This Global Trade Adventure Podcast Por Jim Ray arte de portada

This Global Trade Adventure

This Global Trade Adventure

De: Jim Ray
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The World Trade Center Kentucky provides insights and services related to global trade for Kentucky companies. Episodes will focus on international business, trade issues, supply chain management and other topics. These brief discussions will involve guests from various companies already doing business on a global scale. They'll share observation, perspectives and advice to help other professionals navigate this global trade adventure.2023 Economía Gestión Gestión y Liderazgo
Episodios
  • ISCO: From Louisville Legacy to Global Infrastructure Powerhouse

    ISCO: From Louisville Legacy to Global Infrastructure Powerhouse
    Nov 11 2025

    Episode 29: This episode features Mark Kirchdorfer, President of ISCO Industries. We discuss the company's evolution from its Louisville roots into a global supplier building infrastructure around the world. ISCO was officially founded in 1962 by his father as Irrigation Supply Company (ISCO), focusing initially on golf course irrigation systems. By the early 1990s, when Mark and his brother Jimmy joined, ISCO was a $45 million revenue company. The company currently operates with three primary divisions, manufacturing, distribution, and equipment rental; supported by a fourth pillar of technical expertise. Globally, ISCO targets large infrastructure projects like LNG facilities and mining and has been involved in high-profile jobs such as the Abu Dhabi nuclear power plant and modern data center cooling systems.

    To Learn More:

    Website: www.ISCO-pipe.com

    From all of us here at the World Trade Center Kentucky's This Global Trade Adventure Podcast, when you're ready to engage in international trade, we connect businesses globally.

    Upcoming WTCKY EVENTS:

    · 12/03/25 – Tariff Strategies for Your Global Supply Chain

    · 03/24/25 -04//01/25 – Discover Beautiful Ireland with WTCKY

    The next episode of our podcast will launch on 12/08/25. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow This Global Trade Adventure on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.WTCKY.com/podcast.

    We hope you enjoyed this episode. Our schedule is to publish a new episode on the 2nd Monday of each month.

    Please consider sharing this with your colleagues. Until next time, thank you for listening and welcome to This Global Trade Adventure.
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    35 m
  • A Technology Entrepreneur's Journey with Sunny Dronawat, ECO of Samiteon

    A Technology Entrepreneur's Journey with Sunny Dronawat, ECO of Samiteon
    Oct 13 2025

    Episode 28: Today, podcast producer Jim Ray interviews Dr. Sunny Dronawat, Executive Chairman and Global CEO of Samiteon. Based in Louisville, Samiteon is a technology process and people innovation company, founded in 2006. They'll discuss how the company began and how it is growing in the US, India and the UAE.

    So, from all of us at the World Trade Center Kentucky's This Global Trade Adventure podcast, remember, when you're ready, we connect businesses globally.

    To Learn More:

    Website: www.Samiteon.com

    Upcoming WTCKY EVENTS:

    · 11/05/25 – Tariff Strategies for Your Global Supply Chain

    · 11/11-13/25 – International Trade Certification Program

    The next episode of our podcast will launch on 11/10/25. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow This Global Trade Adventure on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.WTCKY.com/podcast.

    We hope you enjoyed this episode. Our schedule is to publish a new episode on the 2nd Monday of each month.

    Please consider sharing this with your colleagues. Until next time, thank you for listening and welcome to This Global Trade Adventure.
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    34 m
  • A Discussion with Colin Bird, Consul General for Canada in Detroit

    A Discussion with Colin Bird, Consul General for Canada in Detroit
    Sep 8 2025
    Episode 27: Today, podcast producer Jim Ray interviews the Consul General for Canada in Detroit, Colin Bird. He's in town speaking with Kentucky businesses and government officials. He'll return for the upcoming Global Executive Forum, on September 23rd, in Lexington. Today, we'll discuss the very significant trade relationship Kentucky has with Canada. It might surprise you. Meet Consul General Colin Bird Colin is responsible for a regional area including Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The role of a Consul General is to be the regional Canadian diplomat. He functions as a regional ambassador. Canada has multiple consuls general responsible for various regions, across the US. The night before recording this episode, Colin gave a presentation in Louisville to the Rotary Club on the state of the US-Canadian relationship. Colin is joined on this trip by Canadian trade diplomat, Jeff Burghardt. Colin and his team support the interests of Canadian businesses that are interested in doing business in this region of the US. They track approximately 100 Canadian businesses that have operations in Kentucky. The team also helps Kentucky businesses interested in doing business with Canada. How Much Business Does Kentucky Do with Canada? According to recent figures, provided by the Consul General's office, Kentucky exports $9.3billion in goods to Canada, annually. This includes $5.4million in services. This is more than Kentucky exports to its next 2 export markets, combined. Kentucky imports $5.8billion in goods from Canada. Colin points out that we are trading a significant level of "intermediate goods" that are used as inputs into final products that are built or assembled in our respective countries. We typically receive finished goods from other global companies in China and Europe. However, 70% of the trade between Canada and Kentucky are for intermediate goods. Canada is the largest export market for the US, particularly with regard to Colin's 4-state area of responsibility. The US and Canada have been growing its mutual trade relationship since WWII. Colin comments on how the recent tariff issues seems to be a significant change from that seamless, trade relationship. The situation is impacting factors that have contributed to the long-existing relationship. Both Kentucky and Canada have a strong Toyota presence. Trade Diplomacy is the Mission Colin is a trade diplomat. Previously, he lead the economic and policy team at the embassy in Washington DC. He was the senior trade official for the G7 and the G20. His has been a career that's highlighted many of the reasons the US-Canada trade relationship is special. There is currently optimism that the current tension will level out and we'll be able to recognize our mutual interest. Colin was directly involved in the USMCA agreement negotiations. The conversations behind the scenes tend to be extremely productive. Kentucky's own Kelly Craft was also involved. She served as US Ambassador to Canada from 2017-2019 and was later confirmed as the US Ambassador to the United Nations. While the negotiations began fairly at odds, the focus on critical supply chain integrity and external strategic threats (e.g. critical minerals), worked to bring the parties into alignment. China was 10-15 years ahead on electric vehicles. Having a strong, North American manufacturing capability and base became the imperative. Five years ago, the USMCA was signed all three parties. From Colin's perspective, the investments made have begun to bear fruit. Tariff policy is having an effect, but the advances in manufacturing have resulted in good paying jobs for all three constituents. Interestingly, 70% of the feedstock going into the refineries in our region come from Canada, at a discounted price. This helps to fuel manufacturing. Kentucky Is an Important Market for Canada There are multiple, Canadian sectors that benefit from exports to Kentucky. Agriculture has become a significant sector resulting from direct investment from Canada. There's already a strong automotive parts trade between Canada and Kentucky. Kentucky's strategic location is extremely advantageous. Having the UPS world hub in Louisville is a serious advantage. Colin mentions the new Canadian bridge that will tie into I-75 out of Toronto. It'll include 6 new lanes and 35 customs booths. It's an investment in infrastructure that will yield a tremendous advantage in years to come. Both Canada and Kentucky will soon have very large SK Blue Oval electric battery manufacturing facilities. Kentucky's advancement, according to Colin, is in large part due to the abundance of raw and processed minerals being imported from Canada. One of Louisville's Ford plants is changing over to produce more of the electric vehicles, while the Windsor Canada plant (across from Detroit) is building a new battery plant. How Do We Enhance this ...
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    32 m
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