|
MEXICO DRUG TRADE VIOLENCE KILLS 3 OF U.S. CONSULATE JUAREZ STAFF, FAMILY |
|
Mexico drug cartels have key border crossing cities in their crosshairs.
 |
JUAREZ, Chihuahua, Mexico - Drug cartel rivalry violence at the Mexico border with the U.S. killed two U.S. Consulate employees and the husband of a third and wounded two of their children Saturday in a daylight attack on the city streets of this town across from El Paso, Texas.
The shooting deaths of the U.S. government employees marked a first in the Mexico drug wars violence since a DEA undercover agent was brutally murdered in 1985 and added to growing public fears of crime and additional formal warnings by the U.S. State Department for its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to key northern Mexico border cities and states.
President Barack Obama issued a White House statement expressing sadness and outrage and pledged the U.S. Government would not rest until the killers were brought to justice. Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent his nation's Attorney General to oversee the investigation into the murders.
The Washington Post reported Monday that dozens of officials from the U.S.' FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms force and other U.S. law enforcement agencies joined the investigation.
Ms. Lesley Enriquez, 35, a consulate employee living in El Paso, was four months pregnant when killed, and riding in a car with her husband, Arthur Redelfs, 39, a detention officer with El Paso TX County Sheriff's Office, as they left a children's birthday party of another consulate employee in Ciudad Juarez.
At about the same time, the third victim, Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, 37, was killed as he travelled in another part of the city, when gunmen boxed in the man's car with their vehicle, shot him and wounded his two children, aged four and seven, Juarez newspapers reported. His wife, a consulate employee, was not with him, but his kids, two under age 7 were, police said.
The shooting took place right as the U.S. State Department was taking the unusual step of authorizing U.S. government employees at Ciudad Juarez and five other American consulates in northern Mexico to send their families out of the region over concerns about increasing drug-related violence. That announcement was in the works before the murders, U.S. officials said Sunday.
Juarez, already notorious as Mexico's city with the highest homicide rate and one of the highest rates of any city in the world, is caught in the crossfire of gun battles between the most powerful Mexican drug organization, the Juarez Cartel, which controls the largest movement of Colombian cocaine and other drugs into the USA, and the West Coast-based Sinaloa Cartel, which seeks to move in and gain greater control of the lucrative Juarez-El Paso drug trafficking corridor into the U.S.
President Calderon has sent three separate surges of Mexican military and federal police into Juarez to smother the violence, but it has proven resistant.
Officially, in Juarez last year police recorded 2,640 murders, most unsolved and believed related mostly to the drug trade. In contrast, across the U.S. border in El Paso, Texas, that city reported only 15 murders in 2009, 14 of which were solved, according to the city police department.
While the killings of the three U.S. consulate-related employees garnered worldwide attention and provoked both countries into major new law enforcement investigations, on Saturday in Juarez another eight other murders took place, and eight more killings occurred Sunday, local authorities reported. Most of the killings police linked to the violent drug trade and smaller, local gangs that work for the Juarez and Sinaloa drug cartels.
ANALYSIS: The killings were reportedly the first of American government employees in Mexico during the escalating drug trafficking violence across northern Mexico since the notorious torture and murder of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985.
U.S. authorities have told news media they remain unsure if the U.S. Consulate-linked personnel were targeted, or if they could been misidentified as targets by the shooters. If it was intended to intimidate the Mexican and U.S. Governments to back off of aggressive actions against drug traffickers, it appears, if anything, both governments are preparing to very sharply step up the pressure on cartels, their leaders and their Mexico-U.S. border operations.
More than 18,000 people have been killed in Mexico in the drug cartel wars as the cartels battle one another for what amounts to an etimated $12 billion in annual revenues industry, according to drug trafficking experts. In December 2006, right after being sworn in to a six-year term of office, Mexican President Calderon launched an all-out effort to smash the drug cartels in Mexico and reduce their impact and influence.
In recent weeks, the Mexican forces have killed or captured three of the most important leaders in the organized drug trade, important milestones in the Mexican government's three-year offensive on the cartels.
But even so, the government has struggled to reduce the level of violence. In fact, drug cartel analysts in Mexico have expected the violence would rise as government-pressed drug cartels moved in desperation to secure drug trade routes and influence along key drug trade corridors to protect their lucrative businesses. As they have acted to intimidate authorities, their acts of violence have become more heinous and brazen, with federal police and military officers ambushed, captured, tortured and even beheaded in a few cases.
In the aftermath of the shootings Saturday, Mexican President Calderon renewed his commitment to use every bit of the strength of the armed forces and national law enforcement capabilities to subdue the drug cartels
as "absolutely essential" to the future security and prosperity of Mexico.
Observers were surprised to note in a successful December raid of a top Mexican cartel leader that the government had employed the crack commando assault unit of the Mexican Navy in the central Mexico city of Cuernavaca.
While the drug cartel killings have been extremely high profile and badly undermined the image of the country both domestically and internationally, crime and homicide rates in the majority of Mexican cities and states remain moderate, in fact, far below several major U.S. cities, including New Orleans, Detroit, Los Angeles and Houston as reported by The Associated Press Mexico City bureau recently.
Mr. Calderon's office said the Mexican president "expresses his indignation" and "his sincerest condolences to the families of the victims" of the U.S. Consultate staff. "The President reiterated the Mexican government's unwavering compromise to resolve these grave crimes," his office said in a statement.
The killings even led to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly commenting on the killings of her staffers and their family. She extended her sympathy to the families of the victims and said Washington would continue to work with the Mexican government to bring drug traffickers to justice.
"These appalling assaults on members of our own State Department family are, sadly, part of a growing tragedy besetting many communities in Mexico," she said. She underscored the U.S.' commitment to "work closely with the government of President Calderon to cripple the influence of trafficking organizations at work in Mexico."
Ciudad Juarez is a city of 1.3 million people just across the US border from El Paso. It has been at the center of the drug wars that have rocked Mexico over recent years.
At least 18,000 people have been killed in Mexico since December 2006, when President Calderon first took the grave step of deploying the Mexican army domestically to battle increasingly powerful drug traffickers.
U.S. authorities' efforts to dampen the American consumption demand for cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and other illegal substances have had almost no effect in the last 20 years, researchers report.
The U.S. government has committed to spending more than $1.2 billion to assist the Mexican anti-drug cartel law enforcement effort. |
MEXICO TARIFFS OVER CROSS-BORDER
TRUCKING HIT HOME ACROSS USA |
U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood
 |
WASHINGTON - Lobbying pressure is building on the Obama Administration to allow Mexico trucks to serve the entire U.S. cargo market to end the pain of Mexico's import tariff penalties in protest over the U.S. barring of Mexican trucks.
Last week, groups representing fruit producers, agriculture and pork and cattle coalitions across the U.S. stepped up lobbying efforts to force the U.S. Government to uphold its legal commitment to allow Mexican trucks to enter and work within the U.S. marketplace as was agreed upon in the U.S.-Mexico negotiation of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Elise Cortina, executive director of the Frozen Potato Products Institute, last week told the Transport Topics publication that U.S. frozen processed potatoes shipped to Mexico - mainly French fries -- declined by more than 50% to $31.4 million in 2009, down from $64.3 million in 2008.
She also told the magazine that "exports of frozen product from the U.S. to Mexico are down significantly from the levels they were at before the retaliatory tariffs." She noted that exports from Canada to Mexico have increased significantly.
California and Texas, the two leading exporters of agricultural goods to Mexico, have each suffered heavy losses. The potential for even further losses has caused members of Congress to push for the Bush Administeration's 2007 cross-border demonstratio ntrucking program's immediate re-implementation.
After President Obama signed a comprehensive U.S. budget bill that included the cancellation of the Mexico truck cross-border program in spring 2009, the Mexican government used its legal remedies as provided under the 1994 NAFTA accord and imposed a 20-percent tariff on more than 90 U.S. agricultural and industrial products from 40 U.S. states that accounted for about $2.5 billion annual U.S. exports to Mexico.
The Mexican government seeks to maintain severe pressure on the U.S. government through the tariffs hitting products and producers in 40 U.S. states until the U.S. fully complies with the obligations it took on in NAFTA agreement, Mexican trade officials have repeatedly stated.
John Keeling, executive director of the U.S. National Potato Council, said the Mexican government targeted the tariffs on U.S. products so they would do the most harm to U.S. trade with Mexico, while least affecting product availability and pricing for Mexican consumers.
Keeling said that, unfortunately for U.S. exporters, the Mexican tariff penalty plan appears very effective after a year in place.
A group of 56 members of Congress sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week to insist he quickly resolve the trucking dispute, the Reuters news service reported. Members of the Mexican government have said that the tariff penalties for the U.S. will remain in place until a permanent cross-border trucking solution - as agreed to under NAFTA - is implemented by the U.S.
The U.S. fully agreed in the 1994 NAFTA with Mexico to allow access in each nation of cargo trucks from the trade partner. But since the entry into effect of NAFTA on Jan. 1, 1994, U.S. Congressional legislation and court litigation by the U.S.
Teamsters union and some public safety groups kept Mexican trucking limited to serving solely the drayage market within the narrow 20-to-25-mile-deep cargo transit zones along the border.
The cross-border trucking agreement in the NAFTA originally aimed to sharply bring down the costs and border-crossing times to benefit consumers and transport industries in both nations.
ANALYSIS: With the White House feeling the heat from lawmakers and
producers and industry trade associations from pork producers to cosmetics products makers, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told reporters recently he has been charged by the President to collaborate with Congress and the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Transportation to produce a final and acceptable resolution to the cross-border trucking problem.
But since 1994, the U.S. Congress has consistently refused to implement the NAFTA trucking access provision, citing concerns about the alleged safety of Mexican trucks.
In February 2001, a NAFTA dispute-settlement panel ruled that the exclusion of Mexican trucks by the U.S. Administration violated U.S. legal obligations under NAFTA. The ruling gave Mexico the right to retaliate against U.S. products entering Mexico - but it had not exercised its right until a year ago in March.
Mexican trucks had been operating in the U.S. under the Cross-Border Trucking Pilot Program, started by President Bush's U.S. Department of Transportation in September 2007 as a way to begin implementing the NAFTA trucking market access provision.
Originally, under the NAFTA, the Mexico trucking access provision was supposed to begin in December 1995 within the jurisdiction of the U.S. border states with Mexico, and then take full effect across the U.S. and Mexico by Jan. 1, 2000. Neither action ever occurred.
The 2007 Bush Administration DOT demonstration project did allow Mexico trucking to demonstrate its professional worthiness to operate in the U.S., but met tremendous resistance from U.S. labor, particularly the Teamsters union, but also local, state and national trucking and public safety groups.
On Thursday, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., asked the Department of Transportation during Capitol Hill subcommittee meeting to move more quickly on reimplementation as possible.
"We are finalizing a plan," DOT Secretary Ray LaHood told Murray.
"The reason it's taken so long is because there's a lot of moving parts, including about five different cabinet officials, and every time we make a tweak or a change everybody has to sign off on it. But we're very near a proposal that we think will meet all of the safety concerns that I heard when I talked to 25 members of Congress."
The National Pork Producers Council and 37 state pork producer organizations Monday urged the Obama administration to resolve the trucking dispute with Mexico.
The NPPC had worked to keep pork off that retaliation list, but failed. Now the NPPC and 37 state producer associations have written President Obama a letter firmly requesting the U.S. government live up to a provision in the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that allows Mexican trucks to haul freight into and out of the United States.
If the U.S. remains obstinate to its trade agreement obligations, Mexico may pursue even tougher penalties on U.S. economic sectors, exercising its rights under the NAFTA. |
|
OnAsset OBTAINS RIGHTS TO NEW BREAKTHROUGH CARGO SAFETY SENSORS |
|
IRVING, Texas -- OnAsset Intelligence Inc., a leading provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless asset tracking, sensing, and control solutions, on March 9 acquired exclusive marketing and distribution rights to the Quantum Fingerprint Sensor Technology (QF Technology) from U.S. Semiconductor (US-Semi) and NxGen Electronics for the consumer, commercial, and industrial markets.
OnAsset, a key technology private sector member of the NASCO Coalition, and an active partner in a now completed NASCO cargo tracking and tracing research study done for the U.S. Department of Transportation, said the new technology it acquired the rights to use will enable environmental sensing of explosives, chemical and biological agents, biological cargo, and illegal drugs anywhere it is deployed.
When combined with the company's wireless SENTRY™ device used for monitoring and securing freight for intermodal, ocean, cargo container and air cargo shipments, customers of OnAsset will be able to monitor cargo location and security and the presence of any dangerous, illegal, or possibly hazardous materials placed inside and shipped within containers along with their cargo, the firm said.
"Maintaining cargo security as shipping containers move between countries is critically important to the world economy," said Adam Crossno, President and CEO of OnAsset in a company news release.
"During this time when security concerns are at an all-time high, deploying a sensor that determines whether the container space has been in contact with an illegal or dangerous substance provides a new, unprecedented level of awareness," he noted.
OnAsset described the QF technology as a ground-breaking sensor technology that in lab trials has already been proven to be more consistent and effective than specially trained narcotics detection dogs.
The sensor is the only such mechanism available that can sample the environment in milliseconds on a parts-per-trillion basis and that can perform this unique capability at a distance of up to 10 meters, the firm said.
OnAsset said that for the world cargo business, this is a major break-through, making it possible to validate the load integrity throughout the entire container with one sensor.
ANALYSIS: OnAssets's partners view the new partnership with the firm as an important step forward in the tracking, tracing and cargo security industry.
"The combination of OnAsset's wireless SENTRY product line with the QF technology is very exciting for the asset security industry," Richard Ausbrook, President of NxGen Electronics, said in a statement issued with the OnAsset announcement.
"Not only will companies know if inappropriate items or contraband are being shipped with their cargo, they will know in real-time when and where they were inserted."
The integration of QF with OnAsset's SENTRY product is underway now with field trials for customers targeted during the third quarter of this year.
OnAsset, together with US-Semi and NxGen, will be bringing the combined technology forward for use across North America with all OnAsset hardware products, particularly the award-winning, patented SENTRY FlightSafe™ product for use in air freight applications and its SENTRY ContainerSafe™ line for refrigerated and non-refrigerated cargo containers.
These technologies originally developed for specific, demanding government and military use can now be used in the commercial marketplace as well.
David Salva, President of US-Semi, said in a statement that his firm is very pleased that the sensor capabilities it produced will contribute to global cargo security.
"Not only do we facilitate the need for supply chain information and security, we contribute to the velocity and efficiencies of this critical global segment," Salva said.
OnAsset Intelligence Inc. is an industry leader in provision of wireless devices and software solutions aimed at assisting customers to use technology seamlessly to wirelessly locate, track, connect, control and manage fixed and mobile, valuable assets in real-time.
The company's M2M products and services include its flagship line of SENTRY™ wireless hardware including the premier FlightSafe™ Air Cargo device and its ContainerSafe™ family for intermodal containers. But the company also provides the SaaS OnAsset Platform™, and global wireless connectivity services.
Irving, Texas-based OnAsset has for years served Fortune 500 companies, government and military operations and small to mid-size businesses with innovative hardware and software technology solutions featured at http://www.onasset.com/.
US-Semi, (at www.us-semi.com), with headquarters in Independence, Missouri, opened in 1998 and has helped to develop and commercialize semiconductor and emerging technologies originated in national laboratories and universities.
This leading-edge research is exemplified by the Quantum Fingerprint Chemical/Biological Sensor Technology and work that led to the development of the Compact Nuclear Battery Technology.
Meanwhile, San Diego-based NxGen, (www.nxgenelectronics.com), specializes in leading-edge design, research, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing and testing of new technologies, with the Quantum Fingerprint Chemical/Biological Sensor Technology as the prime example of this work.
|
| NASCO PRESIDENT PRESENTS TO AmCHAM
MEXICO ANNUAL CONVENTION IN CAPITAL |
NASCO President George Blackwood (l.) talks on joint cooperation with AmCHAM Mexico HEAD Alberto Vilar, (r.) as NASCO Mexico President Jorge L. Chavez (ctr.) looks on.
 |
MEXICO CITY -- NASCO President George Blackwood represented the tri-national nonprofit last week at the 9th National Convention of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (AmCHAM Mexico) held March 9-10 at a hotel in downtown Mexico City.
During his presentation to a packed house of top-level executives of the most important international companies in Mexico, Blackwood presented the elite group with the NASCO Coalition's most recent advances on a panel entitled "Logistics and Infrastructure," an incisive review of efforts to promote greater coordination and efficiency in bi-national transport and infrastructure operations and policies.
Prior to his presentation, Blackwood joined NASCO Mexico Committee President Jorge Luis Chavez of NASCO member Meridian 100 Free Trade Zones Developer of Mexico City in a meeting with the incoming AmCHAM Mexico Board of Directors President Alberto Vilar, who is Chief Executive of the MetLife insurance firm's Mexico unit.
Blackwood had a chance to express his support for advanced, ongoing talks between the staffs of AmCHAM Mexico and NASCO toward the completion of a reciprocal membership agreement.
That accord is expected to permit aggressive joint efforts to advance common goals and objectives across North America. Among these efforts is expected to be joint promotion of ideas and initiatives aimed at streamlining and harmonizing U.S.-Mexico policies and practices in transportation infrastructure development and use; logistics workforce development; transportation efficiency and security; and long-term, cross-border transportation planning and cooperation.
Panel moderator and NASCO member Kansas City Southern de Mexico Railroad Vice President for Sales David Eaton, a longtime, stalwart supporter of NASCO, praised Blackwood and NASCO for 15 years of service in advocating and fighting for cross-border transportation infrastructure improvements, funding and government cooperation. Eaton has served on AmCHAM Mexico's Logistics Committee along with Chavez and on that panel's various subcommittees on transportation.
Joining Blackwood on his panel was Alan Bersin, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, a post known informally as "U.S. Border Czar," who said he found special merit in groups like NASCO working hard to promote better cooperation and enhanced trade and transportation between the two nations. The other panel contributor was Miami-based Jose Acosta, Vice President of Strategy and Public Affairs in Latin America for United Parcel Service.
ANALYSIS: The AmCHAM Mexico National Convention, which carried the theme "Mexico in the Global Marketplace: A Call to Action," proved an important opportunity for NASCO on multiple levels.
The NASCO Board, members and staff made key contacts with senior leaders and staff of AmCHAM, one of the most important, influential and respected business organizations in Mexico. AmCHAM Mexico has operated effectively as a bridge between U.S. business in Mexico and the Mexican Government for 93 years.
NASCO leadership effectively delivered the message that the nonprofit is committed to helping build a prosperous future in trade and transportation between Mexico and the United States through its members and to help deepen trade and transport ties between Mexico and the United States.
NASCO President Blackwood, a Kansas City, MO-based attorney and two-time Mayor Pro-Tem of that city, has a history of leading various trade delegations to various regions of Mexico and has represented the NASCO Board at regional meetings and trips across Mexico. He presided over the NASCO Conference 2008 hosted by the Government of the State of Guanajuato and the Guanajuato Puerto Interior.
Pursuing the AmCHAM Mexico opportunity made possible by NASCO Mexico leader Chavez, Blackwood laid out NASCO initiatives to boost corridor transportation security and efficiency; environmental best practices promotion and adoption; and entry-level logistics workforce training and certification.
NASCO staff and members in Mexico hope to soon secure a cooperation agreement with AmCHAM Mexico which shall open up numerous opportunities to advance NASCO initiatives across Mexico at the highest levels.
The pact is seen as very supportive for NASCO in its efforts to recruit new membership and financial support across Mexico. In a similar vein, Francisco Martinez, NASCO Representative in Mexico and based in the northern industrial capital of Monterey, has helped forge support among Canadian businesses in Mexico and is pursuing a NASCO agreement of reciprocal membership with the Canadian Chamber of Mexico based in Monterey.
From the Blackwood panel presentation, the U.S. Border Czar Bersin learned much more about NASCO and its mission and initiatives and how they fit with his own vision.
Bersin echoed the NASCO mission statement as he spoke extensively on ways he expects to promote radical improvement in the harmonization and efficiency of cross-border customs inspection regimes to greatly beef up border security against contraband and yet also speed up legitimate cross-border trade cargo flows between Mexico and the U.S.
Bersin has been nominated by President Obama to become the next Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. His nomination has not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He now understands well the support and abilities NASCO offers his efforts in Mexico.
Bersin is a familiar and influential figure on the U.S.-Mexico border. From 1995-1998 during the Clinton Administration, Bersin served as the U.S. Attorney General's Southwest Border Representative, coordinating law enforcement on the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
Mexico is the U.S.' third largest-trading partner behind only Canada and China, with total bilateral merchandise trade with Mexico of $368 billion registered in 2008. The 2009 year results have not yet been issued.
At the AmCHAM Convention, Mexican President Felipe Calderon addressed the U.S. executives and presented a powerful argument for why Mexico - 'a young nation, with average age of citizen at 27 years' - has a bright future ahead and is a smart investment destination choice.
While bluntly acknowledging that the country has faced a tremendous economic crisis, the worst in 80 years in Mexico, and is still militarily combating a very trying set of organized crime gangs - the drug cartels - President Calderon said Mexico is a bright economic star in the Americas for decades to come.
He said the worst of the downturn is over and Mexico will record GDP growth of 4 to 5 percent in 2010; and he underscored that Mexico:
- economic stimulus plans preserved tens of thousands of Mexican jobs during the downturn by government subsidies to more than 800,000 small businesses;
- lost fewer jobs in 2009 than in the currency devaluation crisis of 1995;
- private banks effectively hold 14 percent, "or almost double" the Tier 1 Capital mandate of 8 percent required by the Bank of International Settlements;
-- gained 10 percent in its market share of exports to the U.S. in 2009 vs. China, a sign of growing competitiveness;
-- is devoting a remarkable 5 percent a year of GDP to infrastructure;
-- is a Top 8 Foreign Direct Investment destination country;
-- recorded an impressive +227,000 net new jobs in the first two months of 2010;
-- has a lower credit risk rating in world markets than its Americas rival Brazil;
-- boasts $96 billion in hard currency reserves and the peso has been very stable; and
-- holds more Free Trade Agreements with the world than any other nation.
|
| LOVE'S TRAVEL STOPS PHILANTHROPY MAKES A DIFFERENCE HEART TO HEART |
|
 |
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, one of the NASCO Coalition's longest, continuous members, recently launched an extraordinary corporate philanthropy initiative that reflects why the company is widely considered an outstanding leader in its field.
Earlier last month, flanked by family members and special guests, Tom Love, founder and CEO of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, and his daughter, Jenny Love Meyer, announced that Love's will provide $450 to each one of its corporate employees for them to donate to a non-profit organization of their choice in the greater Oklahoma City area.
The initiative, entitled "Making a Difference from the Heart," made $165,000 available to non-profit organizations in the greater Oklahoma City area at a time when they have experienced abrupt and steep declines in donations. Corporate employees were able to donate their gifts to the non-profit organization of their choice.
"In this challenging economy, it is more important than ever to show support for charitable organizations that help so many in our community," Love told reporters.
"Love's has contributed a consistent portion of our net profit to these organizations for many years in recognition of our corporate responsibility to continually invest in our community, to help others and to make it better. We are fortunate to be in a financial position to continue these contributions," Love said.
The initiative was launched in conjunction with the Valentines holiday and the 45th anniversary of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores.
"We thought a great deal about how to appropriately mark our company's 45th anniversary," Ms. Love Meyer, the company's director of communications, said in a statement.
"It didn't take us long to decide it was indeed best in today's economic climate to invest in the community that is our home," she said. "We have tremendous employees who have contributed to our success over the past 45 years, and we wanted to express our appreciation by offering them an opportunity to help others in our community who are experiencing great need these days."
ANALYSIS: Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores are a familiar and many times welcome stop along much of the NASCO Corridor and not just on IH 35, but on several interstate highway branches off of IH 35.
The firm operates more than 200 locations in more than 30 states and continues to expand. Forbes Magazine currently ranks Love's No. 25 on its annual list of America's largest private companies.
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett joined the Love family at the company's corporate offices in north Oklahoma City to mark the innovative act of corporate philanthropy and to help celebrate the 45th anniversary of the well-known Oklahoma company.
"As a result of the current economic downturn, many charities in our community are facing declining donations while demand for their services increases by the day," the mayor said.
"I can assure you that Love's 'Making a Difference from the Heart' program will have a direct, positive impact on the ability of local non-profit organizations to serve our community. It will make a difference - a big one.
"This is a terrific announcement from an Oklahoma City company that embodies to the fullest what it truly means to be an outstanding corporate citizen. The community is very appreciative," Mayor Cornett said.
Speaking on behalf of the Greater Oklahoma City non-profit community, Debby Hampton, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits, said the initiative is an "incredible gesture of support for the community at a very crucial time."
"This is a brilliant idea and I commend the Love family and its employees for putting the community interest above all else," she said in a news release.
"You can be assured this tremendous initiative will certainly make a difference in the lives of many people who depend on the outstanding and compassionate services provided by non-profits across this community. The non-profit community is deeply grateful to Love's and its employees. A simple heartfelt thank you seems so inadequate, but thanks very much."
Founded in 1964 by Tom Love, Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores (www.loves.come) is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., and remains family-owned and operated, having begun life from the first fueling station in Watonga, Oklahoma.
The Love's commitment remains embedded in their company slogan: "Clean Places, Friendly Faces."
| |
|
For more information or to submit story ideas contact:
Frank Conde
Director of Special Projects & Communications
North America's SuperCorridor Coalition, Inc.
T 214.744.1018
|
|
|
| 2010 NASCO OUTLOOK |
 |
|
The 2010 NASCO Outlook is now available online and at our website.
We are excited to finally have a comprehensive NASCO promotional tool to distribute across North America. |
| 2010 NASCO CONFERENCE
Des Moines, Iowa
June 15 - 17, 2010 |
 |
|
The State of Iowa and Greater Des Moines metropolitan area are delighted to invite you to the next NASCO Conference to be held in Des Moines, Iowa June 15-17, 2010.
The sixth annual NASCO Conference will feature outstanding leaders and companies from North America and represent another opportunity to network and discuss critical trade and transportation challenges affecting our three nations.
An exciting program is planned to include an array of North American businesses!
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood confirmed to speak on June 15th.
INVITED SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Minister John Baird of Transport Canada, Secretary Juan Horcasitas Molinar of Mexico's SCT, Principal Financial, Wells Fargo, Bridgestone Firestone, Trinity Industries, Center Point Properties, Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters, Acciona North America, Ruan Transportation, Kraft North America and many more.
|
| GLOBAL TRADE
POLICY FORUM
APRIL 14, 2010
SAN ANTONIO, TX |
|
|
Global Trade Policy Forum
April 14, 2010
Westin Riverwalk
San Antonio, Texas
Presented By: Free Trade AllianceThe Global Trade Policy Forum is a non-partisan conference bringing together international, national, and regional leaders to discuss policy and trade related issues affecting our country as well as the region's international business community.
Confirmed speakers to-date:
His Excellency, Jaime Aleman Healy
Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the U.S.
Mr. Brian Nichols
Deputy Chief of Mission in Bogota
Office of U.S. Ambassador to Colombia
Honorable Hope Andrade
Texas Secretary of State
Mr. Daniel Griswold
Center for Trade Policy Studies, CATO Institute
Dr. Mark Wynne
Sr. Economist and V.P., Dir. of the Globalization and Monetary
Policy Institute, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Ms. Leslie Schweitzer
Senior Trade Advisor, U.S. Chamber of Commerce / TradeRoots
For more information click here. FREE TRADE ALLIANCE was created in 1994 to lead the development of San Antonio as a multi-modal and competitive international trade center. A public private organization, Alliance brings together the resources of its members and focuses them towards the promotion, development and facilitation of international business and trade for the entire San Antonio region. |
|
FUTURALLIA EVENT
April 28-30, 2010
Poitiers, France |
Kansas City to host Futurallia 2011 Business Conference - a first for the United States.
Futurallia is an annual International Business Development and Global Entrepreneurial Forum targeted for small and medium enterprise companies that are interested in personalized business meetings with potential international buyers, distributors and other strategic partners. This conference is an efficient and proven concept in business match-making that organizes 15 personalized business meetings. Each year Futurallia has 600-800 companies represented in all sectors of business, including food/agriculture, transportation/logistics, life sciences/biotechnology, energy/environmental, education/training, building/ construction, medical equipment/ health, information technologies, tourism, arts and textiles.
This year's conference is taking place in Poitiers, France, April 28 - 30, 2010. Join the KC delegation in FranceKansas City is sending approximately 50 businesses and organizations to Futurallia 2010 in France where the formal pronouncement will be made naming Kansas City the site for the May 2011 Futurallia. Area small businesses and entrepreneurs who attend this year's conference will be in a unique position to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and networking opportunities available. But in addition to the tremendous business development opportunities afforded to those who are part of the Kansas City Delegation, there are also several specific incentives for your business to participate in this year's conference. The Mid-America Regional Council will be hosting an information session to learn more about Futurallia: Thursday, March 18, 4pm-5pm Mid-America Regional Council, 600 Broadway, Ste 200, Kansas City, MO 64105 Attend in person or join the conference call 1-888-909-7654, RSVP to futuralliakc@yahoo.com to get a pass code for the phone conference. |
|
Organizing and Marketing Partners:
Convention and Visitors Association
City of Kansas City, Mo.
Economic Development Corporation of KCMO
Foreign Trade Zone
Greater KC Chamber of Commerce
International Trade Council
KC Area Development Council
KC SmartPort
KC SourceLink
Mid-America Regional Council
NASCO
World Trade Center
|
| ITS America
Annual Meeting/Exposition
May 3-5, 2010
Houston, Texas |
 |
It gives us great pleasure to invite you to join thousands of the nation's leading public and private sector transportation leaders, elected officials, and policymakers at ITS America's 20th Annual Meeting and Exposition, May 3-5, 2010 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
ITS America's 20th Annual Meeting & Exposition will provide transportation professionals and policymakers the necessary tools and strategies they need to create communities that are safer, cleaner, more livable and less congested.
As national, state and local leaders are working to find innovative solutions to our nation's transportation challenges in a fiscally-constrained environment, you can not afford to miss this opportunity to learn more about cost-effective technology solutions for reducing traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic accidents, financing infrastructure projects, collecting performance measurement data, and improving system management.
To register or view a preliminary program click here. |
| REGIONAL MEETINGS |
|
|
Check out the latest meeting updates and photos at the regional meeting section on the NASCO website!
The NASCO staff is coming to your community for an update on our activities and initatives.
This is the perfect time to come check us out or invite a colleague who might want to learn more about us!
Upcoming Regional
Meetings
Oklahoma City, OK
April 8, 2010
Chicago, Illinois
April 14, 2010
Houston, Texas
May 3, 2010
*In conjunction with ITS America Annual Meeting |
| 2010 NASCO
POLITICAL FOOTPRINT |
|
|
The latest NASCO Quarterly Studies report, "The NASCO POLITICAL FOOTPRINT" (NPF) -- an Analysis of The Political Lay of the Land on the NASCO Corridor - is now available from the NASCO Coalition. If you want to know what the 2010 and beyond electoral challenge is for each chief executive of every state and province in the U.S., Mexico and Canada that sits astride the NASCO Corridor, The NPF is a must read for you. To receive a copy of the NASCO Political Footprint or previous quarterly studies please contact Frank Conde at frank@nascocorridor.com. |
| About NASCO |
 Since 1994, NASCO and its members have stood at the forefront of driving public and private sectors to unite to address strategically critical national and international trade, transportation, security and environmental issues. Our membership includes a diverse range of public and private partners from Mexico, the United States and Canada, extending along the International Corridor. | |
|
