[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Marshall-Girtman-SMS-web.jpg” alt=”Marshall Girtman, Special Mine Services” title_text=”Marshall-Girtman-SMS-web” admin_label=”Marshall Girtman Photo” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_all=”6px” border_color_all=”#ababab” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Caption” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
Marshall Girtman, <\/strong>Special Mine Services <\/strong><\/p>\n International Sales Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.0″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n \u200bArticle originally published by Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois on February 21, 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n Special Mine Services International Sales Manager Marshall Girtman, a client of the IL SBDC ITC at SIUE. Faced by the challenges of 2020, industrial-size electrical connector manufacturer Special Mine Services, Inc. (SMS), of West Frankfort, has been working with Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Director Silvia Torres Bowman to overcome adversity by exploring international markets.<\/p>\n Thanks to CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funding, the ITC has been connecting new and existing Southern Illinois exporters one-on-one with successful industry and trade professionals from around the U.S. and the world.<\/p>\n Special Mine Services (SMS) has been exporting to Canada for the last 20 years. Amid the pandemic, SMS recognized the value of diversifying its client base internationally, but needed help to expand its reach. According to SMS International Sales Manager Marshall Girtman, over the past eight months, he and his firm have benefitted greatly from ITC\u2019s professional connections with international trade experts.<\/p>\n \u201cWe began working with International Trade Center Director Silvia Torres Bowman in July, and she has already connected us with a number of valuable experts and resources,\u201d said Girtman. \u201cSilvia has assisted in identifying our top 10 export markets, from which we chose our top three. Silvia has also helped greatly with market analysis and research as to what was feasible for our company. Additionally, she has assisted Special Mine Services in applying for ISTEP (Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion) program grants to equip us with financial and technical assistance to increase our exports.\u201d<\/p>\n Thanks to CARES Act funds, and armed with new export knowledge and resources provided by the ITC, SMS participated for the first time as a virtual exhibitor at the Second International Virtual Trade Show of The Americas. The event was held in early December, and attended by more than 500 visitors from 21 countries. It was sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Colombia and supported by the AMCHAMs in Peru and Ecuador.<\/p>\n \u201cOur company benefitted from this virtual opportunity in a few specific ways,\u201d Girtman said. \u201cIt provided us with experience in setting up a virtual booth, developing marketing materials, and preparing for virtual meetings with an interpreter. Also, it provided brand and company exposure to Latin American companies and organizations. It was a great experience for me and Special Mine Services. I am thankful to Silvia and all who helped us. I now look forward to exploring markets in Australia, Peru and Mexico.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Special Mine Services International Sales Manager Marshall Girtman, a client of the IL SBDC ITC at SIUE.Faced by the challenges of 2020, industrial-size electrical connector manufacturer Special Mine Services Inc. (SMS), of West Frankfort, has been working with Illinois SBDC International Trade Center (ITC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Director Silvia Torres Bowman to overcome adversity by exploring international markets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=639"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":658,"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639\/revisions\/658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/specialmineservices.com\/espanol\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Read more >><\/a><\/h5>\n