty International USA, and worked in the private sector.

A native of Washington, DC, Kennia joined the Foreign Commercial Service in 2014. She is a graduate of Oberlin College and has lived and worked in France, South Africa, Alaska, and Japan.
Pamela Ward Speaker image

Pamela Ward

Senior Commercial Officer @ U.S. Embassy - Canada

Pamela Ward serves as Senior Commercial Officer forat the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa. She most recently served as the Regional Senior Commercial Officer for Southeast Europe, based in Bucharest, Romania and has has extensive experience in Europe. Pamela previously served as the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer for Trade Policy at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium (2015-2017), where she provided policy and strategic direction for the 23 CS operations in the European region; as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in Paris, France (2012-2015), as the Senior Commercial Officer in Zagreb, Croatia (2008-2011); as Deputy Senior Commercial Officer in The Hague, The Netherlands (2002-2004), and as Commercial Attaché in Budapest, Hungary (1999-2002).  Immediately prior to her posting Bucharest, Pamela served in Johannesburg, South Africa as the Regional Senior Commercial Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa, leading over 50 trade professionals from eight Commercial Service posts (South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Mozambique) and providing oversight to 24 partner posts in one of the Commercial Service’s largest and most diverse regions. This was her second assignment in South Africa, having served there as the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer from 2004-2007.

Prior to joining the Foreign Commercial Service, Pamela served as the Manager of the Eugene (Oregon) Export Assistance Center and as an International Trade Specialist in Newport Beach, California.  She entered government service as an Import Compliance Specialist investigating unfair trade practice allegations for the U.S. Department of Commerce. Prior to her government service, she worked in the international trade and shipping logistics departments of several multinational firms.  Pamela holds a degree in Business Administration and International Marketing from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and completed Stanford’s Graduate School of Business LEAD program in 2022.  

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