Southern United States Trade Association Hires Dominique A. Rouzan, Amy Simmons To Help Companies Expand Revenue Through Exporting

AUSTIN, TX, June 25, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA) today announced the hiring of Dominique A. Rouzan and Amy Simmons to help the organization enhance the food and agricultural export programming it provides to companies.

Rouzan, who serves as recruitment and training coordinator for SUSTA's Branded Program, previously worked in the area of urban residential management. She also formerly served the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans as a public affairs specialist and Adelphi Eden Health Communication, Inc., in New York as a traffic coordinator. At SUSTA, Rouzan assists small businesses with pre-qualifying and applying for SUSTA services designed to build companies' export sales. She holds master's and bachelor's degrees from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and is a member of a number of organizations focused on the social, educational and economic growth of New Orleans.

Simmons, who serves as outreach coordinator, helps identify and recruit companies to take part in SUSTA programs. With eight years of experience in the field of agricultural production and recruiting, she joins SUSTA from the Tile Shop, where she served as assistant manager and design consultant. She also has worked for Oklahoma State University as student outreach coordinator and Smithfield Foods as technical training coordinator and college recruiter. Simmons holds a master's degree in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor's degree in agricultural and extension education from New Mexico State University.

"Our organization has grown a lot over the past few years, and we're thrilled to have new talent on board to help more companies become successful exporters," said SUSTA Executive Director Jerry Hingle.

In addition, SUSTA Deputy Director Bernadette Wiltz said that Rouzan and Simmons have the skills needed to encourage and help companies take advantage of SUSTA programs.

The Southern United States Trade Association is a non-profit trade development association composed of the Departments of Agriculture of the 15 southern states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1973, its programs and services have assisted exporters of high-value food and agricultural products. SUSTA is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), its member states and private companies.