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speakers
His Excellency Mninwa J. Mahlangu
Ambassador of South Africa to the U.S., South African Embassy
Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu is the current Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the U.S., having presented his
credentials in 2015. Mahlangu’s public and political life started in the 1960s when he was elected president of the Student
Christian Movement in what was then Eastern Transvaal. From 1973 to 1976, he served as Assistant Secretary of the
Transvaal United African Teachers Association. Mahlangu is one of the leaders who played a critical role in the processes
leading up to the first democratic South Africa. Between 1991 and 1994, he was a negotiator at the Congress for
Democratic South Africa (CODESA) and the Multiparty Negotiation Forum. In 1993, he became Co-Chair of these
organizations.
During 1993 to 1994, he was a member of South Africa’s Transitional Executive Council. After the first democratic elections
in 1994, Mahlangu joined the National Assembly in the Parliament of South Africa as a representative of the African
National Congress. He became a member of the Constitutional Assembly (CA), the body that drafted the Constitution of
the Republic of South Africa. As a member of the CA, he chaired the Core Group of the Theme Committee on Chapter 4,
dealing with Parliament. During his tenure as a member of the National Assembly he also served as Chair of the House
Committees.
In 2002, Mahlangu was elected Permanent Deputy Chair of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Parliament. After
the third democratic elections in 2004, he was re-elected Permanent Deputy Chair of the Council. The following year, he
was elected Chair of the NCOP, and was re-elected in 2009. He served in this position until the fifth democratic elections
were held in 2014.
Mahlangu has represented South Africa in many international platforms, including the United Nations and G20 Speakers
Conferences. He was the leader of the South African Parliament’s delegation to the Pan-African Parliament. His duties in
this continental body included serving on the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline. He has also held the positions
of Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) and President of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association (International), respectively.
Gary Andrews
Chairman & CEO, DeTect Inc.
Gary Andrews is the general manager and CEO of DeTect Inc. in Panama City, Fla. In 2003, Andrews was a founding
partner in DeTect, which today is the world leader in development, manufacture and support of specialized avian
radar systems that includes the MERLIN™Aircraft Birdstrike Avoidance Radar system used by the U.S. Air Force, NASA
and commercial airports for automated, real-time detection, tracking and warning of bird activity that could be
hazardous to aircraft; and the MERLIN Avian Radar System, the most widely used and technology for wind farm bird
and bat mortality risk assessment and mitigation. At DeTect, Andrews is responsible for research and development,
manufacture, operations and has a technical staff including experienced experts in bird-aircraft strike risk (BASH)
management and bird radar systems.
Justin Barnard
President and CEO, Barnard Equipment Co.
Justin Barnard is president and CEO of Barnard Equipment Co. (BEC) in Brandon, Miss. BEC specializes in crane sales
and rentals, and is a provider of earth moving, high lift, genset power and industrial equipment. Established in 2006,
the company immediately found markets that journeyed beyond the U.S. To date, Barnard Equipment has
conducted business in more than 50 different countries around the world with revenue totals exceeding $70 million
since 2007. Barnard created a company that is user-friendly to many repeat
overseas and domestic buyers.
Scott Eisner
Vice President, African Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Scott Eisner is vice president of African Affairs and International Operation at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He
represents the Chamber’s interests in sub-Saharan Africa through its Africa Business Initiative (ABI), the business
community’s leading advocacy group aimed at strengthening U.S.-Africa trade relations. Eisner directs the strategic
activities of the ABI as it engages with senior-level U.S. government officials, international business leaders and
African governments. In addition to his Africa portfolio, Eisner oversees day-to-day management of the budget, staff
and strategic direction of the Chamber’s International Division. He plays an integral role in coordinating the activities
of the division with internal and external stakeholders.
Chamberlain Eke
Senior Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service - Nigeria
Chamberlain Eke has been a commercial specialist with the U.S. Commercial Service Nigeria since 2001. He oversees
the automotive/transportation, agri-business, financial services, food processing and packaging, travel and tourism,
as well as general service sectors. Prior to joining the U.S. Commercial Service, Eke spent three years at ACNielsen
where he coordinated a city-wide retail outlet census in one of Nigeria’s largest cities. As the company’s pioneer
customized research manager, he provided consumer insights and market intelligence and analysis reports to
multinational clients like Coca-Cola, Pepsi International, Procter & Gamble, Guinness and more. He later joined
Research International Nigeria, in 2001, where he assisted the company re-engineer its retail measurement services
department.
Alan F. Enslen
Attorney - International Trade Team, Maynard, Cooper & Gale
Alan Enslen leads Maynard Cooper & Gale’s International Trade group and is a co-founder of the firm’s Government
Solutions group. He practices in international trade with an emphasis on export controls, economic sanctions and
anti-corruption, specialized civil litigation and government investigations. Enslen represents firm clients in all areas
of international trade compliance, including export controls (defense/ITAR and dual-use/EAR), economic sanctions
programs, customs/import controls, anti-boycott restrictions, anti-corruption laws, foreign direct investment,
anti-money laundering compliance and foreign market access. In addition, he advises clients regarding export
jurisdiction, product classification and licensing issues.
Patrick Griswold
President and Founder, Why Africa Now!
Patrick Griswold is the president and founder of Why Africa Now, a boutique consulting firm specializing in expert
knowledge, advice and implementation skills. His client list includes companies and investors ready to participate
within the continent that has the most significant, projected economic growth on the planet for the next three
decades, Africa. In 1992, Griswold became the CEO of a $40 billion global firm’s tire manufacturing business in subSahara Africa, a position he held for 10 years. Griswold was also a founding member of one of the largest and most
influential CEO roundtables in Africa, and held memberships in several company boards and business policy
influencing organizations. In 2013, Griswold was nominated as an Honorary Consul to the U.S. for the United
Republic of Tanzania.
Jeffrey Hunter
Director of Business Development, McSweeney Holdings LLC
Jeffrey Hunter is the director of business development for McSweeney Holdings LLC. The company represents a
group of global companies engaged in multi-industrial design and engineering, custom commercial and personal
automotive transportation, plastics manufacturing, real estate, fine leather goods and custom painting.
Hunter’s job focuses on strategic product and market diversification initiatives for the company’s portfolio clients
and brands under management. He has been instrumental in helping leverage and adapt historical core
competencies to pursue growth in emerging second-stage automotive market segments around the globe.
Currently, Hunter focuses his attention on managing strategic partnerships and crafting strategy to rapidly scale
business in this highly specialized, $7.8 billion-plus, lifestyle enhanced luxury niche market.
David Newton
Economic and Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy, Lomé, Togo
David Newton is the economic and commercial officer at the U.S. Embassy in Lomé, Togo. Prior to joining the U.S.
State Department in 2014, Newton was an attorney in the International Trade Group at Maynard, Cooper & Gale PC.
During this time, his practice focused on regulatory, enforcement and litigation matters for the firm’s foreign and
domestic clients. Newton also served in the U.S. Army as a signal officer in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort
Campbell, Ky. While a member of the 101st Airborne, he served in Iraq in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
Brent Omdahl
Deputy Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service,
Johannesburg
Brent Omdahl serves as the deputy senior commercial officer at the U.S. Mission to South Africa in Johannesburg,
where he manages the daily operation of the U.S. Department of Commerce office. His primary role is to assist U.S.
firms to grow their exports to South Africa, improve market access conditions and advocate on behalf of U.S. firms to
the South African government. From their office in Johannesburg, Omdahl and his team support the U.S. State
Department commercial partner posts at 20 U.S. embassies throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to serving in
Johannesburg, Omdahl was the acting director of the Atlanta, Ga. U.S. Export Assistance Center.
Travis Short
President & CEO, Horizon Shipbuilding
Travis Short is the founder, owner and president of Horizon shipbuilding Inc. in Bayou La Batre, Ala. As president,
Short is responsible for the day-to-day operations and has introduced the company into international markets and
constructed the largest steel vessel ever launched in Bayou La Batre at the time. In 2002, Horizon began expanding
manufacturing capabilities, including the acquisition of additional adjacent facilities, eventually quadrupling the
shipyard land holdings, equipment, annual sales and employment. Short continues to expand domestic and
international markets and the grade of manufacturing methods of Horizon.
Charles A. Sinunu
Director, International Sales, DSC Dredge
Charlie Sinunu is the current director of international sales for DSC Dredge LLC in Reserve, La. He has 35 years of
experience in international sales and more than 33 years in the field of international dredge sales. He has
negotiated complex multimillion dollar global contracts in both private and public sectors. Sinunu has extensive
business experience in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. DSC has closed several sales to clients in Nigeria facilitated
by Ex-Im financing and recently delivered the deepest digging sand mining dredge in Nigeria.
Robert Stackpole
Director, Alabama Export Assistance Center, U.S. Commercial
Service
Robert Stackpole is the director of the Alabama office for the U.S. Department of Commerce - U.S. Foreign &
Commercial Service - U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC). The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion
arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration supporting American businesses with
inherently governmental and trade promotion activities. The USEAC offers trade counseling, market intelligence,
business matchmaking, advocacy and commercial diplomacy, and trade promotion programs designed to increase
U.S. exports and U.S. jobs as well as level the playing field for U.S. companies selling internationally. Stackpole is a
certified global business professional and has more than 200 hours of training in international trade education.
Stackpole joined the U.S. Department of Commerce in 2008 and has more than 15 years of experience and
education in international trade, both in the public and private sectors.
Carson Strickland
Senior Vice President Global Trade Finance, Regions Bank
Carson Strickland has more than 15 years of experience in trade finance assisting companies involved in
international trade with developing financing and risk mitigation solutions to grow their business. Strickland
currently serves as the senior vice president for global trade finance at Regions Bank, leading a team of trade finance
professionals across the bank’s geography in 16 states and servicing a broad client base nationally. Regions Financial
Corp. is a top 10 U.S. bank holding company with more than $120 billion in assets and 1,700 banking offices in 16
states.
Yasmine Umutoni
Consultant, Enabling the Business of Agriculture,
World Bank Group
Yasmine Umutoni has 10 years of experience working in the socio economic development field mainly with
International Institutions and primarily the World Bank. She is currently a consultant for the Enabling the Business of
Agriculture project, working on the development of policy and regulatory indicators first on Selling Agricultural
Goods topic and now on access to agricultural land. Prior to this, Umutoni participated in different World Bank
projects in Agriculture and Rural Development and worked with the IFC’s Investment Climate program in Rwanda.
She also worked in the Rwanda Country Office supporting the implementation of projects in the sectors of
Agriculture, ICT and Water & Sanitation. Umutoni participated in different research work for the International
Growth Center, the Nike Foundation, On the Frontier Group and the Rwandapedia project under the Office of the
President of Rwanda.
Conference Moderators
Mike Lee
President and CEO, Page & Jones
Mike Lee is the president and CEO of Pages & Jones, an international freight forwarder and customs brokerage firm
in downtown Mobile, Ala. Lee has been with the company since 1970, and the company now lists a diverse array of
more than 1,000 clients. Lee has served as president and chairman of the Alabama World Trade Association, the
Propeller Club of Mobile, the Mobile Forwarders and Brokers Association, the Mobile Traffic and Transportation
Club and the Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau. Lee is currently the chairman of the Alabama District
Exports Council, the University of Alabama International Business Advisory Board, the Regions Bank South Area
Board of Directors, the Alabama French American Chamber of Commerce and the Rand Corporation’s Gulf States
Policy Council.
Hilda Lockhart
Director of International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce
Hilda Lockhart joined the Alabama Department of Commerce in 1998 and is the director of the International Trade
division. Lockhart is responsible for leading the state’s trade promotion and development efforts in selling Alabama
products and services throughout the world. Prior to her employment with the Alabama Department of Commerce,
Lockhart served as executive director of the Japan-America Society of Georgia and was the first executive director of
the Japan-America Society of Alabama. Lockhart’s also held positions with the Alabama International Trade Center,
Alabama Power Co. and the Florida Department of Commerce’s International Division.
Conference Welcome
William Sisson
President and CEO, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
William Sisson is president and chief executive officer of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, a 2,000-plus
business membership organization and the lead economic development agency for the city of Mobile and Mobile
County. Prior to this appointment, Sisson worked as executive director of the Mobile Airport Authority. He earned
a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Alabama, and a bachelor’s in business
administration from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. He holds a diploma from the Institutes for
Organization Management, and is a graduate of Leadership Mobile and Leadership Alabama. Sisson is a member of
the International Economic Development Council, Economic Development Association of Alabama, Southern
Economic Development Council and Rotary International.