Gittes Global is headed up by Sam Kaplan. In 20 years at the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, the last five as president, Sam was engaged in promoting, connecting and educating the Greater Seattle region internationally for trade and business. At TDA he led the effort to create target markets for the organization which married industry sectors with international markets using data and qualitative analysis. As President of TDA, Sam oversaw the organization of nearly a dozen outbound business and leadership missions, helped lead the Brookings Institution/JP Morgan Chase Global Cities Initiative to improve greater Seattle’s efforts at attracting foreign direct investment, helped organize the successful visit of President Xi Jinping and co-led the effort to create an International Competitive Strategy for Washington state. Sam helped companies and organizations be successful internationally and worked with international investors to be successful in Washington state. He worked with leaders in business, government and education, including Governor Christine Gregoire, Ambassador Gary Locke and CEOs and business leaders throughout the region and world.
Previously Sam worked as a legislative assistant handling foreign affairs and trade issues for now retired U.S. Representative John Miller. Representative Miller served on the Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittee on International Trade. Sam has been published in the World Bank’s Urban Age magazine, as well as in many other publications. He wrote and co-produced the short film about customer service, Please Hold, and is author of the novel, Munsrat Lives. Sam has traveled and worked extensively within Asia and Europe during his long career in international affairs and trade. He is the publisher of International Need to Know, a weekly email newsletter presenting essential, under the radar information and data on the international economy.
