New Edition of Trade Guide for Exporters Released

In April 2008, due to the excellent reception by US exporters to the first edition of the Trade Finance Guide, the second edition of the Trade Guide was released.

Since its release in April 2007, over 5,000 printed copies of the Trade Finance Guide (TFG) have been distributed to the public and its online version has been downloaded more than 20,000 times from the US Commerce Department website. The second edition includes a new chapter on foreign exchange risk management as well as updates to all of the other chapters. The additional content is in response to the interest expressed by a number of SMEs (small, medium size enterprises) that wish to export more efficiently in foreign currencies by mitigating the risk of currency exchange loss.

At the request of the U.S. Departmentt of Commerce, I provided overall guidance in the development of this update as I did for the first edition. I worked very closely in the editing with the project manager for the Guide, a senior Commerce employee, who was a student of mine a few years ago in the FCIB on line risk management course.

Q4 2007 Noteworthy Events

Washington, DC: I was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Under Secretary for International Trade of the U.S. Department of Commerce for my contributions to the Trade Finance Guide, a reference publication produced by the Commerce Department to assist U.S. exporters.

I was elected to a three-year term on the Advisory Board of FCIB beginning in 2007. With FCIB having over 1,000 member-firms in 55 countries, the board will address the continuing development of educational programs while expanding global areas that provide solutions to international business concerns of its members.

Business Credit Principles: Now On Line!

The very successful, on-line Business Credit Principles course, instructor-led by Paul Beretz, is offered by CMA (the California Credit Association). This program is approved by NACM as certification credit toward the Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation.

To find out about programs scheduled in 2009, check out http://www.anscers.com/Upcomingevents.aspx

Financial Statement Analysis (FSA1) Online Course

Are you interested in improving your ability to analyze a financial statement? The sessions are held on-line, with Paul Beretz as the "live" instructor, one day a week, from 4 PM - 5 PM, PT, for six consecutive weeks. The course is approved by NACM as certification credit toward the Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation.
To find out about programs scheduled in 2009, check out http://www.anscers.com/Upcomingevents.aspx

Credit Congress Presentation, Las Vegas, June 2007

Below is the summary of a 3 hour presentation Paul made in Las Vegas at the annual Credit Congress.

Introduction to International Credit
Speaker: Paul Beretz, Pacific Business Solutions, A Q2C Partner
CEUs: .25/Valid for CCE Recertification/3 CPEs

Does your company export goods or services outside the country? Or perhaps you just want to learn more about the methods that effectively identify and apply credit approaches on a global basis in order to expand your own professional skills. This program examines risk attributes that result from country, currency and cultural influences in the global credit and collection process. Legal options for the credit risk manager are analyzed. Risk mitigation techniques such as credit insurance and how to recognize and apply a variety of payment options are evaluated. Utilizing current best practices are considered and enhanced with international experiences from a seasoned credit executive.

International Program Held in the Southwest, May 2007

Recognizing a need for international risk education in the southwest, Paul presented a program on Export Risk Mitigation while leading a round-table discussion on issues facing those selling off-shore.