Tim Stratford to Speak on Doing Business in China

"Building Trust in US-China Economic Relations," is the topic to be addressed by Timothy Stratford, the 2011 winner of the UVU’s Excellence in Business Ethics Award. Mr. Stratford will speak at UVU on January 11 at 10 a.m. in the Regan Theater. A free breakfast will be served prior to the event. The event is open to the public.

 

In Beijing China, Tim Stratford is a partner in a major law firm (Covington and Burlington) and a member of the prestigious International Trade, Intellectual Property and Government Affairs Practice Groups.  Mr. Stratford’s practice focuses on advising international clients doing business in China, as well as on assisting Chinese companies seeking to expand their businesses globally. 

 

Presidents Bush and Obama selected Tim Stratford to be the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the China region (USTR). During his tenure at USTR, Mr. Stratford was responsible for developing and implementing U.S. trade policy toward Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and Mongolia.  He worked closely with senior US and Chinese officials from numerous government departments and agencies to address problems encountered by companies engaged in bilateral trade and investment, and co-chaired a number of important bilateral working groups and dialogues established under the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade and the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue.

 

Stratford is well known in china having spent more than 25 years of corporate work. He was a Vice President and General Counsel for General Motors’ China operations. He oversaw the company’s legal trade policy work in the region.

 

Prior to this, Mr. Stratford was appointed as Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and as Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. A high honors graduate of Harvard Law School, and Brigham Young University, Mr. Stratford is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.

 

As the seventh recipient of the award, Stratford joins past awardees: Professor Patricia Werhane, endowed chair at DePaul University; President of BYU Idaho Kim Clark; international corporate business developer Joel Peterson, Jeanette Lynton, President and CEO of Close to my Heart, Orin Woodbury, former President and CEO of Woodbury Corporation and David Ulrich, Professor of Business and a partner of RBL group.  

 

The Excellence in Business Ethics award is annually presented by the UVU President and Board of the Center for the Study of Ethics to an individual who displays exemplary ethics in their life, both professionally and personally.

 

“Exemplary ethics demonstrates a sustained commitment to understanding the necessity of integrity and humanity in business pursuits. This individual demonstrates strengthening business ethics through fiscal responsibility, leadership, civic activity, and personal example,” said David Keller, Director for the Center for the Study of Ethics.   “We believe that Tim Stratford exemplifies the necessary traits of Excellence in Business Ethics award,” he added.

 

The lecture is named after local businessman Kirk R. Englehardt who died of cancer in 2003. An astute businessman, he was president of Businessman Planning and Investment Research, Inc. for 24 years, specializing in securities and retirement investing. He also served during that time as a lobbyist and spokesperson for the investment industry and testified before the U.S. Congress. Throughout his life he was known for his integrity, wisdom, intellect, and commitment to honesty. His wife Elaine, children Rich and Kellie, and mother Gloria help the Center for the Study of Ethics sponsor this annual lecture in an effort to promote and strengthen awareness in business ethics.