Instruxo CEO selected to plan Florida’s International Business Strategy

(Orlando, Fl., March 23, 2011) – Instruxo founder and CEO, Rafael Gerena, has been selected for a group that will help craft the first-ever, state-wide strategic plan to help modernize Florida’s economy. He will focus on updating the state’s economy by increasing international trade opportunities.

Rafael was selected by The Florida Chamber Foundation, which this week announced the newest members of the 2011 Six Pillars Caucus System. The Six Pillars Caucus System is a qualitative research program aimed to engage the best and brightest minds in the state to develop a plan for Florida’s future economy that includes high-wage jobs, global competitiveness and vibrant communities by the year 2030. The program launched last year and current members have already begun to construct the foundation for the plan. In this second year, Caucus members will focus on finalizing a first-draft of recommendations.

“Connecting with markets around the world is crucial for modern economies,” Rafael says. “Florida’s prosperity will be determined by how well it integrates with global business activity.”

For more information,
- The Florida Chamber list of “caucus” members can be viewed here: http://www.flfoundation.org/InnovationandEconomicDevelopmentCaucus.asp
- or email media@instruxo.com

About Instruxo LLC:
Instruxo specializes in international business consulting. It helps U.S. companies market their products globally, updates websites for international sales and designs videos and social media campaigns in the native language that foreign buyers understand: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, Arabic, etc. Instruxo was founded by Rafael Gerena, a former Economics Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, who frequently speaks and writes about global trends. You can follow him at: LinkedIn | Twitter: @instruxo | Facebook. You can read his blog at http://instruxo.com/blog/

• Miami wants to deepen it’s port to ready for the Panama Canal Expansion
• Orlando International Airport said that International traffic rose 8% in January
• Tampa’s Port  has expanded direct container service to Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela
• Tampa hopes for ferry service to Cuba
• Orlando’s Mayor this week visited Israel in search of deals and investment
• Jacksonville’s Port plans a $300 mill terminal for South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping Co.
• Governor Rick Scott says international trade is “critical” to Florida’s economy

So, what do you think? New era or not?

Rafael Gerena is the author of the “Go Global” blog and a former Economics Reporter at The Wall Street Journal. He can be reached at info@instruxo.com, www.linkedin.com/in/rafaelgerena, Facebook, or Twitter @instruxo

Instruxo CEO, Rafael Gerena, joins Advisory Board of First Book Orlando

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Instruxo CEO joins effort to promote literacy in Central Florida

(Orlando, Fl., March 14, 2011) – Rafael Gerena, CEO of global consulting firm Instruxo LLC, has joined the advisory board of First Book Orlando. He will help raise money and awareness for First Book Orlando, a literacy group that buys books for low-income children who don’t have any. First Book Orlando is a local chapter of the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit, First Book.

First Book has distributed more than 80 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children throughout the United States and Canada. First Book is transforming the lives of children by making new, high-quality books available on an ongoing basis. Each $2 donation buys a new book.

In Orange County (Fl.), First Book Orlando has donated 17,000 books. Local book recipients have included Orange County Head Start; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida; PACE Center for Girls.

“I can’t think of a better way to help children than to promote reading,” says Rafael, Instruxo’s CEO. “An interesting book unleashes hunger to learn more.”

In Central Florida, First Book Orlando is seeking donations to buy books, free exhibit space at community events, and a place to hold occasional meetings. It’s also seeking the donation of professional services such as printing, photography and graphic design.

For more information, visit
First Book Orlando:  http://supporters.firstbook.org/site/Clubs?club_id=1062&pg=main
or email  info@instruxo.com

About Instruxo LLC:
Instruxo specializes in international business consulting. It helps U.S. companies market their products globally, updates websites for international sales and designs videos and social media campaigns in the native language that foreign buyers understand: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, Arabic, etc. Instruxo was founded by Rafael Gerena, a former Economics Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, who frequently speaks and writes about global trends.  You can follow him at:  LinkedIn | Twitter: @instruxo | Facebook. You can read his blog at www.instruxo.com/blog.

www.instruxo.com

Zoraida Velasco is the type of young professional Orlando’s economy needs: She’s tri-ingual (speaks English, Spanish, French), accomplished (has worked for former Florida Gov. Charlie Christ), and well-connected (has more than 500 LinkedIn contacts). Even better: Zoraida wants Central Florida to become a bigger player in global business. This week, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs hired Zoraida to handle Hispanic Affairs and Economic Development projects, such as the April 15 International Trade Summit (to RSVP, click link and scroll down). Zoraida gained International Trade experience working at the Metro Orlando EDC.  Zoraida’s hiring means Central Florida’s international trade community has taken a step forward.

Rafael Gerena is CEO of Instruxo, a global consulting firm, and a former Economics Reporter at The Wall Street Journal. He’s a public speaker who can be reached at info@instruxo.com, Twitter @instruxo Facebook or  www.linkedin.com/in/rafaelgerena.

Interested in Exporting? Then check out the “Introduction to Exporting” seminar scheduled for March 9 in Orlando, Fl. Topics will include:

 

I’ll be speaking about ways companies can use social media to communicate with customers around the world. The event costs $45 to attend and will run from 9am to 3:30pm. To register, click here.

Rafael Gerena is the author of the “Go Global” blog and a former Economics Reporter at The Wall Street Journal. He can be reached at info@instruxo.com, www.linkedin.com/in/rafaelgerena or Twitter @instruxo

Florida airports are preparing for a New Era of U.S.-Cuba relations: Airport officials in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Key West and possibly Orlando plan to seek federal permission to establish direct flights to Cuba under new travel rules implemented last month by the Obama administration. The goal is to prepare for a possible rush of traffic if the two nations remove all travel barriers for American tourists, reports the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. You can read the article here.

Rafael Gerena is the author of the “Go Global” blog and a former Economics Reporter at The Wall Street Journal. He can be reached at 407-536-9146, info@instruxo.com, www.linkedin.com/in/rafaelgerena or www.twitter.com/Instruxo

By Rafael Gerena, of Instruxo

Need a job? Well, U.S. companies are hiring thousands of people- overseas. Manpower, a U.S. staffing firm, says virtually all of the more than 100 offices it plans to open this year will be in emerging markets such as Poland, India, China and Vietnam. (It’s a great time to be a Vietnamese temp worker Yum!, a U.S. fast-food company, says roughly 80% of the 900 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell stores it plans to open this year will be in emerging markets, the Wall Street Journal reports. The reason? Emerging markets over the next two years are expected to grow almost three times faster than “advanced” markets, such as the U.S. and Europe. (See graph above.) Consider this: GM sold more cars in China last year than in the U.S.

WSJ subscribers can read the article here.

Bottom Line:
Smart U.S. companies are expanding in fast-growing emerging markets.

Rafael Gerena is the author of the “Go Global” blog and a former Economics Reporter at The Wall Street Journal. He can be reached at 407-536-9146, info@instruxo.com, www.linkedin.com/in/rafaelgerena or www.twitter.com/Instruxo