Dallas / Fort Worth Seminar Speakers: January 16
DAVID BERZINA, CEcD, FM
Executive VP of Economic Development
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
www.fortworthchamber.com
David Berzina is the Executive Vice President of Economic Development for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, a 2,100-member organization. Under Berzina’s leadership, the economic development department is responsible for the recruitment and retention of businesses, generating jobs, capital investment and tax revenue that support the greater Fort Worth region.
Berzina oversees a $1.8 million annual operating budget that funds domestic and international business recruitment and retention, market research and economic impact studies, regional marketing activities, workforce development programs, college and career readiness initiatives, legislative advocacy and public policy development. Additionally, he interfaces with local, regional and state agencies in coordinating partnerships and facilitating economic incentives that have resulted in successful relocations and expansions of hundreds of companies, including Fortune 500 global leaders.
Berzina has played a pivotal role in building consensus among stakeholders on key issues such as impact fees and has also galvanized support among public and private sector partners on legislation affecting economic development policy and Texas’ pro-business environment. He was appointed by the Fort Worth Mayor to serve on an MWBE (Minority/Woman-Owned Business Enterprise) ordinance committee that was responsible for developing Fort Worth’s policy on city contracts with MWBE vendors.
Economic development projects that Berzina has recruited and secured have resulted in excess of 21 million square feet of building space, $3.7 billion in capital investment, more than 28,000 jobs, and more than $1.4 billion in annual payroll. In 2013, the Fort Worth Chamber helped secure 14 economic development projects that represent over 4.9 million square feet of real estate, $517.5 million in new capital investment and 7,000 jobs, with an associated payroll of more than $350 million annually. Notable company names include Amazon, Walmart, GE Locomotive, Alcon, BAE Systems, Dannon, and MillerCoors.
Prior to joining the Fort Worth Chamber in 2004, Berzina served for 16 years in CEO and executive management positions for chambers of commerce and economic development organizations in Texas, Michigan, and Louisiana.
Berzina is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and also holds the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council. He is also a graduate of the ACCE Institute for Organizational Management at the University of Delaware. He serves on the national Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council and served two terms on the Texas Economic Development Council board.
In 1993, Berzina was named one of the outstanding Leaders in Geo Economics by Site Selection magazine. In 2014 Site Selection magazine recognized the Fort Worth Chamber as one of the nation’s “Top 10” economic development organizations in the country; the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce also received this prestigious designation under Berzina’s leadership. Prior to 2014 under Berzina’s leadership, the Fort Worth Chamber has been ranked in the “Top 20” of this annual list six different times. In 2013, the International Economic Development Council awarded Berzina the designation of Fellow Member for “outstanding service to the field of economic development.”
Locally, Berzina serves on the executive committee of the Dallas/Fort Worth Marketing Team, which represents 62 communities and a population of 6.8 million people in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the nation’s fourth-largest MSA. He also serves on the board of Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County and Fort Worth Sister Cities, the City’s Development Advisory Committee, and the City’s Minority and Women’s Business Advisory Council and served on the Mayor’s Commission for the Homeless. He is a past president of the Greater Fort Worth Area Economic Development Association.
Berzina and his wife, Kim, have a 14-year-old son, Christopher, and an 8-year-old daughter, Brooke.
Executive VP of Economic Development
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
www.fortworthchamber.com
David Berzina is the Executive Vice President of Economic Development for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, a 2,100-member organization. Under Berzina’s leadership, the economic development department is responsible for the recruitment and retention of businesses, generating jobs, capital investment and tax revenue that support the greater Fort Worth region.
Berzina oversees a $1.8 million annual operating budget that funds domestic and international business recruitment and retention, market research and economic impact studies, regional marketing activities, workforce development programs, college and career readiness initiatives, legislative advocacy and public policy development. Additionally, he interfaces with local, regional and state agencies in coordinating partnerships and facilitating economic incentives that have resulted in successful relocations and expansions of hundreds of companies, including Fortune 500 global leaders.
Berzina has played a pivotal role in building consensus among stakeholders on key issues such as impact fees and has also galvanized support among public and private sector partners on legislation affecting economic development policy and Texas’ pro-business environment. He was appointed by the Fort Worth Mayor to serve on an MWBE (Minority/Woman-Owned Business Enterprise) ordinance committee that was responsible for developing Fort Worth’s policy on city contracts with MWBE vendors.
Economic development projects that Berzina has recruited and secured have resulted in excess of 21 million square feet of building space, $3.7 billion in capital investment, more than 28,000 jobs, and more than $1.4 billion in annual payroll. In 2013, the Fort Worth Chamber helped secure 14 economic development projects that represent over 4.9 million square feet of real estate, $517.5 million in new capital investment and 7,000 jobs, with an associated payroll of more than $350 million annually. Notable company names include Amazon, Walmart, GE Locomotive, Alcon, BAE Systems, Dannon, and MillerCoors.
Prior to joining the Fort Worth Chamber in 2004, Berzina served for 16 years in CEO and executive management positions for chambers of commerce and economic development organizations in Texas, Michigan, and Louisiana.
Berzina is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and also holds the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council. He is also a graduate of the ACCE Institute for Organizational Management at the University of Delaware. He serves on the national Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council and served two terms on the Texas Economic Development Council board.
In 1993, Berzina was named one of the outstanding Leaders in Geo Economics by Site Selection magazine. In 2014 Site Selection magazine recognized the Fort Worth Chamber as one of the nation’s “Top 10” economic development organizations in the country; the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce also received this prestigious designation under Berzina’s leadership. Prior to 2014 under Berzina’s leadership, the Fort Worth Chamber has been ranked in the “Top 20” of this annual list six different times. In 2013, the International Economic Development Council awarded Berzina the designation of Fellow Member for “outstanding service to the field of economic development.”
Locally, Berzina serves on the executive committee of the Dallas/Fort Worth Marketing Team, which represents 62 communities and a population of 6.8 million people in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the nation’s fourth-largest MSA. He also serves on the board of Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County and Fort Worth Sister Cities, the City’s Development Advisory Committee, and the City’s Minority and Women’s Business Advisory Council and served on the Mayor’s Commission for the Homeless. He is a past president of the Greater Fort Worth Area Economic Development Association.
Berzina and his wife, Kim, have a 14-year-old son, Christopher, and an 8-year-old daughter, Brooke.
JIM FALK
President & CEO
World Affairs Council of Dallas / Fort Worth
www.dfwworld.org
Since August 2001, Jim Falk has been president and CEO of the nonprofit, non-partisan World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, which strives to create a more informed citizenry on matters of national and international significance and to supports the region’s international trade and economic growth. In 2003, the World Affairs Council founded Dallas Protocol, a unique public/private partnership with the City of Dallas, which is responsible for coordinating the city’s international outreach and relations with the Diplomatic Corps.
Jim earned a BA degree in Political Science from Washington and Lee University and his MA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in international law and organization and Middle Eastern studies. He has a French Baccalaureate from the Academy of Grenoble in France. From 1992 to 1999, Jim was Director/Southern Region of the Institute of International Education in Houston. Early in his career, he was director of education and media outreach at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. and worked for ten years as an energy banker in Houston, TX (First City National Bank of Texas).
Jim serves on the board of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where he served as president in 2010. He served as a national board member and as treasurer of the World Affairs Councils of America and is currently on the advisory board of the North Texas Commission and the Asia Society of Texas. Jim is also adjunct professor of international relations at the University of North Texas.
Jim is the moderator of the Council’s webcast “Global I.Q. with Jim Falk” and he can be heard weekly on FunAsia 104.9 FM. His commentaries have appeared on the editorial page of The Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and on KERA 90.1 FM.
Jim’s wife, Terrell, is chief operating officer of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and they have two adult children and one granddaughter.
President & CEO
World Affairs Council of Dallas / Fort Worth
www.dfwworld.org
Since August 2001, Jim Falk has been president and CEO of the nonprofit, non-partisan World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, which strives to create a more informed citizenry on matters of national and international significance and to supports the region’s international trade and economic growth. In 2003, the World Affairs Council founded Dallas Protocol, a unique public/private partnership with the City of Dallas, which is responsible for coordinating the city’s international outreach and relations with the Diplomatic Corps.
Jim earned a BA degree in Political Science from Washington and Lee University and his MA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in international law and organization and Middle Eastern studies. He has a French Baccalaureate from the Academy of Grenoble in France. From 1992 to 1999, Jim was Director/Southern Region of the Institute of International Education in Houston. Early in his career, he was director of education and media outreach at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. and worked for ten years as an energy banker in Houston, TX (First City National Bank of Texas).
Jim serves on the board of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where he served as president in 2010. He served as a national board member and as treasurer of the World Affairs Councils of America and is currently on the advisory board of the North Texas Commission and the Asia Society of Texas. Jim is also adjunct professor of international relations at the University of North Texas.
Jim is the moderator of the Council’s webcast “Global I.Q. with Jim Falk” and he can be heard weekly on FunAsia 104.9 FM. His commentaries have appeared on the editorial page of The Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and on KERA 90.1 FM.
Jim’s wife, Terrell, is chief operating officer of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and they have two adult children and one granddaughter.
DAVID A. HAMOD
President and CEO
National U.S.- Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC)
www.nusacc.org
David Hamod is President and CEO of National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), a position he accepted in 2004. Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, NUSACC has been the preeminent organization for fostering trade and investment between the United States and the 22 countries of the Arab world. Mr. Hamod has been a prominent and active member of the U.S. business community for more than two decades. In 1988, he founded Intercom International Consultants, a Washington‐based consulting firm that has served as an advisor to numerous business groups, including more than 30 U.S. companies. As President of Intercom, Mr. Hamod served on the International Policy Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for more than a decade.
Prior to founding Intercom, Mr. Hamod worked for the Brookings Institution, International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and The New York Times, among others. As U.S. Representative of the American Business Council of the Gulf Countries (ABCGC) for more than 15 years, Mr. Hamod served as the Washington‐based voice of the American business community in the Arabian Gulf. He played an instrumental role in the success of the U.S.‐GCC Business Dialogue, as well as the U.S.‐GCC Standards Cooperation Program.
Mr. Hamod has worked with the U.S. Congress on business issues since 1985, and he is familiar with every facet of the legislative process. He has testified before the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on numerous occasions and has played a role in just about every major piece of trade‐related legislation to work its way through Congress in the past decade. In 1997, in a ceremony on Capitol Hill, Mr. Hamod was honored with a “Patriot of the Expatriates Award” for his outstanding commitment to U.S. international business competitiveness.
As a result of his active role in the U.S. private sector, Mr. Hamod has developed expertise in transparency and best commercial practices. As a consultant to the Development Center of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which is playing a lead role in promoting good business ethics internationally, Mr. Hamod served as a liaison to such groups as Transparency International, World Bank Group, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
In recent years, Mr. Hamod has held leadership positions in and/or served as a consultant to such business organizations as: the Greater Washington Board of Trade; the American Chambers of Commerce in Egypt, Lebanon, and Canada; World Federation of Americans Abroad; Small Business Exporters Association; and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). He also serves in a leadership capacity at the Middle East Policy Council, the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, and American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA).
Mr. Hamod is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (M.A.) and the University of Iowa (B.A.). He was selected as the University of Iowa’s “Distinguished Young Alumnus” for 1999‐2000 and, ten years later, the U.I. Honors Program chose him as its first “Outstanding Alumnus.” A member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Mr. Hamod has been the recipient of 15 scholarships, two of which took him to Yale University and the American University in Cairo, Egypt.
President and CEO
National U.S.- Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC)
www.nusacc.org
David Hamod is President and CEO of National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), a position he accepted in 2004. Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, NUSACC has been the preeminent organization for fostering trade and investment between the United States and the 22 countries of the Arab world. Mr. Hamod has been a prominent and active member of the U.S. business community for more than two decades. In 1988, he founded Intercom International Consultants, a Washington‐based consulting firm that has served as an advisor to numerous business groups, including more than 30 U.S. companies. As President of Intercom, Mr. Hamod served on the International Policy Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for more than a decade.
Prior to founding Intercom, Mr. Hamod worked for the Brookings Institution, International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and The New York Times, among others. As U.S. Representative of the American Business Council of the Gulf Countries (ABCGC) for more than 15 years, Mr. Hamod served as the Washington‐based voice of the American business community in the Arabian Gulf. He played an instrumental role in the success of the U.S.‐GCC Business Dialogue, as well as the U.S.‐GCC Standards Cooperation Program.
Mr. Hamod has worked with the U.S. Congress on business issues since 1985, and he is familiar with every facet of the legislative process. He has testified before the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on numerous occasions and has played a role in just about every major piece of trade‐related legislation to work its way through Congress in the past decade. In 1997, in a ceremony on Capitol Hill, Mr. Hamod was honored with a “Patriot of the Expatriates Award” for his outstanding commitment to U.S. international business competitiveness.
As a result of his active role in the U.S. private sector, Mr. Hamod has developed expertise in transparency and best commercial practices. As a consultant to the Development Center of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which is playing a lead role in promoting good business ethics internationally, Mr. Hamod served as a liaison to such groups as Transparency International, World Bank Group, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
In recent years, Mr. Hamod has held leadership positions in and/or served as a consultant to such business organizations as: the Greater Washington Board of Trade; the American Chambers of Commerce in Egypt, Lebanon, and Canada; World Federation of Americans Abroad; Small Business Exporters Association; and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). He also serves in a leadership capacity at the Middle East Policy Council, the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy, and American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA).
Mr. Hamod is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (M.A.) and the University of Iowa (B.A.). He was selected as the University of Iowa’s “Distinguished Young Alumnus” for 1999‐2000 and, ten years later, the U.I. Honors Program chose him as its first “Outstanding Alumnus.” A member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Mr. Hamod has been the recipient of 15 scholarships, two of which took him to Yale University and the American University in Cairo, Egypt.
DANIEL MARK OGDEN, ESQ.
Attorney and Counselor at Law
Licensed Customs Broker
International Trade Consultant
www.internationaltradeattorney.com
Daniel Mark Ogden, Esq. is an attorney at law, licensed customs broker, and international trade consultant who for more than 25 years has counseled and represented companies on various aspects of international trade and business. With his advanced degrees and proficiency in both law and international business management, he possesses the ability and experience to understand the challenges faced by firms involved in international trade not only from a legal but also a managerial and business perspective.
His professional services are designed to assist U.S. firms in proactively managing the legal and business risks that result from their international trade and foreign operations as well as from their domestic business, and to assist foreign firms in doing business in the United States. Unlike other law firms that provide international legal services only in narrow areas such as trade compliance, the legal services he provides encompass the entire range of international business and trade legal matters, whether it be export sales and import purchase contracts, foreign agency and distributorship agreements, letters of credit and trade finance arrangements, trademark and intellectual property protection and licensing, joint venture operations, choice of corporate entity and structure, export controls and licensing, or customs and import regulatory issues. Additionally, he provides international trade consulting services which focus on international trade regulatory compliance, foreign trade zones and customs bonded warehouses, and export–import management. As a recognized authority on a variety of international legal issues, he has served on numerous occasions as a consultant to law firms as an expert on international trade matters and frequently provides training to companies on export and import compliance.
He is the Chair Emeritus of the National District Export Council, having served as Chair in 2012 and 2013, and has also served as the Chair of the National DEC Trade Policy Committee since 2009. An active participant in the North Texas District Export Council beginning in 2005, he was appointed to the North Texas DEC as a member in 2008 by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, where he serves on the Executive Committee and is the Chair of the Legislative Affairs and Vice Chair of the Compliance and Security Committees. He additionally is the Corporate Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Advisors of Export University, Inc.
He frequently appears before the United States Congress on trade policy issues, including testifying in February, 2013, before the U.S. House Small Business Subcommittee on Trade where he discussed a Small Business Trade Agenda for the 113th Congress. He also participated on a panel in September, 2014, before the European Union Parliament regarding the perspectives of U.S. small business exporters as relates to the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
He regularly serves as an organizer, moderator and presenter at export compliance conferences, including presenting Export Compliance & Foreign Distribution at the ICPA Fall 2013 Conference; organizing the North Texas DEC BIS Export Compliance 2011, 2012 and 2013 Conferences; moderating a panel on Global Trade Compliance Management Design and Structure: An External Viewpoint at the North Texas DEC 2009 Non–U.S. Trade Controls conference; speaking on Export Compliance & Foreign Distribution Intermediaries at the North Texas DEC 2007 Exporters & Third Parties conference; and discussing U.S. Regulation of International Trade at the Baylor University 2007 Global Business Forum.
He has taught Transnational Law and Business Transactions at the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics in Tianjin, China; and Introduction to International Business and Trade, International Marketing Management, and International Business Law at Richland College. He has additionally been a guest lecturer in International Business Transactions at Texas Tech University School of Law and Export Market Development at the University of Texas at Dallas School of Management.
He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1987 from Texas Tech University School of Law and a Masters degree in International Management in 1984 from the University of Texas at Dallas Graduate School of Management. In addition to being a member of the State Bar of Texas, he is admitted to practice and has represented clients before the U.S. Court of International Trade (Bell vs. United States, 17 C.I.T. 1220, 839 F. Supp. 874, 1993) and the U.S. Trademark Office. He also holds a customs broker license from the United States Customs Service (License No. 12477), which he received in 1991.
Attorney and Counselor at Law
Licensed Customs Broker
International Trade Consultant
www.internationaltradeattorney.com
Daniel Mark Ogden, Esq. is an attorney at law, licensed customs broker, and international trade consultant who for more than 25 years has counseled and represented companies on various aspects of international trade and business. With his advanced degrees and proficiency in both law and international business management, he possesses the ability and experience to understand the challenges faced by firms involved in international trade not only from a legal but also a managerial and business perspective.
His professional services are designed to assist U.S. firms in proactively managing the legal and business risks that result from their international trade and foreign operations as well as from their domestic business, and to assist foreign firms in doing business in the United States. Unlike other law firms that provide international legal services only in narrow areas such as trade compliance, the legal services he provides encompass the entire range of international business and trade legal matters, whether it be export sales and import purchase contracts, foreign agency and distributorship agreements, letters of credit and trade finance arrangements, trademark and intellectual property protection and licensing, joint venture operations, choice of corporate entity and structure, export controls and licensing, or customs and import regulatory issues. Additionally, he provides international trade consulting services which focus on international trade regulatory compliance, foreign trade zones and customs bonded warehouses, and export–import management. As a recognized authority on a variety of international legal issues, he has served on numerous occasions as a consultant to law firms as an expert on international trade matters and frequently provides training to companies on export and import compliance.
He is the Chair Emeritus of the National District Export Council, having served as Chair in 2012 and 2013, and has also served as the Chair of the National DEC Trade Policy Committee since 2009. An active participant in the North Texas District Export Council beginning in 2005, he was appointed to the North Texas DEC as a member in 2008 by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, where he serves on the Executive Committee and is the Chair of the Legislative Affairs and Vice Chair of the Compliance and Security Committees. He additionally is the Corporate Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Advisors of Export University, Inc.
He frequently appears before the United States Congress on trade policy issues, including testifying in February, 2013, before the U.S. House Small Business Subcommittee on Trade where he discussed a Small Business Trade Agenda for the 113th Congress. He also participated on a panel in September, 2014, before the European Union Parliament regarding the perspectives of U.S. small business exporters as relates to the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
He regularly serves as an organizer, moderator and presenter at export compliance conferences, including presenting Export Compliance & Foreign Distribution at the ICPA Fall 2013 Conference; organizing the North Texas DEC BIS Export Compliance 2011, 2012 and 2013 Conferences; moderating a panel on Global Trade Compliance Management Design and Structure: An External Viewpoint at the North Texas DEC 2009 Non–U.S. Trade Controls conference; speaking on Export Compliance & Foreign Distribution Intermediaries at the North Texas DEC 2007 Exporters & Third Parties conference; and discussing U.S. Regulation of International Trade at the Baylor University 2007 Global Business Forum.
He has taught Transnational Law and Business Transactions at the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics in Tianjin, China; and Introduction to International Business and Trade, International Marketing Management, and International Business Law at Richland College. He has additionally been a guest lecturer in International Business Transactions at Texas Tech University School of Law and Export Market Development at the University of Texas at Dallas School of Management.
He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 1987 from Texas Tech University School of Law and a Masters degree in International Management in 1984 from the University of Texas at Dallas Graduate School of Management. In addition to being a member of the State Bar of Texas, he is admitted to practice and has represented clients before the U.S. Court of International Trade (Bell vs. United States, 17 C.I.T. 1220, 839 F. Supp. 874, 1993) and the U.S. Trademark Office. He also holds a customs broker license from the United States Customs Service (License No. 12477), which he received in 1991.
HON. MAHER MASO
Mayor
City of Frisco, Texas
www.ci.frisco.tx.us
Maher Maso is currently the Mayor of Frisco, Texas. Billed as the fastest growing city in the country by the U.S. Census from 2000-2010, Frisco is a success story in municipal government. With low unemployment, excellent public safety, top-rated school districts, and billed as one of the friendliest cities in the country, Frisco is the place to be.
Mayor Maso is actively involved with all aspects of Frisco and is its number one ambassador. He serves on numerous local, regional, state and national boards and, under his leadership, Frisco continues to grow.
Frisco is the new corporate home of the Dallas Cowboys and a new 12,000 seat multi-use practice stadium and outdoor fields. Frisco is also the corporate home and practice facility of the Dallas Stars professional hockey team, the Frisco Roughriders Double-A Texas Rangers affiliate baseball team, FC Dallas professional soccer team and Toyota Stadium and the Texas Legends professional development basketball team affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks.
Mayor Maso is involved in all aspects of Frisco growth including economic development, tourism, quality of life, public safety, budgets and partnership with stakeholders. He has been an elected official in Frisco since 2000 and Mayor since 2008. He is currently serving on his 3rd term.
Mayor
City of Frisco, Texas
www.ci.frisco.tx.us
Maher Maso is currently the Mayor of Frisco, Texas. Billed as the fastest growing city in the country by the U.S. Census from 2000-2010, Frisco is a success story in municipal government. With low unemployment, excellent public safety, top-rated school districts, and billed as one of the friendliest cities in the country, Frisco is the place to be.
Mayor Maso is actively involved with all aspects of Frisco and is its number one ambassador. He serves on numerous local, regional, state and national boards and, under his leadership, Frisco continues to grow.
Frisco is the new corporate home of the Dallas Cowboys and a new 12,000 seat multi-use practice stadium and outdoor fields. Frisco is also the corporate home and practice facility of the Dallas Stars professional hockey team, the Frisco Roughriders Double-A Texas Rangers affiliate baseball team, FC Dallas professional soccer team and Toyota Stadium and the Texas Legends professional development basketball team affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks.
Mayor Maso is involved in all aspects of Frisco growth including economic development, tourism, quality of life, public safety, budgets and partnership with stakeholders. He has been an elected official in Frisco since 2000 and Mayor since 2008. He is currently serving on his 3rd term.
MIKE SKELTON
Director
Mayor's Office of International Business
City of Richardson
www.telecomcorridor.com
Mike Skelton is the Director of the Mayor’s Office of International Business. In this newly created Richardson Economic Development Partnership position he has three primary goals; to recruit more foreign direct investment into Richardson; help Richardson companies do more exporting into overseas markets; and open new international markets and opportunities for Richardson businesses and innovators.
Mike’s background includes 30 years of high-tech industry experience with over 20 years in executive management positions with a significant focus on multi-national business development in Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions. Most recently Mike helped form the Frisco, Texas Sister Cities International organization and served as Vice Chairman. In 2008 he founded EstablishUS, LLC, a virtual consulting company in north Texas whose mission was to assist foreign and domestic technology companies establish their business in North America.
Prior to that, Mike held senior management positions in marketing, sales and business development for several prominent high-tech companies in Silicon Valley, California. Mike’s entrepreneurial experience includes being CEO of a Digital Equipment (DEC) spinoff start-up software company and CEO of an Israeli start-up software company that he launched in Silicon Valley. Mike holds a BBA from Western Michigan University.
Director
Mayor's Office of International Business
City of Richardson
www.telecomcorridor.com
Mike Skelton is the Director of the Mayor’s Office of International Business. In this newly created Richardson Economic Development Partnership position he has three primary goals; to recruit more foreign direct investment into Richardson; help Richardson companies do more exporting into overseas markets; and open new international markets and opportunities for Richardson businesses and innovators.
Mike’s background includes 30 years of high-tech industry experience with over 20 years in executive management positions with a significant focus on multi-national business development in Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions. Most recently Mike helped form the Frisco, Texas Sister Cities International organization and served as Vice Chairman. In 2008 he founded EstablishUS, LLC, a virtual consulting company in north Texas whose mission was to assist foreign and domestic technology companies establish their business in North America.
Prior to that, Mike held senior management positions in marketing, sales and business development for several prominent high-tech companies in Silicon Valley, California. Mike’s entrepreneurial experience includes being CEO of a Digital Equipment (DEC) spinoff start-up software company and CEO of an Israeli start-up software company that he launched in Silicon Valley. Mike holds a BBA from Western Michigan University.
BILL SPROULL
Chief Executive Officer
Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC)
www.telecomcorridor.com/International
Bill Sproull is President and CEO of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC) and the Richardson Economic Development Partnership (REDP). His leadership with these organizations involves an intricate and delicate knowledge of economic development; technology trends; educational institutions; media savvy; local, state and federal government policy and legislation; along with the behind-the-scenes politics of managing internal and external stakeholders for organizations that have a large influence within the North Texas region.
Under Bill’s leadership, both the Richardson Chamber and the REDP have achieved the highest accreditations possible in their industry, while the MTBC is the largest tech trade association in the Southwest.
Previously he held senior economic development positions at the Greater Dallas Chamber, the McKinney Economic Development Corporation and at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri. Sproull is a graduate of Baylor University, where he received a BA degree with a double major in economics and political science.
Sproull was elected by his peers as 2014 Chairman of the Board of the International Economic Development Council, the largest professional association in the world for economic developers. He also serves on the University of Texas at Dallas Development Board, the North Texas Commission, and the Board of the Technology Councils of North America. He was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry in 2006 to the Board of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, a half-billion dollar investment fund, which he later chaired.
Sproull’s recent industry recruitment success is evidenced by the 2013 expansion by State Farm to Richardson in the largest real estate deal in North Texas history, a 1.5 million square foot, 7,000 employee regional headquarters. In addition, the editors of Site Selection magazine selected the $3 billion Texas Instruments’ Project Emmitt, on which he was leader, as the Top Development Deal nationally of 2003. His economic development teams have been selected three times by Site Selection as one of the top 10 development groups in the U.S. in 1994, 1997 and 2004.
Sproull was inducted into the Tech Titans Hall of Fame by the leaders of the MTBC in 2010. He is also the recipient of the highest award bestowed by the University of Texas-Dallas upon a non-alumnus for his support of the University.
Chief Executive Officer
Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC)
www.telecomcorridor.com/International
Bill Sproull is President and CEO of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC) and the Richardson Economic Development Partnership (REDP). His leadership with these organizations involves an intricate and delicate knowledge of economic development; technology trends; educational institutions; media savvy; local, state and federal government policy and legislation; along with the behind-the-scenes politics of managing internal and external stakeholders for organizations that have a large influence within the North Texas region.
Under Bill’s leadership, both the Richardson Chamber and the REDP have achieved the highest accreditations possible in their industry, while the MTBC is the largest tech trade association in the Southwest.
Previously he held senior economic development positions at the Greater Dallas Chamber, the McKinney Economic Development Corporation and at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri. Sproull is a graduate of Baylor University, where he received a BA degree with a double major in economics and political science.
Sproull was elected by his peers as 2014 Chairman of the Board of the International Economic Development Council, the largest professional association in the world for economic developers. He also serves on the University of Texas at Dallas Development Board, the North Texas Commission, and the Board of the Technology Councils of North America. He was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry in 2006 to the Board of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, a half-billion dollar investment fund, which he later chaired.
Sproull’s recent industry recruitment success is evidenced by the 2013 expansion by State Farm to Richardson in the largest real estate deal in North Texas history, a 1.5 million square foot, 7,000 employee regional headquarters. In addition, the editors of Site Selection magazine selected the $3 billion Texas Instruments’ Project Emmitt, on which he was leader, as the Top Development Deal nationally of 2003. His economic development teams have been selected three times by Site Selection as one of the top 10 development groups in the U.S. in 1994, 1997 and 2004.
Sproull was inducted into the Tech Titans Hall of Fame by the leaders of the MTBC in 2010. He is also the recipient of the highest award bestowed by the University of Texas-Dallas upon a non-alumnus for his support of the University.
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