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Five Time Oscar Winner To Headline Export Conference

Five-time Academy Award winner Ed Catmull will address the 2010 International District Export Council Conference in Detroit in October.

Catmull is president and co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and president of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The 2010 International District Export Council Conference seeks to stimulate the economy and create high paying jobs by boosting exports and expanding international trade. More than 600 business leaders, entrepreneurs and government officials are expected to attend the conference, which will take place Oct. 24-27 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center.

Pixar Animation Studios, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co., is an Academy Award-winning film studio with world-renowned technical, creative and production capabilities in the art of computer animation.  Creator of some of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time, including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, Wall•E, Up and the critically-acclaimed and top movie of 2010, Toy Story 3. The Northern California studio has won 26 Academy Awards and its 11 films have grossed more than $5.5 billion at the worldwide box office to date. The next film release from Disney-Pixar is Cars 2 next June 24.

Catmull has been honored with five Academy Awards, including the Gordon E. Sawyer Award for his lifetime of technical contributions and leadership in the field of computer graphics for the motion picture industry, the Academy Award of Merit, two Scientific and Engineering Awards and a Technical Achievement Award.

The East Michigan District Export Council, in coordination with the U.S Department of Commerce, will host the conference with the theme "Capitalizing on America's Export Advantages: Green and Innovation."  Conference participants will share their firsthand insights and knowledge of how companies can enhance their global export competitiveness and further strengthen our nation's position as the world's leading innovator and producer of green technologies.

Exports, which totaled $1.6 trillion nationwide and $33 billion in Michigan in 2009, are crucial to job creation and economic growth. More than one-quarter of all manufacturing workers in Michigan depend on exports for their jobs.

According to EMDEC Chairman Terry Kalley, "Our team worked long and hard to bring this Conference to Southeast Michigan. Its presence is a real coup for our region. Increased exports and expanded international trade are crucial elements in restoring the Michigan and national economy and creating the high paying jobs we need. This Conference is a vital opportunity to remind the larger national business community that Detroit is the gateway to Canada, our largest trading partner."

Kalley is the President and CEO of Bright Solutions International LLC of Troyn.

Major marketing partners of the event include PNC Bank and Comerica Bank.

(c) 2010, WWJ Newsradio 950. All rights reserved.

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