District Export Council
Background

The District Export Councils (DEC) contribute leadership and international trade expertise to complement the U.S. Commercial Service’s export promotion efforts through counseling businesses on the exporting process and conducting trade education and community outreach.
The DEC members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. These international trade professionals use their knowledge and international business experience to act as consultants to small and medium sized businesses who want to export their products into markets outside of the United States.
For more than 40 years, DECs have served the United States by assisting companies in their local communities export, thus promoting our country’s economic growth and creating new and higher-paying jobs for their communities.
Additional Information:
- National Association of District Export Councils
- Northern California DEC
- Inland Empire DEC
- San Diego DEC
- Southern California DEC
- Central California DEC – Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne, and surrounding areas.
NADEC Partners with NASBITE International to Support the CGBP Designation
(NADEC, October 18, 2019) The National Association of District Export Councils (NADEC) is pleased to announce that it has joined together with NASBITE International to provide the District Export Councils (DECs) and outstanding exporters across the country with a corporate pathway that will allow them to earn the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) designation.
California District Export Councils Faxes to the California Congressional Delegation:
- Support for Trade Promotion Authority & Free Trade Agreements, 5/18/2023
- Support for Supply Chain Efficiency, 6/1/2022
- Support for International Issues, 7/31/2020
- Support for the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., 9/10/2019
- Support for the USMCA, 5/22/2019
National Association of District Export Councils
The National Association of District Export Councils and the 60 District Export Councils throughout the United States are composed of over 1,300 international business executives and trade experts with extensive business, government and academic experience in trade. The mission of these councils is to work with the U.S. Commerce Department on export promotion and commercial diplomacy. The 1,300 council members around the country are all appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The National Association of District Export Councils (National DEC) consists of 16 District Export Council (DEC) members who have been elected to the National Association of DECs by DEC members from each of the eight U.S. Commercial Service Networks. The mission of the National Association of DECs is to provide support and guidance for fulfillment of the mission of the DECs, and to facilitate communication between the DECs, between the DECs and the U.S. Department of Commerce, and between the DECs and the international business community and policymakers. National Association of District Export Councils, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that maintains a 501(c)(6) federal income tax status.
Past Events
District Export Council Representatives Sign Letter of Support for Trade Promotion Authority and Free Trade Agreements
May 2023, Sacramento, CA

2023 District Export Council Meeting
May 2023, Sacramento, CA
Members of the five California District Export Councils (DEC) and U.S. Department of Commerce officials met at the California Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento on May 17, 2023 to hear from the Evan Reade, International Affairs Advisor to Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis. The international activities of the state of California as well as a summary of the Lt. Governor’s March Trade Mission to Japan, were the focus of discussion. The group was also joined by the Chair of the National Association of District Export Councils (NADEC), Jonathan Szucs, President of Advanced Superabrasives Inc., who gave an update on NADEC activities. Following, the group attended other international-trade related events.

2023 National Export Council Meeting Report
(May 23, 2023) The California Chamber of Commerce recently joined nearly 150 trade specialists from across the nation for sessions focused on trade issues at the National Association of District Export Councils (NADEC) annual two-day event in Washington, D.C.
District Export Council Representatives Sign Letter of Support for Supply Chain Efficiency
June 2022, Sacramento, CA

2022 District Export Council Meeting
June 2022, Sacramento, CA
Members of the five California District Export Councils (DEC) met in Sacramento on June 1, 2022 to hear from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s The Honorable Arun Venkataraman, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. The current issues facing the trade community and the Department’s new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework were the focus of discussion. Following, the group attended other international-trade related events.

2022 National Export Council Meeting Report
(May 24, 2022) The California Chamber of Commerce recently joined nearly 150 trade specialists from across the nation for sessions focused on trade issues at the National Association of District Export Councils (NADEC) annual two-day event in Washington, D.C.
CalChamber Hosts Five California District Export Councils in Virtual Meeting
On May 12, 2021, the California Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting of business representatives who make up the five California District Export Councils, in addition to federal trade officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The group hosted Federal Maritime Commission Carl Bentzel to discuss port congestion.
CalChamber Participates in National Virtual Trade Gathering
(October 13, 2020) The California Chamber of Commerce recently joined 125 trade specialists from across the nation for virtual sessions hosted by the National Association of District Export Council’s (NADEC) Annual Export Symposium. In previous years, attendance has been in person in Washington, D.C., but this year’s format was moved online as to not miss any important trade happenings in the world during COVID-19.
CalChamber Hosts Virtual Meeting of the California District Export Councils
On July 31, 2020, the California Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting of business representatives who make up the five California District Export Councils, in addition to federal trade officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Together with the CalChamber Council for International Trade, the Northern California District Export Council (DEC) co-hosted the event.
District Export Council Representatives Sign Letter of Support for U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement
May 2019, Sacramento, CA

2019 District Export Council Meeting
May 2019, Sacramento, CA
(May 22, 2019) Members of the five California District Export Councils (DEC) met at the California Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento on May 22, 2019 to hear from Ms. Diane Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The current issues facing the trade community and the department’s new Indo-Pacific initiative were the focus of discussion. Following, the group attended other international trade-related events.

Middle Row (from left): George Tastard, U.S. Department of Commerce; Sung Wook Lee, SW Logistics Inc./NorCal DEC; Candy Hansen Gage, Gage Ag Consulting/NorCal DEC; Alicia Rios, Center for International Trade Development, Fresno/Central California DEC; Jeremy Potash, California-Asia Business Council/NorCal DEC; Teresa Cox, SonicWall/NorCal DEC; Deep SenGupta, DSG Global/NorCal DEC and National DEC; Megan Cullen, SYV Consulting & Marketing/Southern California DEC; Janice Whitaker, Teledyne/NorCal DEC; Joanne Vliet, U.S. Department of Commerce; Tom Neff, RINA Accountancy Corp./NorCal DEC; and Fred Latuperissa, ExIm20/20 Group LLC/former U.S. Department of Commerce.
Back Row (from left): Elizabeth Krauth, U.S. Department of Commerce; Julie Anne Hennessy, U.S. Department of Commerce; Adithya Padala, UmeVoice Inc./NorCal DEC; Michael Parr, Wente Family Estates/NorCal DEC; Carol Johnson, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey/NorCal DEC; John McPeak, Biomarin/NorCal DEC; Ronald Brown, Port of Oakland/NorCal DEC; David Habib, Law Office of David Habib/Southern California DEC; Nick Gera, Central Valley Community Bank/Central California DEC; Rod Hirsch, U.S. Department of Commerce; Glen Roberts, U.S. Department of Commerce; Jim Mayfield, U.S. Department of Commerce; and Doug Wallace, U.S. Department of Commerce.
CalChamber, NorCal District Export Council Host U.S. Department of Commerce Official
CalChamber, October 26, 2018

2018 National Association of District Export Councils Meeting
October 2018, Washington, DC

2018 District Export Council Meeting
May 2018, Sacramento, CA
(May 23, 2018) Members of the five California District Export Councils (DEC) met at the California Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento on May 23, 2018 to hear from the Honorable Dale Tasharski, Acting Deputy Director General of the US Department of Commerce and Laura Barmby, U.S. Department of Commerce Liaison to the National Association of DECs. The current issues facing the trade community and the Department were the focus of discussion. Following, the group attended other international-trade related events.

Middle Row (from left): George Tastard, U.S. Department of Commerce; Sung Wook Lee, SW Logistics Inc/NorCal DEC; Candy Hansen Gage, Gage Ag Consulting/NorCal DEC; Everett Golden, Otis McAllister/NorCal DEC; Richard Swanson, U.S. Department of Commerce; Jeremy Potash, California-Asia Business Council/NorCal DEC; Dean Fealk, DLA Piper/NorCal DEC; Carol Johnson, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey/NorCal DEC; Bob Spence, Inter Asia Pacific/Inland Empire DEC; Janice Whitaker, Teledyne/NorCal DEC; Christel Vilogron, Import Export Best Practices, SoCalDEC; Joanne Vilet, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Back Row (from left): Glen Roberts, U.S. Department of Commerce; Julie Anne Hennessy, U.S. Department of Commerce; Adithya Padala, UmeVoice Inc./NorCal DEC; Tsvi (Chuck) Guy, Vecron Exim/Central CA DEC,; Dr. Rudy Besikof, Mt. San Jacinto College/Inland Empire DEC; John McPeak, Biomarin/NorCal DEC; Anthony Hall, Premier Packaging Group/Central CA DEC; Rod Hirsch, U.S. Department of Commerce; David Fiscus, U.S. Department of Commerce; Tom Neff, RINA Accountancy Corp/NorCal DEC; and Pat Cassidy, U.S. Department of Commerce.
2017 District Export Council Meeting
May 2017, Sacramento, CA
(May 31, 2017) Appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce, the members of the four California District Export Councils (DECs) – NorCal, SoCal, Inland Empire and San Diego – met at the California Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento on May 31, 2017 to hear from Robert Brown, Esq., Chair of the National DEC and Tom McGinty, National Director of the U.S. Commercial Service of the US Department of Commerce. The current issues facing the trade community and the Department were the focus of discussion. Following, the group attended other international-trade related events.

CalChamber Joins Trade-Focused Summit in Washington, DC
(May 2, 2017) The California Chamber of Commerce joined 40 trade specialists from across the nation last week at sessions focused on trade policy when the National District Export Council met at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for its annual Spring Legislative Summit. Read more here.

2016 District Export Council Meeting
May 2016, Sacramento, CA
Members of the four California District Export Councils (DEC) meet at the California Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento on May 17, 2016 to hear from Roy Paulson, Former Chair of the National District Export Council and President of Paulson Manufacturing and Judy Rising Reinke, Deputy Director-General, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, and attend several international trade-related events.

2015 District Export Council Meeting
May 2015, Sacramento CA
Members of California District Export Councils (DEC) meet in Sacramento on May 27, 2015 to hear from Roy Paulson, Chair of the National District Export Council and President of Paulson Manufacturing, and attend several international trade-related events. Trade Promotion Authority and the re-authorization of the Export–Import Bank, both issues pending in Congress and affecting U.S. / California exports were the focus of a conversation with Antwaun Griffin, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

2014 District Export Council Meeting
October 2014, Washington, D.C.
The California Chamber of Commerce was well represented at recent gatherings of export and international trade specialists nationwide in Washington, D.C.
CalChamber Vice President of International Affairs Susanne Stirling attended the 2014 District Export Council (DEC) Forum and the International Trade Symposium, October 1–3. Stirling is a longtime member of the Northern California DEC.

Re-elected as chair during the National DEC meeting was Roy Paulson, a CalChamber member and longtime member of the CalChamber Council for International Trade (CCIT). He serves on the Inland Empire DEC and is President of Paulson Manufacturing Corporation in Temecula.
Another longtime CCIT member, Donald Sovie, vice chair of the Southern California DEC, accepted the 2014 award for DEC of the Year. Three of the four California DECs (including the Inland Empire and San Diego) were among the seven nominees for the award.

Other highlights of the DEC gathering included:
- Welcome remarks by Antwaun Griffin, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service in the U.S. Department of Commerce. He highlighted the National Export Initiative (NEI) “Next”. Launched in May, NEI Next is using improved information and a customer-service strategy to help U.S. companies increase exports.
- Keynote remarks by Arun Kumar, director general of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (who visited the CalChamber in Sacramento in July).
- Panel discussions on DEC best practices and exporting best practices.
2014 District Export Council Meeting
May 2014, Sacramento CA
Members of four California District Export Councils (DEC) meet in Sacramento on May 20, 2014 to welcome Roy Paulson, Chair of the National District Export Council and President of Paulson Manufacturing, for several international trade-related events.

(from left to right) second row: George Tastard, U.S. Commercial Service; Deep Sengupta, FedEx Trade Networks; Carol Johnson, Monterey Institute of International Studies; Michael Clark, APT; John Murphy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Greg Mignano, U.S. Department of Commerce; The Honorable Jerry Levine; Honorary Consul of Barbados; Toby Levine, San Francisco Port Advisory; Jeremy Potash, CA Asia Business Council;
(from left to right) back row: Rick De Lambert, U.S. Commercial Service; Vince Brascia; DMG Mori Seiki Manufacturing; Leslie Levy August, Boomerang Carnets, Sean Randolph, Bay Area Council Economic Institute; Glen Roberts, U.S. Export Assistance Center; Richard Swanson, U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service; Dean Fealk, DLA Piper; Everett Golden, Otis McAllister, Inc.; John Leitner, W.J. Byrnes & Company; Sean Patrick Tario, Open Spectrum Inc.; The Honorable Brooks Ohlson; Honorary Consul of Bulgaria; Jeff Deiss, U.S. Small Business Administration
2013 California District Export Council Meeting
May 2013, Sacramento CA
2013 District Export Council Examine National Priorities
National policy priorities affecting U.S. and California exports were the focus of the May 21 gathering of the District Export Council (DEC) of Northern California at the California Chamber of Commerce, including special guest Michael Masserman (seated, second from left) of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
2012 California District Export Council Meeting
May 2012, Sacramento CA
Future Joint Trade Policy Initiatives Key Topic for District Export Council
Alert, May 25, 2012At the meeting of the District Export Councils (DEC) of California are (from left): Fred Latuperissa, Tim Murphy, Daniel Ogden, Esq., Paul Oliva, Donald Sovie, Suanne Stirling and Gregory Mignano.
Members of the 4 California District Export Councils
May 2012, Sacramento, CA

2011 District Export Council Conference
October 2011, Las Vegas, Nevada


Northern California DEC Luncheon
(June 1, 2011 in Sacramento, California) Members and Guests of the Northern California District Export Council meet in Sacramento on June 1, 2011 to welcome Kurt Tong, Ambassador to APEC for the United States to Sacramento for several international trade-related events.

Northern California DEC Luncheon
(May 17, 2010 in Sacramento, California) Members and guests of the Northern California District Export Council meet in Sacramento on May 17, 2010 to welcome Suresh Kumar, the newly appointed Director-General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, to Sacramento for several international trade-related events.
