Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce their trade mission to Virginia will take place in March 2021. If you are interested in trading with the USA come along to our introductory webinar on the opportunities for Scottish Business in Virginia and to learn more about our Virtual Trade Mission.

In this webinar we will hear from a wide range of speakers on Virginia and why the market holds vast opportunities for Scottish Businesses. If you have thought about trading with the USA or already do but are interested in broadening your market, then this webinar is for you.

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR THE EVENT IS NOW CLOSED, SHOULD YOU WISH TO JOIN THE SESSION PLEASE EMAIL SARAHYOUNG@DUNDEEANDANGUSCHAMBER.CO.UK

Our Speakers 

Brian Ball - Secretary of Commerce and Trade

Brian Ball was appointed Secretary of Commerce and Trade in April of 2018.  He previously served in the Northam Administration as Special Advisor for Economic Development and Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade.

Prior to joining the Northam Administration, Brian was an attorney at Williams Mullen where he concentrated his practice in mergers and acquisitions, securities laws and corporate governance matters. Brian served as a trusted advisor to senior management, boards of directors and audit and special board committees handling such matters as internal investigations and activist shareholders.  He also regularly represented clients before state and federal administrative agencies and the Virginia General Assembly.  Brian served on the firm’s board of directors and as its General Counsel.

Antje Abshoff - Managing Director. State of Virginia Europe Office.

Antje Abshoff joined the Virginia Economic Development Partnership team in 2018 and serves as the managing director for the State of Virginia Europe Office based in Munich. In her role, she advises European companies interested in expanding to the United States, especially concerning site selection and investment in the United States. Antje has been working in economic development and US-European business relations for more than 20 years and has advised companies of all sizes and from all industries with regards to site selection in United States.

Jerry Sanford - Vice president, Business Development. Alexandria Economic Development Partnership

As Vice President of Business Development for Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP), Jerry leads business attraction and retention activities in Alexandria, Virginia – an Amazon HQ2 finalist city that is poised for significant growth and development.  Jerry and the Business Development team use a number of economic development tools and incentive programs to attract and retain businesses that create new jobs and improve the economy for all Alexandrians. Prior to joining AEDP, Jerry has served in various senior-level utility, local and state economic development roles for over the past 20 years.

Marie Spittell - Business Development Associate. Alexandria Economic Development Partnership

As a Business Development Associate with the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP), Marie works to ensure that businesses in Alexandria, Virginia thrive. She is involved in AEDP’s business retention and expansion program, marketing and attraction efforts, and growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Brendan Richardson - Co-Founder & CEO. Astraea Inc

Brendan is a serial entrepreneur and a former Silicon Valley based venture capital investor.  He is the CEO and Co-Founder of Astraea, a machine-learning/A.I start-up based in Charlottesville, VA which provides deep insight to customers in agriculture, real-estate, urban planning, defense and intelligence and financial services based on satellite imagery and geospatial data.   Prior to Astraea, Brendan was a co-founder and founding CEO of Everactive (formerly PsiKick), a venture-backed and fast-growing technology company leading the way in self-powering wireless sensors and IoT systems. Prior to Everactive he was a Co-Director of Private Equity at Investure, a $10B consortium of University endowments and non-profit foundations.   Prior to his entrepreneurial career, Brendan spent 12 years as was a VC, angel investor and Board member in Silicon Valley and Geneva Switzerland where he invested in leading semiconductor, software and wireless start-ups across Europe with a particular focus on Scotland, Ireland and Sweden. He is a GlobalScot and a Non-Exec Board Member of Intelligent Growth Solutions, a vertical farming technology leader based in Invergowrie. Brendan is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Virginia where he teaches Entrepreneurial Finance and VC Investing. He has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Virginia. 

Ian Houston – Ambassador Scottish Business Network Washington, DC.

Ian currently serves as Ambassador for the Scottish Business Network in Washington, DC and is focused on connecting Scottish enterprise and organisations with US government officials and businesses. He also manages Clydebuilt International which supports charitable organizations, universities, and causes that benefit from professional support.  He has developed a series of conversations through Clydebuilt with former US secretaries of state, senators, and academics focused on leadership.

He also serves as Chair of the Development Committee of the DACOR Bacon House, an historic home in Washington, DC owned by DACOR, an association of foreign affairs professionals, and writes a monthly ‘Letter from America’ column for the Herald Scotland newspaper.

If you are interested in being a member of the delegation for our virtual trade mission to Virginia please clink on the link to learn more. https://www.exporthubscotland.com/missions/26/usa