Some 120 business people attended a half-day workshop, "Doing Business in China: Opportunities and Challenges under WTO," on November 14, 2002. This workshop explored the implications of China's recent entry into the World Trade Organization and what this may mean for U.S. companies doing business with China.

Distinguished UW-Madison faculty and prominent business executives shared a wealth of knowledge, practical experience and concrete advice on the opportunities and challenges of conducting business with China. A reception concluded the program, allowing participants an opportunity to interact with one another as well as the program panelists.

 

 

Moderator, John Ohnesorge, listens to an audience member's questions during the session, "What's it Really Like Doing Business in China? Reports from the Field."





Speakers included Allan Klotsche, Doug Christie, Mary Linton and John Ohnesorge. See their biographies below.

Allan Klotsche is the Vice President, General Manager of Brady's Global Die Cut Operations, a business focused on providing major electronics manufacturers with precision die cut components. Over the last four years, Klotsche and his team have expanded from their base in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, to now include manufacturing locations in Manaus, Brazil; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Bremen, Germany; Wuxi, China; Beijing, China; Penang, Malaysia; and Singapore. Over 60 percent of Brady's die cut sales now come from outside the United States.

Since joining Brady in 1988, Klotsche has held a variety of sales, technical and marketing assignments. In 1997, he worked in South Korea to form the company's first joint venture. After successful completion of the joint venture, he opened the first Brady office in Beijing, China, and was instrumental in the development of the company's long-term China plan. Klotsche graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a marketing degree and has a Masters degree from its Executive MBA program.

Doug Christie is currently General Manager for Cargill's North American Soft Seed Business and serves as a member of the leadership team for Cargill's North American Grain and Oilseed Business Unit. Cargill is an international marketer, processor and distributor of agricultural, food, financial, and industrial products and services with 90,000 employees in 57 countries. Cargill provides distinctive solutions in supply chain management, food applications, and health and nutrition.

Since joining Cargill in 1987, Christie has held a variety of commodity trading, merchandising and management positions in the United States and abroad. From 1992 to 2000, he was based in Asia, living and working in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and India. He also has overseen business operations in China, Vietnam and Pakistan. He has first-hand experience in developing start-up businesses focused on import, export, and domestic trading and processing of commodities in Asia. He is a graduate of Macalester College in St Paul.

Mary Linton is a Marketing Manager for the Genetic Identity business at Promega Corporation. Promega is a global leader in providing innovative solutions and technical support for the life sciences industry. Ms. Linton is responsible for global marketing and business planning in the area of reagent supply to the human identity market. Products in this market are best known for DNA identification matches between suspect and evidence at crime scenes, or for identifying victims such as at last year's World Trade Center disaster. Ms. Linton joined Promega in 1993 and has held positions in international accounting, distribution management, business development and marketing. From 1994 through 2001 she managed Promega's China Team, which included three China businesses and employees based in the United States and China. Ms. Linton received an undergraduate degree in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1982, a CPA license in 1983, and an MBA from Edgewood College in 2000.

 

 

Mary Linton provides insights into Promega's experiences manufacturing in China. Panelist Allan Klotsche addressed how to build a successful business presence in China.




John Ohnesorge is an Assistant Professor of Law at the UW-Madison Law School. He holds a J.D. from the University of Minnesota, and LL.M and S.J.D. from Harvard University. He has studied and taught in China, and has practiced law in South Korea (1990-1994). His research interests include comparative law and legal history, international trade, economic development and law. His recent publications include: "States, Industrial Policies & Antidumping Enforcement in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan", Buffalo Journal of International Law (1996-97); "Understanding Chinese Legal and Business Norms", in Richard P. Appelbaum, et al., eds., Rules and Networks: The Legal Culture of Global Business Transactions (2001); and "The Rule of Law, Economic Development, and the Developmental States of Northeast Asia", in Christoph Antons, ed., Law and Development East And South-East Asia (2002).