Forum focuses on export options for small businesses

Exporting goods and services isn’t just for the big-business powerhouses; it’s for the little ones too.

That will be one of the prevailing messages later this month during the World Trade Week Breakfast and Forum, a new event hosted by the Irvine Chamber of Commerce.

The May 14 forum will be from 8 a.m. to noon at the Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport hotel, 18800 MacArthur Blvd. Organizers are billing the event as a focus on the value of trade and the benefits of exporting whatever local businesses have to offer.

“Many of our companies, not just the Fortune 500s, are doing a very brisk export business,” said Linda DiMario, the chamber’s senior director of economic development and tourism. “What we’re hoping to share is that exporting is something that every business owner, regardless of their product or service, should explore.”

The keynote speaker is Mark O’Connell, CEO of OCO Global, an investment and trade consulting firm with offices throughout the world. O’Connell will speak on developing and implementing both international expansion and foreign investment strategies, according to a news release.

DiMario said attendees will also get a chance to ask the speakers questions and network with other business owners.

“This isn’t just about standing at the podium and throwing data at people,” she said.

Organizers noted that the forum is also bringing together a wide variety of local organizations, including Women in International Trade, Orange County; the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County; Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County; and Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

More than 200 are expected to attend, but organizers space is available to the public.

Tickets are $50 or $400 for a table of eight. For more information or to register, https://www.irvinechamber.com/wtw2015.