Gretchen Murphy
Assistant Deputy Director, Illinois Office of Trade and Investment (OTI)

Gretchen Murphy Is the Assistant Deputy Director of the Office of Trade and Investment at Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. She joined the team in early 2021 and works to help Illinois businesses build and expand their export markets. Prior to working with OTI, Gretchen worked in international development, foreign policy, and economic development for over twelve years, primarily with the U.S. Agency for International Development and its partner organizations. In various roles she led teams to implement large foreign assistance programs with budgets up to $100M in several sectors. Gretchen has worked overseas in the Middle East North Africa region, Asia, and Latin America with additional experience in East Africa and Europe. She holds a master’s degree from American University’s School of International Service and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado. A native of the Chicago area, Gretchen moved back to the city in 2019 after living in Washington D.C and overseas, most recently in Amman, Jordan.  

Lauro Arias
Senior Trade Specialist- Asia-Pacific, Illinois Office of Trade and Investment (OTI)

Lauro Arias advises Illinois companies about how to increase their business internationally. As a senior trade specialist at the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment, he supports Illinois businesses in the Asia- Pacific region from Japan to Australia and New Zealand. Prior to this position, he directed the Illinois Small Business Development Center International Trade Center housed at the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago. A native of Uruguay, Arias was educated in England where he obtained a M.Sc. in agricultural economics at the University of Reading.

Michael Strope
VP Sales & Marketing, MSSC

Michael Strope is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing at MSSC, LLC. He started with MSSC, LLC in 2012 and works with distributors in over 50 countries worldwide selling marking, stenciling, sealing, and coding products. A native of Southern Illinois, Michael has a Professional Science Masters (M.S.) from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Michael is the Vice President of the Southwest Illinois Trade and Investment Council, coaching local businesses to increase and introduce export sales.

Susanna Hardy
Chief Content Officer, IBT Online

Susanna serves as Chief Content Officer at IBT Online. As such, Susanna is involved in all aspects of content used in effective business online tools, from content creation to content optimization for search engines and online marketing. Susanna brings her expertise in international business development and marketing to the IBT Online team and has worked with a wide spectrum of companies to reach, develop and succeed in export markets. Recognizing the importance of content for building brand awareness and sales, Susanna helps companies to ensure their online presence is working hard for them.

Christopher Chaidez
Online Business Development Manager, IBT Online

Christopher is the Illinois Online Business Development Manager at IBT Online. In this role, Christopher advises Illinois companies that are looking to grow their exports, sales, brand, and business internationally in their target markets. As a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) and Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP), Christopher strategizes in the international digital environment and works closely with corporate clients. By understanding their routes to market and their international business objectives, Christopher helps steer the company towards the appropriate online tools that IBT Online offers.

IBT Online 

IBT Online provides website localization and international online marketing services to help companies grow their sales, brands and businesses online globally. Our Online Global programs (website localization, international online marketing and website management) makes sure your company gets found, understood and is easy to do business with across international markets.