Press Release Oct 06 2008

Gala Counters Economic Gloom

San Diego World Trade Center Announces Big Winners in International Trade

October 6, 2008, SAN DIEGO - Crazy cars and luxury limos with huge auto-haulers rolling by every 10 minutes created a memorable evening of important recognitions, connections and a first-hand look at the Working Water Front for international business executives that attended the San Diego World Trade Center's (SDWTC) 3st Annual Awards Gala. The event was held October 2 on the working waterfront of PASHA Automotive Services.

"What a happy group of executives, which is amazing given the gloomy financial picture. Interesting what an event like this can do to promote optimism for the world trade picture", said Joe Zerboni, San Diego Chair, Vistage International, Inc.

SDWTC congratulates all 2008 nominees and the honorees selected as follows: Importer of the Year - Ethertronics, Inc.; Exporter of the Year - Goodrich Aerostructures; Emerging Company of the Year - Quake Global; Service Provider of the Year - Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce. The Essence of World Trade award was presented by San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders to William A. Hall, owner of Vivistar and Commissioner Emeritus, San Diego Unified Port District.

The program's keynote speakers, Dan Griswold, Director of Cato Institute' Center for Trade and Policy Studies, and John Adeyemi Adeleke, CEO of World Trade Center Lagos, Nigeria, stimulated thought and conversation by highlighting the trade policy positions of the two presidential candidates, and related impacts on domestic and world trade.

Elizabeth Foster, SDWTC Chair, stated "The turbulent world economy, different trade policy positions of the presidential candidates, and the local November ballot initiative promoting the double-decking of the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal for commercial development all made for a dynamic intersection of critical issues that were highlighted during this Gala."

Reb Risty
Marketing & Program Director
619.615.0868
rristy@wtcsd.org