IDEC Executive Committee
Andrew Reinke – Chair
Principal and Founder
Foreign Targets, Inc.
fti@foreigntargets.com
Company Description: Foreign Targets, Inc. (FTI) is an export development company creating and managing proactive export programs for small to medium sized companies using a systematic methodology – FTI’s Core-8 Steps to Export Development.
Experience Summary: Andrew has been exporting for 25 years to over 60 countries involving a range of industrial and consumer products for variety of clients. He created and conducts the 12-week Export Indiana Accelerator Program for the Indiana SBDC. Read More
Oleg Gostomelsky – Vice Chair – Membership
International Defense Programs Manager for Turkey & the Middle East
Allison Transmission
ogostomelsky@gmail.com
(317) 450-6053
Company Description: World’s largest manufacturer of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems used in bus, fire, military, construction, distribution, and other market sectors.
Experience Summary: An Indiana District Export Council (IDEC) member since 2013 and a regular guest lecturer at Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Oleg has over 20 years of senior level international business experience. Read More
Tom Miller – Treasurer
BKD International Tax Services
Company Description: BKD’s team of international tax professionals complements the tax expertise of local partners throughout its offices. With extensive international tax expertise, the it can help with the ins and outs of international business regulations.
Experience Summary: Tom has more than 35 years of corporate tax experience. He is a member of BKD’s International Tax Services group, serving international clients that include publicly and privately held U.S.-based multinational corporations. Read More
Mark Cooper – Executive Secretary
Director, Indiana USCS Office
U.S. Department of Commerce
mark.cooper@trade.gov
(317) 294-0242
Agency Description: The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) is the federal government’s front-line trade agency, promoting both U.S. exports and foreign investment into the U.S., and protecting U.S. commercial interests abroad.
Experience Summary: Mark is the Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce office in Indiana. He coordinates Indiana’s export trade promotion activities. He is responsible for developing and enhancing relationships with industry, local, state, and federal representatives, and provides trade advice and counsel to Indiana businesses. Read More
Dr. Toby Malichi – Immediate Past Vice Chair
Malichi Group Worldwide
Dr.Toby@malichi.com
(317) 515-8866
Company Description: Malichi Group Worldwide is internationally-recognized for its hard-earned sage trade advice, keen global business insights, expert facilitation, global business diplomacy, and charismatic communication skills for closing more cross-border deals.
Experience Summary: Immediate-past Vice Chairman of the Indiana District Export Council. Dr. Toby Malichi, Hon.D.Bus. dubbed an influencer, inspiring global thought leader, and the “Go-To-Guy” for “All Things Trade” by his contemporaries around the globe, is an internationally-recognized global small business leader, trade advisor and Founding Chairman of Malichi Group Worldwide. Read More
IDEC Members
Eric Armacost – Ex Officio
Lead Lender Relations Specialist & District International Trade Officer
U.S. Small Business Administration
Eric.Armacost@sba.gov
Company Description: Since joining the SBA as a Lender Relations Specialist in October 2012, Eric has built relationships with lending institutions and has provided technical assistance and training to borrowers, lenders, and resource partners.
Experience Summary: As a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served as a Radioman aboard the USS Cavalla (SSN 684), Eric relishes the opportunity to work with the military veteran entrepreneur community in Indiana. Eric has also been proud to serve as the SBA Indiana District International Trade Officer for the past seven years in support of increasing exports from Hoosier small businesses. Read More
Raju Chinthala
Founder & President
Indiana India Business Council
rajuchinthala@gmail.com
Company Description: Indiana India Business Council is a membership based business advocacy group that provides services to its members and leadership in strengthening economic ties between Indiana and India.
Experience Summary: Raju is a successful entrepreneur, civic and a community leader as well as a foreign relations advocate with a passion to promote business, cultural, and diplomatic exchange between disparate communities. He is a key player in State of Indiana negotiations with major Indian corporations, resulting in new international investments and job growth for the citizens of Indiana. Read More
Kent Ebbing
General Manager
Greater Indianapolis Foreign Trade Zone (INzone)
kebbing@inzone.org
Company Description: INzone is the non-profit organization that administers the federal Foreign-Trade Zone program throughout 41 counties in Central Indiana. Kent is responsible for marketing and administrating the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program on behalf of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, which is the FTZ grantee for Central Indiana.
Experience Summary: Kent is responsible for marketing and administrating the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program on behalf of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, which is the FTZ grantee for Central Indiana. Read More
Christine Everett
Director of Programs
Institute for International Business (IIB)
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business
cdavis@indiana.edu
Program Description: The Institute for International Business supports the internationalization of Kelley’s academic programs—expanding the school′s global presence in undergraduate, graduate and executive education, and strengthening our support of internationally focused activities.
Experience Summary: Christine has been with the Kelley School since 1991 and in her current position as Director of Programs at the Institute for International Business (IIB) since June 2010. In this position, she is responsible for the development and management of a wide variety of international programming, including for the IU Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). Read More
Dr. Alexander (Sasha) Fedorikhin
Associate Professor of Marketing
Kelley School of Business, Indiana University,
sfedorik@iu.edu
Office: (317) 278-8418
Company Description: The Kelley School of Business (KSB) is an undergraduate and graduate business school at Indiana University in Bloomington and Indianapolis established in 1920.
Experience Summary: Sasha holds a Ph.D. with a major in marketing and a minor in international business from University of Iowa. His research focuses on consumer behavior, including international differences. Sasha has been teaching International Marketing for more than 20 years at Indiana University, University of Southern California, and Washington State University at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Read More
Darryl Floyd
President – North America
Wood-Mizer
dfloyd@woodmizer.com
Company Description: Wood-Mizer was started in 1982 in Indianapolis, IN and has grown into a global industry leader with a presence in over 100 countries. Customers around the world use their broad range of wood-related equipment to process raw wood into usable end products.
Experience Summary: Darryl started his career as part of the Wood-Mizer IT team and eventually became the IT Director. He then took an opportunity in Sales & Marketing management which gave him experience with the international business world and P&L responsibilities. In 2013, he moved into the role of COO and then President of Wood-Mizer’s operations in the Americas. Read More
Mark Hubbs
Director, International Sales
Amatrol, Inc.
mhubbs@amatrol.com
Company Description: Amatrol develops training systems for the industrial automation sector, as well as engineering, technical fundamentals, and renewable energy. They collaborate with schools and industry leaders to ensure that new developments meet the needs of these emerging technologies.
Experience Summary: Mark has over ten years of experience in international sales in the field of training for industrially relevant skills. Mark’s career in industry includes living abroad in locales including Mexico, Central America, and Germany. Read More
Robert E. Johnson, III
President & CEO at Cimcor
Cimcor, Inc.
johnson.robert@cimcor.com
Company Description: Cimcor Inc. develops cutting-edge cybersecurity software to enable companies to identify zero day attacks and unwanted and unexpected changes to all critical servers and IT devices in an enterprise infrastructure. This helps organizations maintain a strong security posture, and meet compliance regulations.
Experience Summary: Robert E. Johnson, III, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cimcor, Inc. Prior to Cimcor, Mr. Johnson was the manager of business systems for Kvaerner Metals and Manager of Process Automation & Control for Davy McKee Corporation. Mr. Johnson was appointed Chairman of the board of directors for The Methodist Hospitals in 2020. Read More
Kristin Jones
President and CEO
Indiana Health Industry Forum (IHIF)
kjones@ihif.org
Company Description: IHIF is Indiana’s statewide bio+med tech trade association.
Experience Summary: Through IHIF, Kristin works to connect Indiana life sciences companies with resources and talent locally, nationally, and globally. IHIF maintains strategic relationships with organizations and partners around the globe. Read More
Dennis Kelley
President
Vista Nuclear Solutions, Inc.
dbk222@aol.com
Company Description: Vista Nuclear specializes in the treatment and disposal of radioactive liquids that are generated at global nuclear weapons sites, nuclear power plants, research institutes and atomic energy facilities.
Experience Summary: Dennis has spent his entire 46-year career in international business, and has managed major operations in several countries, including Iran, China, Greece, Russia and Kazakhstan. Read More
Nate LaMar
Director, International Sales
Batesville Services, LLC
Nathan.LaMar@batesville.com
Company Description: For more than 115 years, Batesville has crafted products that make funerals meaningful – helping families honor the lives of those they love. Batesville is the largest casket manufacturer in the USA and currently sells its products on five continents.
Experience Summary: Previously in the defense industry, Nate is a former Army officer, now recruiting for West Point, with 25 years of international management experience. For a former employer, Nate managed government relations at the foreign and federal levels, often working with the US Chamber of Commerce, among others, and has testified before Congress on trade and other issues. Read More
Matthew Levy
Partner
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
matthew.levy@faegredrinker.com
(317) 237-1114
Company Description: Faegre Drinker is one of the 50 largest law firms in the United States, with more than 1,300 attorneys, consultants and professionals in 22 locations across the United States, the United Kingdom and China.
Experience Summary: Matt is a Partner in the firm’s Corporate Practice with a focus on cross-border transactions and international trade. He has experience in more than 40 countries helping both public and private companies expand and operate internationally. Read More
Bob Mason
Senior Vice President & International Sales Manager
The Ford Meter Box Company, Inc.
bmason@fordmeterbox.com
Company Description: The Ford Meter Box Company, established in 1898, is a privately-held manufacturer of over 30,000 different products for the waterworks distribution industry.
Experience Summary: Bob holds a marketing degree from Indiana University with a concentration in Japanese, and has extensive experience in Asian markets. He now serves as a board director, vice president and export sales manager supervising the company’s market development in over 65 countries. Read More
Joseph McMurry
Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
Company Description: The Purdue MEP provides high value, affordable solutions to help businesses increase profitability. Our staff leverages resources in both the public and private sectors to help identify areas of improvement, streamline processes and ultimately increase competitiveness.
Experience Summary: Joe oversees Purdue MEP’s ExporTech offering, a national export assistance program that helps companies enter or expand in global markets. In addition, he provides Purdue MEP clients with Leadership Development and Training services. Read More
Ryan Middendorf
Vice President, Global Trade Compliance
Berry Global
Company Description: Based in Evansville Berry Global is a leading supplier of innovative rigid, flexible and specialty packaging products for consumer-oriented markets such as healthcare, personal care, and food and beverage. Berry operates over 300 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and designs, manufactures, and markets innovative packaging solutions that make life better for people and the planet.
Experience Summary: Ryan is a licensed customs broker and APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional with over 25 years of global trade compliance and logistics experience with leading retailers and manufacturers. Now the Vice President of Global Trade Compliance at Berry Global, he is responsible for development and execution of import and export compliance policies and practices. Read More
Thomas J. Miller
Senior Vice President, Managing Director
PNC Bank
tom.miller@pnc.com
Company Description: For nearly 160 years, PNC Bank has been committed to providing our clients with great service and powerful financial expertise to help them meet their financial goals. We are proud of our longstanding history of supporting not only our customers but also our communities, employees and shareholders.
Experience Summary: Thomas is the corporate Foreign Exchange Sales Manager for PNC Bank’s Midwest team. Prior to PNC, he was Vice President of Foreign Exchange Sales at National City Bank, and Capital Markets Sales Officer at M&T Bank. Before embarking on a banking career, Thomas owned an international ski tourism business in Wyoming and worked at Augustiner brewery in Germany. Read More
Lloyd Porter
Director, Global Trade Compliance
Cook Group Inc.
lloyd.porter@cookgroup.com
Company Description: Cook Group is a family of companies focused on medical device development, manufacture and distribution, but also participates in life-sciences, property management, resort, and service business sectors.
Experience Summary: Following work in laboratory equipment-life sciences, aerospace, and military / defense communications sectors, Lloyd joined Cook Group in 2015, supporting all facets of their global trade compliance program, including import/export compliance, trade sanctions, and technology controls. Read More
Colin Renk
Vice President, Client & Partner Services
The International Center
crenk@internationalcenter.org
Company Description: The International Center is a catalyst to inform, convene, and connect public, private, and civic global objectives in Indiana. For nearly half a century, The International Center has served as a guide to the world’s cultural landscape and a catalyst for the state’s international growth.
Experience Summary: Colin Renk leads The International Center’s Programs and Services department. Since 2012, Renk has served as executive director of the America China Society of Indiana, a non-profit which promotes bilateral business exchanges between Indiana and China. Read More
Drew Sherman
International Trade Director, Economic Development Division
Indiana State Department of Agriculture
asherman@isda.in.gov
Company Description: The Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s responsibilities include advocacy for agriculture, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and serving as regulatory ombudsman for Indiana’s agribusinesses and licensing grain firms.
Experience Summary: Drew advocates for Indiana agribusinesses in global markets and facilitates market access for Hoosier agricultural exports along the value-chain. He serves as the Indiana Marketing Director through a partnership with Food Export Association of the Midwest, and also as an agribusiness advisor for the Indiana Small Business Development Center’s Agribusiness Initiative, specializing in agricultural exports and international marketing. Read More
Paul Siems
Export Sales Manager
Weaver Popcorn
Paul.Siems@popweaver.com
Company Description: Weaver Popcorn Bulk is the largest bulk popcorn producer in the world.
Experience Summary: Paul Siems has over 20 years of experience in international sales and business development. He has been with Weaver Popcorn for over the past decade and spent significant stints abroad including living in both Germany and Brazil. With a degree in Economics from the University of Kansas, he specializes in export sales, fostering partnerships, and expanding global reach. Read More
Paula VanDeVanter
Director, Business Development
Indy Partnership, Indy Chamber
pvandevanter@indypartnership.com
(317) 464-2204
Company Description: The Indy Partnership, a business unit of Indy Chamber, directing regional investment and expansion inquiries and projects through engagement with prospective companies and relevant community partners.
Experience Summary: Paula VanDeVanter, MEDP serves as Director of Business Development for the Indy Partnership. She previously served as Manager of Business Development Services, working with state and local officials in the (then) nine-county region to communicate strengths and resources to companies and consultants seeking investment locations, as well as with existing companies and community partners to demonstrate real-life examples of doing business in the Indy region for prospective new companies. Previously, Paula worked nearly two decades for the State of Indiana’s then Department of Commerce – International Trade Division, managing a grant program to assist companies in exporting and educating Hoosier companies on the importance of exporting, across the forty-three-county Central region. She also worked for the Indiana Department of Administration, certifying minority and women-owned businesses. Read More
David Watkins
Senior Vice President, Entrepreneurship & Small Business
Indiana Economic Development Corporation
dwatkins@iedc.in.gov
Company Description: The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is a state agency dedicated to fostering economic growth and job creation across Indiana. The IEDC works to attract new businesses, support existing ones, and enhance the state’s economic competitiveness. It provides financial incentives, infrastructure development, and workforce training programs.
Experience Summary: David Watkins was named Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Small Business in January 2023. He oversees a team managing ecosystem development, technical assistance, and capital programs for Hoosier entrepreneurs, investors, and small businesses such as the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), Manufacturing Readiness Grants, Elevate Ventures, and the Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Read More