WEDC Helps Wisconsin Companies Reach Global Customers

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is building upon a strong foundation of global expertise and programming with new leadership and product enhancements in its International Business Development Division.

Katharine Sinnott recently joined WEDC as vice president of International Business Development. Sinnott brings to WEDC 20 years of international experience as an entrepreneur, management consultant and banker. Her global business history includes serving as CEO and board director for ERIC Paris Salons, which expanded from three to 36 locations in China under her leadership. Sinnott also provided management advisory services to Fortune 500 companies as a consultant for McKinsey & Co. as well as with HSBC in information management—both based in Hong Kong. She is conversant in French and Mandarin.

“As a Wisconsin native, I look forward to helping companies in my home state tap new international markets that align with their business objectives,” states Sinnott, who will work with WEDC’s team of market development directors as well as other state agencies to promote Wisconsin exports.

In addition to the technical expertise that Sinnott and her staff offer companies looking to expand their global footprint, WEDC leverages a network of international trade specialists representing 54 countries around the world to help Wisconsin businesses assess new markets, identify business partners and schedule meetings with foreign prospects.

WEDC works in partnership with the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center to deliver ExporTech™—an acceleration program that helps Wisconsin companies expand their global market reach through targeted export strategy development and execution.  The agency also recently enhanced its International Market Access Grants and Collaborative Market Access Grants to help companies identify and explore new global markets.

For more information about assistance WEDC offers to companies seeking to increase their exports, click here.

(October 2014)