While visiting Atlanta for the first time on Feb. 19, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke wanted to make sure that the department’s local representatives were duly recognized.

Mr. Locke was speaking at United Parcel Service Inc.’s processing center on Pleasantdale Road in Doraville to several hundred invitees about President Obama’s charge to double the country’s exports over the next five years.

Three times he asked the local representatives of the Commerce Department to identify themselves including George Tracy, the director of the Atlanta-based U.S. Export Assistance Center and international trade specialists Dina Molaison and Amy Ryan.

Georgia has a unique partnership model for providing export services to small- and medium-sized companies through linking the capabilities of the Commerce Department, federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration and those of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Ray Gibeau, the Small Business Administration’s trade finance manager, was seated in the audience and raised his hand. Kathe Falls, director of the Georgia department’s trade division, as a state official didn’t raise her hand, but she was the first to make her presence known by rising and asking questions.

Representatives of small- to medium-sized companies that are seeking assistance in exporting are encouraged to go to www.buyusa.gov/georgia where an exporter resource directory is located.

John Fleming, a commercial officer, and Patrick Spense, a senior international trade specialist, also are based in the Atlanta office located at 75 Fifth St., while Todd Gerken is director of the Savannah office.

The commercial officers divide their responsibilities across a wide spectrum of industry sectors from aerospace to travel and tourism.

Go to www.export-u.com for an exporter self-service guide.

To reach Mr. Tracy, call (404) 897-6083 or send an email to george.tracy@trade.gov

Ms. Falls may be reached at (404) 962-4120 or send an email to kfalls@georgia.org

Mr. Gibeau may be reached at (404) 897-6089 or send an email to Raymond.gibeau@sba.gov

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