Daily Pioneer News

Pictured from left to right: Mary P. Burke, secretary, Wisconsin Department of Commerce; Steve Kleisath, chair, UWP Department of Business and Accounting; Louis I. Nzegwu, executive director, International Business Resource Center; Judy K. Ziewacz, deputy secretary, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville International Business Resource Center (IBRC) has been awarded the 2006 Governor's Export Achievement Award. The award is given annually to businesses and organizations that make extraordinary contributions to Wisconsin's ability to compete in the global marketplace. "Wisconsin exports have shown four straight years of incredibly strong growth, and our growth continues to surpass that of the nation," Governor Doyle said. "As governor, I'm determined to build on this success and help our businesses continue to reach new markets. I'm proud to recognize these Wisconsin companies and institutions that have demonstrated leadership and innovation in responding successfully to international market challenges and are building a great name for Wisconsin around the globe."

The IBRC, under the directorship of Louis Nzegwu, professor of business, has provided leadership in Southwest Wisconsin through two major emerging markets initiatives. Since 2003, Nzegwu has been teaching courses on China's business practices and cultures, traveling with UWP students to China to provide them with a first-hand look at how international business and governments operate in that country. With every trip, he has increased UWP's contacts in China and broadened the opportunities available to UWP students. Most recently, the IBRC has been at the forefront of efforts to explore emerging markets of North Africa for Wisconsin and U.S. companies. With grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nzegwu is developing relationships in Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, which will lead to Wisconsin dairy and other products finding consumers in the region. Several business and government leaders from the Maghreb region attended workshops at UWP last fall; Nzegwu recently returned from the Maghreb region where he accompanied Wisconsin and U.S. business representatives to meet with leaders in the public and private dairy sector.

Nzegwu said that the award reflects the strong support the university has provided to the IBRC. "The chancellor has made international initiatives a top priority because he knows that they directly benefit our students by giving them exposure to the 'global village.' The work of the IBRC would not be possible without the support of our administration and the hard working IBRC staff, who work hard year round to bring innovative programs and projects to the community it serves. We can only do these things if we have the whole campus in partnership," Nzegwu said. In commenting on the IBRC and UW-Platteville, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, Carol Sue Butts, noted, "Our university is working very diligently to increase international opportunities for students and for our regional communities and businesses. Louis Nzegwu has been a leader in securing extramural funds to assist in that process. All of these initiatives bring greater global awareness and participation to our university and our region."

Contact: Louis Nzegwu, director, International Business Resource Center, (608) 342-1597,nzegwu@uwplatt.edu

Prepared By: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,martense@uwplatt.edu