Events
Expanding North: Exploring Canadian Market Entry and Partnerships
November 18, 2025 | 9:00 - 10:00 AM | Live Webinar
Join Maine International Trade Center (MITC) for a live webinar exploring opportunities for Maine businesses in the Canadian market. The session will provide an overview of the current US – Canada trade climate, including key policy updates and emerging trends. Participants will hear from Nancy Ward, Principal of Grow Trade Consulting, Inc., who helps US companies enter the Canadian market, and from Ben Berry, Founder & President of TargetTack® LLC, a Maine company successfully expanding its exports north of the border. Attendees will gain practical strategies, lessons learned, and real-world examples and insights to navigate cross-border trade and grow their business in Canada, as well as learn how MITC and its partners can support their export success.
Topics Covered
- Why Canada matters to Maine
- Overview of changing trade policy
- Canadian market entry basics
- Key sectors with opportunities for Maine businesses
- Examples of successful projects
- Practical lessons from a Maine company doing business in Canada
- Resources and support for your business
Registration
There is no cost to attend the live webinar. Registration confirmation will include details to join the webinar.
Featured Speakers
Ben Berry, Founder & President, TargetTack® LLC
Ben Berry, a US Army Veteran, co-founded TargetTack® LLC with his wife Julie, a seasoned defense industry executive and accomplished painter. Together, they invented, and Ben operates their veteran-owned, family-run small business in Maine.
TargetTack delivers the first reusable, patent pending American-made target retaining device that simplifies target setup and breakdown while reducing waste. Built to last, their products work with firearms, airguns, and archery target backers and are sold worldwide for recreational and tactical training use.
With more than 40 years of expertise in firearms and archery equipment, Ben combines lifelong entrepreneurial passions with innovation to serve marksmen and archers everywhere.
Nancy Ward, Principal, Grow Trade Consulting, Inc.
Nancy Ward established Grow Trade Consulting, Inc. in 2004 after a successful six-year career with the Canadian Trade Office of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (formerly the Council of Great Lakes Governors).
Since 1998 Nancy has helped thousands of US and overseas SMEs understand the nuances of the Canadian market, connect with Canadian partners, and identify business opportunities in a broad range of industry sectors. She has also coordinated numerous inbound trade missions, both horizontal and industry sector specific, across Canada. She has also focused on business development and foreign direct investment in the US and abroad.
Previously, Nancy held positions in healthcare, retail sales, adult education, and sales and marketing (the latter while working with the Canadian subsidiary of a US automotive parts manufacturer). She holds an honours degree in Political Science and a postgraduate designation in International Business and is currently pursuing studies in sustainable urban agriculture and food security.