The 2003 Global Trade Mission was held May 1-3 at Oakland Community College (OCC), Auburn Hills Campus. The 5th annual Oakland County Global Trade Mission (GTM) served as an introduction to international trade and business for high school students.
Participants from Lake Orion High School were Kojo Asiedu, Melinda Bringard, Dan Bryant, Andrew Gray, Andrea Horton, Amie Kowalski, Rob Meyer, Steven Micallef, Pete Nichols, Jeff Nichols, Emily Wright, Matt Wirsing, Kaylee Sullivan and Matt VanFleteren.
Bryant was on the overall winning team for the Exportmanship Award and Jeff Nichols was named Student Coach (second year participant). These two students will be accompanying the Oakland County Economic Development and Automation Alley teams on an actual trade mission to another country this summer.
This virtual global event offered students an opportunity to learn and use the tools and information of international business. They were introduced to new career options in the global economy, and benefited from the insight and experience provided by adult volunteers.
Approximately 150 students from 15 high schools in Oakland County worked with teachers, in cross-district teams to respond to one of the five global challenges for GTM.
Each four-student team developed a comprehensive business plan that focuses on the development, marketing and selling of a specific product. Each student assumed one of four roles: Project manager, export manager, vice president of marketing and sales, and vice president of research and engineering. Teachers and coaches were on hand to ensure that the teams stayed focused.
Students used a variety of resources to research their plan, in person and in virtual formats. They also participated in international video conferences to learn more about potential markets for their projects. On the final day of GTM, the students gave presentations of their products to business executives involved in global trade.
“The Global Trade Mission really prepares students for the global marketplace,” said Dan Austin, Superintendent of Oakland Schools. “They learn the importance of diversity, multiculturalism and business export knowledge.”
New to this year’s event was the lifeline feature. Business professionals from various industries were available to answer student questions about trade issues.
“The Global Trade Mission is challenging and a wonderful opportunity for these students,” said Hayes W. Jones, an Automation Alley export manager. “They are performing a task usually handled by consulting firms for thousands of dollars.”
The GTM is a collaboration between Oakland Schools, OCC and Oakland County, with support from the members of Automation Alley’s Trading Company. Challenge sponsors this year included DaimlerChrysler and The Wireless Source. Additional support for GTM came from Baker College and Steel Industries, Inc.