Release Date: March 26, 2019
Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041, rick.hummell@wisconsin.gov
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Editor’s note: A photograph of Rhoda-Reis is attached here.
MADISON – Mark Rhoda-Reis
has been hired as the director of the International Agribusiness Center
(IABC), a bureau of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection’s Division of Agricultural Development.
With more than 30 years of experience in international
sales, business development and marketing management, Rhoda-Reis will lead a
staff of economic development consultants whose job is to provide education,
technical assistance and support to Wisconsin farms and agribusinesses to help
them reach new international markets.
Rhoda-Reis
comes to the IABC with extensive business development experience for a broad
range of industries in markets in the U.S, Central and South America, Europe,
Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. For the past seven years, he was
responsible for trade development in Mexico and foreign direct investment
promotion and attraction with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
(WEDC), Wisconsin’s lead economic development agency.
His
industry experience includes both industrial and consumer products and
agriculture. At WEDC, he helped grow the international business of many
companies in key industry sectors such as agriculture, food and beverage,
manufacturing, water technology, energy power control, bio-health and
aerospace. In the private sector, Rhoda-Reis has been an entrepreneur and has
led international sales, overseas offices, and independent agents, dealers and
distributors.
“Mark Rhoda-Reis brings extensive international and
agricultural business development experience to his new role as director of the
International Agribusiness Center,” said Krista Knigge, administrator of the
Division of Agricultural Development. “I’m excited to have Mark join our exceptional
international team. He’ll be a great asset in helping create a strategy to grow
Wisconsin agricultural exports in new and existing markets.”
“I have known, worked with and deeply respected the
International Agribusiness Center team for many years, and it is an honor to
join this highly experienced, effective and professional group,” said
Rhoda-Reis. “I look forward to working with the center’s team members to help
more Wisconsin food and agriculture companies establish and grow their
international business, and to continue to position Wisconsin agriculture as a
leader in the global marketplace.”
Rhoda-Reis and his wife, Maria, enjoy mountain biking,
cross-country skiing, hiking, camping, gardening, travel and discovering new
food and beverage treats and restaurants around the state and world.
Since 1966, the
International Agribusiness Center has provided export assistance to Wisconsin’s
food and agricultural industries. Services include export education, market
access support, market development, and promotion. Visit: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/InternationalAgribusiness.aspx
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