NSBA Board Member Appointed to Export Advisory Committee

U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke recently announced the appointment of NSBA board member Dr. Leslie “Les” Bowen to the President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration (PECSEA). This committee will advise the Commerce Department on the administration’s export control reform initiative. 

Commerce chartered the PECSEA on June 21, 2010, to advise officials U.S. policies encouraging trade with all countries with which the U.S. had diplomatic or trading relations. They also are charged with advising Commerce officials on policies pertaining to trade controls for national security, foreign policy and short supply reasons.

“The PECSEA will provide invaluable advice as we continue to enhance our national security through the President’s reform efforts,” Locke said. “Export Control Reform requires a public-private partnership, and the business community’s insight on how that effort impacts the industrial base is vital.”

Les Bowen has been active on export issues with NSBA and the Smaller Business Association of New England for many years, and currently serves as the Chair for the NSBA Economic Development Committee. On March 10, the PECSEA held their first meeting in Washington, D.C. where the committee discussed export control reform efforts and heard from Secretary Locke.

Bowen founded Materials Systems, Inc. (MSI) in 1991in Littleton, Mass., just 30 miles northwest of Boston. MSI’s specialty is in manufacturing advanced transducer materials for ultrasound applications. Specifically, MSI designs and manufactures custom sonar transducers and arrays for harbor defense, side-scan, obstacle avoidance, swimmer detection and acoustic communications, among other key functionalities.

Bowen has been an outspoken proponent of ensuring U.S. policies enable small business to export their products and services. As the founder and president a company that exports a good deal of product overseas, Bowen knows first-hand the many challenges that are faced by small exporters.

Please click here for more information on the administration’s export control reform initiative.