Program Managers

Joe Adams

Joe Adams, International Trade Manager 500 East Main Street, Suite 1220 Norfolk, Virginia 23510 Phone: (757) 314-2358 Fax: (757) 314-2360 Email: JAdams@YesVirginia.org

BIO

As an International Trade Manager, Joe is a veteran trade developer in Virginia. He served as Director of Educational Programs and Services for the Virginia Department of World Trade and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership from 1988 until 1992. From 1992 until 1998, Joe was an International Trade Development Specialist at Virginia Tech.

While at Virginia Tech, Joe co-authored and administered funded proposals totaling over $2.5 million. Among these was a proposal for $1 million to fund export development of Information Technology and Telecommunications from Northern Virginia. Through another U.S. Department of Commerce program, Joe represented Virginia businesses in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, the Slovak Republic, Mexico, Chile and Bolivia. A third grant funded the World Trade Institute through which economic developers are taught export fundamentals.

Joe Adams led the development of numerous business plans for business incubators, manufacturing facilities and market expansions in Virginia. He administered over 150 custom International Market Plans for Virginia businesses. In the private sector, he co-founded a highly successful coffee-exporting firm in LaPaz, Bolivia, which just celebrated its 26th anniversary.

Joe is a past Chairman of the Training and Education Committee for the Virginia Economic Developers Association. He served as Program Chair for the Virginia Chamber's Conference on World Trade from 1995 until 1997. Dr. Adams was named by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to serve on the Governor's "Opportunity Virginia" Strategic Planning Committee. Joe received the 1996 Governor's Award for Excellence in International Market Planning.

Joe served as an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University (GMU) in the Masters in Commerce and Policy Program from 1991 until 1998. At GMU, he developed and taught two courses on international economic development.

Joe has a B.A. in Business Administration, an M.A. in Spanish Literature, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration.