Courtesy Saratoga Prosperity Partnership
The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership is expanding its professional team with the addition of a former top official with the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Mary Estelle Ryckman, who spent 30 years developing trade and investment policy and negotiating international agreements in a variety of senior U.S. government positions, has joined the Saratoga Partnership as a global markets advisor, business retention and expansion specialist. In that role, she will provide critical guidance to assist businesses in addressing significant changes in U.S. policies affecting global trade.
“Mary’s expertise in international trade and investment will be invaluable to Saratoga County companies involved or interested in exporting products to grow their businesses,” said Marty Vanags, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. “As U.S. policies affecting foreign trade undergo a rapid shift, her proven leadership and experience enable us to provide vital support to the local business community.”
During her career at USTR, Ryckman held numerous positions, including senior policy advisor, assistant U.S. trade representative for trade and development, and deputy assistant U.S. trade representative for Canada.
She has negotiating experience in the GATT/WTO, APEC, the OECD, and Trans-Pacific Partnership; free trade agreements including NAFTA, Central America, Chile, and Peru; trade dispute resolution; and bilateral investment treaties.
In addition, she helped implement President Obama’s effort to normalize relations with Cuba, developed strategic policy priorities for the National Export Initiative and the Global Development Strategy, and was a member of the White House Council on Women and Girls.
Ryckman will speak at a meeting of The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County on June 20. She will address a host of topics related to foreign trade agreements and tariffs, including the impact of recent trade actions taken by the Trump administration; the reaction from our trading partners; and the effects on local businesses engaged in or pursuing global trade, as well as the regional and state economies.
The event will be held at 7 p.m. at the Adirondack Trust Mabee Office Building community room, 650 Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs.
She will also represent Saratoga County as part of the New York delegation at the Select USA Investment Summit, being held in Washington, D.C., from June 20-22. The event last year drew more than 3,000 participants, including 1,200 business representatives and economic development organizations from 52 U.S. states and territories.