NEW YORK, NY – June 3, 2020 – The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), an international non-profit trade association with member “World Trade Centers” around the world, has named Robin van Puyenbroeck as its new Executive Director-Business Development.

Mr. van Puyenbroeck has more than 20 years’ experience in international business development, corporate strategy, and non-profit leadership. He most recently served as Vice President-Business Development for Ethan Allen Global, based in Danbury, Connecticut, where he effectively managed and grew a network of international licensees and developed strategies for building B2B contact business.

Previously, Mr. van Puyenbroeck was a partner at Strategy XXI Partners and Executive Director of Global Partnerships Forum in New York, International Coordinator for The Pearl Initiative in the United Arab Emirates, and a corporate banker for the ING Group, where he worked in a variety of management and analyst positions in New York, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Toronto. Mr. van Puyenbroeck began his career as an attorney for the Ernst & Young law firm in Brussels, and he holds J.D. and LL.M degrees in international law from Ghent University and Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.

Mr. van Puyenbroeck has leadership experience in the IGO/NGO sector, including his current roles as Under-Secretary-General for the EUCLID Intergovernmental Organization, and as Executive Vice President & Treasurer of the United Nations Association of New York. He speaks five languages (Dutch, English, French, Spanish and German) and has traveled extensively on business in Europe, the Middle East, Central and Greater Asia, and North America.

WTCA’s Chairman, John E. Drew, said the association selected Mr. van Puyenbroeck “based on his successful experience in developing effective global business operations and licensing partnerships, including working with project developers, and implementing innovative strategies for expanding and promoting an international global brand.” Mr. Drew said Mr. van Puyenbroeck “has an excellent track record in creating partnerships, and supporting and growing a network of international licensees, which will help ensure the WTCA’s continuing relevance in the ever changing world of international trade and project development.”

“I am excited about joining the association’s global team and working with its Board of Directors and Regional Advisory Councils to strengthen and expand the WTCA’s network of members; there is tremendous potential,” said Mr. van Puyenbroeck. “I have long been familiar with ‘World Trade Center’ as a trusted global brand facilitating international business connections. I believe that now, more than ever, the mission and role of the WTCA and its members are critical for promoting international trade and investment in our global economy.”

Founded in 1969, the World Trade Centers Association has grown from 15 original members to more than 320 members who are licensed by the WTCA to operate “World Trade Center” branded facilities in more than 90 countries.

Mr. van Puyenbroeck will assume his Executive Director-Business Development responsibilities on June 15 at WTCA’s headquarters in New York. He will join Arun Manansingh, WTCA’s Executive Director-Corporate Services, and Joanne Thelmo, WTCA’s Corporate Counsel, in leading the Headquarters and regional staff operations.

MEDIA CONTACT:

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)
Chanelle Kasik
Phone: +1 212 432 2644
Email: ckasik@wtca.org

About World Trade Centers Association

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 325 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in nearly 100 countries. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more visit www.wtca.org.

NEW YORK, NY – January 6, 2020 – The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) — a global network of more than 325 highly-connected, mutually supportive businesses and organizations — is currently assisting nearly 20 WTCs from around the world with coordinating member trade delegations to attend CES 2020 through the WTCA Delegate Program, the first mission of its kind developed by the association’s “Trade Services Member Advisory Council (MAC)” and the “Conventions & Exhibitions MAC.” The initiative is led by World Trade Center (WTC) Las Vegas, a partnership between the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, owner and producer of CES®, the world’s largest and most influential global technology event. 

World Trade Centers (WTCs) from across the globe – including members from the United States, Canada, China, India, South Korea, Mexico, France, Ghana and Panama – will attend the event to connect with trade partners and identify investment opportunities. Multiple member delegations will bring companies from their respective countries to CES to connect them with business partners and showcase their services to encourage future trade and investment. WTC Las Vegas assisted all attending WTCs with delegate registrations, visa letters and promotion of the program to member and community businesses in advance of this year’s event.

“CES is the world’s leading technology event bringing together top CEOs and executives from around the globe, which is a natural fit for the nature of the World Trade Centers Association,” said World Trade Center Las Vegas CEO, Chris Meyer. “It’s a great honor for World Trade Center Las Vegas to work with our partners across the network to support the value of face-to-face meetings for driving business forward.” 

Approximately 150 attendees and exhibitors will take part in the WTCA Delegate Program. Companies attending include ActiBioMotion (via WTC Tampa Bay), Den Smart Home and Vidinexus (via WTC Twente), Meta-Biomed (via WTC Seoul) and Promo Ocean (via WTC Noida), and cover a range of industries including augmented reality, wearables, blockchain and education technology. 

“The World Trade Centers Association allows members and their member companies to connect globally and prosper locally,” said WTCA Chair, Board of Directors, John E. Drew. “With WTC Las Vegas’ expertise and support, we are able to fulfill that mission, leveraging our unique network to give members and businesses the chance to engage with the top technology companies in the world.”

WTC Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce — partners working together to advance business relationships and maximize economic opportunities stemming from international business visitors coming to Las Vegas — will host a private reception for members of the Delegate Program prior to the start of CES, featuring WTCA Board Member and WTC Winnipeg President and CEO, Mariette Mulaire. The program also includes a special breakfast event on January 9 where Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), will deliver a keynote speech. He will be joined by WTC Las Vegas CEO, Chris Meyer, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO and President, Steve Hill, and WTCA Board Member and WTC Panama Executive Director, Remy Swaab. CES 2020, the world’s leading technology event which attracts 175,000 attendees from 160 countries, will take place from January 7-10, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association
Chanelle Kasik
Phone: +1 212 432 2644
Email: ckasik@wtca.org 

Allison+Partners
Eliot Marcus
Phone: +1 617 401 2277
Email: wtca@allisonpr.com 

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)
The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 325 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in nearly 100 countries. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more visit www.wtca.org.

NEW YORK, NY – December 2, 2019 – Today, the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) unveiled its “WTCA Champions Awards,” or “Champies,” for short, a new awards program designed to recognize excellence throughout its global network. Nominations for these awards will open in early 2020, and the inaugural winners will be presented at the WTCA’s 51st annual General Assembly (GA) Gala in Taipei.

“The Champions Awards are an opportunity to recognize the members who make the World Trade Centers Association network such a tremendous resource for local businesses and communities, and for each other,” said WTCA CEO Scott Ferguson. “Not only will the program recognize our Association’s ‘champions,’ but it will also help provide visibility to the important and innovative work of our members that is driving the future of global trade and investment.”

WTCA members are invited to nominate fellow members — be it an individual staff Member, or the entire team at a Member WTC — for their contributions in any of the following five categories, including:

• Champion Award for Connectivity: Member who most exemplifies the concept of connecting local businesses to global trade opportunities
• Champion Award for Reciprocity: Member who most exemplifies the concept of reciprocity and/or cooperation on joint projects
• Champion Award for Network Support: Member who most exemplifies the concept of helping fellow members with their challenges
• Champion Award for Sustainability: Member who most exemplifies action in one or more of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Champion Award for Member of the Year: Member who most exemplifies the values, vision, mission, and goals of the Association

WTCA members will nominate potential honorees through a submission form, whereby they will provide a brief description of why a given WTC or staff person deserves to be recognized. Finalists will be announced in February 2020 and winners will be selected by a Board panel by March 1, 2020.

All winners will be honored onstage during the 2020 GA Gala in Taipei, and awarded a physical statuette along with a free registration for them and an accompanying guest to the subsequent 2021 GA in Accra, Ghana. They will also be individually profiled in a special “Champies” section in the WTCA publication, WTCA Meridian, and across the WTCA’s social media channels and Member e-blasts. Additionally, winners and finalists alike will be provided with marketing support to help drive awareness of their achievement. 

To stay up to date on the Champions Awards program, please follow the WTCA on social media using the hashtags #WTCAChampion and #WTCA50:

• Facebook: World Trade Centers Association

• Twitter: @WTCA

• LinkedIn: World Trade Centers Association

• YouTube: World Trade Centers Association

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)
Alex Brown
Phone: +1 212 432 2605
Email: abrown@wtca.org

About the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)
The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 325 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in nearly 100 countries. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more visit www.wtca.org.

NEW YORK, NY – November 13, 2019 – The World Trade Centers Association Foundation (WTCAF) is proud to announce its second “Peace Through Trade” competition, a program designed to identify and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders from the 325-plus cities where a WTC is located. Members from the World Trade Centers Association’s (WTCA) global network spanning more than 100 countries have the opportunity to submit projects from local students to compete in the program. 

The winning team will be awarded with an all-expenses paid trip to Taipei for at least two of the team members, to attend the WTCA’s 2020 General Assembly in March of that year — the association’s annual gathering of more than 500 representatives from member WTCS, foreign trade delegations, and local companies. They will have the opportunity to present their idea on-stage and be honored by attendees during the event.

“The Peace Through Trade competition is a unique opportunity to not only encourage the next generation of trade and investment change-makers, but to give them a global platform to communicate and further develop their ideas,” said Catherine Lee, Chair of the WTCAF Board of Directors. “The program provides these bright, entrepreneurial students with access to a global professional network of key leaders, and the opportunity to share their vision with the WTCA community.”

For the inaugural competition in 2019, WTC Dublin submitted the winning project, Moyo Nua, a student-led project aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural practices of developing countries. Founded by students Jack O’Connor, Catherine Hallinan, Seamus Hurley and Aoife Hand, Moyo Nua designed an ergonomic seed planter for smallholder farmers in Malawi made from local materials. The team presented their project onstage at the WTCA’s 2019 General Assembly in Querétaro, Mexico.

Representatives from WTC member cities are encouraged to nominate student teams from their region to present original projects, products, or other innovative ideas that exemplify and promote social innovation and sustainability through collaboration, fair trade, and ethical international business practices. Projects must also address at least one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as no poverty, zero hunger, and sustainable cities and communities.

Interested WTC members are encouraged to participate in the Peace Through Trade competition the submission period for which runs from October 7, 2019 through January 31, 2020. Interested WTCA Members and student teams can contact the foundation at foundation@wtca.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

World Trade Centers Association
Alex Brown
Phone: +1 212 432 2605
Email: abrown@wtca.org

Allison + Partners
Eliot Marcus
Phone: +1 617 401 2277
Email: WTCA@allisonpr.com

About World Trade Centers Association Foundation
The World Trade Centers Association Foundation (WTCAF) is a private, U.S. tax-exempt, charitable organization (501c) founded in 2008, the mission of which is to conduct programs that promote social welfare in the pursuit and support of activities that foster peace and social stability. The WTCAF makes a difference by encouraging a better understanding of international trade; promoting and developing sustainable farming, energy, and transportation and trading activities; elevating the standard of living in less developed countries; and promoting ethical international business practices. To learn more visit www.wtcafoundation.org.

About World Trade Centers Association
The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 325 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in nearly 100 countries. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more visit www.wtca.org.

Suzhou, China (November 12, 2019) — The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) — a global network of more than 325 highly-connected, mutually supportive businesses and organizations — has announced that its China Summit/Chinese-Speaking Regional Meeting took place in Suzhou, China on November 6-8, 2019. Held annually, the Regional Meeting is a three-day event that takes place each year in a different World Trade Center (WTC) within the Chinese-speaking region. More than 60 delegates from 23 WTCs, as well as government officials, experts, speakers, global companies, and local businesses attended this year’s meeting.

Hosted by WTC Suzhou, the first full day of the meeting on November 7 featured a special program with the theme of “Towards the Future of New Building Economy.” Speakers from WTC Suzhou, J.P. Morgan, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), China World Trade Center Hotel and Property Management, Beijing Yachu Technology, SpacesForce, World Trade Center Taipei, and WTCA gathered and shared their expertise and insights on property trends, technologies, investment, innovative operation, and digital management. Mr. Scott Ferguson, CEO of WTCA, delivered a speech on “WTC Facility Development in the Digital Era.” Ms. Catherine Lee, WTCA Board Member, introduced the WTCA Foundation which she chairs and WTC Taipei gave an update on the 2020 WTCA General Assembly. Suzhou local government authorities were also present to introduce the Suzhou economy and policies for trade.

On November 8, Mr. Ferguson, provided updates on the association’s current work, followed by an Asia Pacific Region Update from Mr. Scott Wang, WTCA Vice President of Asia Pacific and a WTC Flash Panel session featuring updates from WTC Macau, WTC Harbin, WTC Shenyang, WTC Chongqing, WTC Tianjin and WTC Suzhou. In the afternoon, the participants toured the Suzhou Hi-speed Railway New City and the 2nd annual China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Chaired by WTC Harbin, the WTCA Agriculture Member Advisory Council (AgMAC) hosted an exhibit on behalf of the association during the CIIE. The WTCA also supported a major forum of CIIE titled “Lujiazui: China Strength, Global Access,” in which Mr. Ferguson delivered a keynote speech.

Participating WTCs at this year’s Regional Meeting included WTC Atlanta, WTC Beijing, WTC China (Beijing), WTC Chongqing, WTC Hangzhou, WTC Harbin, WTC Jinzhong, WTC Kunming, WTC Macau, WTC Nanchang, WTC Nanjing, WTC Nanning, WTC Ningbo, WTC Quanzhou, WTC Shanghai, WTC Shenyang, WTC Singapore, WTC Suzhou, WTC Taipei, WTC Tianjin, WTC Xiamen, WTC Xi’an, and WTC Zhengzhou.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

WTCA Beijing Representative Office
Scott Wang
Phone: +86 10 8500 3230
Email: swang@wtca.org

World Trade Centers Association
Alex Brown
Phone: +1 212 432 2605
Email: abrown@wtca.org

About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA)
The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 325 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in nearly 100 countries. As the owner of the “World Trade Center” and “WTC” trademarks, the WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently-owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of the WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more visit www.wtca.org.