By utilizing these skills throughout the program, new international sales opportunities are identified. Companies accepted into the program will become skilled at finding profitable export markets, developing distribution channels, understanding foreign and U.S. regulatory issues, pricing and costing company products, submitting international quotations, processing accounts receivable and recognizing legal and cultural considerations. Each participating company will have access to its own international business student from the University of Georgia to help with research as well as working with export resource partners.

Friday, August 21, 2026
8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Friday, September 18, 2026
8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Friday, October 16, 2026
8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Friday, November 13, 2026
8:30 AM to 1:00 PM


Dimitris Kloussiadis, a Senior Business Consultant with the International Trade Center, has over 28 years’ experience in international business, in both the public and private sectors. While in the private sector, he established an extensive network of international distributors and dealers in the Middle East and North African markets. Earlier in his career he owned an import business which marketed European and Asian products to US architectural and construction firms, and to major US department stores.

Mario Gonzalez, a Business Consultant with the UGA SBDC International Trade Center, has over 18 years of combined professional experience in information technology, telecommunications, project management and international trade/business. Over the last 10 years, he has been responsible for sales and marketing, P&L management, as well as customer acquisitions and development for a wide variety of industries across the Americas (banking, utilities, software, telco operators, higher education, retail and government). This includes work with SMEs and multinational corporations.

Laurent Kahl is an international trade consultant with the UGA Small Business Development Center. He has extensive private sector experience in the international trade field with over four decades working for both private and semi-government entities.
The UGA Small Business Development Center is a Public Service and Outreach unit of the University of Georgia. This program is funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is supported by federal taxpayer funds. Our federal funding disclosure can be found at www.georgiasbdc.org.
By registering, I certify that I am legally authorized to receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations. All programs are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.