Chamber Lunch and Learn - Business Services and Manufacturing Panel Friday, July 18, 2014 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. HCC Shears Technology Center Guest Speakers: Ross Jordan - Consultant, Kansas Small Business Development Center  Andrew Anderson - Director, US Commercial Services in Kansas  Maribel Asensio - Partnership Manager, MAMTC  Scott Knapp - Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Read more about our guest speakers below During this lunch and learn, hear from a variety of guest speakers related to business and manufacturing. Each guest speaker will review what their organization does and how they can provide assistance to the business community within Reno County.   The cost of the class is $15 and includes a lunch buffet. To register, please call Kay at 620-665-3559. For more information, contact Nicole Keidel at nicolek@hutchchamber.com.

Kansas Small Business Development Center The Kansas Small Business Development Center is part of a national network of university-based small business assistance centers that leverage national, state, and local resources to meet the unique needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses in their regions. The KSBDC offers  free consultation services and affordable training to owners of established small business and to individuals interested in starting a new business.  KSBDC serves companies of all sizes; from start up to companies with 500+ employees.    US Commercial Services in Kansas The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Their global network of trade professionals connect U.S. companies with international buyers, providing them with market intelligence, trade counseling, business matchmaking, and advocacy/commercial diplomacy support.   Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) The Kansas PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center) assists businesses in locating, obtaining and performing federal, state and local government contracts. Kansas PTAC was founded at Wichita State University in 2013 to assist companies across the state of Kansas compete for government contracts at the federal, state and local levels.Counselors assist companies to become registered to do business with the government. They also help businesses to identify marketing strategies to the various government agencies based on the company’s products or services.    MAMTC MAMTC was founded in 1991 with a simple purpose:  To help companies realize never ending growth in the rapidly changing global marketplace. MAMTC is a not-for-profit corporation that is supported by a public and private partnership of Kansas companies, the Kansas Department of Commerce and the  National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP).

Guest Speakers

Ross Jordan - Consultant, Kansas Small Business Development Center
Andrew Anderson - Director, US Commercial Services in Kansas  
Maribel Asensio - Partnership Manager, MAMTC 
Scott Knapp - Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (PTAC

A.J. Anderson, Director, US Commercial Services in Kansas: Bio

A.J. Anderson is director of the Wichita U.S. Export Assistance Center of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  The Wichita U.S. Export Assistance Center is part of an international network covering all 50 states with offices in about 80 countries.  His office is dedicated to assisting small and medium size companies to increase their export business through export counseling and advice, information on markets abroad, international partner contacts and advocacy services.

Originally from Wichita, KS and a graduate of Wichita State University, he’s worked in a variety of operational and business development roles in international banking in KS, TX and GA.  He’s also worked in trade risk mitigation within credit at Koch Industries.

He joined the U.S. Commercial Service in May of 2003 in the Des Moines, IA office and took over as director of the Wichita office in June of 2006.  He is a Certified International Credit Professional by FCIB and a member of the U.S. Commercial Service’s Aerospace Team and Trade Finance Team. 

Scott Knapp, Deputy Director for Kansas PTAAC: Bio

Scott Knapp is the Deputy Director for the Kansas PTAC hosted at Wichita State University (WSU). Scott joined the Kansas PTAC in April of 2013after more than 9 years with the Nebraska PTAC.

In his position, Scott assists Kansas companies in locating, obtaining and performing federal, state and local government contracts. He works with large and small companies from service companies to manufacturers.

He has been certified by the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers as a Certified Contracting Assistance Specialist.

Prior to working for the Nebraska PTAC, Knapp was an owner and manager of a training company that worked with state government and schools. He has a background in management and ownership of small companies.