Milwaukee World Trade Association Honors Roxanne Baumann with Harry C. Brockel Award
Roxanne Baumann has received the Harry C. Brockel Award for her steadfast efforts to promote international trade and for her distinguished service to the Milwaukee World Trade Assocation (MWTA).
The MWTA award is given to honor the legacy of Harry C. Brockel, longtime Milwaukee port director who achieved world recognition for his advocacy of international trade and efforts to open the St. Lawrence Seaway. Baumann received the award Dec 3, 2009 at the MWTA Past President's Night Dinner at the Milwaukee Athletic Club.
"I'm honored to receive this award, and grateful for the many opportunities I've had to contribute to the growth of international trade throughout my career and as a member of this outstanding organization, " Baumann said. "I'm looking forward to building on our export success here in Milwaukee and across the state, and helping more companies pursue opportunities for international sales growth."
Peter Beitzel, MWTA's executive director, commended Baumann for her "diligent work to improve international business and strong support of MWTA."
Baumann current serves as the Director of Partnerships and Alliances for the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP). In this role, Baumann is leading WMEP's joint venture with the Wisconsin Department of Commerce to promote export development to Wisconsin's 10,000 small and midsize manufacturers. A recent study revealed that despite the state's strong export track record, many manufacturers remain on the sidelines, and are at risk of missing out on global sales opportunties.
Baumann's professional achievements in international sales, marketing, and distribution span the past 30 years and include positions with Harley-Davidson International and Brookfield-based Artos Engineering. In the mid-1980's, at a time when women represented a small percentage of international sales managers, Baumann was traveling the globe, managing trade relationships for Wisconsin firms with customers in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and a remote free trade zone in Manaus, Brazil. Baumann has been an active member of MWTA since 1975, serving its board of directors from 1990-1998, and as President from 1996-1997.
Baumann is a member of Professional Dimensions and in 2006 won the U.S. Dept of Commerce, MEP Innovator of the Year award for her efforts to develop WMEP's Accelerate program ti strengthen US suppliers. She is a resident of the Town of Merton, where she lives with her husband Bob.
Roxanne accepts her award Left to Right, brother Mark T. Kurkowski from Plainfield, IN, Roxanne, and Peter Beitzel, Executive Director MWTA
Below: Career photos of Roxanne hosting Governor Tommy Thompson at WI World Trade Day 1998, doing business in Australia and Japan, and with Bob at the MWTA award night.
