Doing Business & Managing
Enterprises in China

Clay E. Hickson, Guest Speaker

Clay Hickson leads TowsonGlobal, the Business Globalization Center, Towson University’s international incubator for early-stage companies. It is a place where entrepreneurial enterprises can grow and learn how to compete in the global economy. It is a gateway to international markets for domestic companies that want to sell their products and services abroad and is a magnet for foreign companies looking to market their products and services in the mid-Atlantic region. Previously, Mr. Hickson was managing Director of Rhôton Hill Group, a management consulting firm providing international marketing, corporate communications, strategic planning and cross-cultural communications services. He also was Director International Business Services/China Programs for International Technology and Trade Associates, Director of International Programs for the World Trade Center Boston, and Account Director with Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Taiwan). He worked with the 1993 Seattle Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Burson-Marsteller, the National Crime Prevention Council, Overseas Private Investment Corporation and US-Philippine Business Committee. Mr. Hickson is Chairman Emeritus of the Maryland-China Business Council and served as the Council’s Chairman and President for nine years. He also sits on the board of directors and serves as Secretary of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Hickson has developed and taught training programs, seminars and college courses that have prepared executives for doing business in international environments. He has taught graduate and undergraduate economics courses for the University of Phoenix Online. He also has served as a consultant/trainer for the Diversity Management Institute at Montgomery College and earlier acted as the institute’s Interim Director. He was a regular contributor to China Business & Investment. Other current and past affiliations include the US Chamber of Commerce-Asia Task Force, Asia Society, Maryland-Anhui Sister State Committee, International Society and BYU Management Society. Mr. Hickson received his MA in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies at The Johns Hopkins University, received his BA in International Relations from The George Washington University, and studied Chinese language at Columbia University.