Areas of Special Competence
Keith has an extensive background in facilitating partnerships between international and U.S. businesses, with an emphasis on Latin America. His experience includes: developing new business opportunities for the Port of Houston by increasing imports/exports.
His experience within the energy sector includes: developing and implementing regional and country specific PR and marketing strategic plans to support government relations and advocacy initiatives to achieve regulatory reform, tariff adjustments, and sanctity of contracts (e.g. concession contracts and shareholder rights agreements); develop country corporate social responsibility plans for community relations and charitable giving programs to enhance image and reputation; develop/manage corporate crisis communication plans for different assets.
He also has significant experience with designing government relations strategies to promote and protect American business interests in Latin America.
Current Associations
- District Export Council of Houston - Member
- Mayor’s International Trade & Development Council-Americas-Member
- Greater Houston Coffee Association – Member; past Secretary/Treasurer
- Center for International Studies, St. Thomas University – Advisory Board
Past Associations - Greater Houston Coffee Association – Member; past Secretary/Treasurer
- Texas Cotton Association – Member
- Center for Latin American Issues, George Washington University – Advisory Council
- The Atlantic Council
- Project on U.S. – Cuban Relations, Member
- Project on U.S. – Panama Relations, Member
- White House Presidential Commission on Project Economic Justice – Member
Professional Achievements
Speaking Engagements
- 2010 Texas Africa Business Summit -- “Houston-Africa Business Ties”
- Xiamen Logistics Delegation -- “Houston’s Business Connection with China”
Publications
- Greater Houston Partnership
- “Houston: Gateway to the World Marketplace” - 2005 Guide to Business in Houston
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- North American Free Trade Agreement: Implications for U.S. Business – author
- A Guide to NAFTA: What it means for U.S. Business – contributing author
- Brazilian Investment Policies: Priorities and Perspectives – co-author
- Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America Publications
- Managing the Challenge of Corporate Responsibility – co-author
- Washington Newsletter – editor
- AACCLA Outlook - editor
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Industries Served
International
Agricultural
Energy
Manufacturing
Experience
Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C., Houston, TX
International Business Advisor
Port Authority of Houston, Houston, TX
Eastern Trade Development Manager
Greater Houston Partnership, Houston, TX- Senior Vice President, World Trade Division
- Executive Director, Houston World Trade Center
- Executive Director, Secretariat, World Energy Cities Partnership
Institute for International Education, Houston, TX
Executive Director, Southern Regional Center
Enron, Corp., Houston, TX
Senior Director, International Public Relations and Marketing
United States Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C.- CEO, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America
- CEO, U.S. Section, Brazil-U.S. Business Council
- Deputy Director, Latin America, Asia and Middle East in the Center for Private Enterprise
Education
Tulane University – New Orleans, LA
MA – Latin American Relations
National Defense Language Fellow
Ford Grant
Fordham University, New York, NY
BA – Inter-American Relations
Fulbright Grant
Languages
Fluent in Spanish
Proficient in Portugese |
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