08 Nov Reflections and takeaways from SIDO’s Best Practices & Training Forum

The State International Development Organizations (SIDO) holds an annual Best Practices and Training Forum, this year in Salt Lake City. Terra Global Solutions were one of the event sponsors and Global Sales Director Richard Whiteley was there to hear what the representatives of 45 states and territories had to say about promoting U.S. exports and attracting investment.

With the recent rebranding of the company as Terra Global Solutions, it’s been an exciting time, and Richard was eager to share this development with delegates from state Economic Development Organisations (EDOs).

Richard said: “it was a very focused event, and, as the title of the show suggests, it was around training and best practices. So, there were a lot of the EDO representatives going through training and gaining qualifications for their international specialist roles. There was a broad spectrum of EDO delegates, from very experienced people, to rookies, who are just starting out on their journey. It all made for a very insightful few days.

Richard found the panel discussions to be one of the most valuable aspects of the event, particularly his session on Trade Show Execution. While the logistical side of trade shows is outside Terra Global Solutions’ remit, the unique way in which Terra becomes embedded within a client’s business allows trade show visitors to engage with an industry expert who can genuinely understand and empathise with prospective customers’ expectations and needs.

This approach sets Terra Global Solutions apart from typical business development roles. Empowering small and mid-size technology companies to enter new markets is at the heart of Terra’s mission, and attending trade shows is a key platform for achieving that exposure. As Richard noted during the panel, the practicalities of organising shows and building stands can be learned, but it takes a wealth of experience to turn brief interactions on a trade show floor into meaningful business relationships—an expertise that the Terra team brings to every engagement.

One of Richard’s key takeaways from the SIDO event was a clearer understanding of Terra’s unique position in the market. He noted, “The flexibility of Terra’s approach is what will resonate with the EDOs. By building relationships with them and regularly engaging with both the EDOs and the businesses in each state, we can effectively communicate our value. This allows us to showcase the benefits of working with Terra.”

In essence, by applying the same successful methods Terra uses with clients to generate work for itself, Terra demonstrates firsthand how its collaborative approach delivers value.

Terra is in the business of giving technology companies the knowledge, skills, and expertise to successfully expand into global markets by embedding ourselves within their teams, but we now have an extra dimension, which makes us a partner able to provide global solutions to global challenges. To learn more about Terra and how we can work with you to achieve your international expansion goals in any part of the world, book a conversation, and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news.