The STEP grant program has helped thousands of small businesses obtain grants and find customers in the international marketplace since 2011. STEP financial support helps small businesses with marketing initiatives including assistance with campaigns, e-commerce, trade show exhibits and training workshops. Join us with this month’s special guests as we discuss how STEP Grants and Export Funding can help manufacturers with their marketing challenges.

Speakers:

Kathryn Bamberger is an Industry Development Director in Empire State Development’s International Division, Global NY.  Managing half of the Upstate Regions, her clients mainly are located between Plattsburgh and Poughkeepsie, west to Warrensburg, Utica and Oneonta.  She brings a special interest in food and beverage resulting from her tenure in a similar role at NYS Dept Agriculture.  She holds a BA from St Lawrence University in Canton and an MBA from Sage Graduate School in Albany.  Prior to joining the state, she held various sales and marketing positions in the private sector, garnering several awards and recognitions.  

Antonio Rodriguez is a Senior International Trade Manager at Empire State Development’s (ESD) Global NY Division, where he counsels New York companies on all aspects of Global NY programs and services, which are available to promote exports.  Antonio is responsible for managing the New York State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).  The STEP grant program is a collaborative funding opportunity initiative with the U.S. Small Business Administration developed to increase the number of small businesses that export and the value of small business exports. The STEP grant program helps small businesses overcome obstacles to exporting by providing grants to cover costs associated with entering and expanding into international markets.

Prior to his current position, he worked as a Small Business Environmental Ombudsman at ESD to help New York small businesses understand and comply with regulations enacted to implement the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; and as a Senior Project Manager with ESD’s Environmental Services Unit, worked with companies and organizations to facilitate funding opportunities for projects that lead to measurable recycling, pollution prevention and sustainable economic development results.  

Antonio has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering (Ch.E.) from The City College of New York.