Bush Administration Official Honors Local Business for Export Achievement and Talks Trade at Women Business Enterprises Roundtable

Portland, Ore. -- Jacqueline Hayes-Byrd, Executive Director of the Global Diversity Initiative (GDI), U.S. Commercial Service today in Portland to honor RAM Systems Inc., with the U.S. Commerce Department's Export Achievement Certificate. The Export Achievement Certificate recognizes small- and medium-sized businesses that have benefited from U.S. Commercial Service export services to make their first export sale or enter new markets.

"This is a great example of what President Bush has been talking about - ensuring that American business-owners are given the right tools to grow and create jobs in the 21st century," said Hayes-Byrd.

RAM Systems, Inc., is a small woman-owned manufacturer and service company that has develops radiometric mapping/imaging systems that maps heat intensities of wild fires and can also be used for utility company line inspections and wildlife tracking and monitoring. With counseling and market research provided by the Portland U.S. Export Assistance Center, RAM Systems was able to make significant export sales of $600,000 to Canada.

Hayes-Byrd also gave remarks at the "Capitalizing on Global Opportunities for Women Business Enterprises" Roundtable. Hayes-Byrd and the Portland U.S. Export Assistance Center staff met with women business leaders to discuss export assistance services and programs offered by the U.S. Commercial Service. These programs included partnering for education and outreach; partnering to identify and showcase successful women exporters; improving communication to the women-owned business enterprises through local women's business networks; and export mentoring programs.

The U.S. Commercial Service is a U.S. Commerce Department agency that helps small- and medium-sized U.S. businesses sell their products and services globally. The Portland U.S. Export Assistance Center is part of the agency's worldwide network, which includes 107 U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the United States and more than 150 international offices.

For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service, please visit www.export.gov or call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Portland at 503-326-3001.