USDBC Winter Board Meeting Lays Out 2020 Plans, Officers Re-elected For Second Term

February 21, 2020
Posted in: News

USDBC 2020 Board Officers, L to R Kevin Regan, Clint Stoutenburg and Deon Maasjo

The USDBC Board of Directors met in Cancun, Mexico on February 5 & 6 to conduct strategic planning for its worldwide export promotion programs and conduct association business. With several new additions to USDBC’s global staff as well as new and enhanced programs around the world, all USDBC representatives and staff joined the International Promotion Committee for a day of review and planning. In the last year, USDBC has added new representation in the European/ Middle East/North Africa (EMENA) Region, a new Regional representative for the Americas, a Program Specialist in Colombia, and permanent representation in China, as well as a new Food Aid Specialist who came on board in early 2019.

This complements existing and established representation in the Americas, Japan, and Southeast Asia. USDBC’s global meetings reviewed among other issues, the ongoing response to retaliatory tariffs around the world, particularly in the EU, new opportunities offered by a post Brexit trade regime in the UK, a new competitive market position in Japan with zero duty import tariffs, challenges presented by the full implementation of the CAFTA/DR trade agreement, the Phase I trade deal with China, and challenges to food aid programs. Additionally, there was a dedicated strategy session on USDBC’s Mexico program in 2020 and beyond to reflect changing market dynamics and new programming.

All of USDBC’s committees met on day two to review association business, programming in 2020 including a new Global Buyers’ event – BeanCon21, and to inaugurate the newly formed Bean Innovation Committee. This was also an election year for USDBC Board Officers. All current board officers were unanimously elected to a second term with Deon Maasjo as President, Clint Stoutenburg as Vice President and Kevin Regan as Secretary/Treasurer.

 

 

We are looking forward to a busy and productive 2021. The next full Board Meeting will be held in Nashville, TN in July 2020 in conjunction with the U.S. Dry Bean Congress.

USDBC Global Staff