Name: Regina D. Heise Title: Director Organization: U.S. Department of Commerce/U.S. Commercial Service–Kansas City Export Assistance Center Contact Information: 2345 Grand St., Ste. 650 Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 426-6285 www.buyusa.gov/kansascity
Regina Heise has been with the U.S. Department of Commerce for more than nine years. Before coming to Kansas City in September, Heise was the deputy director of the Trade Information Center in Washington, DC. She has gone from working directly with clients to managing a large federal office.
Now, she is in a position that combines both of those roles—direct client service while managing a federal field office.
“It is the best of both worlds,” Heise said.
As director, Heise manages the activities of the Kansas City Export Assistance Center and works with businesses on a daily basis to grow their international sales. The Export Assistance Center is part of the U.S. Commercial Service, which is the global business solutions unit of the U.S.
Department of Commerce. The U.S. Commercial Service uses its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. The U.S. Commercial Service has a network of offices across the United States and in more than 80 countries.
The Kansas City Export Assistance Center’s staff of international trade specialists provides export and trade-related guidance to businesses in western Missouri and Kansas. Resources include general export counseling, participation in international trade shows and missions and access to extensive market research databases. The center also offers programs to assist businesses in identifying foreign markets, locating and qualifying overseas distributors and customers, as well as electronic resources to match U.S. companies and overseas buyers.
“So many businesses are not aware of the assistance they can receive from the federal government to export and grow their international business,” Heise said. “When they learn of and make use of our services, they are so appreciative. It really helps me to realize that I do make a difference to companies trying to compete globally.”
Heise said helping U.S. companies export to China continues to be a top priority. To assist in this effort, the U.S. Department of Commerce, in cooperation with the American Bar Association, the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Chamber of Commerce in China, have established a new China Intellectual Property Rights Advisory Program. Through this program, U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises can request a free, one-hour consultation with a volunteer attorney experienced in both intellectual property rights (i.e., trademarks, patents or copyrights) and the Chinese market to learn how to protect and enforce intellectual property rights in China.
“My colleagues are dedicated public servants who work tirelessly on behalf of U.S. businesses,” Heise said. “They give government a good name.” She said they work closely with partners at the federal, state and local levels, including chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, universities and other organizations charged with helping small and medium-sized businesses.
“We are continuing to invest more resources to direct client service,” Heise said. Ellen Jensen is the managing editor of Kansas City Small Business Monthly magazine.
