Jacksonville businesses can learn how to expand globally as export training begins this month
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By Marcia Pledger
For Lanahan Patel Lumber CEO Kajal Patel, exporting isn’t new—but thinking bigger is.
Her Jacksonville-based company already supplies lumber and building materials to the Caribbean. But after purchasing the business in 2022, Patel saw an opportunity to grow beyond its established markets and explore what’s next.
“Central and South America are markets that I’m interested in,” Patel said. “There’s a huge market out there. I’m open to exporting to any country, but I’d like it to fit in our realm.”
That’s what led her to the International Trade Certificate Program, a six-week course designed to help businesses expand into global markets by learning how to export goods or services —with the next session beginning this month.
Hosted by the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida, the program walks participants through key aspects of exporting, from identifying international markets and securing financing to building partnerships, navigating legal requirements and developing global marketing strategies.
The program is presented in partnership with the U.S. Commercial Service, SelectFlorida, the JAX Chamber and JAXPORT, giving participants direct access to experts and resources. The new training is a cohort program with the first group of students graduating last October.
As part of the program, participants visited JAXPORT and hear from Chief Commercial Officer Robert Peek about our export capabilities and advantages to grow your business internationally.
The second cohort will gather for six consecutive Fridays from April 10 – May 15 to learn major facets of exporting: identifying overseas markets and partners; legal issues including regulations and contracts; international marketing strategies; logistics, financing and cross-cultural communications.
According to SBDC Business Consultant and program facilitator Mike Chung, one of the most valuable parts of the training is hearing directly from businesses already navigating international trade. The program also includes a behind-the-scenes tour of JAXPORT, giving attendees a firsthand look at how cargo moves through the port.
“Everyone was amazed at how expansive the port is and the work involved,” Chung said.
Among the experts were executives from companies like EZ Automation Systems and HGS BioScience, whose case studies gave participants insight into logistics, freight forwarding, compliance, and market expansion strategies.
EZ Automation Systems CEO Ahmed Tawfik shared how the program helped validate his company’s expansion strategy into the middle east and introduced new opportunities to leverage seaport services.
“I would highly recommend the program to anyone who is starting their exporting journey or to anyone interested in possibly exporting. That way they can see if it’s right for them,” Tawfik said. “We plan to use JAXPORT now because of this program. It allowed me to learn more about what JAXPORT has to offer, so we plan to use more of their services.”
Josh Welzel, Director of International Business at HGS BioScience, shared how his previous participation in the program helped prepare him for his current position.
He found the connections and resources available to him through U.S. Commercial Services to be valuable in helping vet, connect, and set up meetings with potential foreign customers as well as go on trade missions, go to trade shows; and do market research.
Those areas also resonated with Patel, as she enjoyed learning more about financing, insurance, shipping and marketing.
“When I first started the program, I was very surprised and intrigued and I never wanted to miss a session because there were so many different topics every week on an aspect of exporting,” she said.
She said one of the biggest takeaways was learning about resources available through organizations like SelectFlorida.
“I learned that there is a big world out there that want products from America, from the USA, and that there is a market out there and how to get that market – how to get there.”
Approximately 90 percent of her company’s business is export, mainly the Caribbean (mostly the Bahamas) for large resort and housing developments. Now, after completing the program, Patel is focused on expanding beyond those markets, with a long-term goal of reaching customers around the world within the next 10 to 20 years.
“The biggest change is it’s lit a fire within me to go outside of our box, which is the Caribbean, and to explore what’s more out there.”
Patel said the program meets businesses wherever they are in their exporting journey, whether they’re just getting started or looking to grow.
“They want you to succeed. They truly show that with all of their heart, they really do,” she said.
For more information about the International Trade Certificate Program – Export Training Series and registration, visit www.unf.edu/sbdc/ITCP-Export-Series.html
