The Global Trade Certificate is brought to you through the partnership between the World Trade Center and the University of Arkansas Global Campus by way of the FITT Curriculum. There are eight courses that can be taken as a series or split-up and taken individually to fit your needs. Each course is taught using a hand-on approach by instructors who are skilled professionals in international business. To learn more information about each of the eight individual sessions, click on the links below.
Costs
Lunch is included on both days.
The program will run from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on each day. Classes are held at the University of Arkansas Global Campus at Rogers, and the Arkansas World Trade Center in Rogers, Arkansas. Special room rates have been given to participants by Clarion Hotel ($79 per night) and Sleep Inn ($59 per night) in Bentonville (1-888-505-6924). If needed, the hotels will provide free shuttle service to and from the Global Trade Certificate program each day.
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Training Dates
Session |
Date |
Instructor |
| Global Business Environment | June 29 - 30, 2009 | Leroy Lowe |
| International Trade Management | September 28 - 29, 2009 | Mike McCarthy |
| International Trade Research | October 26 - 27, 2009 | Mike McCarthy |
| International Market Entry Strategies | February 8 - 9, 2010 | Randy Huffman |
| Legal Aspects of International Trade | March 29 - 30, 2010 | Susie Hoeller |
| Global Supply Chain Management | May 24 - 25, 2010 | Terry Tucker |
| International Marketing | September 27 - 28, 2010 | Ed Vinagre |
| International Trade Finance | November 29 - 30, 2010 | Ed Vinagre |
Why obtain a World Trade Certificate through FITT?
- Succeed in new global markets.
- Strengthen your industry knowledge.
- Advance your international trade career.
- Increase your credibility and visibility.
- Gain world-recognized credentials.
- Expand and diversify your skill base.
- Network with a vast group of qualified international trade professionals.
To learn more about FITT, click on the logo.
Information for each of the individual session hyperlinks above:
Global Business Environment
The course content for this topic covers the context in which international trade takes place and the opportunities and challenges it represents for business. In addition, you will find a complete discussion on ethical issues businesses face today. Topics such as a code of conduct for international trade professionals, human rights, ethical practices, diversity in the workplace and the environment, will be of particular interest. Cultural aspects of international business and the importance of e-commerce for facilitating international trade are also addressed in this course content.
International Trade Management
The material presented in this course content provides the learner with the ability to develop an international business plan thus ensuring a comprehension of the scope and breadth and integration of international trade practices. Factors that ensure profitable entry into the import and export business and how corporate resources can be mobilized to capture qualified international business opportunities are discussed.
International Trade Research
The course content addresses the importance of well-planned and efficient research for guiding and promoting company activities. The learner will be able to develop research objectives that are compatible with corporate business objectives and select suitable methods of acquiring data. The course also presents material that will expose the learner to methods for analyzing and presenting researched data effectively and, consequently, be able to identify and evaluate international trade opportunities.
International Market Entry Strategies (Register Online)
This course will cover a comprehensive assessment of international market entry options for the export of products or services and optimal market entry strategies. The learner will be able to assess barriers to market entry, differentiate between market entry strategies, recommend potential international partners through consultations and analysis of strengths and weaknesses and negotiate partnership agreements. The course will be taught by Mr. Randy Huffman, President/CEO of GBD 360 LLC, a consulting firm that provides retail strategies for Small businesses to Fortune 100 companies.
Legal Aspects of International Trade
This course presents the basic legal principles of carrying on international business. It covers the legal implications of international business activities, discusses the legal aspects related to intellectual property, competition and antitrust laws, public trade law and legal issues related to E-commerce in international business. Most of the material in this course is presented with an international scope and does not solely approach the issues from a Canadian perspective.
Global Supply Chain Management
The course content provides insight into global supply chain activities including production and inventory management processes and regulatory and security requirements. Other topics within the course material are: the key elements of a logistics plan and how it impacts the business plan, the advantages and disadvantages of various transport modes, the roles and value of outside service providers in a supply chain strategy, order processing, inventory management and other points of interest.
International Marketing
The course content covers such topics as the development of marketing plans to achieve business targets and, the implementation and coordination of international marketing activities for products and services. Learners will be exposed to the principles of marketing functions and the distinctions between domestic and international marketing. They will also discuss such activities as adapting and/or developing products and services for the foreign market and the sales and marketing activities to be most successful in the target markets.
International Trade Finance
This course addresses financial methods and tools used to conduct international business transactions successfully. Risks such as commercial and country are discussed as are risk-mitigating techniques, their use and legal implications. Learners will acquire a broad overview of the nature and scope of trade finance—in particular, the ‘Four Pillars’ of trade finance, i.e., payment facilitation, risk management, financing and provision of information related to a transaction. The impact of technology on trade finance and the importance of export credit agencies and international financial institutions in international trade are other topics of interest within this course content.
Information for each of the instructor hyperlinks above:
Mike McCarthy
Mr. Mike McCarthy began his career with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., enjoying over 13 years of success as a buyer of Corporate Security and Electronics, Mike has gained valuable experience in the field of Business Management. In August, 2008, Mike earned his Master’s of Science with a degree in Operations Management Business. His degree has helped him to successfully implement a direct import program into the Electronics category, saving an initial three million dollars in costs, as well as reduce excess inventory in the category by nine million dollars for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Mr. McCarthy is currently a consultant for TreeHouse Sales & Solutions Inc. With extensive experience in domestic and international buying, merchandising, and supply chain, Mike offers quality services such as: Product Sales, Business Analysis and Supply Chain to all his clients.
Randy Huffman
Mr. Randy Huffman, who began his retail career in 1976 with a regional Department store chain, is the current President/CEO of GBD 360 LLC, a consulting firm that provides retail strategies for Small businesses to Fortune 100 companies. He consults regularly with executives from a variety of industries to help create solutions to retail problems, providing strategies for short and long term growth. Prior to forming his own company, he led the International General Merchandise team at Wal-Mart, helping develop and execute global growth strategies. Raised in Louisiana, Randy now lives with his wife in Bentonville, Arkansas. Randy has recently been working on business development opportunities with European companies, utilizing his background of over 30 years in retail and his expertise on Global Business Development.