Colleen Fisher Simons Email & Phone Number

San Diego, Ca, Us

San Diego, California, United States

In my role as the U.S. Department of Commerce's Pacific South Regional Director, I’m responsible for the operations and performance of 11 U.S. Export Assistance Centers with a combined staff of 30 trade specialists in California, Nevada, and Hawaii. In this position, I lead a field-based team of client-focused trade professionals with deep experience working for U.S. exporters to resolve barriers to market entry and identify new opportunities to grow U.S. export sales. I oversee the work of the region’s six District Export Councils and serve as one of eight Regional Directors reporting to Washington, DC.

Baltimore, Maryland Area

I was responsible for the management and operations of the U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) located in Baltimore, MD. The USEAC assisted Maryland firms to increase international sales and expand business operations by utilizing the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service global network, federal partners such as the Small Business Administration and the Ex-Im Bank, and state and local economic development agencies. I served as the Executive Secretariat of the Maryland and Washington, DC District Export Council (DEC) and coordinated efforts to develop and execute the annual Maryland Strategic Export Plan and our agency's statewide budget.

Atlanta, Ga

I served as an export consultant/international trade adviser for U.S. companies in north Georgia, ensuring exporters receive prompt and knowledgeable replies to their export-related inquiries, ranging from export documentation to export controls regulations. My job was to help Atlanta-based companies by developing international market strategies, identifying opportunities in foreign markets, encouraging participation at appropriate trade events, organizing matchmaking services, globalizing client websites, and facilitating export finance. I organized business to business (B2B) matchmaking with qualified overseas buyers upon request and through U.S. embassy trade leads. I assisted my clients in broadening the depth and viability of their international business opportunities. I worked very closely with partners at the state, regional and county levels, helping to integrate export promotion efforts in the state of Georgia.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

I served as the NAFTA Desk Officer for the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce. In this role, I supported U.S. companies and their investments abroad, specifically in Canada and Mexico, by promoting global economic prosperity, eliminating barriers to trade, and advocating for competitive and fair trade among all trade partners. From 2010-2012 I was a Timothy J. Hauser Presidential Management Fellow in the Office of the Under Secretary at the International Trade Administration.

Washington, Dc

As a Program Analyst in the Office of Strategic and Performance Planning in the Resource Management (RM) Bureau, I documented the State Department’s annual budget and planning processes; re-engineered the collection of performance and budget information for the Deputy Secretary’s office; designed office SharePoint website and consulted with project managers to automate their processes; instructed bureaus through performance indicator submission for the agency’s Annual Performance Plan; planned, executed, and assessed interagency Program Evaluation Conference; and drafted, compiled, and edited the MD&A section of the Agency Financial Report.

Washington, Dc

Responsibilities included building awareness of educational inequity and Teach For America’s work. I worked to develop and execute a detailed strategic plan aimed at inspiring top students to apply for the corps. This role allowed me to enhance my professional skills in networking, marketing, and communication, while gaining an understanding of how a successful nonprofit organization operates.

Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico

I served as a volunteer teacher and taught English for a summer in rural Mexico. I was assigned to teach conversation-based English language classes for students ranging from ages 6 to 25. To meet this objective, I created lesson plans tailored to the abilities and interests of my students.

Washington, Dc

Interned in the Office of Maryland Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. As an intern, I provided administrative support by answering constituent phone calls, responding to incoming correspondence, researching issues and pending bills, assisting at press conferences, and compiling information for Congressional hearings.

Master'S Degree, International Trade & Investment Policy, 3.9

Activities and Societies: Wolcott Fellow

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science & Spanish, 3.9

Activities and Societies: Summa Cum Laude, Joshua Evans III Prize in Political Science, Phi Beta Kappa, Study Abroad: ULatina (Costa.

Study Abroad, International Politics

High School Diploma