Meet the Team Driving Global Trade in the South Sound

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Meet the Team Driving Global Trade in the South Sound

The World Trade Center Tacoma team brings decades of experience across trade, investment, compliance, innovation, and creative diplomacy — all focused on helping local businesses thrive on the global stage.

Michael Fowler

Executive Director, World Trade Center Tacoma

Michael Fowler is a seasoned trade and investment consultant. He specializes in facilitating inbound foreign direct investment and trade transactions across Japan, China, Vietnam, and India.

Proficient in both Japanese and Chinese, he leverages his linguistic and cultural skills to enhance business engagements

.

Expertise: His trade sector experience spans multiple industries, with a particular focus on exporting and marketing consumer products to Japan and China.

Inbound foreign direct investment projects facilitated in Tacoma have totaled hundreds of millions of dollars, significantly contributing to the revitalization of downtown, including the Marriott Tacoma Downtown hotel, and the establishment of the multi-billion dollar luxury development, Point Ruston.

Ron Smith

Senior Consultant, World Trade Center Tacoma

Ron Smith brings decades of experience guiding individuals and organizations through complex transitions, with a track record of uncovering hidden opportunities and building practical pathways to growth. At the World Trade Center Tacoma, Ron focuses on special projects that connect local businesses to international markets, helping clients identify overlooked strengths, navigate uncertainty, and accelerate results.

Ron hosts the Mastermind Groups and Country/Pac programs at the World Trade Center, most recently leading Afri/Pac, building trade through collaboration and strengthening global relationships that translate into real business opportunities for local companies.

An entrepreneur, coach, and advisor, Ron is known for his creative approach to problem-solving, using real-world strategies to move projects forward quickly while eliminating unnecessary complexity. His work includes developing programs to attract and support international talent, designing incubators for small businesses seeking global expansion, and facilitating partnerships that align local impact with international reach.

Ron’s mission aligns with the World Trade Center’s vision: equipping businesses to compete and thrive on a global stage while ensuring they remain rooted in sustainable, community-driven practices. Whether advising a startup or supporting a multinational partnership, Ron’s commitment is to create results that matter.

Renaldo Valentine

Global Innovation Architect

Renaldo Valentine is a dynamic and results-driven business strategist with a Master of Science in Marketing and Digital Design (Oct 2024) and a Bachelor's in Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management. With a proven track record as a Senior Contract Specialist for Sound Transit and the Department of the Army, he brings deep expertise in federal contracting, business development, and compliance.

As the founder of Valentine NLL LLC, a Veteran-owned Defense Contracting company since 2015, Renaldo delivers IT solutions, cybersecurity, supply chain systems, and AI-powered marketing solutions to enterprises navigating rapid growth, regulatory hurdles, and digital transformation.

Backed by a Secret Clearance and a network that includes partnerships with global telecoms and trade entities like the World Trade Center Tacoma, he is skilled in bridging government, tech, and healthcare sectors.

Known for his consultative approach, strategic insight, and ability to drive measurable impact, Renaldo is the ideal partner for executives seeking innovative growth, operational resilience, and trusted collaboration in today’s fast-evolving markets.

Syed Jamal

International Film and Event Consultant

Syed Jamal is a catalyst for international connection, using the power of film and storytelling to bridge Tacoma, WA, with Kochi, India, and beyond. Drawing on his background in film, Syed has played a pivotal role in bringing international filmmakers to Tacoma, helping to resurrect the local film industry while positioning Tacoma as a hub for creative diplomacy.

A consummate entrepreneur, Syed is the force behind several international events, including the renowned Festival of Light, attracting visitors and students from around the world to Tacoma. His initiatives build lasting global relationships rooted in a human-first approach, focusing on storytelling, program development, and public diplomacy.

Syed serves on the board of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma (WACTacoma.com) and Tasveer.org, home of the world’s only Oscar-qualifying South Asian film festival. As an international ambassador for the World Trade Center Tacoma (WTCTacoma.org), Syed champions creative economy and educational initiatives that spark collective impact across borders.

Inspired by changemakers like the Freedom Riders, Howard Zinn, and Muhammad Ali, Syed leads with courage, conviction, and compassion, dedicating his work to creating meaningful, long-term partnerships that empower communities globally.

Core Competencies:
Strategic storytelling, cross-sector partnerships, public diplomacy, program design, multimedia communication, integrated marketing & branding.

Noelle Hill

International Liaison & Operations Coordinator, World Trade Center Tacoma

Noelle Hill serves as the International Liaison and Operations Coordinator at the World Trade Center Tacoma, supporting its mission to advance global trade through collaboration, education, and strategic partnerships. She helps connect local businesses with international opportunities while ensuring seamless coordination across programs and events that strengthen the South Sound’s position in the global marketplace.

A recent graduate of the University of Puget Sound, Noelle applies her strong analytical skills and understanding of policy landscapes that shape international commerce to her role. She also works with Spaceworks Tacoma, where she supports the Incubator Program, manages communications, and assists with events, bringing a practical, community-focused approach to operational excellence.

At the World Trade Center Tacoma, Noelle brings the same commitment and enthusiasm to fostering connections that build bridges between the South Sound and global markets.

Michael Fowler

Executive Director, World Trade Center Tacoma

Michael Fowler is a seasoned trade and investment consultant. He specializes in facilitating inbound foreign direct investment and trade transactions across Japan, China, Vietnam, and India.

Proficient in both Japanese and Chinese, he leverages his linguistic and cultural skills to enhance business engagements

.

Expertise: His trade sector experience spans multiple industries, with a particular focus on exporting and marketing consumer products to Japan and China.

Inbound foreign direct investment projects facilitated in Tacoma have totaled hundreds of millions of dollars, significantly contributing to the revitalization of downtown, including the Marriott Tacoma Downtown hotel, and the establishment of the multi-billion dollar luxury development, Point Ruston.

Ron Smith

Senior Consultant, World Trade Center Tacoma

Ron Smith brings decades of experience guiding individuals and organizations through complex transitions, with a track record of uncovering hidden opportunities and building practical pathways to growth. At the World Trade Center Tacoma, Ron focuses on special projects that connect local businesses to international markets, helping clients identify overlooked strengths, navigate uncertainty, and accelerate results.

Ron hosts the Mastermind Groups and Country/Pac programs at the World Trade Center, most recently leading Afri/Pac, building trade through collaboration and strengthening global relationships that translate into real business opportunities for local companies.

An entrepreneur, coach, and advisor, Ron is known for his creative approach to problem-solving, using real-world strategies to move projects forward quickly while eliminating unnecessary complexity. His work includes developing programs to attract and support international talent, designing incubators for small businesses seeking global expansion, and facilitating partnerships that align local impact with international reach.

Ron’s mission aligns with the World Trade Center’s vision: equipping businesses to compete and thrive on a global stage while ensuring they remain rooted in sustainable, community-driven practices. Whether advising a startup or supporting a multinational partnership, Ron’s commitment is to create results that matter.

Renaldo Valentine

Global Innovation Architect

Renaldo Valentine is a dynamic and results-driven business strategist with a Master of Science in Marketing and Digital Design (Oct 2024) and a Bachelor's in Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management. With a proven track record as a Senior Contract Specialist for Sound Transit and the Department of the Army, he brings deep expertise in federal contracting, business development, and compliance.

As the founder of Valentine NLL LLC, a Veteran-owned Defense Contracting company since 2015, Renaldo delivers IT solutions, cybersecurity, supply chain systems, and AI-powered marketing solutions to enterprises navigating rapid growth, regulatory hurdles, and digital transformation.

Backed by a Secret Clearance and a network that includes partnerships with global telecoms and trade entities like the World Trade Center Tacoma, he is skilled in bridging government, tech, and healthcare sectors.

Known for his consultative approach, strategic insight, and ability to drive measurable impact, Renaldo is the ideal partner for executives seeking innovative growth, operational resilience, and trusted collaboration in today’s fast-evolving markets.

Syed Jamal

International Film and Event Consultant

Syed Jamal is a catalyst for international connection, using the power of film and storytelling to bridge Tacoma, WA, with Kochi, India, and beyond. Drawing on his background in film, Syed has played a pivotal role in bringing international filmmakers to Tacoma, helping to resurrect the local film industry while positioning Tacoma as a hub for creative diplomacy.

A consummate entrepreneur, Syed is the force behind several international events, including the renowned Festival of Light, attracting visitors and students from around the world to Tacoma. His initiatives build lasting global relationships rooted in a human-first approach, focusing on storytelling, program development, and public diplomacy.

Syed serves on the board of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma (WACTacoma.com) and Tasveer.org, home of the world’s only Oscar-qualifying South Asian film festival. As an international ambassador for the World Trade Center Tacoma (WTCTacoma.org), Syed champions creative economy and educational initiatives that spark collective impact across borders.

Inspired by changemakers like the Freedom Riders, Howard Zinn, and Muhammad Ali, Syed leads with courage, conviction, and compassion, dedicating his work to creating meaningful, long-term partnerships that empower communities globally.

Core Competencies:
Strategic storytelling, cross-sector partnerships, public diplomacy, program design, multimedia communication, integrated marketing & branding.

Noelle Hill

International Liaison & Operations Coordinator, World Trade Center Tacoma

Noelle Hill serves as the International Liaison and Operations Coordinator at the World Trade Center Tacoma, supporting its mission to advance global trade through collaboration, education, and strategic partnerships. She helps connect local businesses with international opportunities while ensuring seamless coordination across programs and events that strengthen the South Sound’s position in the global marketplace.

A recent graduate of the University of Puget Sound, Noelle applies her strong analytical skills and understanding of policy landscapes that shape international commerce to her role. She also works with Spaceworks Tacoma, where she supports the Incubator Program, manages communications, and assists with events, bringing a practical, community-focused approach to operational excellence.

At the World Trade Center Tacoma, Noelle brings the same commitment and enthusiasm to fostering connections that build bridges between the South Sound and global markets.

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