Pete Mento always has something to say about international trade, and he never fails to say it with a memorable style all his own.
That’s why Bestway is excited to announce that Mento will be speaking at the upcoming September annual meeting of the International Trade Council of Kansas City – an event for which Bestway is one of the sponsors.
“In the world of trade compliance and geopolitical activity, Pete Mento is kind of the industry’s Taylor Swift,” said Bestway CEO Jay Devers. “He’s the most well-known speaker and the most knowledgeable person in the industry – in addition to being crazy smart.”
Mento serves as Managing Director of Global Trade Advisory Services at Baker Tilly – the high-powered Washington D.C.-based law firm that works with the leaders in every industry it services.
Jay has some history with Mento, as he brought him to Kansas City for a previous engagement in 2019. So he knows what the ITC annual meeting attendees should expect.
“He’s got kind of a stand-up comedian edge to him,” Jay said. “You get him in a room and he takes it over, and he’s got amazingly insightful takes on what’s going on in the industry.”
Mento is also a licensed Customs House Broker, and combines extensive industry experience with academic expertise, including a PhD in customs and economics from Durham University and a master’s degree in government from Harvard University.
A keynote speaker like Mento is a good fit for ITC Kansas City, considering the Council’s importance to the industry on a local, national and international level. Bestway is one of the locally based companies that has been active with ITC for decades, including a role for Director of Operations Chance Pope as a board member.
“ITC has a really important role to play in trade,” Jay said. “It’s a really unique role, and it’s one of the reasons we’re behind it. It’s a combination of people who work in the private sector, people who work in the public sector – such as economic development people – and then leaders in international trade and education. This brings all those people to the table and gets the pillars of the community together.”
ITC Kansas City’s 81st Annual Meeting takes place on Thursday, September 17 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Milburn Country Club, 7501 W. 69th Street in Overland Park.
Those wishing to register for the event can do so here.
