2024
4. Juni 2025 | München
Entering the North American market is an important step in the export strategy for many German companies. However, it is crucial for its success to consider the peculiarities and differences in legal and intercultural aspects.
On the one hand, it isdecisiveto develop an overall holistic sales strategy and adjust it to the target market. On the other hand, so the details are important, such as the country-specific adaptation of marketing materials. Often even distribution channels from acquisition to after-sales service, differ from the German model and shouldthereforebe taken into consideration and developed accordingly.
The event targets German companies that are seeking to establish business relationships within the US or to further expand their economic activities in the USA. Representatives of German companies in the USA who have already successfully established sales there, will participate in the workshop and pass on their experience and knowledge.
The workshop aims to support companies to prepare comprehensively for the various steps involved in developing sales strategies for the US market by focusing on practical issues and how to answer them.
Our Speakers
Karsten Bohrs
CEO, The Simpleshow Company SA
Karsten Böhrs is an experienced entrepreneur and sales expert. In 2013 he joined the explainer video company simpleshow as CEO. He has since been dedicated to the strategic expansion of the company's market leadership through internationalization and innovation leadership based on focused technology development. After more than 20 years in management positions at multinationals such as Axel Springer and the Otto Group, in 2007 Karsten started focusing on personal projects and promising business models as an entrepreneurial investor. His recipe for success, in addition to his
experience, is a mixture of enthusiasm, energy, and vision.
Rudy Autumn
President & CEO, United Soft Plastics
Rudi Herbst founded United Soft Plastics, Inc. in May 2005. As main shareholder he became Chairman, President & CEO of United Soft Plastics, Inc, an international operating and highly specialized TPE Manufacturer headquartered in Lawrenceville, GA. In addition, the company is just setting up another production facility in Houston, TX and it maintains warehouses and sales offices in USA, Argentina, Mexico, Germany, Malaysia and China.
Mr. Herbst started his career 28 years ago as a developer of soft plastic materials at Gummiwerk Kraiburg in Germany. After founding a new US subsidiary in Duluth, GA in 1999, the TPE division of Gummiwerk Kraiburg was transferred into a new company (Kraiburg TPE, Corp.) and Rudi Herbst was appointed President & CEO.
Rodney Hunter
Business Director North/South America and MEA, Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG
Rodney Hunter has over 32 years of management experience as a market development, sales and marketing professional (FMCG). He gained US and International experience in different businesses, leadership positions, cultures and geographies with Proctor & Gamble and Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG
As Director of North / South America and MEA at Ritter Sport he is currently responsible for developing sales and marketing strategies and lead execution of Ritter Sport's international expansion in these geographies. Further, he manages the development and execution of sales and marketing plans, and is responsible for their respective profit (P&L).
Rodney Hunter holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Economics and Management from University of Arizona.
Carsten Salewski
Member of the Executive Board – Sales, Marketing and International Business, Viscom AG
Carsten Salewski has been in the electronics industry for over 20 years. Prior to his appointment as President and CEO of Viscom Inc. in Duluth, Georgia, the US subsidiary of Viscom AG, he was division manager for customer specific projects, in addition to holding previous management positions in R&D and sales. Since Salewski joined Viscom Inc., in 2004, the company has grown substantially, opening two new sales and service offices in San Jose, Calif., and Guadalajara, Mexico.
Carsten Salewski also serves as chairman of the IPC SMEMA council, the Surface Mount Equipment Manufacturer Association in the US trade organization IPC. In June 2018, Salewski becomes a Member of the Executive Board of Viscom AG in Hannover Germany, where he is responsible for sales and international business.
moderator
Stefanie Ziska
President & CEO German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc.
Since joining the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc. (GACC South) in 2006, Stefanie Ziska has held various roles. She became Director of Marketing in 2008 and Vice President in 2011. As of March 1, 2017 she became President and CEO.
Stefanie initiated the joint AHK USA brand and started the current nation-wide skilled workforce initiative for the German Dual Vocational Training System in the United States.
In 2016 Stefanie won the Governor's Award of GA for International Business Woman of the Year and was nominated for the US Committee of the German Chancellor Program of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in 2017.