Discover Global Markets: The Americas (Columbia, SC)

John is a native of Haywood County, North Carolina and returned to the mountains to work in his hometown of Waynesville. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 2004 and Georgia State University College of Law in 2007. After working in private law practice for several years, John joined Green Mountain International, LLC in March 2012 in a sales and marketing role.  John earned a promotion to Vice President and later to President of the company.  During his time at Green Mountain, John has overseen shipments to customers in dozens of foreign markets and has continued to grow the company's footprint, both overseas and at home.  Green Mountain International's export sales account for between 15-30% of total sales most years.  So far, his favorite destination during his time with the company is Lima, Peru.

·       In her role at SC Commerce, Carla Edwards provides services to both new and established South Carolina exporters, who wish to grow their sales internationally. She also serves as South Carolina Director for the State Trade Expansion grant program. Carla served as International Program manager at the South Carolina Department of Education before joining the Commerce’s Business Services Division as International Trade Manager, bringing with her a vast international experience.

·       Carla was born in Angola, but grew up in Portugal, where she attended school and graduated with a major in International Relations and a minor in Economics. As part of her studies, Carla spent a year at the University of Würzburg, in Germany. She served as Market and Trade Consultant for Portugal’s Trade & Investment Agency first in Helsinki, Finland and later in Stockholm, Sweden, supporting the internationalization of Portuguese companies through exports.

·       This is Carla’s second time with the Department of Commerce, as she served as Economic Development Manager shortly after moving to the United States. Carla lives in Columbia with her husband and three children.

Diane Farrell is the Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade. In this role, she plans, determines, and coordinates policy; directs the International Trade Administration (ITA); and oversees the daily operations of ITA, which has an annual budget of $613 million with approximately 2,100 trade and investment professionals—based in more than 100 U.S. cities and 70 markets around the world. Within the Department of Commerce, Diane Farrell also serves currently as Co-Chair of the Equity Council, alongside Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves.

Prior to becoming the Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, where she was the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets on all matters concerning international economics, trade, investment, and commercial policy programs and agreements with respect to Asia. In this role, she also oversaw planning and execution of Department of Commerce commercial diplomacy and export promotion strategies at United States Missions in Region Asia.

Previously, Farrell worked at the U.S. India Business Council (USIBC). As Executive Vice President, she oversaw business advocacy policy and government relations.

Farrell served on the Board of Directors at the Export Import Bank of the United States (U.S. EXIM Bank) before joining USIBC. A Presidential appointee, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she was responsible for voting on transactions in excess of $10 million as well as significant policy matters. Her portfolio responsibilities included small business, India, Southeast Asia, and portions of Latin America. In addition, she was named a member of the White House Business Council. During her tenure at U.S. EXIM Bank, Indian transactions expanded and diversified as aircraft sales and conventional and green energy projects, among others, led to India becoming the second largest country by U.S. dollar allocation in the bank’s overall portfolio.

Before serving at U.S. EXIM Bank, Farrell was elected as the First Selectwoman (mayor), in Westport, Connecticut. In this role she managed multimillion-dollar budgets within the Consumer Price Index and maintained the town’s AAA bond rating at a time when significant infrastructure investment was taking place. She oversaw the construction of schools, a municipal wastewater treatment plant, affordable housing, and other necessary facilities.

Farrell also served as Chairwoman of the Southwestern Connecticut Regional Planning Agency Metropolitan Planning Organization that was responsible for federally funded transportation infrastructure in a vital commercial corridor. As a select member of the National League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Steering and Policy Committee, she helped set policy goals for transportation and infrastructure initiatives in support of cities and towns across the United States.

She is the recipient of the 2022 Presidential Rank Award as a Meritorious Executive for her sustained accomplishments in federal career senior executive service.

Farrell holds a Bachelor of Arts in American government from Wheaton College Norton, Massachusetts.

Diego Gattesco serves as Director for the U.S. Commercial Service Wheeling, West Virginia office. His main responsibility is to provide counseling and a variety of products and services to assist small and mid-sized U.S. businesses export their products and services. Diego was also selected in 2012 to lead the U.S. Department of Commerce's Trade Americas Global Team. This program brings together the resources of U.S. Commercial Service offices in 15 countries and State Department sections at U.S. Embassies in 9 additional markets, providing U.S. firms with a single point of access to Western Hemisphere regional trade events, services, and research covering markets throughout the region. The Trade Americas site provides information on the existing and proposed free trade agreements throughout the region, market research, trade event lists, industry-specific information, business service providers, useful links, and key contacts. 

A native of Córdoba, Argentina, Diego has experience in both public and private sector companies, with extensive international sales and representation capabilities, strong organizational and interpersonal skills, broad IT exposure, outstanding business and entrepreneurial orientation. He is a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University's MBA Leadership program and a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP).

Alex Holmgren is a Commercial Officer with professional experience spanning commercial diplomacy, small business, and non-profits. Currently assigned to Brasilia, Brazil, Alex is responsible for the defense, safety and security, and civil space sectors. Alex speaks French and Portuguese and has an MA in Political Science and an MBA in Finance and Management.  

Nyamusi K. Igambi is the regional director of the U.S. Commercial Service’s Southern Network where she leads a team of international trade professionals dedicated to assisting U.S. exporters in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and South Carolina. Prior to her current role, Nya was the director of the U.S. Commercial Service offices in Houston and Kansas City, MO. Within the U.S. Commercial Service, she has been a key contributor to several Commerce Department initiatives and programs including minority and women-owned business outreach, U.S. renewable energy exports, Doing Business in Africa, and Power Africa. She has organized business development trade missions to Belgium, Chile, Colombia, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, and Spain. In addition, she has completed temporary duty assignments in U.S. Commercial Service offices in Chile, Mexico, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Prior to joining the U.S. Commercial Service, Nya worked for the Texas Department of Economic Development in Mexico City and Austin promoting international trade, tourism, and economic development. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated and an advisor to the Organization of Women in International Trade, South Florida Chapter. 

Nya received a B.A. in journalism and M.A. in Romance Languages from Texas Tech University. She enjoys volunteering with various non-profits such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Giving Hope and Help. 

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, at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Office of the Western Hemisphere as the Deputy Regional Director. Before coming to the Department of Commerce, Eric worked in the U.S. Congress as a legislative assistant to Congressman Dan Schaefer of Colorado. He 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.

Justin Seibert is founder and President of Direct Online Marketing, a Premier Google Partner and Inc. 5000 fastest growing company. DOM has helped clients on every populated continent grow their businesses through digital advertising and marketing since 2006.  Justin has three times been named a top 25 most influential expert in search for speaking at conferences throughout the world.  He serves on the WV District Export Council, has been recognized by the WV Small Business Administration as Exporter of the Year, and received the Export Achievement Certificate from the U.S. Department of Commerce.   Connect on LinkedIn to talk digital marketing or exporting!

Matt Walters is an experienced professional with a diverse background in the travel, hospitality, healthcare, and media sectors. He began his career at US Airways, where he honed his skills in business development by contracting with the local business community. He then transitioned to Starwood Hotels and Resorts, where he focused on driving brand loyalty by building relationships with the local business community in Kansas City, MO and Denver, CO.

Matt's journey continued at Stryker Orthopedics, where he contributed to innovative healthcare solutions and strengthened relationships within the Raleigh/Durham medical community. Most recently, he worked with Good Sam Media & Events, where he played a key role in organizing high-profile events and building strategic partnerships.

In 2022, Matt earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, equipping him with advanced business acumen and leadership skills. He now serves as the Director of International Partnerships for High Temperature Technologies, where he leverages his extensive experience to drive growth and foster global collaborations. Passionate about connecting people and businesses, Matt is dedicated to making a positive impact on every role he undertakes.

A social entrepreneur, Cherod Webber established Innovative Global Supply (IGS) to identify and solve social problems on a large scale. IGS launched in 2008 as a global supplier of high-quality nutritional products to malnourished populations around the world. As President and CEO, Mr. Webber has expanded the strategic focus of IGS to further its social impact. Today, IGS is focused on promoting innovation, sustainability and global wellness in a variety of ways through work in Health and Wellness, Infrastructure, Economic Development, Renewable Energy and the Agriculture sector.

Mr. Webber serves as Honorary Consul between the City of Columbia, SC, and Ghana and the Greater Western and Southern African Regions. In addition, he is serving his second term as a member of the South Carolina District Export Council. In December 2017, he was elected to serve as the DEC Chairman for a two-year term. In March 2018, he was elected to the University of South Carolina McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise Advisory Board. He is also a member of the United States Global Leadership Coalition South Carolina Advisory Board for which he has annually briefed members of the South Carolina Congressional delegation. Mr. Webber formerly served as member of the U.S. Export-Import Bank Advisory Committee representing US small business interests.

He was recently appointed to the Furman University Alumni Board of Directors. Mr. Webber received his Bachelor’s degree from Furman in 1989 with a degree in Political Science and International Affairs and was a member of the Furman Football team when it won the NCAA Division 1-AA National Championship in 1988.

Lisa White joined the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) in 2020 and is currently Commercial Attaché at U.S. Embassy Bogota. She manages FCS services to assist U.S. businesses develop their export sales in Colombia and SelectUSA for Colombian investments in the United States. Her prior posting was at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Seattle where she advised Washington businesses on how to grow international sales and developed special programs to accelerate women-owned businesses. Lisa has more than 15 years of combined federal service with experience at three previous agencies. Previous roles include the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) where she worked as an Economic Development Specialist and Public Information Officer, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) where she worked as an Immigration Services Officer, and the U.S. Peace Corps where she worked as a Regional Recruiter. Prior to that, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea and Mali in West Africa where she supported small business development and developed French proficiency. Lisa graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BS in Business Administration with a focus on marketing and communications.