INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTER INFORMATION The International Business Center will be located in room N-427 on the Upper Level the Grand Concourse in the McCormick Place Convention Center. Complimentary services include: General show information and assistance Export counseling and information Trade finance advice Private meeting rooms Business matching services Electronic Product Locators to help you identify key exhibitors Lounge area with refreshments Staff/Interpreters speaking several different languages U.S. Department of Commerce and EX-IM Bank representatives Briefings for organized delegations Knowledgeable PACK EXPO International staff International Business Center Hours Sunday, October 31 8:00 am 5:00 pm Monday, November 1 8:00 am 5:00 pm Tuesday, November 2 8:00 am 4:00 pm* Wednesday, November 3 8:00 am 5:00 pm *On Tuesday, the IBC will close early for the International Agent Matchmaking Event starting at 5:00pm. IBC Staff should be in at 7:00 am on Sunday through Wednesday. Briefing Rooms One large briefing room will be available, accommodating up to 30 people. The briefing room must be reserved with Ryan Oklewicz, who will have the schedule. Most briefings have been scheduled and are being held in the mornings. The room can be used for other meetings but must be reserved in advance with Ryan. Private Meeting Rooms 3 meeting rooms will be available on a first come, first served basis for exhibitors and international visitors to use. Two meeting rooms will accommodate 4 people and the other will hold 6 to 8. Please contact Ryan Oklewicz to reserve a time slot. Exhibitors Exhibitors are encouraged to take advantage of the services in the IBC and use the meeting rooms for business exchanges with international customers. Export Counseling and trade finance advice Representatives from the US Dept. of Commerce s US Foreign and Commercial Service, and US EX-IM Bank will be on duty in the IBC during show hours. Staff from these agencies will be on hand to counsel
exhibitors. They will provide international buyer services and information on related US government programs. Export Ribbons Each exhibitor will receive two export ribbons for booth personnel to wear to identify the correct individual responsible for international sales. These ribbons will be distributed prior to the opening of the show. Additional ribbons can be obtained from the reception desk in the International Business Center. Individual International Visitors (not in a delegation) International visitors are encouraged to stop by the IBC. If they are not part of a delegation they are to register at the regular registration areas. International Groups/Delegations We are expecting some large delegations. These groups will be directed to the IBC so they can be welcomed and briefed by PMMI staff. Most delegations have pre-registered, so their badges will be ready for pick-up at the IBC. The procedure for handling such groups is: 1) Identify the group leader and welcome them. 2) Invite them to sit down while the badges are being retrieved. If they are not preregistered, please ask them to take a seat in the IBC and get business cards from the delegates. Give the business cards to PMMI staff to make badges in the registration room. Present badges to the delegation leader for distribution to the group. 3) Ask the delegates to check their badges and ask for any corrections before the briefing begins, so that corrections can be made while the briefing is going on. PMMI staff can make any badge corrections as needed. Bilingual Staff Staff working in the IBC have the following language capabilities: Jorge Izquierdo Spanish Dolly Valdovinos Spanish Jason Bian Chinese Peggy Xue Chinese Jose Martinez Spanish, Portuguese Enrique Guzman Spanish Refreshments Refreshments will be served throughout the day in the IBC. If you notice a low supply on something or have a question about refreshments, please see Ryan Oklewicz. Dolores will help signing for and checking the refreshment deliveries. We will have someone from the catering staff helping to pick up items left on the tables, however please make an effort to tidy up the IBC whenever you have a spare moment. With a large number of people using the IBC, it is easy for things to get moved out of place or garbage to be left on the tables. Product Locators Electronic information locators will be located at key points throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center, including one in the IBC. The service is designed to help attendees locate exhibitors in the show, quickly and efficiently. The
system this year has been integrated with the My PACK EXPO website. Attendees will be able to access their portal by swiping their Expocard or by entering their login and password. From their portal they can search exhibitors as well as arrange meetings and keep track of those exhibitors with whom they have already met. Attendees will be able to search for their needs in several ways: Keyword search Product Category Company Name People Search Through My PACK EXPO attendees will also be able to save their searches and results for future reference. In addition to being able to save their searches, attendees will be able to map the companies on their search by adding them to My show plan. Training on how to us the product locators will be made available upon request. Past President For attendees who can t find what they need using the product locators or who have packaging specific questions, please direct them to John Johnston. He will be available daily in the IBC. Problems and Concerns If any situation, problem or concern develops that you are not sure how to handle, please check with PMMI Staff.
IBC PERSONNEL Below is a list of people working in the IBC and their assignments. PMMI STAFF Jorge Izquierdo Jose Martinez Ryan Oklewicz Dolly Valdovinos Enrique Guzman Jason Bian Peggy Xue John Johnston AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY Oversee overall management of IBC. Liaison w/ DOC, EX IM Bank and related programs. Handle briefings. Welcome visitors from Latin America Counsel PMMI members on doing business in Latin America Liaison w/ DOC and related programs Delegation badges/ibp Contact 1 on 1 meetings schedule Briefings schedule Meeting room reservation schedule Refreshments Assist w/ international visitors and provide Spanish interpreter assistance Support reception desk Assist w/ international visitors and provide Spanish interpreter assistance Support reception desk Welcome visitors from China and Asia. Handle briefings for these groups 1 on 1 meetings w/ member companies Address questions/visitors from China Front Desk Meeting Rooms Product Locators Badges Product Locator Industry Questions US Department of Commerce The following staff from the US Department of Commerce (DOC) will be available for assistance in the IBC: Helen Simpson-Davis, International Trade Specialist, Int l Buyer Program Padraic Sweeney, Senior International Trade Specialist, US Commercial Service Janet Bauermeister, Director, USEAC-Spokane, WA Allan Christian, Senior International Trade Specialist, USEAC-Portland, OR Todd Hiser, International Trade Specialist, USEAC-Cleveland, OH
Important Contact Information Should you require assistance and can t locate PMMI staff, they can be reached at the following cell phone numbers: Ryan Oklewicz: 571.217.4217 Jorge Izquierdo: 703.966.9459