Robinson+Cole Manufacturing Industry Team Chair Receives Ambassador Award from Connecticut District Export Council
Robinson+Cole Manufacturing Industry Team Chair Jeffrey J. White is among six business leaders to receive the Connecticut District Export Council (CTDEC) 2020 Ambassador Award. The Ambassador Award is given in recognition and appreciation of outstanding contributions and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic in service to the region’s exporters and manufacturers.
“Each one of these dedicated professionals has given their time, expertise and business wisdom to support companies in our region during this unprecedented time. This award recognizes their commitment to the business community and our nation,” said John Schuyler, CTDEC Chairman.
Mr. White is currently serving on the CTDEC for the 2020-2022 term, as appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and has been noted as one of the most active DEC members this year, supporting the activities of the office and continually sharing his expertise with companies in Connecticut and nationwide. Appointment to the DEC is based upon an individual’s international trade leadership in the local community, ability to influence the local environment for exporting, knowledge of day-to-day international operations, interest in export development, and willingness and ability to devote time to Council activities.
Earlier in the year, Mr. White spearheaded the Robinson+Cole Manufacturing Industry Team’s involvement in the COVID-19 Special Topics Conference Calls Series presented by the U.S. Department of Commerce in partnership with the CTDEC, which offered a series of programs on issues affecting manufacturers during the coronavirus pandemic. Topics included “Force Majeure Both for Contracts/Suppliers, Cancellation of Trade Shows,” “Employment Issues Related to Teleworking,” and “Price Gouging and Government Investigations.” The programs reached more than 3,000 companies in the region.
Mr. White is significantly involved with manufacturing industry issues on both a national and international level. He has represented a cross-section of manufacturing companies ranging from large global companies to family-owned businesses. He has worked with economic development agencies to support direct foreign investment into the United States and currently advises several manufacturers headquartered in Europe and South America.
Mr. White has been invited to speak at The White House, U. S. Department of Commerce events, and by other manufacturing trade associations. He has worked with economic development agencies to support direct foreign investment into the United States. Due in large part to Mr. White’s efforts, Robinson+Cole was presented with the President’s “E” Award for Export Service by the United States Secretary of Commerce in May 2019. The Award was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for significant contributions to the expansion of U.S. exports. Robinson+Cole was the only law firm in the country to receive the honor in 2019. In addition, Mr. White was recently recognized for his leadership of the Robinson+Cole Manufacturing Industry Team in the inaugural list of “New England Trailblazers,” a special supplement developed by the business arm of Law.com and the Connecticut Law Tribune.
Mr. White’s innovative approach has helped create a series of firsts that have solidified Robinson+Cole as having “one of the nation’s top manufacturing law practices,” as noted in a recent article by the Indiana Lawyer. For example, Mr. White created the widely read Manufacturing Law Blog, which was one of the first blogs in the country to address legal issues facing manufacturers and distributors.
The CTDEC, a Connecticut not-for-profit, is affiliated with the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center in Middletown, Connecticut. The International Trade Administration Commercial Service offices in the U.S. work closely with 61 DECs comprised of nearly 1,500 business and trade experts from across the country who volunteer to help U.S. companies develop solid export strategies.
About Robinson+Cole
Robinson+Cole is an AmLaw 200 law firm established 175 years ago with a deeply-rooted culture of collaboration, civility and inclusion. With more than 200 lawyers in eleven offices throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Florida and California, we serve regional, national, and international clients, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Robinson+Cole is a service mark of Robinson & Cole LLP. For more information, please visit www.rc.com.