Feb. 19 - DEED Names Dieter Minnesota Trade Office Acting Executive Director

ST. PAUL – Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Dan McElroy has named Ed Dieter acting executive director of the Minnesota Trade Office (MTO).

As acting executive director, he is responsible for developing the state's international marketing plans, identifying international market opportunities, managing trade missions, guiding the development of export education programs and promotional events, and overseeing a staff of international trade representatives. He also serves as chief of protocol for the state of Minnesota and is the state's liaison to Minnesota's diplomatic consular corps. 

Dieter joined the MTO in September 2008. He previously served as the deputy director of the trade office.  

Dieter has 30 years of experience in information technology and has spent nearly 20 years in international trade in senior sales and general management positions, introducing Minnesota products around the world. He has lived in Paris, France and was European general manager for subsidiaries in France, Germany and the United Kingdom. He has extensive sales and operations experience and has managed culturally diverse teams throughout Europe and Asia/Pacific. 

MTO, an office of DEED, is focused on increasing state export sales in foreign markets. The MTO promotes international trade by providing export information, export education and training, and one-on-one counseling to Minnesota companies that wish to sell manufactured goods and services in the international marketplace.  

In 2009 MTO led 40 seminars that educated 900 business leaders at 700 companies about exporting. In addition, MTO hosted 75 visiting international delegations and organized four trade missions.   

DEED is the state's principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and our services, visit us at www.PositivelyMinnesota.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PositivelyMN. 

Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer disk.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7161 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com