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OWIT International

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For immediate release:

Woman of the Year Helps Companies Cross Borders

(Los Angeles, CA) – Pamela Davis Heilman, a partner at the law firm Hodgson Russ LLP and a long-time advocate for the advancement of women in business, is this year’s recipient of the OWIT (Organization of Women in International Trade) Woman of the Year Award.  This honor is given annually to a woman who has furthered international trade through excellence and innovation and who, in doing so, has enhanced the status of women in international trade and business. 

Heilman has devoted substantial time to the promotion of women in international business and to the development of cross-border business relationships.  In 1997, she was an advisor to the first Business Women's Team Canada Trade Mission to Washington D.C., a seminal event in promoting cross-border trade for women that served as an impetus for the start-up of the first Canadian chapter of OWIT. She also was panel chair at the APEC Women Leader's Network Conference in Ottawa in 1997 and represented Hodgson Russ as a sponsor of the first Canada-U.S.A. Business Women's Trade Summit in Toronto in 1999 – another pivotal event to support and encourage cross-border trade.

“I am very pleased and honored, and it is especially meaningful to have been nominated by my colleagues in Canada since this truly reflects the international nature of the award and the value of participation in OWIT,” says Heilman.  “OWIT is an outstanding organization which provides valuable and value-added assistance to women seeking to grow their businesses through international trade. In today's global economy, succeeding in business in most cases means succeeding internationally, and OWIT provides the right level of personal support and education to make this happen for women in business at all levels.”

A member of Hodgson and Russ’ Corporate & Securities, and International/Cross Border Practice Groups, Heilman focuses her practice on international commercial transactions for non-profit and business corporations.  She is one of the lead lawyers in Hodgson Russ’ cross-border Canada/U.S. Group and provides legal counsel to Canadian businesses and organizations seeking to expand into the U.S. market. Heilman received the Ambassador’s Award from the Canadian Consul General in Buffalo in 1999 to recognize her efforts in promoting a strong bilateral trade relationship between Canada and the U.S., the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world.   Active in the community, Heilman serves on a number of boards, including the World Trade Centre at Buffalo/Niagara and the Canadian American Business Council, and is a judge for the Canadian American Business Achievement Award. Hodgson Russ has offices in Toronto, Ontario, New York City and Buffalo, New York and five other U.S. cities.

Heilman will formally receive her award during OWIT’s 17th Annual World Conference in Monterrey, Mexico October 22-24, 2008. The award ceremony on October 23 will complement the timely program with its theme “Trade and the Triple Bottom Line: Societal, Economic and Environmental Sustainability” and a variety of international speakers and networking opportunities.  Visit www.owit.org/en/annual/Index.aspx .

About OWIT

OWIT – the Organization of Women in International Trade (www.owit.org) – is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to advancing global trade opportunities for women by providing networking and educational opportunities.