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The Export Mentor Program is designed to nurture the exporting capabilities of small and medium-sized companies located in King County. Over the course of a year, exporting-experienced companies offer guidance and support to protégé companies new to exporting. Protégé companies will work with mentors in the development and implementation of an Export Plan, gaining increased knowledge and receiving key advice about the exporting process. At the conclusion of the program, a subsidized trade mission will be arranged for the firm selected as the most successful exporting candidate.
For companies interested in participating in this program, please complete and submit a mentor or protégé application form by June 15, 2005.
The Export Mentor Program is supported by a grant from the United States Economic Development Administration and the generous contributions of our program sponsors: Davis Wright Tremaine, enterpriseSeattle, and the Port of Seattle.
For more information about the Export Mentor Program, contact Allison Clark, Export Promotion Coordinator, at the King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development, 701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98104; Tel: (206) 296-1939; Email: Allison.clark@metrokc.gov.
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Mentor: a trusted counselor or guide
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The Export Mentor Program is designed to nurture the exporting capabilities of small and medium-sized companies located in King County . A mentor-protégé relationship is established between larger, exporting-experienced companies or individuals with extensive international trade experience that in turn offer guidance and support to protégé companies new to exporting. The protégé companies are tasked with developing Export Plans in order to assess, finance, market, sell, transport, and distribute their products and services overseas, with the ultimate goal of developing successful exporting programs.
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The Export Program Coordinator of the King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development oversees the progress of the mentor-protégé relationships throughout the year.
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The Export Mentor Program takes place over the course of a year. The Export Program Coordinator matches mentor and protégé companies based on expertise, goals, size, industry, resources, and mutual acceptance. The mentor directs the protégé to exporting resources and to appropriate assistance on exporting issues. The company owner or a senior executive represents the protégé company. While commerce between the mentor and the protégé is not prohibited, it is not the goal of the program.
An Export Plan is defined and developed specifically for the purpose of exporting a product or service overseas and is the framework for the mentor-protégé relationship. Resources and access are provided to the protégé company to help complete the export plan and ultimately enable the protégé company to export its goods or services.
In addition, King County will host quarterly luncheon seminars for interested companies on such trade-related topics as international cultures, financing, documentation, transportation, and liability/insurance issues. The luncheon seminars are designed to enhance participant knowledge on pertinent exporting issues as well as provide a useful forum for business networking.
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• The company has been in business for at least one year or more, with a product or a service that it has already sold successfully.
• The company has the necessary tools for communication with overseas buyers.
• The company has the capacity and financial stability to commit resources for researching overseas markets, developing an export plan, and implementing an exporting program.
• The company has adequate staffing to work on such exporting issues as financing and shipping.
• The company has upper management commitment for developing an exporting strategy.
Applications will be accepted by interested protégé and mentor companies. There is a $1500 application fee for participating protégé companies and it is to be included with the application. Please submit checks or money orders payable to King County . There is no fee for mentor companies/individuals.
For protégé companies, $1200 of the application fee will be returned upon the successful completion of the program, based on the following conditions:
• The protégé company meets at least once per month with its mentor for the duration of the program.
• The protégé company develops, completes, and submits a comprehensive export plan by the end of the program in 2006.
If the protégé company does not meet the conditions for successfully participating in the Export Mentor Program, this portion of the application fee will not be returned.
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• Orientation: The paired mentor and protégé companies attend an introductory orientation that gives participating companies an opportunity to meet. The orientation provides important information related to the operation and organization of the program so that participating companies understand their commitments and learn how to gain the most from their match.
• Meetings: Following the orientation, a formal meeting is arranged between the matched mentor and protégé pair. Both the mentor and the protégé should mutually agree on their goals, objectives and meeting schedule for the year and begin formulating an Export Plan. A meeting/telephone log can be kept over the course of the year to document the progress of the relationship.
• Confidentiality Statement: It is suggested that each matched company sign and submit a confidentiality statement to ensure that any information passed between the mentor and protégé remains confidential.
• Progress Reports: The mentor and protégé companies are asked to complete and submit monthly progress reports. The progress reports document work undertaken throughout the year and illustrate the value of the mentor-protégé partnerships.
• Export Plan: At the completion of the program, protégé companies submit copies of their Export Plans to the Export Program Coordinator.
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Both mentor and protégé companies benefit from the program in direct proportion to the amount of effort invested in the mentor-protégé relationship.
• Protégé companies gain increased knowledge and receive key advice about the exporting process. Through the development and implementation of an Export Plan, protégé companies have the opportunity to experience the full process of exporting a product or a service while having the guidance of a more experienced mentor.
• Protégés develop a better understanding of company and product assessment, financing, marketing, and procurement.
• Protégés gain access to resources and contacts in international finance and trade.
• Mentor companies have the opportunity to learn from young, fast-growing companies and review their own operations and reasons for success.
• Mentors experience greater camaraderie and a sense of fulfillment among their employees.
• Mentor companies gain a potential new supplier or customer in the protégé.
• Mentors play a role in the improvement of the King County economy, contributing to the overall success and viability of local areas.
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Upon conclusion of the Export Mentor Program, Protégé companies will have the opportunity to participate in an overseas trade mission that can be customized to their individual product/service needs and their marketing goals. The trade mission assists companies in identifying potential buyers, agents/partners, importers, distributors, or joint venture partners in a specific country overseas and provides companies with valuable resources for expanding their markets.
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| June 15, 2005 |
Submission deadline for mentor / protégé applications |
| July, 2005 |
2005 mentor / protégé matches begin |
| July, 2005 |
Export Mentor Program orientation |
| July, 2005 - June, 2006 |
Submission of monthly progress reports |
| June, 2006 |
Submission of Final Feedback form, Meeting Log and Final Export Plan |
| July, 2006 |
Matches officially end; Announcement of Trade Mission |
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• Submit the Export Mentor Program application
• Agree to a one year commitment
• Mutually agree with Protégé on goals, objectives, and meeting schedules for the year
• Assist in the development of an Export Plan
• Provide leadership and direction to the Protégé:
• Share experiences
• Coordinate the use of all available resources within your company
• Utilize the Export Resource Directory as necessary
• Ensure completion of the Export Plan
• Keep the details of the Protégé's business confidential
• Keep a record of contacts, meetings, and accomplishments during the year
• Submit the Export Mentor Program application and application fee
• Agree to a one year commitment
• Mutually agree with Mentor on goals, objectives, and meeting schedules for the year
• Develop, complete, and attempt to implement an Export Plan
• Be accessible and open in asking questions and receiving feedback
• Keep the details of the Mentor's business confidential
• Keep a record of contacts, meetings, and accomplishments during the year
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Applications can be submitted by email to allison.clark@metrokc.gov or by mail to:
King County Export Mentor Program
King County Office of Business Relations and Economic Development
MS BOA-EX-2000
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2000
Seattle, WA 98104 |
