CEO Amy Grat, International Trade Education Progrmas (ITEP)

CEO Amy Grat, International Trade Education Progrmas (ITEP)

Los Angeles, CA -- The Foreign Trade Association selected ITEP or International Trade Education Programs as its holiday charity for this year's luncheon and donated a check
for $500. But when CEO Amy Grat of ITEP went up to the podium to collect the check, some added holiday cheer overwhelmed her with two more donations. One from Comerica Bank for $2,500. Later from an anonymous donor for $5,000. This blog interviewed Grat shortly after the luncheon at the Grand Wilshire in Downtown Los Angeles.


ITEP brings the trade, transportation, and logistics industries to high schools, giving students a reason to learn — a promising future with brighter opportunities. Through ITEP, students improve their academic performance and graduate ready for entry level jobs, technical school and college.

We also talked to the new FTA Chairman Steve Pasienki, director customs, International customs for Toyota about the economy, FTA in 2011, and his observations about ITEP

ITEP believes that by connecting students to professional opportunities in the trade, transportation and logistics industry, schools will have a positive change in graduation rates, attendance rates and employment statistics after graduation. To accomplish these goals, ITEP focuses its efforts on the following challenges:

Target Problems:

• The scarcity of skilled entry-level workers for maritime jobs
• Teens with little or no awareness of global issues
• Alarming high school dropout rates

ITEP's strategy focuses on four main aspects of academy programs:

• Core Courses
• Enrichment Curriculum
• Industry Electives
• Industry Certifications

By connecting industry leaders to these academy and curriculum enrichment programs, ITEP helps students better understand the importance of school - resulting in higher graduation rates, grade point averages, and self-esteem, leadership, and teamwork skills
For more images from the FTA Luncheon visit:

http://picasaweb.google.com/MAYOPRaccounts/FTAHolidayLuncheonITEPHonoraryCharity#. For more about the interviews or media interviews with ITEP contact Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade, 818-340-5300 or Publicity@mayocommunications.com.