Cars and Coffee will be the backdrop for World Trade Celebration 2010, where Dunkin’ Brands’ Chairman, and Kenmore East graduate, Jon Luther, along with Ford Motor Company Vice President of North American Manufacturing Jim Tetreault will be the guest speakers. World Trade Celebration is World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara’s (WTCBN) signature event, presented by Speed Global Services of Tonawanda. The event is Wednesday, October 20 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
Luther joined Dunkin’ Brands in 2003 as CEO, and was named Chairman in 2006. Last year, Luther assumed the role of Executive Chairman. Luther is instrumental in the worldwide growth of the company’s two brands- Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins. Since 2003, sales have increased 66 percent while the number of stores has increased 44 percent. Luther was also behind the launch of Dunkin’ Donuts award-winning marketing campaign “American Runs on Dunkin'”.
Dunkin’ Brands consists of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, and all locations are franchised. There is one Baskin-Robbins location and 33 Dunkin’ Donuts locations in the Buffalo area. Dunkin’ Donuts has 2,440 stores in 31 countries to compliment the nearly 6,400 locations in the U.S. Baskin-Robbins has 3,321 stores in 35 countries, along with 2,692 stores in the U.S. Worldwide, both brands ring up $6.9 billion in sales.
Before joining Dunkin’ Brands, Luther was president of Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits where he increased the number of Popeye’s locations by 67-percent, and won awards for menu strategy, store re-design and customer satisfaction. Luther was also President of CA One Services, a subsidiary of Buffalo-based Delaware North Companies.
Tetreault joined Ford Motor Company in 1988 after starting his career at Chrysler Corporation. Tetreault leads Ford’s North American Manufacturing operations and drives Ford’s continued efforts to improve manufacturing flexibility and efficiency in North America, as Ford retools several truck factories to create more fuel-efficient vehicles. Tetreault was recently the Vice President, Manufacturing, Ford of Europe, where he was responsible for European manufacturing in eight countries. Tetreault has held several management positions in Ford North American manufacturing facilities, including plant manager in three assembly plants and one stamping plant. From 2000 until 2002, he was Vehicle Operations Director of Quality, and from 2002 until 2005 he was Director of Manufacturing, Vehicle Operations.
Last year, Ford refused federal bailout funds, and posted a $2.7 billion profit for 2009, the first profit in four years. Ford also gained market share in North and South America, and Europe in 2009.
Ford’s stamping plant in Woodlawn has been a staple on Route 5 for nearly 60 years. The plant processes over 1,700 tons of steel each day and ships an average of 100 rail cars of parts manufactured daily. Parts for the popular Ford Edge crossover SUV, which are then shipped to Ford’s assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, which is also home to Ford Motor Company of Canada’s headquarters.
“Dunkin’ Brands and Ford are highly recognized brands around the world,” says Chris Johnston, President of WTCBN. “The fact that they have such a large presence locally shows the value of being able to do business around the world. Both of these companies wouldn’t be where they are today if they didn’t enter the international marketplace.”
World Trade Celebration is the region’s largest international business event that highlights the positive aspects of world trade. In its 15th year, World Trade Celebration has been highlighted by numerous executives from various multi-national companies including Cummins, Caterpillar, WD-40 and Harley-Davidson.
World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara (WTCBN) is an international business development organization committed to helping companies trade by providing consulting services, education and training, and worldwide membership affiliation. WTCBN is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the World Trade Centers Association and uses its distinct consulting capabilities to strengthen the competitive international position of companies in Western New York, the Southern Tier, the Finger Lakes, and Niagara, Ontario. Visit www.wtcbn.com.
For more information and tickets to the 2010 World Trade Celebration, visit www.wtcbn.com or call Carrie at 716.852.7160.