CEO and Founder, JDTS Trade
Simona Racek is the CEO and Founder of Just Down The Street (JDTS Trade), an international trade company that provides export consultancy services to trade organizations, economic development organizations, and SMEs. Simona’s expertise focuses on exporting solutions including assessing export regulations and facilitating applications for export-related financing and government grants. Simona works with clients in the private and public sectors, including the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network, the Ventura Economic Development Collaborative, Getting to Global, the World Trade Center San Diego, and the World Trade Center Northern California delivering export consulting services and digital export programs that streamline trade through innovative digital tools that support hundreds of businesses in their internationalization efforts.
Simona serves as the President of Women in International Trade, Orange County Chapter, a non-profit organization, and an affiliate of the Organization of Women in International Trade. OWIT Chapters are united around the globe to foster international trade and the advancement of women in business.
Simona is the project leader of the digitizing trade initiative sponsored by the San Diego and Imperial District Export Council to implement a global digital standard for managing trade transactions online utilizing the International Chamber of Commerce Uniform Rules for Digital Trade Transactions (URDTT) published on October 1, 2021 – www.eDTTworkspace.com. She has published several articles and educational videos on digitizing trade.
Simona grew up in Romania during the communist regime and learned the importance of access to information and goods from outside the borders from an early age. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from California State University, Los Angeles, with a bachelor’s in International Business. Simona received the 2016 Educational Award for Excellence in Export Development from the District Export Council of Southern California and Port of Los Angeles, and is a NASBITE member.
Simona practices mindfulness in the Plum Village tradition and is fluent in Romanian.
Expertise In: Management, Leadership, Strategic Planning
Languages: English, Romanian