More than 80 Kentuckians gathered firsthand knowledge of China and its culture, including business operations there, as Commerce Lexington conducted its first education mission to China Sept. 29-Oct. 7 while the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce held its second such trip Oct. 8-16.
A mix of business professionals, several spouses, some retirees and a few commonwealth youth participated in the weeklong travel tours.
They visited Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou, with touring stops at places like The Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Ming Tombs, Lingering Garden, West Lake and more. Additionally there were visits with several executives who operate the Chinese offices of Kentucky businesses such as GBBN architects and animal health supplements maker Alltech.
“We learned from business and consulting experts just what a Kentucky company or entrepreneur might need to know about doing business in China,” said Bill Goodman, host of KET’s “One-to-One” and “Kentucky Tonight” programs and a participant in the Kentucky Chamber trip.
“The trip agenda allowed travelers to immerse themselves in the culture and everyday life of the citizenry along the Grand Canal and the alleys of Hangzhou, and we marveled at the skyscrapers in Shanghai.”
KET will broadcast features about the Mission to China this fall.
Bob Quick, president/CEO of Commerce Lexington, reported finding a blending of communism and capitalism in most areas of China, which is aggressively pursuing improvement in its overall quality of living.
“It was truly an eye-opening and once in a lifetime experience for many of the participants,” Quick said. “I saw China as a country of significant contrasts. The population centers are marked by much opulence and poverty, and sometimes it is found to be side-by-side. The cities have colorful lighting at night, yet the rural areas are dark as China tries to save money.”
Commerce Lexington Delegation
Christopher and Susan Anderson, Barr Anderson & Roberts PSC; David Beaver, S.C. Johnson; Lynda Bebrowsky, Commerce Lexington; Erik Carlson, Smiley Pete Publishing; Charles Chan, Chan Financial Tax Service PLLC; Kimra Cole, Your Smart Office Solution; Frankie and Marilyn Daniel, University of Kentucky; Larry Marcus Elliott, Larry M. Elliott D.M.D.; Patty Fenley, Hampton Inn I-75; Linda Griffin, Chan Financial Tax Service PLLC; Sarah Jane Hamilton; Katherine Hardwick, Commerce Lexington Inc.; Art Herman; Larry and Marilyn Hitchner, Merit Furniture Inc.; Camela Hughes-Fletcher, Collins Hughes Reporting and Video Service; Buck and Lyla Hunter, IBM-retired; Margaret and Michael Kannensohn, Strategic Funding Group; Greg Kessinger, First State Financial; Diana and Jeff Koonce, Cumberland Valley National Bank; Dean and Zachary Langdon, Delcotto Law Group; Elizabeth Leppman, Elizabeth J. Leppman; Kathryn and Nelson Maynard, Kentucky Utilities Co.; Brooke, John, Lori and Megan McIntosh; Marcia Messer, Catholic Health Partners; Alice Pennington; Robert Quick, Commerce Lexington Inc.; Carolyn Richardson; Patricia Schwab, Schwab’s Pipes N Stuff; Jeanne and Nathaniel Scott, Modern Property Management Inc.; Geraldine and John Shotwell; Michele Szukala; Quint Tatro, Tatro Capital LLC; Roy Thomason; Bobbie S. Vereeke; Leslie Vose, Landrum & Shouse LLP; David and Elaine Wilkinson; Jeanette Wilson, University of Kentucky; John Withers, Lexington Leadership Foundation; Jack Witt, American Founders Bank; Cindy Leveridge; and Jennifer Wilson.
Kentucky Chamber Delegation
Casey Adams, Kentucky Chamber, Frankfort; Pedro Bryant, Metro Bank, Louisville; Barbara Carrigan, Carrigan Supply Co., Maysville; Annie Edwards, Genscape Inc., Louisville; James Ford, Kentucky Chamber; Bill Goodman, Kentucky Educational Television, Lexington; Chip and Stacie Huber, Q Fix Truck Service, Crestwood; Melissa Iskra, Asmark Institute, Owensboro; Ben Jackson, The Jackson Group LLC, Louisville; Linda Jackson, Stites & Harbison PLLC, Louisville; Carrye and Franklin Jones, Jefferson County Public School District, Louisville; Kurt Kleymeyer, FTJ Fundchoice, Fort Mitchell; Johnnie and Melanie Lawrence, Asmark Institute, Owensboro; David and Deb Moessner, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky, Louisville; Alexander Prah, Carrigan Supply Co., Maysville; Johnna Reeder, Duke Energy-Ohio & Kentucky, Fort Mitchell; Gregory and Alice Schaaf, Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC, Lexington; Kim Simons, Madisonville Community College, Earlington; and Sara Summers, Asmark Institute, Owensboro.
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