Export Success
Preparing Northwest Ohio Companies to Grow Globally
The University of Toledo John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business & Innovation in partnership with RGP Northwest Ohio and with the support of the U.S. Commercial Service and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Northern Ohio District Export Council present Export Success.
Export Success is a comprehensive training program designed to help businesses expand into international markets with confidence and clarity.
Learn More About Export Success
Thursday, August 6, 2026
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
TolHouse - Jazz Lounge (1447 N Summit St, Toledo, OH 43604)
You're invited to join us for an informal happy hour to learn about Export Success —a nationally recognized program that has helped more than 60 companies throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan successfully expand into international markets.
Over the past decade, Export Success participants have gained valuable insights into international markets through connections with world-class companies, trade agencies, and service providers. Each company leaves the program with a highly polished, research-backed export plan to help guide future global growth. In fact, Export Success has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce and others as one of the top export assistance programs in the world.
During the evening, you'll hear from:
- Paul Zito, VP of International Development, Regional Growth Partnership
- Angie Jones, Director, The UToledo Family Business Center
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Dr. Elizabeth Napier, Associate Professor of International Business & Marketing, The UToledo Neff College of Business and Innovation
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SmartSolve, a past participant and Export Plan of the Year recipient, sharing their firsthand experience with the program.
Whether you're exploring international markets for the first time or simply want to learn more, this is a great opportunity to meet the experts behind the program, hear from past participants, and ask questions about the 2027 Export Success cohort.
This event may not be directly for you—and that's perfectly okay. If you have a client, colleague, member, or business contact who may be interested in expanding into international markets, we'd love for you to invite them to join us.
To register for the event, follow this link. If you do not have a username please register as a guest. If you are having difficulty registering please email Megan O’Brien at megan.obrien3@utoledo.edu for assistance.
Why Export Success
Expanding into global markets presents significant opportunity, but it also comes with complexity. Export Success provides a structured, practical approach to help companies navigate that process—from identifying target markets to building and executing a strategic export plan.
Through a series of expert-led sessions, participants gain the tools, knowledge, and connections needed to move forward with confidence.
Who Should Participate?
Export Success is designed for:
- Companies new to exporting
- Businesses looking to expand into new international markets
- Both product-based and service-based organizations
- Companies currently exporting that want to improve efficiency and strengthen their export processes
Whether you are exploring exporting for the first time or refining an existing strategy, the program meets you where you are and helps you move forward.
Program Features
Export Success combines structured learning with practical support to help companies move forward with confidence.
- Pre-program assessment to evaluate export readiness and align goals
- Peer learning and mentorship from experienced exporters
- Access to market tools and research to support global expansion
- Connections to state and federal export resources
- Opportunities for one-on-one guidance tailored to your business
- Collaboration with The University of Toledo MBA student teams to provide applied research and export market analysis
- Development of a customized, actionable export plan to guide your company’s global growth
The program combines education with real-world application, helping companies translate learning into action quickly and effectively.
Program Agenda
All sessions will take place at the Center for Alumni and Donor Engagement on Fridays from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. The program cost is $2,000 per company.
January 22, 2027: Introductions, Orientation, Government Programs and Grants
February 26, 2027: International Sales Process
March 19, 2027: International Marketing
April 23, 2027: Sales Contracts and Logistics
May 21, 2027: International Banking, Payments, and Finance
June 25, 2027: Country Day
July 23, 2027: Cross-Cultural Communication & Travel
August 27, 2027: Legal Issues and Compliance
September 24, 2027: Export Plan Development
October 22, 2027: Company Export Plans and Graduation
Program Experience
Export Success is delivered through a 10-session cohort-based format, meeting approximately once per month. Each session focuses on a key topic in the export process, including:
- International sales and market entry strategies
- Legal and regulatory considerations
- Global marketing and cultural dynamics
- Banking, financing, and risk management
- Logistics, documentation, and compliance
Participants also benefit from:
- One-on-one guidance and mentorship
- Access to tools such as partner searches and matchmaking services
- Connections to state and federal export support programs
- Opportunity to collaborate with UToledo students on real-world international business projects
- Leave the program with a customized, ready-to-execute export plan tailored to your business
Proven Impact
Export Success has supported more than 60 companies across Northwest Ohio, including Bionix, NAMSA, BioFit, SmartSolve, Surface Combustion, and Kripke Enterprises.
The results speak for themselves:
- Companies consistently report meaningful growth in export activity
- Some participants have achieved significant expansion, including one company realizing a 700% increase in exports within a year of completing the program
The program’s success was a contributing factor in the region receiving the prestigious President’s E Award for Export Services in 2024.
If you have any questions about the program, please reach out to Angie Jones at angie.jones@utoledo.edu or Paul Zito at zito@rgp.org.
