When it comes to connecting Western Pennsylvania businesses with international markets or helping recent arrivals to the region from other countries start their own companies, Brent Rondon should be the first call to make. Rondon is the senior management consultant at the Small Business Development Center at the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh, part of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Rondon, who did his undergraduate studies in Lima Peru before earning a Master’s Degree from Pitt’s School of Public and International Affairs, has previously led trade missions to Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany and more.
What is a typical day like for you as a consultant with the Small Business Development Center within the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence?
My days start early, engaging with clients via email or in person. I also usually have several one-on-one meetings with clients scheduled, where I learn what their goals are and how our office can help address the challenges and obstacles they are facing. When I’m not interacting with clients, I am doing behind-the-scenes work to help them build out their business plans, including conducting market research. I also help them directly engage with bankers, lawyers, accountants, insurance companies, translators and federal, state and local agencies. The goal is business growth. No two days are ever the same, and that’s just how I like it!
You recently received an award from the SBDC for your work to assist a client with exporting. Tell us a little about that award.
The PA SBDC awarded me the Ambassador Award for leading the agency’s International Trade consulting group. This work included preparing, organizing, finding speakers, and selecting global business topics for the group’s meetings. I also work with the federal and state agencies to coordinate and lead the “Go Global” webinar series around the state. As a result, there is more communication exchange between SBDCs in the State, offer joint business consulting, collaborating to present export topics and got winners in exporting. There are more companies interested in exporting, and more companies are utilizing our services to help them develop foreign markets. Definitely a win-win.
Expand a little on how you can help regional businesses that are interested in engaging in international trade. What are some recent successes you can point to in that regard?
The Pitt SBDC’s international trade program offers specialized export consulting. This includes export readiness assessments, development of a country-specific export plan with an analysis of the competitive landscape, and how the exporting company’s product(s) might fit the market and whether any adjustments need to be made to the product, packaging, or promotion.
There is a misconception that only large companies can do international business. In fact, the vast majority of exporters are small businesses. The exporting company can be consumer-based or industrial-based and can be based even out of your home.
Among the recent successes, we have clients who won the SBA Export of the Year awards in 2024 and 2025. One is a construction tool manufacturer who was looking to enter the Mexican market. We assisted with market research and introduced them to a distributor for that market. The other client is a waterproof coatings manufacturer who attended our export training seminars and webinars. We introduced them to the Pennsylvania GAP export grant program, which allowed them to attend foreign trade shows. With 8 employees, focusing on quality, marketing and relationships, the result is, he now exports to more than 36 countries.
You have also had experience in helping immigrant entrepreneurs to start small businesses in Western Pennsylvania. How can this help grow the regional economy?
The Pitt SBDC offers business consulting and training at no cost. We recognize the potential of anybody to make it big. I am able to deliver business consulting in English or Spanish and Portuguese. According to Forbes, Latino entrepreneurs are creating businesses at over twice the rate of the general U.S. population, as their community necessitates high levels of innovation and ingenuity. New businesses owned by Latinos accounted for 36% of launches in 2023, according to a new analysis of Census Bureau data. The majority open businesses in the service industries such as construction, food, cleaning, consulting, but we also have those in technology, software and engineering services. A local unicorn launched by a first-generation immigrant is Duolingo, whose CEO, Luis von Ahn, is from Guatemala. As of 2023, Latino entrepreneurs have established a staggering five million businesses across the United States, collectively generating over $800 billion in annual revenue.
Entrepreneurs and business owners can visit the Pitt SBDC website to sign up for free business webinars or request a meeting with a consultant to schedule a one-on-one appointment. Our goal is for you to meet your goal and expand business opportunities for all in the U.S. and globally.