Rana Tarraf

Springfield, Virginia, USA

Mobile: 571-***-****

E-mail: ad2sk1@r.postjobfree.com

Key experience:

Rana Tarraf is an agricultural engineer with over 10 years of experience in programs & events management, commodity trade and marketing, report writing, public relations, policy negotiation, and agricultural economics. In her previous role as Regional Marketing Advisor at the USDA Regional Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Consulate in Dubai, Rana developed strong connections with UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman (GCC-4) private and public officials. She possesses a very rich and diversified profile with strong expertise in PR & media, marketing, government-to-government relations, crisis management, business intelligence & market research, promotion of trade & investment, and business planning.

Education

Al Baath University (Homs-Syria)

Bachelor’s Degree, Agricultural Engineering, 2006-2011

Further Education and Specialized Courses:

Public Relations and Organizing Training - Bemo Saudi France Bank, Homs, Syria, 2009

English Language Courses -Homs Culture Center, Homs, Syria, 2009

Know About Business (KAB) Training - Al Baath University, Homs, Syria, 2010

Land Designer Course - Internet Study Center Homs, Syria, 2010

ICDL Courses - Homs, Syria, 2011

Marketing Workshop - Emirates Airline, Dubai, 2012

Brand Building Workshop - Emirates Airline, Dubai, 2013

Micro Purchase Credit Card (MPCC) Training - U.S. Government Purchase Card Training - AG Learn, 2015

Communicating Across Cultures - AG Learn, 2016

Data Management and Presentation Using Excel Training, U.S. Consulate General, 2017

Business Writing Workshop, U.S. Consulate General, 2019

Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture, International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), 2019, Dubai, UAE.

FAS Orientation and LES Tour, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), (Washington D.C.), 2019

CRM Training, U.S. Consulate General, 2020

Commodity Report Writing Training, USDA, 2020

Computer Skills:

Microsoft Windows OS:

Microsoft Office (MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Publisher, MS Outlook, MS Picture Manager) Windows Live Mail, and all Internet Exploring & Communication Software.

CAREER MILESTONES & SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

Design and implement full programming for the USA Pavilion during the most popular event in the globe FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022. Partner with Qatar government and private sector to provide an extensive program that highlights U.S. agriculture to the world.

Coordinate and lead FAS Dubai’s participation in Dubai Expo 2020 and advise senior USDA officials on opportunities for U.S. Agriculture during the Expo. Work with eight USDA Cooperators (American Hardwood Export Council, U.S. Dairy Export Council, U.S. Meat Export Federation, Global Indigenous Symposium Intertribal Agriculture Council, U.S. Soybean Export Council, California Walnuts, California Prunes, and USA Poultry Egg Export Council) and two U.S. State Departments of Agriculture (Texas and Nebraska) on extensive programming to highlight U.S. agriculture throughout the six months event.

My Food Story cookbook and e-book: Recruit over 150 celebrity chefs, sommeliers, influencers, home cooks, and U.S. embassy or consulate chefs to contribute to "My Food Story" for the A Fork and the Road Coffee Table Cookbook. Collaborate with Wisconsin, California, and Virginia States, as well as FAS offices worldwide, to recruit over 35 chefs to visit the mentioned states as part of the My Food Story project. Manage the California group chefs on-site and showcase the tour on FAS Dubai's social media platforms.

Manage the USA Pavilion activities at the world’s largest annual food show Gulfood, including assisting over 150 U.S. exhibitors to meet new leads, design the cooking demonstration area screen, recruit chefs and sessions, and arrange Counsel General and Ambassador meetings with exhibitors. Additionally, handle the USDA Secretary and FAS Administrator's visits, including working on their schedules, and drafting briefing papers for several UAE industry visits. Coordinate a foreign buyer’s delegation from Sub-Saharan African countries, India, Egypt, Pakistan, France, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia to the show.

Coordinate the first Agri Trade Mission (ATM) to UAE led by USDA Secretary Vilsack. Plan and coordinate the states and U.S. industry activities during the ATM.

Plan and coordinate the programming for three states (California, Texas, Nebraska) to the UAE. This includes arraigning industry meetings, and events, and connecting them with local industry at the first-ever State Day project

Develop and execute a huge number of marketing and promotional activities, such as international trade shows, food festivals, marketing campaigns, in-store promotions, etc.

Work closely with the U.S. poultry industry, Animal Plant and Health Inspection Services (APHIS), and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul to release loads of U.S. poultry held in Afghanistan borders due to a ban on all frozen poultry for COVID-19 concerns.

Draft policy and marketing reports for UAE and Qatar.

Report economic situation, facilitate U.S. agricultural trade, and negotiate agricultural regulations with Qatar government during the Qatar diplomatic crisis in 2017.

Develop and maintain government and private sector contacts for GCC-4.

WORK EXPERIENCE

December 2023 – Present

Founder & CEO

Globalista Consulting LLC, Virginia, USA

Establish and lead Globalista Consulting LLC, specializing in comprehensive services for businesses entering the GCC market.

Provide strategic guidance to clients on market entry, trade promotion, and business expansion, ensuring a seamless transition into international markets.

Develop customized export plans, leveraging expertise in government relations, marketing, and trade facilitation.

Foster partnerships with key stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors, to enhance clients' market presence and drive business growth.

Execute targeted marketing campaigns to position clients as industry leaders and facilitate successful market penetration.

April 2014 – October 2023

Regional Agricultural Marketing Advisor

U.S. Consulate General, Dubai, UAE

Market Promotion Trade Facilitation

oDevelop the office marketing strategy.

oIndependently conceptualize and develop marketing activities based on research and analysis of market information.

oWork closely with Cooperators, State Regional Trading Groups (SRTGs), and U.S. State Departments of Agriculture to achieve the U.S. export goals set for the region. Make recommendations and assess market conditions critical for expanding U.S. exports to the region.

oIdentify, establish, and maintain a wide range of contacts at all levels in the GCC-4 industry sectors and host dialogues with public and private sector officials.

oWork closely with major food retailers, hotels, and restaurants (HRI) to explore promotional opportunities to expand the market for U.S. agricultural products. This function includes but is not limited to, designing in-store promotions, organizing special promotions between U.S. industry groups and the HRI, and arranging publicity for the events.

olead GCC-4 local traders on regional missions and trade shows abroad as well as assist in connecting U.S. suppliers with importers in GCC-4 countries.

oExpand U.S. market share for agricultural products in GCC-4 countries.

Research, Market Intelligence, and Reporting

oResearch trade opportunities and major market access constraints.

oPerform in-depth analysis of local laws and regulations, government, and trade publications, scientific journals, and other materials related to agricultural development and report research findings to the relevant agricultural stakeholders.

oConduct formal and informal market studies to educate U.S. policymakers and suppliers on the trade environment in the GCC region. These reports span a wide range of agricultural commodities including poultry, and seafood, and cover different sectors including food processing and HRI sectors.

Policy Advising

oReport trade issues and play a key role in the development of policy positions.

oDevelop a broad range of professional and social relationships to exchange information and gain cooperation on substantive trade, and agricultural policy matters.

oResolve market access issues, and monitor developments in trade policy and competitor activities affecting U.S. trade interests.

March 2012 – March 2014

Senior Customer Services & Marketing Coordinator

Emirates airline, Dubai Airport, UAE

Provide a comprehensive and high-quality service to corporate clients.

Resolve customer issues related to reservations, onward connections, visa formalities, etc to ensure minimum inconvenience to passengers and to safeguard the image of Emirates and Dnata.

Conduct marketing research to enhance Emirates Airlines' marketing strategy.

Develop and implement the Dnata marketing campaign.

Monitor and analyze market trends.

Build brand strength and preference based on solid consumer insights.

Develop and coordinate the production of marketing materials for trade events.

Liaise with different government entities, and trade associations on marketing opportunities.

Participate in emergency planning, crisis exercise, and response as required.

Assist inventory-controlling staff in maintaining inventory records.

Aug 2011 _ Feb 2012

Agriculture Marketing Coordinator

Bio Nitrica Company, Dubai, UAE

Develop and update the company website.

Develop a database for clients and generate sales reports.

Provide marketing tracking and research information by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data and trends.

Update competitor database by inputting data from field sales; compiling, consolidating, formatting, and summarizing information, graphs, and presentations; distributing reports.

Publish pricing schedules by verifying freight rates, charges, and allowances.

Support sales presentations by assembling quotations, proposals, videos, slide shows, demonstration and product capability booklets, compiling account, and competitor analyses.

Prepare mailers and brochures explaining our product in both Arabic and English by formatting content and graphics, arranging printing, and internet packages.

Maintain marketing library by checking and replenishing inventory.

Community / Volunteer work

Afghanistan Crises Support, September 2021

Volunteer under the U.S. Mission in UAE Task Force at the Humanitarian Center in Abu Dhabi to assist over 5,000 Afghani evacuees as they transit to the United States through Abu Dhabi.

(https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/uae-temporarily-host-5000-evacuated-afghans-en-route-elsewhere-2021-08-20/).

Mentor at Homs Cultural Center at Women’s Support Week, January 2010

Honors & Awards

Meritorious Honor Award for exceptional Work

U.S. Department of State - May 2015

This award was granted in recognition of exceptional work in coordinating one of the best USA Pavilion in the history of the Gulfood show, expanding the USDA foreign buyers’ program, and adding new services for U.S. food exporters.

Certificate of Appreciation

Director of Public Health Services Department in Dubai Municipality - November 2016

This award was granted for participating in Dubai International Animal Feed and Pet Food Safety Conference

Extra Effort Award for exceptional work During the Gulfood show

USDA- November 2016

This award was granted in recognition of exceptional work in coordinating the largest ever USA Pavilion at the Gulfood Show, the biggest annual food show in the world, expanding the USDA foreign buyers’ program, and coordinating Deputy Under Secretary Alexis Taylor’s visit to Dubai.

Certificate of Appreciation

USDA – February 2017

This award was granted for the outstanding contribution to the success of the U.S. pavilion at Gulfood 2017 and Sub-Saharan African Buyer’s Mission

Spot Award

USDA – November 2018

This award was granted in recognition of the commitment and remarkable efforts in reopening the UAE Halal market for U.S. poultry exports.

Spot Award

USDA – February 2020

This award was granted in recognition for the remarkable coordination of the USDA TFAA Under Secretary McKinney’s visit to the UAE and delivering a prosperous U.S. pavilion at Gulfood 2020.

Certificate of Appreciation

USDA – June 2021

This award was granted to the exemplary performance of duties in planning, administration, and operations as the Coordinator of the State Day project.

Certificate of Appreciation

USDA – February 2023

This award was granted for outstanding organization and implementation as lead coordinator of the USA Pavilion at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES:

Personal Skills:

-High creativity and initiative with strategic planning and execution of complex events.

-Self-motivated, able to empower the team and work with minimum guidance.

-Strong leadership and analytical skills.

-Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.

Languages:

English (Expert), Arabic (Expert)

Testimonials

“Rana’s help in working with Lulu is greatly appreciated. I appreciate her continued support to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. She is an asset to the USDA team” – Jack Heinemann, Former Director – International Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

“Rana’s unparalleled negotiating ability and firm understanding of regulations governing agricultural trade were key in securing the release of numerous detained U.S. food consignments into the UAE and Qatar. Rana continues to prove herself as an asset to USDA and, more importantly, U.S. agriculture.” – Neil Mikulski, Agricultural Attaché

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