Media Advisory: UB to Host Foreign Trade Commissioners, Part of Governor's International Effort

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A delegation of 60 Foreign Trade Commissioners, brought to Buffalo by Governor Paterson, will participate in a panel discussion with leaders from the University at Buffalo to discuss how UB's collaborations with industry have generated economic growth regionally and around the world.

The discussion will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon tomorrow (April 30, 2009) in the Center for the Arts Screening Room on UB's North (Amherst) Campus. Members of the media are invited to attend. For media credentials, contact John DellaContrada, University Communications, at 716-361-3006 or Laura Magee, Empire State Development, at 716-846-8239.

The two-day trade mission, April 29-30, is organized by the International Division of the Empire State Development Agency. The visit to Buffalo is designed to foster investment and job creation between international business interests and local business in Western New York.

UB Provost Satish Tripathi and others will offer a series of brief presentations on UB's international reach and discuss collaborations and partnerships that have taken place between various companies and the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the UB School of Management.

New York State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, who will speak at the event, said UB's prolific research output and vast economic impact is of interest to the trade group. "UB, especially with its UB 2020 initiative, has a big role in economic development in the region, so it is only natural that UB play a role in international business development as well," he said. Schimminger is chair of the state assembly's economic development committee.

During panel presentations, UB Engineering Dean Harvey Stenger will highlight the school's green research in the areas of energy conservation, ecosystem restoration and alternative energy sources. "We will also discuss our education and services outreach programs with local companies, where we help them solve problems using faculty expertise and student interns," he said.

Arjang A. Assad, dean of the School of Management, will discuss how the school is "able to advance the practice of management within a global context" through mutually beneficial relationships with its many business partners. "These collaborations are a vital component of our mission as the management school of a world-class university," he said.

The program schedule is as follows:

9:30 a.m. Opening remarks by Assemblymember Robin Schimminger and Senator William Stachowski

9:35 a.m. "A University on the Move"

Welcome and general remarks by UB Provost Satish Tripathi

9:40 a.m. UB's International Reach

Stephen Dunnett., vice provost for international education

Followed by 5-10 minute Q&A period

10 a.m. Panel Presentations by UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, UB School of Management and industry partners

UB Engineering panelists:

Harvey Stenger, dean, UB Engineering

Thomas Hook, president and CEO, Greatbatch Inc.

Thomas Blaszczykiewicz, chair, AccuMed Technologies, Inc.

UB School of Management panelists:

Arjang Assad, dean, School of Management

Joseph Saffire, executive vice president, regional president for commercial banking, HSBC

Joost Vles, operations manager, aircraft group, military operations, Moog

11:30 a.m. Presentation by researchers from UB's Earthquake Engineering Center

A. Scott Weber, professor and chair, Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering

Andre Soom, professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

11:45 a.m. Delegation will walk across campus to UB's earthquake engineering lab, Ketter Hall

Noon Earthquake Shake Table Demonstration

Illustrates the resistance of structures to shaking produced by earthquakes.

12:15 p.m. Delegation departs.