Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today announced that Robert (Bob) Ragan will join the organization as Senior Vice President, effective January 12, 2009. Ragan currently serves as Principal Vice President of Bechtel, one of the world’s largest engineering and construction companies.
“As a dedicated member of the NFTC Board of Directors for the past 15 years, Bob has been a tireless advocate for this organization and its policy objectives,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “From his work on the Board and our Plans & Policies Committee to his past chairmanship of the State & Local Sanctions Committee of USA*Engage, Bob has brought his expertise and leadership skills to the table time and time again, and we are so pleased to welcome him to the NFTC team in his new role.”
Prior to joining the NFTC, Ragan held numerous leadership positions at Bechtel. Following a career in the U.S. Government with the Departments of Energy and Defense, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, from 1980 to 1986, Ragan was responsible for Bechtel’s worldwide procurement management and strategic planning for Bechtel National, Inc. He was Manager, Defense and Space Programs from 1986 until 1990. Between 1990 and 1993, he served as Vice President of Marketing & Business Development for other international engineering and construction firms.
He then returned to Bechtel in 1993 to serve as Manager of the Washington, D.C. office until June 2007, when he became Manager of Marketing & Business Development.
In addition to his other duties in the Washington office, Ragan was responsible for international trade and government relations. During his tenure at Bechtel, he served on the Board of Directors of both Bechtel Systems & Infrastructure, Inc. and Bechtel National, Inc. Ragan has also helped to lead key U.S. business community initiatives, including serving as a board member of the U.S.-Russia Business Council and Meridian International Center, and as chairman of the Washington Export Council and the National Constructors Association’s Government & International Affairs Committee.
The NFTC, founded in 1914, is the only business association dedicated solely to trade policy, export finance, international tax and human resources. The organization represents more than 300 companies through its offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. As Senior Vice President, Ragan will focus on a number of policy issues, including trade, international tax and intellectual property, and on NFTC member relations and development.
Ragan succeeds Catherine Bennett, who recently joined Tyco International as Vice President of Public Affairs. “We appreciate all of Cathie’s work on behalf of our members, especially her leadership of the WTO Initiative and Intellectual Property Working Group, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors,” concluded Reinsch.
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Advancing Global Commerce for Over 90 Years
The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.