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BELLINGHAM - Western Washington University’s College of Business and Economics’ Center for Economic Vitality (CEV) has added Neal Ambrose as the export program manager for the new export initiative, Jump Start Washington Exports (JustStartWa), which will serve businesses in Washington state interested in exporting or expanding exports.

Neal Ambrose

Ambrose brings over 10 years export market development experience working with start-ups, small-to-medium businesses and Fortune 500 companies. Specifically, he has worked in shipping and logistics; trade finance; import-export operations and global supply chain integration. For over five years Ambrose has been responsible for global marketing and distribution operations based in Switzerland, Hong Kong and the United States.

Ambrose earned an M.B.A. in international management from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and B.A. in political science from the University of Puget Sound. He possesses a Six Sigma Green Belt and speaks French and some Mandarin Chinese.

“You don’t need to be a multi-million-dollar company to export today. Technology, logistics, and trade finance make exporting possible in ways that would not have been possible for small-to-medium businesses 15 years ago,” said Ambrose. “The timing of this initiative could not be better. The question, to my mind, is not whether a business should export, but can it afford not to consider it?”

“Neal brings a valuable export market development background to our wide range of services,” said Tom Dorr, CEV director. “We are excited about the new resources we have received to help our Washington state businesses grow through export trade. Businesses that are interested but haven’t started or those that are already exporting and want to expand their markets should contact us.”

The export program is part of the Washington state special export initiative that is funded by the Washington Department of Commerce. Part of the CEV’s export services now include no-cost confidential business counseling and match-making activities connecting foreign buyers directly with Washington state producers, with special emphasis on Canadian connections.

Businesses in agriculture, forest products, information/communication technology and manufacturing are especially encouraged to contact the Center for Economic Vitality to get more information.

For more than 20 years, the Center for Economic Vitality (CEV) has enabled Western Washington University's College of Business and Economics to give back to the business community and has helped to shape the economic future of Whatcom County one business at a time. The CEV provides free, confidential counseling and technical assistance combined with business intelligence research to business owners and managers throughout Whatcom County. For more information, go to http://www. or call 360-733-4014.