Saturday, December 10, 2011

World Trade Forum IV - January 18, 2012

Join us for the annual World Trade Forum moderated by Snell & Wilmer partner Brett W. Johnson. This is an opportunity to hear top government officials from local, state and national levels reflect on what has happened in 2011 and discuss the outlook for 2012 with regard to global trade, government efforts and programs to stimulate international trade, and how all this will impact Arizona businesses.

World Trade Forum IV

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

8:00am - 8:30am Registration
8:30am - 10:00am Program

Wells Fargo Conference Center
100 West Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Parking is discounted to $3 with validation. 303 N 2nd Avenue.

RSVP to rsvp@swlaw.com

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Arizona Mexico Business Opportunities 12/5

Welcome to AZIGG.

Our Monday 12/5/11 event features ways for Arizona companies to be more successful in Mexico and Latin America. Join us at 7:30am to hear how from several perspectives.

First Vice Consul Jeff Austin will provide an overview of successful companies and how you can follow in their footsteps.

Then Alejandro de la Maza of GoNet USA, based in Scottsdale, will describe how GoNet has been successful on both sides of the border - - - and share how you can be, too.

We'll hear from our friends at Tec de Monterrey who have a variety of business programs for U.S. companies. We will conferencing in by Skype.

Finally Carlos Sugich of Snell & Wilmer will discuss legal aspects of doing business in Mexico and points south.

CLICK HERE for more info and sign-up.

Arizona-Mexico Business Growth Opportunities

Jeff Austin - Vice Consul at the U.S. Consulate

Alejandro de la Maza - EVP at GoNet USA

To Be Announced - Tec de Monterrey

Carlos Sugich - Snell & Wilmer


Monday, Dec 5, 2011 (Cinco de Diciembre)

7:30am – 9:00am

Networking at 7:15am

SkySong 1475 N Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale, Convergence Room

$20 online in advance ($25 @ the door)

Complimentary Coffee, Pastries, Juice and Water. Free Parking.

Who should attend: Arizona business leaders looking to export and grow in Mexico.


Special thanks for Snell & Wilmer and Growth Nation for their support of AZIGG and international business growth in Arizona.

Friday, October 28, 2011

A Global Journey - November 7 at AZIGG

We are very fortunate to have Jim Ratcliff, CEO of Rowpar Pharmaceuticals, as our guest speaker at AZIGG on November 7th, 7:30am - 9:00am at ASU SkySong in Scottsdale. The journey by Rowpar has been MOST INTERESTING - - - you'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll learn. Join us - and read more on the sign-in page: http://aglobaljourney.eventbrite.com/. See you on the 7th!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

AZIGG Grow Globally Phoenix Fair 2011

Thank you to all the globally-minded people who came out to the 2011 Grow Globally Phoenix Fair in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 3, 2011. Special thanks to all the exhibitors - all the global resources you need to grow globally from Arizona.

Watch for pictures on the Arizona International Growth Group Facebook page.

Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Arizona Commerce Authority

Arizona Council for International Visitors (AZCIV)

Arizona District Export Council

Arizona International Growth Group (AZIGG)

Arizona SCORE

ASU SkySong

Arizona Technology Council

AZ4Solar

City of Phoenix

The Canadian Consulate Phoenix

Compass HR

Consular Corps of Arizona

Dunlap Stone University

Go Green Phoenix '11

Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC)

Greater Phoenix SCORE

Growth Nation

Invest Southwest - VCIR Fall 2011 Capital Conference

Eight / Arizona PBS

Maricopa Community Colleges International Programs

Malaysian Industrial Development

Mesa Community College Prague Study Abroad Program

Opportunity International

Organization of Women in Trade - Phoenix (OWIT-Phoenix)

Phoenix Business Journal

Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (PCFR)

Phoenix Sister Cities

Phoenix SkyHarbor Airport

Polsinelli

Province of Ontario, Canada

Renaissance Executive Forums

Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.

Scottsdale Community College - Global Programs

Scottsdale Sister Cities

Scottsdale - Haikou Trade Mission Nov 9-14

Small Business Administration (SBA)

Snell & Wilmer

Solarpraxis PV Power Plants USA 2011

Southern Arizona SCORE

SPRING Singapore

Surprise Regional Chamber

The Great Canadian Picnic

The Green Chamber of Greater Phoenix

Thunderbird Global Business Dialogue 11-11-11

Thunderbird School of Global Management

UPS

US Commercial Service

US Export Assistance Centers

ValuCorp

Vistage International

World Affairs Council of Arizona (WACAZ)

World Trade Forum (Snell & Wilmer)

Monday, August 22, 2011

AZIGG Events 9/12 & 10/3/11


We're pleased to announce the next two Arizona International Growth Group (AZIGG) events, both located at SkySong.

First it's Grow Globally, Responsibly on Monday, September 12th 7:30 - 9:00am at SkySong featuring Melissa Sanderson, VP at Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold.

Melissa Sanderson is responsible for international affairs at the mining giant - the world's largest publicly-traded copper company. She will be discussing how global companies can and should be good local partners in the communities they serve.

More info - and sign-up here by clicking here.

The annual AZIGG Grow Globally Phoenix Fair 3 is Monday, October 3rd from 4:30-6:30pm at SkySong. The event will feature top global executives in Arizona and visitors from Southern California and across the Southwest. It's a unique walking tour of global business resources - a Who's Who of Arizona Global Business together in one place, one time a year. This year we will also be presenting several international awards to people and companies doing great things globally.

More info - and sign-up here for the 10/3 event by clicking here. A smaller amount of tables are available this year - reserve early.

Grow Globally!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Toby Rolt Discusses Solar Power in Arizona at AZIGG

On August 1, 2011 at Arizona International Growth Group, Toby Rolt of Brilliant Green Energy joined Patrick O'Grady of the Phoenix Business Journal and Jim Vogt of ECOtality at AZIGG to discuss the future of sustainability industries in Arizona. Mr. Rolt's informative and entertaining presentation is shown below in its entirety. Thanks to Toby and all the speakers! For more information, see AZIGG.

- - - - -

My Name is Toby Rolt, I am the Co-founder & CEO of C corp Brilliant Green Energy. We launched our new corporation at the apex of global economic panic in 2008! We are developers and integrators of renewable energy systems, principally solar. We have designed, built, often financed and connected to the national grid close to 50 power plants. In addition to our projects here in Arizona, we have multi MW projects in development in Hawaii, New Jersey and California.

First let me look BACK: Every school boy knows that in 1879 Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. BUT lesser known and far more important is his creation of all the systems to support its practical use. (Durability, conductor network, insulation, switches, fuses, the dynamo, light sockets & voltage regulators)! ….. because of that at the close of the 19th century electric power plants were cropping up all over the world and networks of transmission lines were being installed. Today an uninterrupted supply of electricity is absolutely essential to the most rudimentary operation of modern society.


Myth buster 1. “I’m waiting for technology to improve”

The electricity observed by Henry Gilbert in 1600 is exactly the same as is produced by Paloverde Nuclear power plant, is the same as comes out of one of our inverters is the same as lit Edison’s incandescent light for the first time. It will not change EVER.

Now let’s look FORWARD: Can we all agree? At a point in the future we will not be able to spare 30% of all our fresh water for cooling down our Coal, Gas & Nuclear power plants as we do today. Population growth and the demand on fresh water will push the cost up. Consequently vaporizing it by the hundreds of thousands of acre feet a year will simply not be viable.

SECURITY: If the Navajo power plant was made inoperable water would stop pumping through the arterial systems of Arizona, The Central Arizona project. If Paloverde was crippled by a cyber attack simultaneously, Arizona would cease to be viable almost immediately!

This same security exposure was pointed out in 1990 by Hermen Shere to the German chancellery. Germany checked the data in a German way and immediately took action. Leading the way in home generation and renewable energy’s; wind, solar, biomass and geothermal. ALL of Germany’s naysayers were silenced when Georgia was invaded by Russia in 2008. State controlled Gazprom cut the power to Georgia and in so doing Belgium, Austria, east and south France and parts of Switzerland had their power cut too! Germany almost entirely was unaffected. So Hurrah for forward planning!

Let me be clear before I rant on, in my view the incumbent 19th and early 20th century electrical generation technologies are absolutely needed. We should take pride in what has been achieved. We should be proud of the men and women that were part of that achievement. However, our justifiable pride must not blind us from the facts.


Myth buster 2. “Coal and Nuclear are cheap”. They are not!

Nuclear Power

1) We the people guarantee its capital construction costs,

2) We have agreed to take care of one hundred years of janitorial services and when one day we discover how to deal with nuclear waste (a problem we have been unable to solve in 100 years since Rutherford first identified an electrical discharge from an atom),

3) We will take care of it,

4) We made all our R&D work from the 2nd World War available very cheaply or free,

5) We guard the transport of the fuel rods,

6) We train our army and our air force to be ready to protect the Nukes in minutes if needed (or at least I trust we do!),

7) AND greatest help of all we the people, insure all nuclear plants because no private insurance company in the world will. We charge about 1% of operating costs! (If anyone has fully comprehensive no cash limit car insurance at 1% of operational cost let me know.)


Coal Power is only cheap because we the people made it so.

1) We built and maintain the railways that transport it,

2) We clean up the acrid lakes poised by runoff from slag heaps,

3) We restore the national parks damaged by rain picking up the dust partials made airborne by blasting mountains apart.

4) We pay for the ER departments of hospitals who deal at vast expense with bronchiole problems that coincidentally are higher than normal around mining communities nationally,

5) AND congress has bestowed many tax breaks in addition.


I repeat, I do not object to any of these de-facto subsidies; but do not expect me to accept that it is cheap as well!


Myth Buster 3: “Renewable energy and solar is more expensive”. It is not!

THE PERCEVED COST IS A FACTOR OF INAPPROPRIATE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MECHANISMS; NOT OF ANY INHERENT COMPONENT COSTS AND NOT OF ENGINEERING LIMITATIONS.

In 50 years our Scottsdale Christian Academy (SCA) plant will still be producing at 75% of its original output. SCA will have enjoyed 20 years of below retail electricity rates and have benefitted from 30 years of free production…. In 100 years there is no technical reason why it should not be producing 50% of its original output.

All our costs are known on day one. In stark contrast to traditional plants that have no way of knowing what costs they will incur during a plants operational life.

Renewable (in particular Solar) never needed subsidy what we need is access to cheap long term capital.


Mythbuster 4. “Renewable energy is a fringe issue”

The International Energy Agency says that global power demand will rise from 15 Terawatts today to 30 Terawatts by 2050. A $26 Trillion market. Not so fringy considering the hysteria in Washington over a $13 Trillion operational debt.

The Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell told the London business school that 30% of all power would be from renewable energy by 2050. (So 66% of today’s entire energy sector globally. Fringe issue? I think not. Small brain issue!)

My industry, Solar installed 875 MW of capacity in 2010. This would be amazing if we were Estonia and not the United States of America. The world needs more than that every 2 weeks for 40 years just to meet demand, let alone replacing the existing system.

This is the equivalent of replacing ALL Europe’s entire electrical generation capacity in 10 years.


Arizona’s Market Opportunity

The macro problems we face here in Arizona of:

1. Water management,

2. Electrical demand increase,

3. Population growth

4. A need to shift to more sustainable methods of generation,

…are repeated across the United States and across the world and facing every local and national government, communist or democratic, Kingdom or dictatorship. It is necessarily and correctly political, but it need not and should not be partisan.


Arizona is better placed to hitch a ride on history than anywhere on earth.

We have ...

1) Lots of developable space,

2) Access to easily retrained labor,

3) 1st world technology and support,

4) A disproportionate per capita allocation to potable water from the Colorado pact,

5) An excellent free flowing transport system,

6) AND 6.4 daily hours exposure to the largest fuel source in our galaxy!


Arizona can and should leverage what may become known as the ‘sun rush’.

...but whether the state does or does not; whether the Country does or does not, the energy revolution IS empirically the largest economic opportunity in history, and Arizona is an ideal location to take advantage of it.

Toby Rolt

CEO, Brilliant Green Energy


Saturday, June 25, 2011

AZIGG Summer Sustainability Lunch August 1st

Arizona International Growth Group Presents

Green, Global and Greek

Arizona's Sustainability Opportunities (at Greekfest)

Toby Rolt, CEO at Brilliant Green Energy

Jim Vogt, Global Accounts at ECOtality

Patrick O'Grady, Report at Phoenix Business Journal

Monday, August 1, 2011

11:00am - 1:00pm

$38 includes an Extraordinary Greek Lunch with Beverage

Networking 11:00am / Food 11:30am / Program 12:00noon

Greekfest Restaurant

1940 East Camelback, Phoenix (NW Corner Camelback/20th)

Reservation Required; Park Behind the Building, Please

It's the 3rd Annual AZIGG summer lunch at Greekfest. Learn about the current state of cleantech and sustainability in Arizona and the global opportunities for the future. Our expert speakers will cover solar, electric vehicles and much more. Come in from the Phoenix heat and enjoy hot food and info with cool drinks and people.


More on AZIGG Here: AZIGG Events

Welcome Internationalists!

Thank You Chairman Sponsors Snell &Wilmer and Growth Nation

CEO Sponsors SYNERGY HomeCare, Vision Wellness and Import Genius

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Arizona International State of the State 6/6/11

Welcome to the next AZIGG event - June 6th at SkySong!

Arizona International Growth Group Presents

4th Annual

International State of the State

Featuring: Rudy Vetter, SVP with GPEC
"Greater Phoenix Economic Council"

Monday, June 6, 2011

7:30am - 9:00am

$15 includes Coffee, Juice, Fruit and Pastries; $20 at the door.

1475 N Scottsdale Road, SkySong Building, Convergence Room

Scottsdale, Arizona (SE Corner of Scottsdale Road and McDowell)

It's the 4th Annual International State of the State featuring a Key Leader Directly Involved in Attracting International Business to Arizona


Register Now


ps...We also welcome you to the "Build Your Business with BRICS" event by Growth Nation on June 16th. Learn more here about the opportunities in Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia (and Malaysia), China and South Africa. There will also be a special presentation by the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles with an update on the Japanese situation. Learn more here.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Celebration of International Trade in Arizona

There are several global business events coming up in Phoenix and Tucson that could be of interest if you're looking for ideas to grow globally.

The first is networking event on Thursday co-hosted by Phoenix CEO-CFO Group, ACG Arizona and AZIGG. Network at the global business table in centerfield and watch the Dbacks versus Cubs.

The global trade month celebration really kicks off in Tucson, Arizona when area exporters gather with the Arizona District Export Council at the Lodge on the Desert. More information here.

Some additional global business events are:

Growing Globally, Buying Locally - May 10 in Tempe

The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce features a unique panel of speakers on important business issues: Lori Singleton, Salt River Project; Kimber Lanning, Arizona Local First; Doug Bruhnke, Growth Nation and AZIGG. Info and sign-up.


Global Threats to Trade Secrets - May 12 in Scottsdale

National security presentation by the extraordinary Tom Liffiton, sponsored by the World Affairs Council. Joined by international visitors from Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. Unique venue (The Napoleon), $20. Contact Sue


AZIGG "International State of the State" - June 6 in Scottsdale

Rudy Vetter of GPEC gives us the lowdown on what's happening with international business in Arizona. Always popular, first Monday at SkySong - sign-up today!


All the best, Doug


Arizona International Growth Group

Scottsdale, Arizona

Thanks to International Logistics Speakers April 2011

Many thanks to Ian Clough, CEO of DHL Express, Dr. Arnie Maltz, Professor at ASU and Frank Meijers, CEO of Dutch American Business Accelerator for sharing their words of wisdom on international logistics at the April 2011 AZIGG event in Scottsdale. Check out the photos by Laird Brown of Small Business Photo here. Photos in Facebook.

The full house of attendees at SkySong learned about the increasing US exports from the US, how the world is adapting to the recent Mideast unrest and Japanese earthquake, and that the Netherlands is an important logistics destination for Arizona businesses.

Our next meeting is the homerun networking event on April 28th in Phoenix followed by the International State of the State (of Arizona) on June 6th. Grow globally!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Import, Export and International Logistics April 4th

Arizona International Growth Group (AZIGG) Presents:

Import, Export and International Logistics

"Foreign Trade, Arizona Logistics and Future Outlook"

Monday, April 4, 2011

7:30am - 9:00am

Networking Starts at 7:05am

$15*, Includes Light Continental Breakfast, Coffee, Juice and Water

* $20 at the door

At ASU SkySong, 1475 N Scottsdale Road (SE Corner of McDowell)

  • Ian Clough, CEO of DHL Express US: "Foreign Trade Logistics Status and Outlook"
  • Dr. Arnold Maltz, Professor at ASU in International and Trans-border Logistics: "Foreign Trade and Arizona Logistics"
  • Frank Meijers, Executive Director of Netherlands-American Business Accelerator: "Importing and Exporting via the Netherlands"

Featuring success story examples and practical 'how to' import, export and deliver international logistics as part of successful global business strategies.


More on AZIGG Here: AZIGG Events

Welcome Internationalists!

You may also RSVP and pay at the door.

Thank you Chairman Sponsors Snell & Wilmer and Growth Nation.

Thank you CEO Sponsors SYNERGY HomeCare and Vision Wellness Center.

Thank you community partners World Affairs Council of Arizona, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, Arizona District Export Council, Scottsdale Sister Cities, Greater Phoenix SCORE and Arizona Technology Council.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Next AZIGG Event April 4th

The next AZIGG event is on International Logistics and will feature the CEO of DHL Ian Clough, head of international logistics at Arizona State University Dr. Arnold Maltz and two other importing and exporting experts. Stay tuned for additional information and visit AZIGG or AZIGG Upcoming Events for more information. See you in April!

All the best, Doug (Arizona International Growth Group and Growth Nation)

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Cross Cultural Success for Global Entrepreneurs March 7th

Arizona International Growth Group Presents:

Cross Cultural Success for the Global Entrepreneur

"All I Learned NOT to Do I Learned in Junior High" - A discussion of growing international business by being culturally aware.

Monday, March 7, 2011

7:30am - 9:00am

Networking Starts at 7:05am

$18*, Includes Continental Breakfast, Coffee, Juice and Water

* $20 at the door

At ASU SkySong, 1475 N Scottsdale Road (SE Corner of McDowell)

  • Gloria Petersen, CEO of Global Protocol: "Global Cross Cultural Protocol - Getting it Right for Greater Success"
  • Doug Bruhnke, CEO of Growth Nation: "Cross Cultural Success Made Easy - Asia, Europe, Arizona and the World"

Featuring success story examples and practical 'how to' grow your business across borders by being more culturally aware. Whether you're growing across the globe or simply into a new market in your own country, it pays to understand the expected protocol. The presentation will include a report card and recommendations on the cross-cultural performance of Arizona business and political leaders.

Gloria Petersen is a world-reknowned global business protocol expert now based in Arizona. She was host of the Fox Television series "Images of Success" and has made frequent contributions to print media, television and radio including CNBC and the Learning Channel. Gloria is a "Certified Protocol Professional" obtained at the Protocol School of Washington(R).

Doug Bruhnke has 25 years of international business experience including living in Asia for 6 years. Doug is founder of AZIGG and owner/CEO of Growth Nation, a Scottsdale-based services firm that helps US companies grow sustainably across town, across the country and across the globe. Growth Nation also helps companies based outside the US grow in North America.

MORE INFO AND RSVP


Arizona Canada Opportunities Event: Photos

Thanks to everyone who attended the last Arizona International Growth Group event February 7, 2011 on business opportunities between the US and Canada.

Pictures from the event can be seen here: PHOTOS

Our next international business event is Monday, March 7th at SkySong, 7:30-9:00am on the cross cultural information you need to succeed more with global business.

March 7th event: MORE INFO and RSVP


Sunday, February 13, 2011

Oh Canada, We Love Your Business

Thanks to the many expert speakers at AZIGG on March 7th who discussed success stories and how Arizona-based companies can be more successful Growing in Canada.

Rick Stephenson, Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner of Consulate of Canada, opened by discussing trade numbers: over $3 billion per year in two-way trade between Canada and Arizona every year. The trade supports 150,000 jobs in Arizona.

Alison Harris, International Trade Compliance Manager at Avnet, discussed their success and some of the logistical and compliance issues that any business should consider when they step over the border.

Eddy Jimenez, VP of International at Kahala Corporation, discussed opportunities and some success stories - including the Cold Stone Creamery and Tim Horton's partnership, likely coming at some point to Arizona.

Trevor HIll, CEO of Global Water Resources, is an unsung Arizona hero that is the darling of the Toronto Stock Exchange after just raising over $60 million in the great white north. Trevor discussed how they did it, and how they continue to grow globally.

Glenn Williamson, CEO of Nest Ventures & Canada Arizona Business Council and Chairman of Kinetx, supported Trevor's success and had other supporting comments for Arizona-Canada trade growth.

Thanks to all! Pictures from the event are on the AZIGG Facebook page - click here or here. If neither of these links work, try finding it on my facebook account.

All the best, Doug Bruhnke

Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy New Year with AZIGG: Upcoming Events


Welcome to 2011 - Happy New Year! Let's make it a great one for Arizona companies growing internationally!

Here are the upcoming events for AZIGG. Watch for more details on the February 7th, March 7th and April 4th events.

AZIGG January: "World Trade Forum III"
Wednesday, January 19th, 8-10am
At Snell & Wilmer in Phoenix
Free. Visit this link to sign-up and for directions. RSVP

AZIGG February: "Cold Weather, Hot Business: Arizona-Canada Growth Opportunities"
Monday, February 7th, 7:30-9am
At SkySong in Scottsdale
$20. Sign-up information available soon on EventBrite.
In conjunction with the Phoenix Great Canadian Picnic.

AZIGG March: "International Entrepreneurial Success from Arizona"
Monday, March 7th, 7:30-9am
At SkySong in Scottsdale
$20. Sign-up information available soon on EventBrite.
Presentation by an extraordinary Arizona-based entrepreneur who has had global success.

AZIGG April: "International Logistics: Designing and Implementing Success"
Monday, April 4th, 7:30-9am
At SkySong in Scottsdale
$20. Sign-up information available soon on EventBrite.
Special presentations by logistics experts who are getting it right internationally. This program is in conjunction with several other international and logistics organizations.

All the best, Doug




AZIGG February