Kirsten Weidlich Attends Russian Trade Show Through Saint Francis University

LORETTO, PA (05/10/2011)(readMedia)-- The Saint Francis University's Center for Global Competitiveness (CGC) represented nine companies at the Mining World Russia trade show held in Moscow April 13-15, 2011. The companies, all from western and central Pennsylvania, sell a variety of products to the mining industry.

Mining World Russia was the latest trade show that the CGC has attended focused on the mining sector. Ed Huttenhower, center director and associate dean of community and economic development for the school of business, and Russian native Alina Otis, a marketing analyst, attended the show.

Companies represented at the show included CAB of Ebensburg (Cambria County); Curry Supply of Currysville (Blair County); Duraline of Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Irwin Car & Supply of Blairsville (Indiana County); JADCO Manufacturing of Zelienople (Butler County); J&J Truck Bodies of Somerset (Somerset County); REICHdrill of Philipsburg (Centre County); Rockland Manufacturing of Bedford (Bedford County); and Rogers Brothers of Albion (Erie County).

Two Saint Francis students attended the show as well. Seniors Hanna Yttring (Partille Sweden) and Kirsten Weidlich (Taylor, Pa.) attended the show through funding made available through the Dr. Albert A. Zanzuccki Endowed Chair in Business Administration. Both Hanna and Kirsten have a strong interest in international business and were chosen through an application process. The goal was to provide the students with a hands-on experience as to how business is conducted internationally. Additionally, the students experienced all the difficulties associated in dealing with a different culture. In particular, they had to deal with the language barrier.

Ms. Yttring, in commenting about the trip, summed this up very well. "Going to Moscow was a tremendous opportunity and something I never would have been able to do if it wasn't for the Zanzuccki funds. I am very thankful for the opportunity given to me and I gained experience not only of tradeshows but of another culture. Working the tradeshow was a complete new forum to me, and opened my eyes for an industry I knew little about before. Getting to walk around in Moscow, like real Muscovites and take in all the history and culture was an experience by itself."

During the show, the students saw more than 200 exhibitors and viewed different products targeting the mining industry. A plus for the students during the show was the opportunity to spend an afternoon meeting with several exhibitors along with Ms. Irina Podsushnaya, the U.S. Commercial Service's mining expert in Russia to see how the U.S. government assists in promoting exports. They also had the opportunity to talk people who visited the booth for the Pennsylvania Mining Industrial Group.

Mining World Russia was held in part of the Crocus Expo Center in Moscow which has over 475,000 square meters of exhibit space. The show itself had 220 exhibitors and had about 6,000 visitors. From the show, the nine companies represented generated 226 sales leads.

Meetings will be held with each of the companies where the leads will be reviewed with them. In commenting on the show, Ed Huttenhower stated, "Mining World Russia provided an opportunity for the CGC to provide research and solid leads for the participating companies as they explore entering the Russian market. We expect a number of the leads to lead to inquiries for the companies. It was especially beneficial to have the two students along as they were a help to the Center and learned a tremendous amount with us in Moscow. We look forward to continuing this program with the School of Business in the future."