Rami Goldratt on Innovation Using Theory of Constraints - GC Los Angeles

Shalom Bako is Managing Director at Afrivana. He was born and raised in Northern Nigeria. Shalom moved to the United States as teenager; excelling as an athlete with teams like the Los Angeles Galaxy. Groomed by unique international experiences, Shalom returned to West Africa, focused on agricultural development, manufacturing and distribution. He also serves on the Global Chamber® Los Angeles advisory board.  

Shalom is passionate about connecting the African continent with the global diasporas; using agricultural trade and development as a primary vehicle. "Innovation for Africa, must be lead by Africans.”

Trade Connect is the Port of Los Angeles’ award-winning export education outreach program.

Trade Connect is designed to assist small and midsize businesses that are seeking to expand their markets. 

Trade Connect offers a series of workshops to small and midsize American companies to educate them on the opportunities, costs and requirements of exporting their goods and services. Trainings range from introductory courses on the basics of commercial transactions, foreign markets, financing, documentation and logistics, to advanced seminars on international demand for specific products and emerging global consumer markets.

Speakers include government experts and trade representatives from key federal, state and local agencies that promote and regulate trade. Professional associations such as the Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association also provide expert speakers. Since the program’s inception in 2007, Trade Connect programs have drawn more than 17,000 attendees.

Trade Connect has been honored with several awards over the past 14 years, including the President’s “E Star” Award for Export Service, the nation’s highest honor for promoting American export trade, as well as the City of Los Angeles Quality & Productivity Award, the City’s highest award for superior public services and programs, among others. In October of 2021, the Trade Connect program was named "Global Trade Leader of the Year" by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

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Marisela Caraballo DiRuggiero is the Director of Trade Development for the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in North America. She ensures the Port fulfills its mission to connect U.S. businesses throughout America with overseas trade opportunities, particularly exports, through trade promotion seminars known as the Trade Connect program.

With extensive experience in public policy development, issues management and legislative advocacy, Marisela is also responsible for the outreach to professional associations and government agencies to promote specialized business opportunities in key commodity areas, with an emphasis on export cargoes. Additionally, Marisela oversees the function of intergovernmental relations with foreign governments, advancing the Port’s influence on expanding trade markets, and is the Port’s point person to the international diplomatic community. She has purposefully advanced the Port’s influence on the world stage by negotiating many sister port agreements promoting trade, environmental stewardship, infrastructure development, supply chain efficiencies, and increased security protocols.

As a result of her professionalism and accomplishments, Marisela was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to serve as a member of the District Export Council of Southern California to help promote U.S. exports and provide export education and assistance to small and medium size enterprises.