Export-Import Bank of the United States

COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU!

August 24-27, 2026

Kansas EXIM Road Show

Join us for our upcoming road show in collaboration with the Kansas Office of Small Business! You'll learn how trade financing solutions can help your business reduce risk, improve cash flow, and confidently grow in global markets. You’ll also discover strategies and resources for business growth for manufacturers and service providers.

Choose the location most convenient to you:
Aug. 24: Johnson County Community College
Aug. 25: Wichita State University
Aug. 26: Salina Area Chamber of Commerce
Aug. 27: Santa Fe Depot, Dodge City

Johnson County Community College

August 24, 2026 at 1PM - 4PM CT

Register Today

Location: 
Regnier Hall, Room 270
Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS

Agenda: (subject to change)

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Welcome

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • John Addessi, Business Advisor, Kansas SBDC at Johnson County Community College

1:15 PM – 1:45 PM Export Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Overview

  • Christopher McClain, Business Development Specialist, EXIM

1:45 PM – 1:55 PM Trade Promotion with U.S. Commercial Service

  • Fernando Benz, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service – Kansas City

  • Pinki Thacker, Senior International Trade Specialist and Acting Director, U.S. Commercial Service – Kansas City

1:55 PM – 2:05 PM International Growth with U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Melissa Tedesco, District Director, U.S. SBA Kansas City District Office

2:05 PM – 2:25 PM Kansas Department of Commerce Trade and Business Growth Support Programs

  • April Chiang, Assistant Director International Division, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Katrina Gray, Project Manager Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

2:25 PM – 2:45 PM Break

2:45PM – 3:05PM Kansas Department of Commerce Innovation and Business Growth Programs

  • Cory Keller, Entrepreneurship Director Office of Innovation, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Craig Van Wey, Senior Regional Director In-State Business Retention & Expansion, Kansas Department of Commerce

3:05 PM – 3:45 PM Panel Discussion

Moderator:

  • John Addessi, Business Advisor, Kansas SBDC at Johnson County Community College

Panelists:

  • David Clark, Vice President, Trade Credit Insurance, ARI Global

  • Drew Felling, Vice President – Trade, International Banking Group, Commerce Bank

  • Beau Jackson, Partner, Husch Blackwell

  • Thomas Papadatos, Venture Investment Manager for Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures, Network Kansas

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Closing Remarks

  • Christopher McClain, Business Development Specialist, EXIM

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

Johnson County Community College

August 24, 2026 at 1PM - 4PM CT

Register Today

Location: 
Regnier Hall, Room 270
Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS

Agenda: (subject to change)

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Welcome

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • John Addessi, Business Advisor, Kansas SBDC at Johnson County Community College

1:15 PM – 1:45 PM Export Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Overview

  • Christopher McClain, Business Development Specialist, EXIM

1:45 PM – 1:55 PM Trade Promotion with U.S. Commercial Service

  • Fernando Benz, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service – Kansas City

  • Pinki Thacker, Senior International Trade Specialist and Acting Director, U.S. Commercial Service – Kansas City

1:55 PM – 2:05 PM International Growth with U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Melissa Tedesco, District Director, U.S. SBA Kansas City District Office

2:05 PM – 2:25 PM Kansas Department of Commerce Trade and Business Growth Support Programs

  • April Chiang, Assistant Director International Division, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Katrina Gray, Project Manager Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

2:25 PM – 2:45 PM Break

2:45PM – 3:05PM Kansas Department of Commerce Innovation and Business Growth Programs

  • Cory Keller, Entrepreneurship Director Office of Innovation, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Craig Van Wey, Senior Regional Director In-State Business Retention & Expansion, Kansas Department of Commerce

3:05 PM – 3:45 PM Panel Discussion

Moderator:

  • John Addessi, Business Advisor, Kansas SBDC at Johnson County Community College

Panelists:

  • David Clark, Vice President, Trade Credit Insurance, ARI Global

  • Drew Felling, Vice President – Trade, International Banking Group, Commerce Bank

  • Beau Jackson, Partner, Husch Blackwell

  • Thomas Papadatos, Venture Investment Manager for Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures, Network Kansas

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Closing Remarks

  • Christopher McClain, Business Development Specialist, EXIM

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

Wichita State University

August 25, 2026 at 1PM - 4PM CT

Register Today

Location:
Woolsey Hall, Ballroom
Wichita State University, Wichita, KS

Agenda: (subject to change)

1:00 PM – 1:10 PM Welcome

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

1:10 PM – 1:40 PM Export Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Overview

  • Christopher McClain, Business Development Specialist, EXIM

1:40 PM – 1:50 PM Trade Promotion with U.S. Commercial Service

  • A.J. Anderson, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce - Wichita

1:50 PM – 2:00 PM International Growth with U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Sarah Haymaker, Deputy District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration – Wichita District Office

2:00 PM – 2:10 PM Zachary Collins, Industry Outreach Specialist, Kansas Manufacturing Solutions

2:10 PM – 2:20 PM Break

2:20 PM – 2:50 PM Kansas Department of Commerce Trade, Business Growth, and Innovation Programs

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Katrina Gray, Project Manager Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Wiley Smith, Sedgwick County Regional Project Manager, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Cory Keller, Entrepreneurship Director Office of Innovation, Kansas Department of Commerce

2:50 PM – 3:50 PM WSU Aviation Presentation and Tour

3:50 PM - 4:00 PM Wrap Up

  • Christopher McClain, Business Development Specialist, EXIM

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

Salina Area Chamber of Commerce

August 26, 2026 at 9AM - 12PM CT

Register Today

Location: 120 W. Ash Street, Salina, KS

Agenda: (subject to change)

9:00 AM – 9:10 AM Welcome and Overview 

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce 

  • D. Mitch Robinson, Executive Director, Saline Community Economic Development Organization

9:10 AM – 9:40 AM Export Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Overview

  • Christopher McClain, Business Development Specialist, EXIM

9:40 AM – 9:53 AM Trade Promotion with U.S. Commercial Service

  • A.J. Anderson, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce - Wichita

9:53 AM – 10:05 AM International Growth with U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Sarah Haymaker, Deputy District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration – Wichita District Office

10:05 AM – 10:25 AM Kansas Department of Commerce 

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce 

  • Katrina Grey, Project Manager Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

10:25 AM - 10:45 AM Break

10:45 AM – 11:05 AM Kansas Department of Commerce Kansas Department of Commerce International Trade, Business Growth, and Innovation

  • Craig Van Wey, Senior Regional Director In-State Business Retention & Expansion, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Cory Keller, Entrepreneurship Director Office of Innovation, Kansas Department of Commerce

11:05 AM – 11:20 AM Jessica Goubeaux, Project Manager, Pure Imagination Studios

11:20 AM – 11:50 AM Panel Discussion

  • Moderator: D. Mitch Robinson, Executive Director, Salina Community Economic Development Organization

Panelists:

  • Trish Brasted, President, Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures

  • Tim Henry, Chief Financial Officer, Great Plains Manufacturing

  • Leigh Ann Kane, Director of Customs and Brokerage at Transmodal Corporation

  • Zachary Collins, Industry Outreach Specialist, Kansas Manufacturing Solutions

11:50 AM – 12:00 PM Wrap Up

  • D. Mitch Robinson, Executive Director, Saline Community Economic Development Organization

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

Santa Fe Depot

August 27, 2026 at 11AM - 2PM CT

Register Today

Location: 101 E. Wyatt Earp, Dodge City, KS

Agenda: (subject to change)

11:00 AM – 11:10 AM Welcome

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Mollea Lightner, Assistant Director of Economic Development at Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation

11:10 AM – 11:40 AM Export Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Overview

  • Christopher McClain, Business Development Specialist, EXIM

11:40 AM – 11:50 AM Trade Promotion with U.S. Commercial Service

  • A.J. Anderson, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce - Wichita

11:50 AM – 12:00 PM International Growth with U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Sarah Haymaker, Deputy District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration – Wichita District Office

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Lunch Break

12:30 PM – 1:10 PM Kansas Department of Commerce International Trade, Growth, and Innovation

  • Katrina Gray, Program Manager Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Linnette Miller, In-State Business Development Specialist Southwest Regional Manager, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Cory Keller, Entrepreneurship Director Office of Innovation, Kansas Department of Commerce

1:10 – 1:50 Danica Rome, COO, Kansas Manufacturing Solutions

1:50 – 2:00 Wrap Up

  • Laurie Pieper, Director Office of Small Business, Kansas Department of Commerce

  • Mollea Lightner, Assistant Director of Economic Development at Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation