Virginia Tech, in collaboration with Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (VAHCC), will be holding the Global Perspectives Forum in Richmond, Va., on Wednesday, May 2 and Thursday, May 3. The focus of the conference will be international trade initiatives between Spain, Central and Latin America, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The event will provide opportunities for business, community, university and government leaders to share ideas in a welcoming environment. The forum will be held in conjunction with the 2007 VAHCC Annual Gala, which typically attracts 600 local, national, and international participants.

On Wednesday, May 2, the Global Perspectives Forum begins at the Omni Richmond Hotel with a noon luncheon and a panel discussion on international trade and global communication. Panelists include Richard E. Sorenson, dean of the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech and John Dooley, Virginia Tech’s vice provost for outreach and international affairs. Other panelists include, Dominican Republic Ambassador H.E. Flavio Dario Espinal, Paraguay Ambassador H.E. James Spalding, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Hon. Patrick Gottschalk, and Electronic Data Systems (EDS) Vice President Cozy Bailey.

After the discussion Robert Schubert, the associate dean of research for Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies, will give a tour of the Virginia Tech’s award winning Solar House.

That evening the 2007 VAHCC Annual Hispanic Gala will be held at the Science Museum, featuring dinner and a presentation of university scholarships.

A breakfast, poster session, and workshop will be held the following morning at the Omni Richmond Hotel to conclude the forum. Exhibits from local businesses, international corporations, and universities will be displayed during the poster session. Spanish Academy and Cultural Institute Director Lisa Zajur will lead the workshop on “Strategies for Building Business Relationships with Hispanics through Cultural Understanding and Language.”

The reduced Virginia Tech conference registration rate for the Global Perspectives Forum is $75, which includes lunch, panel discussion, breakfast, poster session, and workshop.

The reduced Virginia Tech package rate for the Global Perspectives Forum and 2007 VAHCC Annual Gala is $225 and includes reception, silent auction, dinner, and entertainment. Tables of ten are available for groups. The Omni Hotel is offering a discounted hotel rate of $153 plus tax for conference attendees.

For more information, contact Jane Ann Williams at or (540) 231-0984.

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