Canada’s International Competitiveness Set to Grow...

Newest Certified International Trade Professionals will lead the way

Mississauga, Canada – Members of Canada’s international trade community came together last night at FITT’s 12^th National Conference to celebrate the accreditation of 63 newly designated Certified International Trade Professionals (CITP).

These individuals join the prestigious group of over 370 CITPs from across Canada and around the world who are bringing a new level of expertise and accountability to the field of international trade. CITPs possess the necessary skills and experiences required in today’s unique business environment and have the credential to prove it.

“Besides adding value to my current career, the FITT Diploma of International Trade [the educational requirement for the CITP] has also educated me to become more capable of critical and independent thinking towards opportunities, inefficiency, complexity and solutions at the industry and national economic levels,” said Dehua Pan, CITP, Business Development Manager, Mathias International Limited, who is among the newly recognized CITPs.

Rafi Moradians, Advisor to Deputy Minister’s Office, Iran, Ministry of Industry and Mines, who has been a CITP for 13 years, said the accreditation is a tremendous career enhancing asset. “The FITT Diploma and the CITP designation [have] opened lots of doors for me and given me the ability to move up in my career at a faster pace,” said Mr. Moradians. “I had the privilege of meeting my peers, exchanging ideas and discussing issues,” adds Moradians.

FITT’s highest educational honours, the FITT Educational Awards, were also presented to four students who participated in the FITTskills program, a practical, hands-on series of courses that focus on the fundamental aspects of international business. The EDC-FITT Internship recipient was also recognized during the event. This program, established by EDC, was created in recognition of the importance of international trade to Canada’s economic prosperity.

“The commitment of our partners—Export Development Canada, Scotiabank, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and Georgian College—for these awards helps us to promote quality international trade training”, said Caroline Tompkins, President of FITT. “International trade training benefits the individual, their employer, and ultimately, the Canadian economy.’’

A complete list of winners and CITPs is included below.

The 2008 FITT Educational Award Winners:

Todd MacDonald, Georgian College
International Business Plan Award
Presented by FITT’s supporting partner, Georgian College

Caitlin Pauzé, Georgian College
International Marketing Plan Award
Presented by FITT’s strategic partner, Scotiabank

Igor Yarantsev, British Columbia Institute of Technology
Student of the Year Award
Presented by FITT’s strategic partner, Export Development Canada

Ashley McCulloch, Sheridan College
FITT Achievement Award
Presented by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

The 2009 EDC-FITT Internship Recipient:

EDC-FITT Internship Recipient
Heather Stokes
Graduate, International Business Management, Georgian College

2008 – 2009 Certified International Trade Professionals (CITPs):

• David Archer, International Business Trainers

• Visar Bajra, S.A. Armstrong Ltd.

• Molly Jo Beauchamp, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

• Miran Bek, Bek Group Ltd.

• Jeffrey Bielmann, GEOS Corporation

• Ramiro Castaneda, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

• Doreen Conrad, Global Links Network

• Joseph Conti, Media-Hosts

• Christopher Corman, Industry Canada

• Rémi Côté, Sotrem Maltech Groupe

• Mario Cotic, TST Overland Express

• Nicole Daigle, MDS Nordion

• Sukhdeep Singh Deol, Deolexim

• Alexandra Dostal, Finance Canada

• Dilek Duman, Wyecroft Lumber & Trim Ltd.

• Catherine Ehlers, Automotive Finishes Corporation

• Mamoun El-Khatib, Doha Bank

• Frederic Fournier, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

• Felipe Gajardo, Government of Chile

• Mauricio Gamboa, Encore Art Group

• Valya Georgieva, Global Bulgarian Business Network Association

• Peter Giffin, Nova Scotia Business Inc.

• Barry Goldberg, YMCA

• Ruth Grady, Northern Abrasives Inc.

• Jatinder Singh Gulati, Raysim Ventures Incorporated

• Jing Hu, Kuehne and Nagel Logistics Incorporated

• Brian Jervis, Algonquin College

• Kathleen Keating, Keating Communications

• Mozammel Khan, MDI Canada

• Martin Lutereau, Consulate General of Argentina

• Stacy MacWilliams, West Isle Enterprise Limited

• Alexander Malaket, OPUS Advisory Services International Inc.

• Andrea Mandel-Campbell, Veteran Journalist

• Marcela Mandeville, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs

• Nelly Martinez Fonseca, Trade Office of Costa Rica

• Ashley McCulloch, 2008 FITT Achievement Award Winner

• Alain Meere, Export Development Canada

• Holly Metropolit, Government of Alberta

• Abel Mharapara, Canada Revenue Agency

• Karl Miville de Chêne, Consultation Contacts Monde

• Hilda Namu, Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto

• Peter Ohonsi, Royal Bank of Canada

• Omaira Ospino, Nova Scotia Department of Energy

• Roy Palaco, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

• Dehua Pan, Mathias International Limited

• David Pastirik, Niagara College

• Steve Razmovski, Cushman and Wakefield LePage Inc.

• Ehab Shalayel, Canada Link

• Doron Shwaizer, CrimsonLogic (North America) Inc.

• Debby Sung, Mountain Equipment Co-op

• Michel Tapiero, World University Service of Canada

• Bradley Thorne, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

• Mariya Vaneva, Ango Mode Inc.

• Krishna Kumar Varma, Vancouver Career College

• Jagdeep Virk, Virk and Virk

• Martin Wanzala, Delmar International

• Karen Williams, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage

• Berni Wood, Berni Wood & Associates and Reel Media

• Ann Worth, Worth Consulting Group

• Juzer Ebrahim Yusufali, Export Development Canada

• Gustavo Zentner, InterPOC - International Point of Commerce

• Limei Zhou, Scotiabank