Ben Bruccato and Carol Perrotta are automotive industry professionals with 35 years of experience working with small business exporters. Join us to learn from their exporting journeys, talk about new opportunities, and discuss how to overcome industry challenges.
Mark Klein from The Export-Import Bank of the U.S., will also join Ben and Carol to showcase how EXIM Bank programs can protect you from the risks of exporting.
The Challenges
- Finding the Right Foreign Market & Buyer
- NAFTA & Regulatory Changes
- Tariffs and Exchange Rates
- Border Adjustment Tax (may result in $34 Billion of additional tax costs for the auto industry)
- Nonpayment by Foreign Buyers
The Opportunities
- Reducing Risk & Expanding Customer Base
- Increasing Profits in Emerging Markets
- Accessing Working Capital
Presenters: Caroline Perrotta, Ben Brucato, and Mark Klein
Caroline Perrotta is Operations Manager for Intraco Corporation and has over 25 years of experience in International Sales and the Automotive Aftermarket business. She currently serves on the board of the OAC and is also a past chairman. Intraco is an international distributor and full service Export Management company serving global markets for automotive products.
Ben Brucato has an international background, growing up overseas in Europe. He studied at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and double majored in International Business and Economics. He started his career in automotive by working as a technician for TBC before and during college. After graduation, he took a regional sales position with Airtex Fuel Pumps. He worked for Airtex and UCI Fram Group, the parent organization, for 6 years and end up managing the national sales team for the organization before his departure to take a Director position at the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, where he has now worked for 2 ½ years. At AASA he manages the memberships and sponsorships for organization and he leads the export division, OAC.
Mark Klein is an Export Finance Manager for EXIM Bank, covering the Midwest market. Prior to EXIM, he was an International Banking Services Specialist for three commercial banks working with exporters in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia. Mr. Klein has extensive experience advising exporters on Letters of Credit, Foreign Exchange Risk Mitigation, and Export Credit Insurance. He has an MBA from the University of Louisville and holds a Certified International Credit Professional (CICP) certification from FCIB.
