Fox School Alum Mr. Paul Gaspari Helping to Create Jobs in the Region through Exports from Temple University

Fox School international business program alum, Mr. Paul Gaspari, assists companies in the region find business opportunities overseas as an International Trade Specialist for the U.S. Dept. of Commerce's Commercial Service Office. "Oftentimes you hear that the government is only concerned about sending American jobs and industries abroad. The Commercial Service promotes and creates American jobs by helping small and medium-sized companies sell their goods overseas." described Paul. He spoke as part of the International Business Student Association's Global Lecture Series at the Fox School.

Mr. Gaspari works out of the Philadelphia U.S. Export Assistance Center in Center City. In addition to their Philadelphia location, the U.S. Commercial Service has over 100 other domestic offices and locations in 83 different embassies around the world. As an International Trade Specialist, Paul works with these overseas embassies to conduct market research and develop trading opportunities for his clients.

"Exporting these days is actually a lot easier than you would think," Paul says. "It's my job to help advise companies through the small bureaucratic steps and give them the tools they need to make an overseas sale." The Commercial Service can work with other Department of Commerce branches to make sure that needed export licenses are acquired and regulations for exporting are met. The Department of Commerce is a huge organization with many different agencies each with their own jurisdictions over different products entering and exiting the country. Paul points out that, "It can be intimidating for a person new to overseas exporting to figure out how their product should be classified under the guidelines of Commerce. A company may have a product that should fall under the BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security) and end up working with the State Department for a shipping license because their device could have a military end use."

As an International Trade Specialist, Paul's industry focus has been on companies in the Aerospace, Defense, Construction, and Engineering industries. Things can get very complicated in regards to export licensing in these fields especially when it comes to shipping to the Middle East. "I'm working with one company that sends out tractors with a device that shoots out fertilizer," Paul mentions. "The company is trying to send it to Middle Eastern countries to assist in land development. There are all kinds of regulations associated with this machine. There are export regulations for the tractor, export regulations for the chemicals in the fertilizer, and the shooting device could potentially be used as a weapon in biological warfare."

While a student, Paul majored in International Business and Marketing with a minor in Japanese. He studied abroad at Temple University Rome as well as at Temple University Japan. Through the assistance of Fox School Professor Masaaki Kotabe, Paul obtained a summer internship with 7-11 Japan. "I took advantage of every international opportunity that Temple offered," Paul recalls. "Through living and working abroad, I developed a unique insight into particular countries which assists me greatly in my job."

Paul became acquainted with the Commercial Service through his International Business class with instructor Nicole DeSilvis. Ms. DeSilvis is the International Trade Consultant at Temple SBDC and teaches the International Business capstone course and works for the Temple Small Business Development Center. Paul notes, "It's interesting that in my international business classes here at the Fox School, I could do some basic market research into a company and just suggest in my papers that a company should do a joint venture. Now that's what I do every day!"

"I'm very proud of the work I am doing." says Paul. "There is a certain level of satisfaction you get when helping these companies. They aren't huge corporations. Some of them operate out of their own homes! They are grateful for any help that the U.S. government can provide for them."

Mr. Paul Gaspari, Fox School IB Alumni, International Trade Rep, U.S. Export Assistance Center

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