Local businesswomen leave Saturday for China

The 12-day trip – a collaborative effort between Missouri State University and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce – will take the travelers to Hong Kong, Qingdao, Beijing and Shanghai.

The tour is designed to provide cross-cultural professional experiences specific to women, learn about mentoring and networking opportunities available and create chances for women to own or lead companies in the world’s most populous country, according to a news release.

The 12 travelers are: Geraldine Cook, financial manager for Cook’s Dairy; Elise Crain, facilities director for the Gillioz Theatre; Linda Hammer, education coordinator for Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in Jacksonville, Fla.; Dawn Hiles, director of Drury University’s master’s of business administration program; Barbara Rae Hughes, senior financial officer for Merrill Lynch; Tami Knotts, coordinator for Missouri State University’s Entrepreneurship Program; Daniela Liu, graduate assistant for MSU’s Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development; Rita Needham, executive director of the Southwest Area Manufacturers Association; Patti Penny, owner of Penmac Personnel Services; Lori Taylor Reasonover, teacher at J. Allen Axson Montessori School; Tami Sutton, executive assistant to MSU’s vice president for research and economic development; and Michelle West, communications manager for the chamber.

Both MSU and the chamber are no strangers to China. MSU has a presence in Beijing, Dalian, Kunming, Qingdao, Shenyang, Yingchuan and Zhengzhou through various academic programs, research partnerships and student and faculty exchanges. The chamber maintains active partnerships with chambers in Dalian, Qingdao and Zhengzhou and has conducted annual trade missions to China since 2005.