Roxanne Baumann receives Harry C. Brockel Award

MWTA is the global arm of the

Roxanne Baumann

MILWAUKEE – Roxanne Baumann has received the Harry C. Brockel Award for her steadfast efforts to promote international trade and for her distinguished service to the Milwaukee World Trade Association (MWTA).

The MWTA award is given to honor the legacy of Harry C. Brockel, a longtime Milwaukee port director who achieved world recognition for his advocacy of international trade and efforts to open the St. Lawrence Seaway. Baumann received the award Dec. 3 at the MWTA Past President's Night Dinner at the Milwaukee Athletic Club.

MWTA President John Pinkstone awarding Roxanne Baumann the Brockel Award

"I'm honored to receive this award, and grateful for the many opportunities I've had to contribute to the growth of international trade throughout my career and as a member of this outstanding organization," Baumann said. "I'm looking forward to building on our export success here in Milwaukee and across the state, and helping more companies pursue opportunities for international sales growth."

Peter Beitzel, MWTA's executive director, commended Baumann for her "diligent work to improve international business and strong support of MWTA."

Baumann currently serves as the director of partnerships and alliances for the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP). In this role, Baumann is leading WMEP's joint venture with the Wisconsin Department of Commerce to promote export development to Wisconsin's 10,000 small and midsize manufacturers. A recent study revealed that despite the state's strong export track record, many manufacturers remain on the sidelines, and are at risk of missing out on global sales opportunities.

Roxanne Baumann, her brother Mark Kurkowski (Indianapolis, IN), and MWTA's Peter Beitzel

Baumann's professional achievements in international sales, marketing and distribution span the past 30 years and include positions with Harley-Davidson International and Brookfield-based Artos Engineering Company. In the mid-1980s, at a time when women represented a small percentage of international sales managers, Baumann was traveling the globe, managing trade relationships for Wisconsin firms with customers in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Mexico and a remote free trade zone in Manaus, Brazil. Baumann has been an active member of MWTA since 1975, serving its board of directors from 1990-1998, and as president from 1996-1997.

Baumann is a member of Professional Dimensions and in 2006 won a national innovation award for her efforts to develop WMEP's Accelerate program to strengthen U.S. suppliers. She is a resident of the Town of Merton, where she lives with her husband Bob.

ABOUT MWTA

The global arm of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, MWTA is a member driven organization that links companies and individuals with common interests, including the expansion of international business, exchange of experiences, and increasing member knowledge and expertise in international sales and services. MWTA holds monthly meetings on international trade and features a network of 300 corporate and 1,200 individual members. For more information, visit www.mwta.com or call 414-287-4141.

ABOUT WMEP

WMEP is a private, nonprofit consulting organization committed to the growth and success of Wisconsin manufacturers. WMEP is a leader in bringing Next Generation Manufacturing best practices to Wisconsin firms to help them achieve world-class performance through innovation and transformation. WMEP receives financial support from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, and partners with many public and private organizations to serve Wisconsin manufacturers. For more information, visit www.wmep.org or call 1-877-856-8588.

ABOUT HARRY C. BROCKEL

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