Lynchburg Manufacturing and Export Day Program

Join us for Lynchburg Manufacturing and Export Day, a half-day program designed to support Virginia manufacturing leaders and exporters. This event brings together industry experts, export specialists, and regional partners to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s manufacturing and global trade landscape. Attendees will gain insight into tariffs, reshoring trends, workforce needs, and practical strategies for building stronger, more informed export programs in your company.

Agenda:
9:00 – Coffee and Networking

9:30 – Key Considerations for Manufacturing Exporters: Aaron Miller, Chris Van Orden Virginia SBDC International Business Development Program Team

9:50 – Tariffs: Common Misconceptions and Solutions: Dulce Zahniser, Sr. International Trade Specialist, Virginia SBDC International Business Development program

10:45 – Reshoring, Onshoring, and Domestic Expansion in the Era of Tariffs:

• Ben Barani, COO, Oransi,
• Wes Smith, Executive Director, Workforce Solutions Virginia Manufacturers Association
• Moderator, Aaron Miller, Director Virginia SBDC International Business Development program

11:20 – Building an Informed Export Program

• Katherine Brandt, Associate Director for Marketing, Afton Scientific
• Mike Blades, Head of Business Development, Allocortech
• Moderator, Dulce Zahniser, Sr. International Trade Specialist, Virginia SBDC International Business Development program

12:00 – Resource Panel

• Nate Day, International Business Manager, VEDP
• Olga Molnar, Director, U.S. Commercial Service Moderator, Chris Van Orden, Assistant Director, Virginia SBDC International Business Development program

12:30 – Lunch (included)