CONFERENCE SEEKS CHINA TIES LOCAL COMPANY PRIMARY SPONSOR OF EVENT.

Byline: Daily News

VALENCIA - Vital Express, a local transportation company, has signed on as the major sponsor of an April 21 conference in Valencia on doing business with China.

``Exploring Business with China: Challenges and Opportunities'' will allow business people to meet directly with Chinese business representatives. The conference is sponsored by College of the Canyons and will be held at the Hyatt Valencia.

``Our company will always maintain its local focus, but we also understand that our customers' needs have an international reach,'' said Lisa Boaz, chief executive officer of Vital Express. ``Our business model has grown to meet the needs of our global clientele, and this conference is a perfect match for our global-expansion franchise plans.''

Vital Express, a warehouse, fulfillment, distribution and transportation company, specializes in same-day deliveries across the United States.

The conference will feature industry and trade officials from both the United States and China, who will cover wide-ranging aspects of trade. Topics include how to secure suppliers of materials and components; the advantages and risks of setting up operations; the market for U.S. goods, tools and machinery; exporting finished products and agriculture; how to obtain federal assistance in developing or expanding business; and case studies from companies that have succeeded in tapping into the Chinese market.

College of the Canyons is working with China's National Planning & Reform Commission and the Western Alliances Group to coordinate the event. A number of Chinese government officials and international business consultants have been invited to speak.

``If resources such as this conference were available when we began our China journey, the cost and timeline would have been significantly improved,'' said John Hoskinson, president of Gruber Systems of Valencia.

Archie Kleingartner, director of the UCLA Anderson School of Business Global Windows Project, will discuss his expertise, ``guanxi,'' the social aspects of Chinese business relationships that are critical to success.

A reception will follow the event and give participants the opportunity to speak directly with Chinese government officials involved with trade and investments.

The conference reflects the growing globalization of business that affects nearly every company in the Santa Clarita Valley, said Dena Maloney, dean of economic development at College of the Canyons.

``With China's trillion-dollar economy becoming more accessible to foreign firms, many companies cannot ignore the vast opportunities and global challenge of the China market,'' Maloney said.

In presenting the conference, the college is working with the city of Santa Clarita, the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Alliance, the Centers for International Trade Development, the local Valley Industrial Association and the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce.

For information, visit www.chinabusinessconference.com or call the college at [phone] or [phone].