2024 World Trade Conference

Shaping the Future: Trends and Insights for Global Business Growth

On Tuesday, May 16th, MITA organized the World Trade Conference with the purpose of advancing trade in the Midwest and preparing for the ever-changing international trade arena. We extend our gratitude to all attendees, speakers, and panelists for their invaluable contributions.

A special acknowledgment goes to Governor Jim Pillen for sharing insights into his administration’s efforts to advance trade in the state. Additionally, Governor Pillen presented the MITA Global Trade Award to Streck LLC, recognizing their outstanding international trade contributions with products for customers and partners around the globe.

During this year’s World Trade Conference, some of the topics discussed were:

• OMA Airport Modernization Program
• U.S. Visas: Facilitating Business Travel to the U.S.A.
• Efforts by International Workforce Services to Bridge the Skills Gap and Labor Shortage
• Ocean Carrier Trends and Insights
• Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development
• Cybersecurity, by the FBI
• Current Conditions and Outlook of Nebraska Exports and our Economy

We also want to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsors. Not only did they contribute to this year’s event, but for their tireless work in advancing trade in the region.

Conference sponsors were:  Able Transport, AIT Worldwide Logistics, Commerce Bank, Crane Worldwide Logistics, Dvorak Law Group, First National Bank of Omaha, Goba Capital Inc., Husch Blackwell, Laufer Group International, Lyncstream, Metropolitan Community College, Scarbrough International, and U.S. Small Business Administration.

Thank you to everyone who played a part in making the World Trade Conference a success. Your dedication and support are invaluable as we continue to promote and elevate trade in the Midwest.

Next year’s World Trade Conference will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

2024 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS WERE:
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen
Growing Nebraska through International Trade
Presentation of MITA Global Trade Award

David L. Roth, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Omaha Airport Authority
The Build OMA Terminal Modernization Program

• The Terminal Modernization Program is a needs-based development program to expand and modernize the terminal at Eppley Airfield.
• The $950 million program is focused on enhancing the travelers’ experience while supporting our airport’s long-term growth.

Brooke Wehrenberg
Outreach Chief
Department of State’s Visa Office
U.S. Department of State
The U.S. Department of State Visa Office: Facilitating Business Travel to the USA

• International travel to the United States strengthens our industries, enhances investment flows, and protects our vital national and economic security.
• Today more people can travel to the United States than ever before and behind that push is the U.S. Department of State’s visa operations.
• This presentation will demystify the visa process for different types of travelers and explain how the Department of State’s record-breaking year of visa issuances contributes to business expansion.

Todd D. Vettel
President
International Workforce Services
Building the Future Workforce: How International Workforce Services Bridges the Skills Gap

• Labor challenges and market research.
• The IWS way.
• The opportunities.

Paul Lesnefsky
Senior Key Account Executive
Ocean Network Express (North America) Inc. (ONE)
Shaping the Future: Ocean Carrier Trends and Insights

• Import/export topics from an ocean carrier perspective.
• General update on where things are now.
• How things have changed: Panama Canal, Red Sea (Suez Canal), U.S. West Coast/U.S. East Coast.

John Crain
Special Agent
FBI Omaha Cyber Task Force
and
Brandon Stigge
Task Force Officer
FBI Omaha Cyber Task Force
Internet Highway, No License Required

• Business Email Compromise (BEC) and the avenues for compromise (phishing, whaling, etc.).
• FBI Recovery Asset Team (RAT) and the Financial Fraud Kill Chain (FFKC).
• Crypto Currency trends; scams.

Dr. Chris Decker
Economist
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Nebraska’s Merchandise Exports: Current Conditions and Outlook

• Nebraska will avoid a recession in 2024.
• Inflation remains a risk, particularly on other counties. This could impact Exports.
• Exports related to Agriculture, however, both durable and nondurable, continue to show stable growth over the long term.

Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development Panel Discussion
Josh DeMers, Program Manager, The Combine, Invest Nebraska
Shonna Dorsey, Executive Director of Nebraska Tech Collaborative and internNE
Laurel Oetken, Executive Director, Tech Nebraska
Dan Curran, Executive Director, Nebraska Business Development Center
Steve Schulz, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management, Supply Chain-University of Nebraska at Omaha (Moderator)