Made in Elements
Channel Architect co-organized and moderated a high-level diplomatic forum at the University of California, Riverside, bringing together members of the Los Angeles Consular Corps, university leadership, and regional economic development officials to examine international collaboration, foreign direct investment, and the role of universities in driving global innovation. Led by Tom Hanson, Principal of Channel Architect, the discussion highlighted how subnational diplomacy—connecting cities, regions, and academic institutions—strengthens global engagement and economic resilience, with campus and site visits underscoring Riverside’s growing profile as a center for international trade and innovation.
As a member of ProVisors, a North American network of more than 10,000 trusted advisors, Tom Hanson is frequently invited to speak on global business risk, trade, and market-entry strategy. Advising manufacturing and technology clients across North America, Brazil, and Eastern Europe, Tom has delivered expert briefings to ProVisors groups in California on topics including “Tariffs and Trade” (Orange County, June 2025), “Global Affairs Hot Spots” (Ontario, October 2024), and “Building Channel Partnerships” (Santa Barbara, July 2024), helping business leaders navigate an increasingly complex global environment.
As Commercial Officer for the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, Tom Hanson spoke at the annual U.S.–Moldova Joint Commercial Commission, a bilateral forum organized by the Office of the United States Trade Representative and hosted by Moldova’s Ministry of Economy. Convened in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the session enabled candid dialogue on sustaining free and open trade, safeguarding critical supply chains, strengthening food and water security, and supporting Moldova’s resilience against cyber threats targeting national data sovereignty.
While serving as Commercial Officer for the U.S. Department of Commerce in Romania, Tom Hanson was invited by the Government of Romania to speak on behalf of the United States at its International Conference on Cyber Diplomacy. Participating on a multinational panel, Tom highlighted advanced technologies from U.S. providers and examined the evolving concept of data sovereignty within European Union member states. His engagement helped position U.S. technology firms competitively in subsequent government tenders to establish Romania’s sovereign data cloud.
Joining senior U.S. diplomats from the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Tom Hanson detailed how coordinated interagency action delivers strategic commercial outcomes. The panel walked audiences through the Anatomy of the Deal—illustrating how a U.S. government-led program enabled an American energy company to secure a multibillion-dollar contract to build and deploy the first small modular nuclear reactor in Romania, despite intense geopolitical pressure and risks of malign influence.
Tom Hanson partnered with the Central California Small Business Development Center to create and host a webinar series supporting California small businesses entering global markets. Serving as a certified international trade advisor, Tom co-organized and co-hosted The World Is Your Market, a program designed to help new-to-export companies—particularly those in underserved and rural communities—build practical export readiness. The initiative supports the Central California SBDC Network’s broader mission of driving job creation, new venture launches, and capital access across 14 Central and Coastal California counties, as part of the statewide SBDC system funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration.