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World Trade Week NYC Kick-Off Event
and Keynote Address
Speaker Bios:
Tony Uphoff
Tony Uphoff is President and CEO of Thomas, the parent company of Thomasnet.com: the leading platform for product sourcing and supplier selection for the Industrial and Manufacturing markets. His career in business information has given him a ring side seat for every major technology transformation of the last 25 years. Tony regularly speaks on the digital transformation of business and the overarching impact technology is having on business management and leadership. In addition to his role at Thomas, Tony also serves as an advisor and board member of several tech and media companies as well as a mentor at Mucker Labs and a Trustee of Linfield College.
About Thomas
Thomas is a leading resource for product sourcing, supplier selection and actionable information for industry. Its solutions include Thomasnet.com®, the largest and most active network of buyers and sellers in North America. The company sells data-driven advertising, product management software and analytics that allow in-market buyers to find the right products and services when they need them.
Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo
Gina M. Raimondo serves as the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 3, 2021. As Secretary of Commerce, she is focused on a simple but vital mission — to spur good-paying jobs, empower entrepreneurs to innovate and grow, and help American workers and businesses compete.
Secretary Raimondo was formerly the 75th Governor of Rhode Island and its first woman governor. She grew up in Smithfield in a tight-knit Italian-American family, the youngest of Joseph and Josephine Raimondo's three children. Her family history and her childhood experiences shaped her core beliefs in hard work, opportunity for all, and the importance of financial security.
After arriving from Italy at age 14, Secretary Raimondo’s grandfather learned English studying in the Providence Public Library and later lived with her family. Her mother was a homemaker, who dedicated her life to teaching her children about the importance of hard work and determination. Her father was a World War II Navy veteran from a family of butchers and became the first in his family to attend college thanks to the GI Bill. After working for 26 years in manufacturing, Joseph lost his job along with hundreds of others when the factory moved overseas, and the Raimondo family lost their sense of financial security.
As a teenager, Secretary Raimondo rode a public bus to LaSalle Academy in Providence, where she was valedictorian of her graduating class. She went on to graduate with honors from Harvard, where she was recognized as the top economics student in her class. She won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University where she earned a doctorate and met her future husband Andy Moffit. She later graduated from Yale Law School. Secretary Raimondo clerked for US District Judge Kimba Wood and served as founding employee and senior vice president at Village Ventures.
Wanting to start her own business and be close to family, she returned home to Rhode Island and founded Point Judith Capital, a venture capital firm. In November 2010, Secretary Raimondo was elected to serve as General Treasurer of Rhode Island, receiving the largest number of votes of any statewide candidate. When she took office as General Treasurer, she tackled the state's $7 billion unfunded pension liability. Secretary Raimondo was sworn into office as Governor in January 2015 and won a second term in 2018. She also served as chair of the Democratic Governors’ Association in 2019.
During her time as Governor, Secretary Raimondo kick-started the state’s economy and made record investments in infrastructure, education, and job training. She focused tirelessly on creating economic opportunities and good-paying jobs for all Rhode Islanders. Early in her administration, she launched an innovative workforce development program that develops business-led partnerships to address unique workforce challenges.
Secretary Raimondo is married to Andy Moffit and they have two children, Ceci and Tommy, and a rescue dog, Sparky.
Andrea Ratay
Andrea has over 30 years in Trade Finance, structuring risk management and working capital solutions for importers and exporters of all sizes. She is passionate about international trade as a strategy for US companies to manage costs, diversify their sales, and showcase US-made goods in the global marketplace.
Andrea is Vice President, CICP, Global Trade Finance at TD Bank. She holds the Certified International Credit Professional (CICP) designation from FCIB, and has taught Business and International Trade courses in the SUNY system and at New York University. She has served on the NY District Export Council for 12 years, and is currently the Chair of the group. Prior to banking, Andrea worked on the Reagan-Bush re-election campaign and at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Andrea earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.
Tony Uphoff is President and CEO of Thomas, the parent company of Thomasnet.com: the leading platform for product sourcing and supplier selection for the Industrial and Manufacturing markets. His career in business information has given him a ring side seat for every major technology transformation of the last 25 years. Tony regularly speaks on the digital transformation of business and the overarching impact technology is having on business management and leadership. In addition to his role at Thomas, Tony also serves as an advisor and board member of several tech and media companies as well as a mentor at Mucker Labs and a Trustee of Linfield College.
About Thomas
Thomas is a leading resource for product sourcing, supplier selection and actionable information for industry. Its solutions include Thomasnet.com®, the largest and most active network of buyers and sellers in North America. The company sells data-driven advertising, product management software and analytics that allow in-market buyers to find the right products and services when they need them.
Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo
Gina M. Raimondo serves as the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 3, 2021. As Secretary of Commerce, she is focused on a simple but vital mission — to spur good-paying jobs, empower entrepreneurs to innovate and grow, and help American workers and businesses compete.
Secretary Raimondo was formerly the 75th Governor of Rhode Island and its first woman governor. She grew up in Smithfield in a tight-knit Italian-American family, the youngest of Joseph and Josephine Raimondo's three children. Her family history and her childhood experiences shaped her core beliefs in hard work, opportunity for all, and the importance of financial security.
After arriving from Italy at age 14, Secretary Raimondo’s grandfather learned English studying in the Providence Public Library and later lived with her family. Her mother was a homemaker, who dedicated her life to teaching her children about the importance of hard work and determination. Her father was a World War II Navy veteran from a family of butchers and became the first in his family to attend college thanks to the GI Bill. After working for 26 years in manufacturing, Joseph lost his job along with hundreds of others when the factory moved overseas, and the Raimondo family lost their sense of financial security.
As a teenager, Secretary Raimondo rode a public bus to LaSalle Academy in Providence, where she was valedictorian of her graduating class. She went on to graduate with honors from Harvard, where she was recognized as the top economics student in her class. She won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University where she earned a doctorate and met her future husband Andy Moffit. She later graduated from Yale Law School. Secretary Raimondo clerked for US District Judge Kimba Wood and served as founding employee and senior vice president at Village Ventures.
Wanting to start her own business and be close to family, she returned home to Rhode Island and founded Point Judith Capital, a venture capital firm. In November 2010, Secretary Raimondo was elected to serve as General Treasurer of Rhode Island, receiving the largest number of votes of any statewide candidate. When she took office as General Treasurer, she tackled the state's $7 billion unfunded pension liability. Secretary Raimondo was sworn into office as Governor in January 2015 and won a second term in 2018. She also served as chair of the Democratic Governors’ Association in 2019.
During her time as Governor, Secretary Raimondo kick-started the state’s economy and made record investments in infrastructure, education, and job training. She focused tirelessly on creating economic opportunities and good-paying jobs for all Rhode Islanders. Early in her administration, she launched an innovative workforce development program that develops business-led partnerships to address unique workforce challenges.
Secretary Raimondo is married to Andy Moffit and they have two children, Ceci and Tommy, and a rescue dog, Sparky.
Andrea Ratay
Andrea has over 30 years in Trade Finance, structuring risk management and working capital solutions for importers and exporters of all sizes. She is passionate about international trade as a strategy for US companies to manage costs, diversify their sales, and showcase US-made goods in the global marketplace.
Andrea is Vice President, CICP, Global Trade Finance at TD Bank. She holds the Certified International Credit Professional (CICP) designation from FCIB, and has taught Business and International Trade courses in the SUNY system and at New York University. She has served on the NY District Export Council for 12 years, and is currently the Chair of the group. Prior to banking, Andrea worked on the Reagan-Bush re-election campaign and at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Andrea earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business.
