AboutLotta Danielsson-Murphy Expertise I can answer questions about trading with and doing business with Taiwan. I can also answer questions about traveling to Taiwan, particularly about traveling to Taipei, as well as general questions about history, language, culture, etc.
Experience
Relevant Experience I am the Vice President of the US-Taiwan Business Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to US-Taiwan trade/business. I speak Mandarin Chinese, lived in Taipei for nine months, and worked in Beijing for almost a year.
Education/Credentials International MBA (a.k.a. MIBS)-Chinese Track
University of South Carolina
Question Dear Lotta,
My son goes to a local, non-profit Chinese language and culture school on
Sundays. I was so impressed that I ended up on the Board of Directors
because I wanted to help more. I am in charge of fundraising and the school
is on a slippery slope to extinction due to lack of moneys. Mandarin is taught
and the school's 200 families are mainly from Taiwan or of Taiwanese
descent. How would you suggest I begin to seek out Taiwan businesses in
northwestern Illinois who might be able to make small (or large!) donations
or buy an ad in our directory? The school is called Chicago Northwest
Suburban Chinese School (CNSCS).
Thank you!
Answer Hi Linda,
I'm happy to hear that you are involved in such a worthy cause, but I'm sorry to hear that the school is struggling.
I would start by talking to the Cultural Division of the Chicago TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office), as they are very involved in both cultural and education exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan. I'm sure they would have some good thoughts for you. The TECO Commercial Division will also have a lot of contacts with local Taiwan businesses, and might be able to put you in touch with them. Contact info for both the Commercial and Cultural divisions is here: http://www.taiwanembassy.org/US/CHI/.
TECO also runs a Chinese Cultural Center in Chicago. Perhaps they would be willing to share information with you: http://www.ocac.net/chicago/
The Taiwan Trade Center in Chicago is a branch of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council. They work with both U.S. and Taiwan businesses. Contact info is as follows:
Taiwan Trade Center Chicago
225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2304
Chicago, IL 60601
Director: Elina Lee
Tel: 312-819-7350
Fax: 312-819-7346
Email: chicago@taitra.org.tw
That's where I would start. I hope that that helps at least a little.
