Discover Global Markets: The Americas (Omaha, Nebraska)

Alex Toledo is a seasoned logistics professional with over 30 years of operational and sales experience mainly focusing on the Latin American market. Alex's special focus on Brazil, the largest US trading partner in Latin America, sets him apart. Having resided in Brazil and happily married to a Brazilian for over 20 years, he brings a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in trade between the US and Brazil.

Meredith Bond is the Director of the US Commercial Service’s Omaha office, a federal agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  She works with clients across Nebraska to develop international marketing strategies, locate overseas business contacts and solve export process problems.  She collaborates with local trade development organizations and Commercial Service colleagues worldwide to provide customized solutions for U.S. companies.  Ms. Bond also serves as a nationwide resource to colleagues and clients in the area of Free Trade Agreements. 

As Lead Director of Global Banking, Michael oversees teams responsible for international payments, FX risk management and trade finance solutions for corporate and correspondent banking customers. He specializes in providing foreign exchange and international payment solutions for financial institutions.

Michael joined FNBO in 2002 as part of the retail team. He entered Global Banking in 2004 to build out FX trading and international payments solutions prior to taking on his current role leading the Global Banking team. He has a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Banking from University of Nebraska at Omaha as well as an Executive MBA. He is also treasurer of the Nebraska District Export Council and the National Association of District Export Councils.

Regina De Leonardis Heise is the Regional Director for the Midwest region of the U.S. Commercial Service, overseeing trade promotion activities in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.  Previously, Regina served as the Director of the U.S. Commercial Service-Kansas City office and the Deputy Director of the Trade Information Center in Washington, D.C. Regina began her federal career in 1996 as a Presidential Management Fellow with the Department of Commerce. She is a member of the ITA Coaching Cadre and is the immediate past chair of the Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board. 

 She is originally from Chicago and received her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from De Paul University in Chicago. She earned a Master of Public Affairs from the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin.  She is married, has two children, and a dog. She is an active volunteer with her church community and enjoys cooking, crafting, reading, and watching sports.

Matt Baker is the Regional Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa with the U.S. Commercial Service Advocacy Center, a specialized unit providing support for U.S. companies to win foreign government contracts around the world.  During his tenure with the U.S. Commercial Service Matt has served as the Director for Global Design and Construction programs, Acting Senior Commercial Oofficer at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal and Belgrade, Serbia, and as a Trade Specialist in both Arizona and Texas.  Matt holds a Master of Business Administration in International Business from the University of Texas – Dallas and a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Abilene Christian University. 

Deputy Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service at the International Trade Administration (ITA), the U.S. government’s primary commercial diplomacy, export, and investment promotion agency. He manages a staff of more than 1,450 trade professionals across more than 225 domestic and overseas trade offices.

With a career marked by over twenty years of service, Golsen has cultivated extensive expertise in facilitating collaborations between American and global businesses. He is a member of the Senior Foreign Service and has held roles across the U.S., globe, and at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Prior to his current role, Golsen served as the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His career trajectory also encompassed significant positions such as: Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia; Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon, Burma; and Principal Commercial Officer for South India in Chennai. His work has taken him to various locations, including Bangkok, Thailand, and Shanghai, China.

Golsen’s influence also extended to his role as ITA’s Executive Director of Asia for Global Markets, where he managed 14 Commercial Service posts across Asia, in conjunction with three policy offices in Washington.

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.  

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.

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.