ITC Webinar: Go Global — Federal Resources for Your Export Success

Join us for this webinar to learn how to unlock international growth using powerful EXIM Bank, Small Business Administration, and U.S. Commercial Service tools!

With more than 95% of the world’s consumers outside of the United States, opportunities abound for U.S. small businesses to sell internationally. Most export companies have an easier time riding out fluctuations in the U.S. economy and are more likely to stay in business. On average, sales grow faster, more jobs are created, and employees earn more than in non-exporting firms. 85% of U.S. exporters are small or medium-sized companies. This session will bring together federal resources to help you, no matter where you fall on the export spectrum, whether you have never considered exporting, are a new exporter, or a seasoned exporter.

Attendees will hear from:

• Adam Shanks – Director (Rockford Office), U.S. Commercial Service
• Mariel Huasanga – Regional Director, EXIM Bank
• Keith Schlegel – Export Finance Manager, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Manufacturing & Trade

Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Time: 2-3 PM

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uNcQNLmPR-OOcyvUX3ezDw
*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

PLEASE NOTE: this webinar will be recorded and may be shared publicly. By registering for this webinar, you understand that your questions or comments shared during the webinar will be recorded and shared in a public domain

Adams Shanks has been the Director of the U.S. Commercial Service’s Rockford office, serving Northwest Illinois, in September 2021. He is also the eCommerce Solutions Center Superuser and the Trade America Global Team lead for the Caribbean. Before his career at the U.S. Commercial Service, Adam worked for 16 years in the meteorological industry.

Mariel Huasanga is the Regional Director for EXIM Bank, where she applies her trade finance expertise to support exporters across Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Ohio, helping them strengthen their competitive position in the global marketplace. With extensive experience in exporting, importing, international business intelligence, and logistics, Mariel is a seasoned expert in international trade. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Lima and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mariel is also a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) through NASBITE International. Fluent in multiple languages, including Italian, French, Portuguese, and Spanish, she brings a diverse, global perspective to her work.

Keith Schlegal is an Export Finance Manager with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s Office of Manufacturing and Trade, whose mission is to enhance the ability of small businesses to compete in the global marketplace. Based in the Chicago SBA Illinois District Office, Keith works with banks and SBA Resource Partners throughout Illinois and Wisconsin to increase access to capital for small business exporters. He has experience in international trade, commercial lending, and supply chain finance. Prior to joining the SBA, he had 20 years working in the private sector for a couple of financial institutions covering global trade & supply chain finance. He earned his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University in Chicago, IL while majoring in International Studies with a focus on International Political Economies.