2026 International Business Forum

Forum Program

Program Schedule

Check back for speaker updates.

8:00-9:00 AM
Registration, Breakfast & Expo

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9:00-9:10 AM
Welcome Remarks by USF Leadership

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9:10-9:30 AM
Keynote Remarks by Alex Kelly, Florida Secretary of Commerce

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9:30-10:30 AM

Moderator
Raul Alfonso, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Port Tampa Bay

Fireside Chat
Alex Kelly, Florida Secretary of Commerce
Michael Simas, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Florida Council of 100

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10:30-10:45 AM
Coffee & Networking Break

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10:45 AM-Noon
Panel Discussion
Foreign Direct Investment: Global Companies, Local Growth

 

Moderator
Madison Lawson, Vice President of International Investment, SelectFlorida

Speakers
Jonathan Abreu, Director of Supply Chain in Global Operations, OPSWAT
Tobias Borawski, Managing Director, Astaras (Germany)
Nicholas Coucoules, Vice President of Programs, CAE USA (Canada)
Martin Palmeri, Managing Director, Head of Operations for the Americas, MUFG (Japan)
Chia Yuan Wang - Invited, President, Gerdau Long Steel North America

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12:00-12:30 PM
Lunch & Expo

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12:30-12:50 PM
Welcome by Jane Castor, Mayor, City of Tampa
Luncheon Remarks by Patrik Hansson, Chief Revenue Officer, AquaFence (Norway)

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12:50-1:30 PM

Moderator
Mitchel Allen, Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Tampa Bay Economic Development Council

Fireside Chat
Jennifer Crabtree, President, Tampa Medical & Research District
Patrik Hansson, Chief Revenue Officer, AquaFence (Norway)

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1:30-2:30 PM
Expo