| JEFFREY E. ENGELS International Development Specialist |
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| Armenian Agricultural Mnister Davit Lokyan awarded Jeffrey with the Ministry of Agriculture's Gold Medal for assistance to Armenian agriculture, November, 2005. From 2003 to 2005, Jeffrey served as the final director of the United States Department of Agriculture's Marketing Assistance Project in Armenia. (Photograph taken in November, 2005). |
| Resume Jeffrey E. Engels 800 Swanston Street Tel: (61) 3 8888-7056 CARLTON, VIC 3053 Email : jeffrey_engels@yahoo.com Melbourne, Australia SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS •A multi-faceted international development executive with extensive experience in small and medium enterprise (SME) capacity building, global trade, and business management. •Extensive travel and work experience in developing countries; sixteen years of international project management experience; comfortable and effective in multi-cultural environments. •Specialized in all aspects of international poverty reduction project management, agribusiness development, strategic analysis and planning, domestic and international marketing/sales, trade sourcing, export promotion, and operations/logistics. •Directed a $6.4 million Armenian NGO originating from and assuming the activities of USDA-funded award-winning Marketing Assistance Project, an international agribusiness development project. •Designed and implemented domestic food security and international agro-marketing programs and export promotion strategies. •Private sector: concurrently directed and managed two US offices and foreign operations in Asia and Latin America. •Successful track record in negotiating/managing simultaneous overseas projects and product distribution. Skilled in product differentiation /positioning •Highly analytical strategic thinker adept at quick problem identification and solutions, efficiently handling multiple projects under strict time constraints while consistently reducing expenditures. •Country experience: Armenia, Chile, Russia, Ukraine, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Israel, Oman, England, and Guam. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Country Director, Center for Agribusiness & Rural Development (CARD), Yerevan, Armenia (April, 2005-December, 2006) Directed $6.4 million local Armenian NGO dedicated to reducing rural poverty and increasing the standard of living of its clients by offering a comprehensive, integrated package of market- and farmer-driven services. • Responsible for fulfilling CARD’s Mission (to assist farmers and agribusinesses in the production and marketing of food and related products to increase incomes and create jobs) as well as all administrative and financial functions of the organization. • Provided day-to-day leadership and guidance to CARD’s Management Team, comprised of Armenian and international experts, to ensure proper strategies, financial resource planning, and internal controls in compliance with Armenian law. • Organized, planned, established, and implemented new and innovative development projects, including procedures, regulations, policies and program operations. Managed and adjusted project budgets as required to accomplish overall goals within established timeframes. • Prime liaison with primary funder (the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service), pertinent US and local government agencies as well as Armenian and international development organizations in order to develop and strengthen collaborative arrangements for innovative development programs. • Ensured comprehensive monitoring and evaluation for timely reporting to the CARD Board of Trustees, donors, partners, and collaborators on changing political, budgetary, programmatic, and administrative circumstances influencing projects being implemented. Presented new funding and project proposals to donors and negotiated new partnership arrangements. Director and Project Coordinator, USDA MARKETING ASSISTANCE PROJECT, Yerevan, Armenia (October 2003 - March 2005) • Managed/coordinated annual $7.5 million Freedom Support Act (FSA)-funded international agribusiness development project, providing project leadership, administrative oversight, and program guidance. • Coordinated staff of 100 personnel, including U.S. consultants from land grant universities and local Armenian staff. Supervised USDA/International Programs’ American technical advisors. • Represented USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) in-country to both senior-level U.S. and Armenian agricultural, diplomatic, and political entities. • Serves as US Mission expert on agriculture in Armenia, collaborating projects with UNDP, UMCOR, ACDI/VOCA, DAI, etc. Provided on-time and on-budget delivery of project deliverables. • Led program initiative to transition USDA-funded project to a private sector, locally owned/managed legacy NGO. Marketing Manager, USDA MARKETING ASSISTANCE PROJECT, Yerevan, Armenia (February 2002 - September 2003) • Managed and mentored local marketing team, the core component of MAP; strategically coordinated the work of US consultants, worked closely with NGOs and international organizations to effectively implement marketing assistance to farmers and SMEs/agribusinesses. Focused on high value horticultural products and value-added processing. • Implemented marketing strategies for Armenian agribusinesses to assist them to compete in/penetrate regional and international markets such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltics, the European Union, and the United States. Conducted R&D on products and quality improvement, provided market intelligence, developed domestic and export promotion, and overcame transportation/logistical barriers. • Responsible for all reporting to donor (USDA) and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia. • Developed marketing materials for the project and its clients, as well as an “Economics Primer” for Quality Schools International (QSI) high school economics curriculum. International trade and marketing specialist, Fairfax, CA. (2001 - 2002) • Completed assignments in Armenia, Chile, Russia, and the Ukraine on international trade, business development, and marketing for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to enhance competitiveness. • Developed global marketing/business plans for agroprocessors and an Agricultural Marketing Center. • Provided in-depth country and market research, analyzed existing business operations (marketing, sales, logistics, and distribution) and developed value-added programs for maximum operational efficiency and increased revenue. • Consulting services extended to export strategies and promotion; Supply Chain Management (SCM) improvement; and a range of global trade issues. LOCKWOOD INTERNATIONAL, Mill Valley, CA. (1987-2000) Partner & Trade Development Specialist (1994-2000) • Managed fast-paced $7.0 million leading West Coast export management company specializing in the procurement and supply of infrastructure products to international architects, contractors, engineers, and planners for developing countries. Offices in Denver/Dayton and overseas offices in Hong Kong and Mexico. • Developed long and short-term global trade/marketing plans to tactically respond to large volume procurement demands for construction materials for hospitals, schools, banks, low-cost housing, government buildings, and rail systems. • Drove sales/trade team planning and marketing analysis, including research, competitive product evaluation, and sales techniques for a variety of levels of distribution/channel sales. • Analyzed and provided solutions for complex trade financial and operational issues. • Led business development programs to build brand awareness and create product competitive images abroad. • Expanded product lines by broadening partners and customer portfolio, and geographic sales regions with extensive travel throughout Asia; Latin America; the Middle East and Europe. Vice-President, Global Marketing & Sales, (1991-1993) • Global trade team management, cross-training and co-ordination of California, Colorado, and Hong Kong offices. • Supervised $5 million budget; cash flow; payroll; and financial expenditures. • Expanded product presence that lead to awarded contracts on high profile projects via continual travel to Asian markets. • Developed new secondary markets in Malaysia; Indonesia; Vietnam and the Middle East. • Introduced and applied IT solutions to increase organizational and global Supply Chain Management (SCM). Global Project Manager, (1989-1990) • Supervised and trained California office staff in all aspects of international trade and Supply Chain Management (SCM). • Reduced back-office procurement costs 20% through competitive multi-vendor bidding. • Built relationships with key prime manufacturing and contracting organizations that were experts in their focus areas and drafted and implemented exclusivity agreements for overseas presentation. • Augmented accounts service with overseas on-site product consultation. Operations/Logistics Manager, 1987-1988 • Sourced wide range of multi-industry products from specified bill of materials lists. • Negotiated ocean freight rates for 2000 40’containers on behalf of clients. • Devised economical and custom loading plans for outbound shipping container consolidations. • Procured $3 million materials annually for high profile Hong Kong/Asian projects and arranged air/ocean shipments of export cargo to meet tight deadlines. • Provided all necessary trade finance documentation for open account; sight draft and letter of credit payment. Appellate Level Clerk for the Attorney General, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, San Francisco, CA (1986) Wrote respondent briefs for filing in California Court of Appeals. EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX, INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (IDS), Brighton, UK IMA International’s “Development Planning & Management” short course, April, 2006. INSTITUTION ON INTERNATIONAL & COMPARATIVE LAW, Moscow, Russia and Warsaw, Poland, University of San Diego Summer Program, 1985. J.D. (candidate), UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL OF LAW, San Francisco, CA, 1984-86, Self-financed. B.A. Cum Laude, International Studies, DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY, San Rafael, CA, 1982. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Member, Country Team (Ambassador’s Cabinet), US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2006. Member, Assistance Coordination Group (ACG), US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2006. Member, Save-The-Children Community Self-Help Fund Working Group, US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2006. Founder and Member, Armenian Organic Agriculture Foundation (AOAF), 2004-Present. Member, US-Armenian Task Force (USATF), US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2005. Advisor, Organic Agriculture: Vegetable Growing, Book I. By Sarukhanyan, Nune. Aut-Graph Press, Yerevan, Armenia, 2005. Member, Steering Committee, New Embassy Compound (NEC), Armenia, 2004-2005. Member, International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS) Council, US Embassy in Armenia, 2003-2005. Member, Coordinating Council of “ArmAgroForum” First International Conference, Armenia, 2004. Chair, First Plenary Session. Armenian Agricultural Academy International Scientific Conference. Yerevan, Armenia. October 28-30, 2004. Co-Chair, National Organic Action Plan (NOAP) Committee of Armenia, 2002-2003. SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Republic of Armenia Product Brief: Wine Market 2004. Co-authored with Randall Hager. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN Report (#AM4002). 26 July 2004. Consumers’ Attitudes and Preferences for Armenian Wines. Co-authored with Gagik Sardaryan and Vahe Heboyan. 14th Annual IAMA World Food & Agribusiness Symposium Paper, Montreux, Switzerland. July 2004. “USDA-MAP and Implementing Food Biosafety Measures in the Caucasus.” In Karin Nichterlein, Sinerik Ayrpetyan (ed.) Proceedings FAO/UNESCO Subregional Workshop: Agriculural Biotechnology and Biosafety for Food Security and Rural Development in the Caucasus Region and Moldova. Yerevan, Armenia. 3-6 November, 2003. “Armenia’s Gateway to the World: The Geopolitical Significance of the Port of Poti,” in Long, Doug. (2003) International Logistics and Global Supply Chain Management (3rd ed.). Norwell, Massachusetts: Kluwer Academic Publishers. Armenia-Georgia Cross-Border Trade: A Market Development Brief. USDA-MAP. August, 2003. Armenia Product Brief: Condiment Marketing, Capers (Capparis spinosa). USDA-MAP. June, 2003. “Pepper Trials and Tasting” in Marketing Horizons, USDA Newsletter #9 (60). December, 2002. Latvia Market Rapid Assessment Report. USDA-MAP. September, 2002. “Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Commercial Guide to Dispute Management” in International Computer Law Adviser. Co-authored with David Scalise. Los Angeles, 1986 SELECTED PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS European Association of Agricultural Economists 98th Seminar, Marketing Dynamics within the Global Trading System: New Perspectives. Crete, Greece, 29 June-2 July 2006. “Developing the Food Supply Chain in Armenia.” USAID Regional Consultation on Linking Farmers to Markets: Lessons Learned & Successful Practices, Cairo, Egypt. 29 January-2 February 2006. “Unlocking the Export Potential of Armenia’s Landlocked Dairy Sector.” Voice of America Television Interview, Yerevan, Armenia. 30 September, 2004. “The History of Agricultural Technical Assistance to Armenia and The USDA Marketing Assistance Project.” Partners For The Future: US Assistance In Armenia (DVD). Yerevan, Armenia. 22 September, 2004. US Embassy in Armenia. “Agricultural Marketing Assistance.” Sub-Regional FAO/UNESCO Workshop On Agricultural Biotechnology & Biosafety For Food Security and Rural Development In The Caucuses Region and Moldova, Yerevan, Armenia. November 3, 2003. “New Biosafety and Bio-Terrorism Regulations Implemented by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.” Post Harvest Handling Conference, American University of Armenia Business Center, Yerevan. November 2003. “Fruit Quality in the Market: Increasing Buyer Sovereignty Through Standards.” USDA-MAP Wine Conference: Growing Quality Grapes To Produce Quality Wines In Armenia, Yerevan, Armenia. October 16, 2003. “The USDA-MAP’s Efforts to Develop the Armenian Wine Industry.” International Black Sea University, Tbilisi, Georgia. August, 2003. “Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Capacity Building in the Caucasus: Improving Market Share In Existing and Penetrating New Markets.” Armenian Agricultural Academy, Yerevan, Armenia. “Food Marketing in Ukraine: Opportunities & Obstacles.” November, 2002. “Armenian Agroproduct Trade Management to and Opportunities in the Ukrainian Market.” 2001 Armenpack Packaging Union, Packaging Roundtable, Yerevan, Armenia. “Food Packaging In Armenia: Methods and Materials.” November, 2002 National Organic Action Plan Committee Workshop, Yerevan, Armenia. “Organic Farming in Armenia and Export Market Opportunities.” July, 2002 “The IFOAM Organic World Conference 2002 and Its Implications For Armenia.” September, 2002 University of California, Davis. “International Agromarketing & Export Strategies in the CIS.” 2001 San Francisco State University, School of Business, San Francisco. “B2B E-commerce Solutions in Global Trade,” 2000 “The Role of Export Management Companies in International Trade.” 1998; “Parallel Exporting In Asian Markets,” 1996. Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, Saigon, Vietnam. “Business Opportunities for Foreign Joint Ventures in the Vietnam Market.” 1994. MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IAMA (International Food & Agribusiness Management Association), 2004-Present American Chamber of Commerce In Armenia (2002-Present) Slow Food International Oakland World Trade Association (OWTA) World Affairs Council of Northern California |
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