The Mid-America District Export Council
is a private, non-profit organization that brings together experienced international business people who provide guidance and assistance in international markets.
MADEC Officers
CHAIR
Drew Felling
Vice President
International Trade for Commerce Bank
Expertise: International Development, Export Manufacturing Sales, Global Logistics, and Trade Finance
drew.felling@commercebank.com
VICE CHAIR
Thomas Merlot
Director
Northwest Missouri State University | International Involvement Center
Expertise: International Education, Gold Key Services, NAFSA, Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Study Missouri.
tmerlot@nwmissouri.edu
TREASURER
David Clark
Vice President
ARI Global
Expertise: Trade Credit Insurance, Risk Mitigation, Commercial Collections, Alternative Financing, and Commercial Lending Industries
MADEC MEMBERS
Rayan F. Azab
Chairman/Founder
Azab Advisory LLC
Expertise: Rayan F. M. Azab brings forth more than 13 years of expertise collaborating with American enterprises, facilitating their global expansion endeavors and securing deals worth a cumulative total of over $150 million. Possessing extensive knowledge in business ethics, the U.S. market, and a strong understanding of the culture in the Middle East and Africa, Azab maintains a diverse international network across various industries.
Frederick Baehner
President & IBNewsmag, Publisher
InterMark3, Inc.
Expertise: International Business Development and Intelligence for SMEs; International Marketing & Promotion; Publish IBNewsmag – practical information for international traders (SMEs); Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC 9) as cleared advisor to USTR for SMEs.
Susan Ballew
Contract Manager
SOR, Inc.
Expertise: Commercial and Government Contract Management, Trade Compliance, International Payment Methods, Export Controls, Business Development
Darpan Bhatt
Co-Director
Bhatt International, Inc.
Expertise: Recycled and Intermediate Metals Trading/Processor, Raw Materials, and Doing Business in India
Dr. Melissa Birch
Associate Professor and Director, Global Business Studies
University of Kansas School of Business
Expertise: Export Education, Market Entry Strategies, Economic & Political Risk Assessment
Courtney Brooks
President/CEO
Global Ties KC
Expertise: International Professional Exchange, Diplomacy, Youth Education and Development.
cbrooks@globaltieskc.org
Lesa Brownell
Director, Trade Compliance
Schenck Process, LLC
Expertise: International Trade, Compliance, Supply Chain Management, Nonprofit Organizations and Risk Management
Jay Devers
Managing Partner
Bestway International
Expertise: Global supply chain management, international trading and payment terms.
jay@bestway-intl.com
Juan M. Escalante
VP of SkyCourier Sales
Textron Aviation
Expertise: International business development and strategy; Opening new markets; Setting up sales/support/distribution networks; Structuring cross border transactions/financing.
jesalante@txtav.com | (316)243-6452
Philip Hull Ph.D
Director
Graduate & International Student Services at University of Central Missouri
Expertise: Education , International Recruitment, Study Abroad Programs, and Trans-Atlantic Studies and Scholarship
Saskia Lehnert
Export Director
Great Plains International
Expertise: international market analysis, international distributor identification and relationship development.
saskialehnert@gmail.com
Laura Lombard
Director of the International Division
Kansas Department of Commerce
Expertise: International Business Development, Export Assistance, and Foreign Direct Investment Recruitment
Ike Nwabuonwu
Chairman & CEO
Alpha Energy and Electric, Inc., DBA Alpha General Contracting
Expertise: Green Energy, Innovative Construction, African Business and Affairs
Daniel Rauchholz
President
Farmada
Expertise: Manufacturing, Distribution, international development, Agriculture, Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, and Doing Business in Eastern Europe.
Robert Rebori
President
BioMicrobics, Inc.
Expertise: Strategic Marketing
Tina Roth
Associate Director, Global Supply & Trade Compliance
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
Expertise: Certified US Export Compliance Officer, International Logistics and Trade Compliance, Past President and Board Member of ITCKC and International Logistics Association of KC
Fang Shen
Partner & Asia Service Leader
Husch Blackwell
Expertise: Transactional Law, Domestic and International Mergers and Acquisitions, Loans and Financing, Corporate Structure and Joint Ventures, Global Manufacturing and Distribution, and Trade Compliance.
Jeff Willis
President
Eastern Strategies LLC
Expertise: Exporting to and manufacturing in East and Southeast Asia with particular focus on small and medium-size businesses.
jeff@easternstrategies.com
Dimitriy Vakulenko
International Sales Specialist
Kuhn Krause, Inc.
Expertise: International trade expertise, including sales, marketing, and establishing export accounts focusing on Eastern Europe, CIS and African Countries.
dimitriy.vakulenko@kuhn.com | (620) 717 3933
Jenny Wilson
VP Tourism Development
VisitKC
Expertise: International tourism development, primarily focused on Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
jwilson@visitkc.com | (816) 691-3832