(Santa Ana, CA) Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Orange County Small Business Development Center (OC SBDC) client, Diamon-Fusion International, has been named the winner of the OC Exporter-of-the-Year Award. Winners were announced at the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Orange County World Trade Week Breakfast and Forum on May 16. The event brought together Orange County’s International-American chambers and business associations, public sector and private trade organizations, and members of the business community to grow awareness of the impact of international trade and export in Orange County.
Nominated by the OC SBDC, Diamon-Fusion International (DFI) has manufactured and distributed low-maintenance protective coatings, application machinery and restoration products for the residential, commercial and automotive markets since 1997. The OC SBDC assisted DFI in obtaining the CA STEP Grant ICEP funds to support its export marketing efforts. DFI was also the recipient of the President’s E Award in 2016.
“We are proud to be named the 2019 Exporter of the Year. It was a fantastic event and we are thrilled to have won,” said Diamon-Fusion International’s Syndi Sim, VP of Marketing and Business Development. “The amazing team from the OC SBDC has guided us for many years and has been instrumental in helping us grow our international business.”
Other OC SBDC’s nominees for OC Exporter-of-the-Year Award included:
- Highlife International LLC – President Vidura Jay's Highlife International LLC is the exclusive export distributor of Seychelle’s (Aliso Viejo, CA) unique water filtration products. Their 28-ounce portable water bottle has a built-in filter capable of removing viruses, bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals, radiological contamination up to 99.99% and increasing the pH level of water to convert any source of water into healthy, alkaline drinking water. Through his unique water bottle, Jay has created a strong wholesale and retail client base in his native country, Sri Lanka, which has paved the way for exporting additional U.S. products to Sri Lanka. The company has expanded and now exports additional product lines focusing on Made in the U.S.A. lifestyle products. Jay has been receiving assistance from OC SBDC business experts since 2017.
- Microwave Dynamics – Microwave Dynamics (MD) has designed and manufactured technology used in space, military and commercial applications since 1993. With a manufacturing location in Irvine, MD’s products are 100% U.S. made and comply with the most recent and stringent quality requirements of the aviation, space and defense industry – AS9100. MD has seen tremendous growth in export in recent years due, in part, to the on-going support of the OC SBDC. In the last four years, export sales have exceeded 30% of total sales and in 2018, MD had a record year with 40% of total sales as export.
Also worthy of mention is OC SBDC client, Earth Friendly Products®, who was nominated for the OC Exporter-of-the-Year Award by Women in International Trade OC:
- Earth Friendly Products® – Earth Friendly Products® is the maker of ECOS® Laundry Detergent and over 200 other environmentally friendly cleaners that are safer for people, pets and the planet. Based in Cypress, California, and family owned and operated since 1967, ECOS® cleaners are made in the USA using thoughtfully sourced global ingredients and renewable energy. The company exports to over 60 countries in four continents and has worked with the OC SBDC on export operations, international market research and the CA STEP Grant application process.
“We at the OC SBDC see Diamon-Fusion International, our other nominees, and other small businesses like them, striving to reach their full potential every day,” stated Karen Scuncio, International Trade Consultant, OC SBCD. “Working with these organizations since their very early days, we’ve witnessed them flourish and grow and were thrilled for them to get the recognition they so deserve.”
About the Orange County Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The SBDC has helped stimulate economic growth in Orange County since 1991, by providing small business owners and entrepreneurs with no cost consulting services, a wide variety of training opportunities and access to an extensive network of resources. Every year the organization assists more than 1,000 clients and provides business workshops to thousands of attendees across Orange County.
About Rancho Santiago Community College District
Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College are public community colleges of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, which serves the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, and Tustin. Both colleges provide education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, and customized training for business and industry.
From left to right: Dacia Linder, Diamon-Fusion International; Karen Scuncio, OC SBCD; and Syndi Sim, Diamon-Fusion International
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