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Newsletter   •   Membership

Meet the Experts on NAFTA

8/20/2018
On August 30, 2018, please join PAWAC in welcoming the following esteemed experts to for a panel discussion on the North American Free Trade Agreement for our program 

MARK ALBERTSON
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC MARKET DEVELOPMENT
ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

Mark Albertson
Mark Albertson
Mark Albertson is the Director of Strategic Market Development for the Illinois Soybean Association in Bloomington, Illinois. He works for all Illinois soybean farmers in the areas of international and domestic soybean marketing and promotion. Mark manages programs involving soy bio-products, livestock, soy exports, logistics and aquaculture.

Prior to Mark’s position with the Illinois Soybean Growers he worked for Archer Daniels Midland as a Commodities Merchandiser, Grain Elevator Manager and Credit Analyst.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Ohio University with
majors in International Business, Economics and Management. He also holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Ohio University with an emphasis in Internet Business Strategy and e-Commerce.

Mark serves on the Marine Committee of the National Aquaculture Association. He resides in Goodfield, Illinois with his wife Janet and their five children.

JIM RYAN
INTERNATIONAL TRADE SPECIALIST
BRADLEY UNIVERSITY

Jim Ryan
Jim Ryan
Jim Ryan is an International Trade Specialist at Bradley University’s Illinois SBDC International Trade Center.  He is the coordinator for the Foster College of Business Global Scholars Program and lectures in international business.  

Jim, a native Peorian, received his BA from Stetson University in Florida and an LL.B from the University of Glamorgan School of Law and Finance in Wales. After completing his law degree, he received a diploma from the Institute on International and Comparative Law at Oxford University in England and then returned to the U.S. to receive an LL.M in International and Comparative Law from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Jim has taught at colleges in Singapore and Malaysia and worked for San Jose-based technology firms in Asia, where he held positions in international contracts and negotiations, concentrating on foreign market entry and start-up operations in Southeast Asia, the UK and the US. Jim launched an import/export venture in 1997, expanding it to include retail operations in Kuala Lumpur in 2001 and Miami Beach in 2002.

Jim is currently involved in the university’s international student recruitment efforts and is active in a number of student organizations and clubs, as an adviser. He has been at Bradley since 2008.

MAGGIE SHEELY
MANAGER OF CONGRESSIONAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, GREAT LAKES REGION

Maggie Sheely
Maggie Sheely
Maggie Sheely is Manager of Congressional and Public Affairs in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Great Lakes Regional Office. To achieve the U.S. Chamber’s public policy goals, Maggie cultivates and maintains legislative, political, media and grasstops resources throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Maggie assists with the U.S. Chamber’s efforts to strengthen its relationships with Members of Congress through member businesses, associations, and local and state chambers of commerce across the region.

Before joining the U.S. Chamber in 2013, Maggie served as Penn State University’s DC lobbyist for six years. She also worked on Capitol Hill and held several government affairs positions.
Maggie holds a secondary education teaching certificate and taught seventh grade English for several years in Pennsylvania.

Maggie graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. She currently resides in Chicago.