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World Trade Center Savannah, licensed only three years ago, has been awarded certification by the international World Trade Centers Association, meaning the regional organization has developed and maintained superior levels of services and facilities in at least four categories.
WTCSav, established as a separate 501(c)3 division of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, has achieved certification in five categories: trade information services, business services, trade education services, group trade missions and tenant services.
Established 20 years ago, the WTCA certification program begins with pre-certification with a WTCA certification manager and involves an in-depth self-assessment of the areas identified for certification.
The process wraps up with an extensive site review visit. Once certification is awarded, action plans for continuity and process improvement are established.
“We congratulate World Trade Center Savannah and its dynamic team on achieving WTCA Certification,” said Bella Heule, WTCA executive vice president. “This designation is a testament to their quality operations and services, as well as their strategic positioning as international trade and investment leaders in their region. World Trade Center Savannah has become a rising star in our global network.”
To date, only 102 World Trade Centers in 42 countries — of a total of 325 centers in 92 countries — have been certified in a minimum of four categories, Heule said, adding that it’s not often an organization so young
accomplishes the task.
“They truly hit the ground running.”
That was the objective from the beginning, said SEDA president Trip Tollison, who also serves as World Trade Center Savannah president and CEO.
“Since obtaining our license in 2011, certification has been one of our top goals for World Trade Center Savannah. We believe it assures our board of directors, partners, sponsors, other World Trade Centers and the global business community that our staff and the services we provide are consistent, reliable and of the utmost professional quality,” he said.
WTCSav board chairman Eric Johnson agreed.
“The World Trade Centers qualification certification is a rigorous and in-depth process, and we are honored that WTCA recognized the work the Savannah center is doing,” he said.
In 2013 — only its second full year of operation — WTCSav:
• Secured a dozen regional partners and added the city of Savannah as a founding partner.
• Exceeded its revenue goal by 133 percent and finished the year with 28 partners.
• Offered 15 regional education programs.
• Hosted 15 international delegations.
• Led the effort to pursue EB-5 Regional Center designation, which will allow foreign investment to create local jobs.
• Assumed the role of grantee for Foreign Trade Zone 104.
In a visit to the Savannah location last fall, Heule said WTCSav “at only 2 years old, is already light years of many other, more established, World Trade Centers.”
In a phone interview Wednesday, Heule was no less effusive in her praise of WTCSav and SEDA.
“From the very beginning, WTC Savannah made a deliberate effort to use the WTC brand to help create jobs for the region through increased foreign direct investment as well as to help regional companies import and export and set up joint ventures, both locally and internationally,” she said, adding that much of the credit goes to SEDA for its unwavering support of the program.
“Because of SEDA, the World Trade Center Savannah started out with strong infrastructure, a significant breadth and depth of reach in the business community, a highly professional team and the combined vision and leadership of its board,” she said.
“Add to that the fact that this group has been very proactive in using the World Trade Centers network to connect with the regional and international business community,” she said.
“I expect them to continue to get better and better.”
Tollison concurred.
“The thorough certification process forced us to methodically examine every aspect of our work and processes to validate the value to our partners and clients. The process also helped us discover new ways to expand and improve existing offerings.”
WTC Savannah will be recognized for its certification at the WTCA member seminar in New York City later this month.