Phoenix goes global

The Global Chamber held its 12th annual “Grow Globally Fair” PHX last week.

The Grow Globally Fair is a trade fair for exporters, importers and investors doing international business that also honors people and businesses that are leading the way in global business.

According to Global Chamber Founder and CEO Doug Bruhnke, they looked for entities that “were excellent, they were diligent in what they did, [had] honesty and trustworthiness, you want them to be easy to work with, you want them to have been successful…and [they] got to succeed against odds.”

The Global Chamber nominated a handful of individuals, companies and organizations for a variety of categories including transcendent community leader, diplomat of the year, international business city, international education, globally-minded elected official, young global leader as well as categories involving cross-border trade, banking, business services and international law.

“All of the nominees are winners,” Bruhnke said. “They’re all amazing, incredible people. One of the things from my own 30 plus years of experience with international is usually when things go south, the problem is you were working with somebody that not only got you into that situation but can’t get you out of it… All of the people on this list are people who can help.”

The City of Scottsdale was named the International Business City.

According to Scottsdale Councilwoman Suzanne Klapp, 20 percent of Arizona’s corporate headquarters are located in the city.

“Scottsdale continues to be involved in international business development and activities and looking for emerging markets,” she said at the event. “We also have, over the course of many years, been known as a big tourism city… [The city] also decided to spend a lot more time in cultivating international business and commerce because we’re finding that because they all know who we all are, anyway.”

Alexandra Anderson, associate at Squire Patton Boggs law firm, won the Young Global Leader award; Senator Kyrsten Sinema won Globally-Minded Elected Leader; Thunderbird School of Global Management won International Education; Ecuador Consul General in Arizona Laura Machuca Arroba won Diplomat of the Year; and Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Equal Opportunity Barry Wong won Transcendent Community Leader.

“Truly, this was a surprise,” Wong said. “This is an amazing organization, Global Chamber. It truly is. Be global and unstoppable, it lives by that… Because without each of your participation we wouldn’t have this vibrant international business community that it is today.”

Other winners were:

Exporter of the Year, Product: Master Electronics
Exporter of the Year, Services: Skybridge
Importer of the Year: Mangat Group
Landed Company to Watch: Sojitz
Cross Border Consulting: Ramirez Advisors
International Banking: Bank of America
International Business Law: Squire Patton Boggs
Immigration Attorney: Jessica Weiss / Weiss & Moy P.C.
Diplomat of the Year: Laura Machuca Arroba (Ecuador)
International Logistics: Expeditors
International Accounting & Tax: R&A CPAs
International Finance & Insurance: General Southwest Insurance
International Talent & Payroll: Safeguard Global
International Real Estate Leader: Cresa
International Wealth Management: Global Wealth Strategies
International IT Services: RO Solutions/ Necodex
International Marketing: Executive Digital
Collaborating Organization: Global Ties Arizona
International Nonprofit: Japanese Friendship Garden