About MAI

Market Access International, Inc. (MAI) provides specialized international trade, investment and enterprise development services to corporate and government clients seeking global markets for their products and services. Specifically, MAI assists small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), departments of select Fortune 500 firms, government agencies at all levels and international financial institutions design and implement economic growth strategies where core drivers are international trade and investment.

At the SME level, MAI works side-by-side with its clients to ensure measured and successful sales growth. It achieves this through a range of services from market research and entry strategies to qualification, introduction and negotiation with potential partners and customers to finance mobilization and operational start-up assistance. Some clients require our full range of services while others select those addressing their specific growth challenges. Our company has an established reputation for customized, highly effective, hands-on approaches resulting in increased market share and profitability for our clients.

MAI collaborates with its government clients to design and implement trade, investment and enterprise development policies as well as a range of tasks in support of these. Our expertise ranges from cluster development and competitiveness strategies, to export promotion and Foreign Direct Investment attraction to alliance building and firm-level business development assistance.

Founded in 1996, MAI is a small, woman-owned consulting practice headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with partners in Halifax, Nova Scotia (MAI Canada, Inc.) and strategic alliances in 33 countries. The company's principals and associates offer an average of 20 years of international trade, investment and enterprise growth experience in complementary areas. MAI’s principal consultants are fluent in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Slovak, Russian and Spanish while our worldwide, in-country strategic partners offer fluency in native languages.

Principals

Diane Alleva Cáceres

Ms. Alleva Cáceres is Founder and Managing Director of Market Access International, Inc. (MAI, Inc.) established in 1996. She oversees the company’s growth and management as well as provides technical assistance in her areas of expertise including international trade, investment and enterprise development. Prior to founding MAI, Ms. Alleva Cáceres, held such positions in Washington, D.C. as Sr. Business Advisor for North Africa and the Middle East and Acting Project Manager at USAID’s Center for Trade and Investment Services (CTIS) and Environmental Technology Network for Asia (ETNA); Senior Accounts Manager for the Australian Trade Commission; Economist at the World Technology Foundation; and Asia Program Assistant at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Her applied experience spans 27 countries across all regions. Ms. Alleva Cáceres is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and sits on two boards; the College of William & Mary’s Advisory Board for Graduate Studies and Research and Solar Household Energy (SHE), Inc. She speaks French and has a working understanding of Spanish.

Douglas L. Wood

Mr. Wood is an MAI Principal and provides technical assistance in the areas of SME development. Prior to joining MAI in 2001, Mr. Wood held such positions as the Director of Business Development for Kroll Inc.'s, Atlanta Office, Manager for Business Development and Programs at the Center for Public Policy and Education at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. and Business Advisor for the Presov Business Center in the Slovak Republic as a Peace Corp Volunteer. He also was an Adjunct Professor at Jozef Paval Safarik University in the Slovak Republic. Mr. Wood received his Bachelor of Science in Economics from St. Bonaventure University and a Master of Public Administration from West Virginia University. He is fluent in Slovak.

Bruce MacLellan

Bruce MacLellan is Managing Director of Market Access International Canada, Inc. Mr. MacLellan brings 25 years of experience in the public and private sector, substantially focused on export marketing. He is a marketing and communications professional who works with companies and communities in Atlantic Canada on marketing strategy. He manages the export-mentoring program for ACOA in Nova Scotia (in partnership with ACWTC). Mr. MacLellan is also a business development consultant to the Trade Centre Limited where he recently recruited the 2006 World Micro-credit Summit, a 3500 delegate international event with a budget in excess of $5 million. He is active in economic development and tourism strategies for clients in the region and outside Atlantic Canada. Mr MacLellan holds Mr. MacLellan is an honours graduate of Dalhousie University, a graduate of McGill University School of Business with a Graduate Diploma in Tourism Management, and has attended the Queens University Executive Development Program.

Associates

Lynn Lilley

Ms. Lilley joined MAI as an Associate in April 2002 after a successful experience with Development Alternatives, Inc.’s (DAI) information technology for development unit conducting business development on behalf of clients in the information technology field.
Ms. Lilley provides new business development, project management and technical assistance in the area of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development, investment attraction and trade promotion. She has also developed an expertise in the agribusiness sector, from viticulture to value-added food and beverage products. Ms. Alleva Lilley holds a B.S. degree in Biology from the College of William and Mary and an M.A. degree in International Studies at the University of South Carolina. She speaks Italian and Russian (level 3 fluency according to US State Department scale) in addition to her native English. Ms. Lilley currently lives in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.

Dharmesh Shah

Since 1996, Mr. Shah has engaged with international companies to develop successful sales, business development and marketing plans for new market entry. Mr. Shah has also produced market research studies for the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). Mr. Shah’s areas of expertise include software development, call centers, telecommunications (particularly wireless technologies) and other technology related sectors. He holds a Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of Toronto.

Eric Lucas

Mr. Lucas brings technical expertise in healthcare, business development, management and operations. He has held management positions with several international companies including Hodon-Cemsto BV, a multinational service company in Amsterdam, The Netherlands with operations in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran. He also developed strategic alliances with U.S. and European suppliers and partners. Mr. Eric Lucas holds a BA in International Business from Nijenrode University, Breukelen, The Netherlands. He also holds a MBA from the University of Georgia, Terry Business School and a MSc in Management of Technology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Dupree School of Management. He is fluent in Dutch, German and English.

Crystal Porter

Ms. Porter is a bilingual professional experienced in international corporate development, research and project management with experience in the U.S., Canadian and European markets. She has worked with executives in a wide variety of industries and sectors including the arts, construction, government; journalism, IT, manufacturing, and professional services. A francophone American, Ms. Porter has lived and worked abroad in Montreal, Canada and Brussels, Belgium. She is an alumnus of Georgia State University from which she earned a BA in French and a Master of International Business after a decade-long career as a professional ballet dancer.

Pamela Buckles

Ms. Buckles provides expertise in training, executive education and over the last 2 years has developed technical and business development experience in the agro-food sector. She worked for thirteen years at The Brookings Institution where she planned and managed over 150 domestic and international executive education programs attracting senior and mid-level U.S. and international government officials, and senior executives from global companies. Programs focused on Washington policymaking, telecommunications policy, globalization trends, innovative practices in American business, foreign policy, and administration of justice. Ms. Buckles holds an Executive Master’s degree in International Management from the University of Maryland, University College Graduate School (May 1997) and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of New Hampshire (1964). She speaks conversational German and maintains a reading knowledge of French.

Alex Hilger

Ms. Hilger brings a background in international marketing, advertising, branding and New Media. She has practiced in agencies in Paris, France; London, England and Duesseldorf, Germany prior to working for media conglomerates. Her senior positions within this sector have allowed her to be active within a variety of functions ranging from marketing, product development, production/manufacturing to sourcing. Ms. Hilger holds an MBA from Oxford University, England, an MA in Communication Design from Central St. Martins in London, England and a BA(hons) in Advertising & Design from Parsons School of Design (New York) and The American University in Paris, France. She also holds a certification by the British Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). Ms. Hilger’s native language is English and German; she is fluent in French with intermediate capabilities in Italian.

Corporate Partners

Market Access International, Inc. (MAI) firmly believes in partnering with complementary organizations to achieve the highest level of success for its clients. A sample listing of our partners includes:

  • Market Access International Canada, Inc.
  • International Business Exchange (Spain)
  • Advanse International (USA)
  • The Services Group
  • The Emerging Markets Group
  • Koobet S.A. (Argentina)
  • FFF Associates, Inc. (USA)
  • JASE Consulting & Communications (USA)
  • Strategy Associates
  • Chafee Center for International Business

In addition, MAI's capabilities are expanded through its established network of strategic partners located in 33 countries worldwide. This network was originally developed through MAI's role since 1997 as U.S. National Counselor for two European Commission-sponsored business development programs, Euro-partner (Europartenariat) and Interprise. The company continues to secure representatives in key global markets.

Should you wish to become an MAI strategic partner, subcontractor or for short and long-term consulting opportunities, please email your company profile or individual resume to consulting@marketaccessintl.com.

Thank you for your interest.

Countries

Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Croatia, Eastern Caribbean, Egypt, European Union Member States, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Tunisia.

Industries

MAI has collaborated with clients representing mining, biotechnology, information communications technology, e-learning, light manufacturing, agribusiness (seafood, specialty food, beverage), tourism, aerospace, packaging, metalworking, technical textile, simulation, environmental, building & construction, logistics, franchise, and training industries.