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It is hard to believe that it has been over 3 weeks since the GOED Trade Mission to Europe trip ended, and all of the participants returned home. And how lucky that is! Kim West, QuantumMark’s delegate, was able to get through the airports before the long lines and travel ban to Europe went into effect. Over the past 3 weeks, as QuantumMark, like all businesses and individuals, has had to adjust to the new pandemic reality, we look back on the Trade Mission with even more appreciation. It was such a powerful experience, truly building relationships and connections not only with fellow Trade Mission participants, but with the European countries and companies we met with. In a time where we’re all isolated, and it can be easy to feel “alone.” Knowing we now have connections throughout Europe and Nevada helps us feel like more a community than ever before. Below is an interview with Kim West, summarizing some of the most impactful parts of the Trade Mission:
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What was your biggest takeaway from the Trade Mission?
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I had never been to Europe before, so one of the things that stood out the most to me was how unique the countries all were, even though they were relatively close geographically. While I expected them to all be beautiful, and knew the history was very powerful, the true beauty of many of the historical sites was incredible. Overall, though, it was the people who made the greatest impression on me. They genuinely cared, and wanted to not only learn about our companies, but about who we are as individuals. On one our first days in Poland, I was able to personally meet Lech Walesa, the former Polish president. Meeting him was very impactful. He is not only a former president, but also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and was a leader in the solidarity movement in Poland that led to the end of communism in Poland and of the Cold War. To speak to someone with this expansive historical influence was awe inspiring!
Being selected to help represent Nevada, and businesses throughout the State, was a huge opportunity and privilege. It was great to be able to highlight the diverse offerings Nevada has, both in terms of partnerships and opportunities. The entire Trade Mission delegation was welcomed with open arms in every single country. And we were able to not just present on our companies, but have long conversations and build strong relationships, both with the fellow delegation members and the companies and individuals throughout the four countries we visited. Many times, business representatives didn’t even want to tell us about themselves – they just wanted to learn about everyone on the Trade Mission!
It was also a very interesting time to be in Europe, especially toward the end of our trip, as it was at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis starting in Europe and the U.S. For instance, during our time in Croatia, the COVID-19 virus was beginning to really impact Italy, which is just across the Adriatic Sea. The Nevada Global Summit event during our time in Croatia had a much lower attendance because of this – but thankfully, we were still able to make some fantastic contacts and network with outstanding company representatives. In Prague, we were the last delegation that was admitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – after that, they went into lockdown. Looking back now, these moments really showcase the severity of the world’s new reality with the COVID-19 situation.
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What surprised you most about the individual countries?
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Each country surprised me in many positive ways. Overall, people were incredibly friendly, and you as I said earlier, you could tell they genuinely cared about what you were sharing. It made sense to me why so many of the countries have long multi-hour lunches and dinners – providing so many courses in a relaxed environment allowed for extended time for us to talk, relax, and connect on a much more personal level than a shorter meal would have.
A few places that really stood out to me included the entire country of Slovenia, and the city of Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Slovenia was exceptionally beautiful – something that I had not expected. We had some of the most memorable networking opportunities there, including a Trade Mission reception at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence. Slovenia is a much smaller market than many others in Europe, and because of that, they can tend to be “ignored.” But seeing the innovation and advanced products they are producing, I have no doubt they will continue to gain more and more recognition. It was quite an honor to get to see this all first-hand. Ostrava was surprising in a different way. It is clearly a large industrial city, with the skyline full of smokestacks and factories. Given this, I was impressed with that the city has done. They have taken a huge, vacated steel mill, and converted the entire property into a cultural center. From a museum, to a theatre, to coffee shops and more, you can walk through the old Mill and see the history of the city in the old machinery, as well as feel the new, vibrant culture they are continuing to develop.
The other thing that surprised me was not so much individual to a country, but across the companies we met with in each place. They are proactive, innovative and making huge advancements in their many fields. It was interesting to see that there are some complementary to businesses in Nevada! Roto, a company from Slovenia, is utilizing plastic technology for environmentally friendly purposes. From tools and sporting equipment, to water and sewage plants, it was really educational to see their innovative usage for plastics.
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How did/do you see Nevada businesses, including QuantumMark, fitting into the industries and needs of companies you met with abroad?
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On a personal level, I saw huge opportunity for QuantumMark, for both collaboration and partnerships. We’re already in discussions with one company on developing a partnership, and I have many more to follow-up with. Project management is a skillset and business need across the world, and QuantumMark is an expert in this field with a long history of successful projects and happy clients. It’s a bonus that people and companies across Europe are very open and eager to work with us, and other U.S. companies. As I’ve already mentioned, a key thing that stood out to me in Europe is the importance of relationships. At QuantumMark, we take this same relational approach to our projects – forming partnerships with our clients. We deeply value and respect the relationships we develop, and because of this, we’re able to collaborate on a deeper, more productive level, helping make projects flow smoothly and achieve success. The value QuantumMark places on relationships and people is clearly reflected in how Europeans interact.
It was also good to see that, in addition to QuantumMark having opportunities, there was opportunity for all Trade Mission delegates (and the rest of Nevada) to collaborate with companies and organizations in all four countries. There is strong potential for collaboration for Nevada companies, especially in the manufacturing world. I see this as a positive opportunity to learn from each other and grow our businesses. Collaboration breeds innovation and can be a huge possibility for partnerships. I could easily see Nevada being a great location for many of the companies we met with as a place to establish a U.S. base.
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What is your biggest takeaway from the Trade Mission?
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To me the bottom line is this: there is a multitude of opportunities abroad, and people and companies across Europe are eager and willing to work together with U.S. companies. QuantumMark absolutely has services that could be beneficial, and that’s true for many other Nevada based companies as well.
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How did this Trade Mission compare to the previous one to Australia that you participated in in 2016?
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This Trade Mission was extremely different – the schedule was a lot more filled with activities and networking opportunities, in a good way! The Governor’s Office of Economic Development International team (GOED) did a remarkable job of coordination. They got us in front highly qualified people and companies that allowed us to develop business leads and collaboration opportunities. The GOED team also made sure we were able to also take in some of the rich history and unique culture of each country. I cannot thank their team enough! I know a huge amount of organization went into every detail and as a result, my experience as a delegate was unmatched.
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What is your favorite memory of the trip?
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It is hard to pick just one! But meeting Lech Walesa, the former president of Poland, would have to be one of the most memorable parts for me. He was such an instrumental person who helped shape the history of Poland – it felt surreal. He was genuine, approachable and passionate, making it easy to appreciate his place in history. But really, the entire trip was an incredible experience.
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Tell us about the mix of participants from Nevada who went with you on the Trade Mission, and the impact they had
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For me, it was interesting to see how the dynamics of the Trade Mission group changed over the 2.5 weeks we were travelling around Europe. In the beginning, most of us were complete strangers – but being thrown together into foreign situations, and getting to present and travel together, created a rich connection. We got to know each other, and what our businesses offered. We joked that we all felt we could give each other’s presentations by the end! I love how a very diverse group can come together as a well-rounded and collaborative team. There were consultants like QuantumMark, educational participants, technology companies, manufacturers, attorneys, etc. It felt like we represented Nevada well.
For me, having these new connections and building relationships with other businesses in our State and local Northern Nevada region was extremely impactful. I look forward to staying in touch and helping to boost awareness of my fellow delegate’s brands.
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What is the biggest business lesson learned or impact for you?
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On big lesson learned, or rather hunch confirmed, is what I’ve said above; there is absolutely a need abroad in many different industries for the type of services QuantumMark and other Nevada businesses provide. The second is that people are people – being genuine, and simply engaging with them makes all the different. We shouldn’t be hesitant or wonder if there is a fit in the European Market or anywhere else for that matter. People and companies abroad are anxious to engage and work with U.S. companies. We should all take advantage of these opportunities to engage, learn and share expertise. The world needs this more than ever right now as we continue to walk through the challenges and observe the toll COVID-19 is taking worldwide.
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Interested in learning more about our experience on the Nevada 2020 Trade Mission? Contact our team at Sales@QuantumMark.com today!
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