The third annual New Jersey International Trade Awards, held by the New Jersey District Export Council, was held Tuesday morning at the Galloping Hill Golf Course as business leaders gathered to celebrate the state’s top exporters.
“We were thrilled to again have a full house at this terrific event,” said Susan Widmer, director of Northern NJ Commercial Service and executive secretary of New Jersey District Export Council.
Attendees from across New Jersey’s export community heard insights from this year’s honorees on the challenges and opportunities facing exporters as they navigate President Trump’s evolving tariff strategy.
The state’s Business Action Center was represented by Executive Director Melanie Willoughby, who delivered a proclamation from the governor.
The event featured a fireside chat with ROI-NJ publisher and CEO Tom Hughes and Bill Killeen, CEO of Acrow. Killeen emphasized the importance of knowing your customers and understanding what they value in global markets.
Following this, honorees participated in a panel discussion addressing real-world issues facing exporters—from regulatory hurdles and evolving technology to legal and financial considerations, and crafting effective marketing strategies worldwide. The panel discussed emphasizing adaptability, staying true to mission, patience, sincerity and active listening.
This year’s honorees included: Rashid Dzhu-Tian-Tsei of Alnima Natural Solutions as New Exporter of the Year; Howard Kidorf of Pioneer Consulting as Services Exporter of the Year; Alexis Capik of Spectra Colors Corporation as Minority/Diverse Exporter of the Year; and Ted Kaiser of Dock 7 Materials Group as Exporter of the Year.
First held in 2023, the awards aim to recognize New Jersey companies that have made significant strides in expanding their export efforts.
The New Jersey District Export Council is a member of the National Association of District Export Councils, which seeks to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of exports to the U.S. economy through education, legislative outreach and engagement with DECs and other relevant stakeholders.
