TradeFlow21 promotes commerce and investment between U.S. commercial firms and partners abroad through a variety of services such as aggregation of business news, sponsorship of special events, and via custom business and market intelligence designed for companies interested in accessing new markets. We believe that the confluence of robust communications and mutual financial interests is the most sustainable way to ensure global equity, security, and economic growth for all.
Since our founding in 2008, we have engaged in broadening the relationship between Connecticut-based businesses and the Middle East, the latter which is comprised of some of the strongest emerging economies in the world. On April 24, 2009, TradeFlow21 hosted an export summit in New Haven, Connecticut, to educate industry executives, municipal development officers, state representatives and others on potential Middle East trade opportunities.
TradeFlow21 now supports companies across the U.S., and has a primary focus on Gulf Cooperation Council member states, while expanding coverage throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and beyond.
Founding Partners
Lewis J. Nescott, Jr., formerly a senior research analyst at Yale University, retired in 2010 with over 20 years of experience in business intelligence analysis and international finance research. Having received certified peacekeeping and peace-enforcement training through the United Nations, including the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia, he has a proven track record in field-based economic development and international relief operations. In 2003 he launched and coordinated For the Peace of the World, a humanitarian relief mission in collaboration with hospitals in Connecticut to provide medical equipment and life-saving supplies to hospitals, infirmaries and orphanages in Iraq. Lew has worked as a writer and his media credentials include the production of the PBS documentary on Awakening and Enlightenment hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. He is an avid high-altitude mountain climber and has scaled peaks around the world, including the Middle East. He holds advanced degrees (M.Div./M.A.R.) from Yale.
Steven Towns is an assistant director for research at Yale University. He specializes in research of capital markets and securities transactions. He has published over 2,000 articles on investing and is syndicated on Seeking Alpha, Yahoo! Finance, and other prominent financial news websites. Fluent in Japanese, Steven previously worked in commercial development with the Japanese government and was a Japanese-to-English translator in Japan and China. He has also worked in M&A and antitrust analysis, including high profile deals in the medical device, mobile phone, and resort and casino industries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies and a Master of International Management and Finance from the University of Maryland University College.
Richard C. Horne is an assistant director for research at Yale University specializing in corporations and foundations and he serves as Editor-at-Large of the Yale Economic Review, which he co-founded. Previously he was a project manager with the law offices of Freilicher & Hoffman, P.C., where he handled top-level sensitive cases involving major international firms, universities and research institutions and served as the principal liaison to a multilateral monetary policy organization. He is a decorated Marine who has held a number of key assignments, including intelligence analysis, civil affairs, criminal investigations, and legal administration. During his military career he has served on deployments and missions in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Contributing Editor and MENA Regional Manager
Alberto Rio is a veteran global IT consultant with systems project experience in countries including India, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Al has also published approximately 200 articles and papers for various press agencies and political organizations. In addition to IT, his interests and studies include constitutional law, bank regulation and bank crisis resolution, and corporate finance. Al believes in giving back to the (global) community — some of his volunteer work includes mentoring science and engineering students in Central Africa. He is a member of several professional associations spanning national security, project management, and fraud examination.
Independent Advisors
Mohammad Elahee, Ph.D. is Professor of International Business at the Quinnipiac University Lender School of Business. A specialist in international negotiations, he also currently serves as chair of the faculty senate. Professor Elahee’s most recent course offerings include international marketing, marketing research, and financial reporting and analysis.
Simon Tash is a multilingual (English, Farsi, Dari and Pashto) business executive currently serving as a linguist with the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan. He most recently was CEO of Salamanca Investments, a California-based commercial and residential real estate investment firm. Simon has previously served in executive capacities at management and advisory firms in medical and media talent. He earned his B.S. from Excelsior College and his M.B.A. in Global Business from Pepperdine University.
Contact Us
We appreciate any feedback or inquiries you may have. Please feel free to contact us via email: partners [at] tradeflow21.com.
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Disclaimer: TradeFlow21 is not an affiliate of Yale University.