Commerce taps Christina Stimpson to lead international trade efforts

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The Alabama Department of Commerce announced today that Christina Stimpson, an international business professional with experience in export promotion, foreign direct investment strategy and business recruitment, will take the helm of the department’s Office of International Trade later this month.

Stimpson comes to Commerce from the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, where she worked in high-ranking international trade and economic development roles. She has been a frequent participant in overseas trade missions coordinated by Commerce.

Stimpson replaces Hilda Lockhart, who retired Jan. 31 after serving for 24 years as director of Commerce’s Office of International Trade, which is responsible for the state’s trade promotion and development efforts to increase exports of Alabama-made goods and create jobs at home.

Stimpson’s first day on the job at Commerce is Feb. 16.

“Christina is the perfect person to extend the legacy of excellence established by Hilda in all aspects of our strategic international trade efforts,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“Her considerable experience in helping Mobile-area businesses explore promising new opportunities in foreign markets will transfer directly into her new role, and I know she can help us build on our strong long-term export results.”

Despite recent pandemic-related disruptions and international trade turbulence, Alabama’s exports have nearly tripled in value over the past two decades. In 2020, Alabama businesses exported goods and services to 190 countries.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

Stimpson was with the Mobile Chamber for 13 years, most recently serving as director of economic development, beginning in December 2020. Before that, she served as the Chamber’s director of international business for more than seven years and as international trade manager for almost three years.

“I am extremely proud of the work we were able to accomplish within the Chamber’s trade program. Over the last decade, I participated in state and federal trade missions, led local delegations overseas, lobbied for fair and free trade, and hosted countless trade education seminars, all in an effort to grow exports and production in Mobile,” Stimpson said.

“I look forward to continuing the work that began with Hilda Lockhart. I hope to use my experience to ensure all Alabama companies understand the opportunities that exist in foreign markets and all foreign companies understand the opportunities that exist in Alabama,” she added.

Under Stimpson, the Mobile Chamber’s trade program was nationally recognized and awarded with the ACCE’s Going International Award and the President’s “E Star” Award for Export Service. She also directed the creation and implementation of Mobile’s foreign direct investment strategy in 2019.

Stimpson is a graduate of Auburn University and completed the basic economic development course at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

She serves on the boards of Global USA at the University of South Alabama, the Japan American Society of Alabama, the Alabama World Trade Association, and the Alabama District Export Council.