Thursday, July 06, 2006

SUSTA Welcomes New Executive Director

This July, the Southern U.S. Trade Association welcomes new Executive Director Jerry Hingle to its staff.

Jerry is a native of New Orleans and comes to SUSTA with extensive experience in international marketing and agriculture. Prior to joining SUSTA, Jerry spent 10 years with the Southern Forest Products Association, a trade association representing the U.S. lumber industry. He directed the association’s $1 million international marketing and trade policy program in 22 countries. He also served as an appointee to the U.S. Commerce Department’s Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Forest Products, where he advised U.S. government trade policy negotiators on issues affecting the industry.

Jerry also worked previously with the American Forest & Paper Association in Washington, D.C., managing international marketing and research programs for wood products in Taiwan, Korea, China, Mexico, and the European Union. Before joining AF&PA, Jerry conducted market potential studies for U.S. agricultural products in Europe as account manager of public relations and research for A&MV Public Relations International in Brussels, Belgium.

Jerry obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Loyola University, with a major in marketing. He also holds an MBA from the European University in Brussels, Belgium, specializing in international management.