Management inSites Sponsors World Affairs Council Luncheon Highlighting NC FDI Growth

  • FDI
MI and client CPS pictured alongside North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall discussing North Carolina FDI

CHARLOTTE, NC — On April 15th, Management inSites (MI) proudly served as a Corporate Sponsor for the World Affairs Council of Charlotte (WACC) luncheon, featuring a keynote address by North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.

The event, titled “Local Roots, Global Reach: Driving Economic Growth Through International Partnerships,” focused on the strategic importance of relationship-building and grassroots diplomacy in driving Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) across the state.

During her address, Secretary Marshall highlighted the historical and ongoing efforts that have put North Carolina on the international map. She pointed to former Governor Jim Hunt’s early trade missions to Japan as a major catalyst for global investment, as well as the state’s enduring, 27-year partnership with the Republic of Moldova—a special relationship she has personally done much to foster.

Secretary Marshall also emphasized a growing trend: state governments are increasingly taking on diplomacy and trade roles traditionally managed by the federal government. This localized global footprint will be on full display when North Carolina hosts the 2029 FISU Summer World University Games.

Beyond international relations, Secretary Marshall shared impressive domestic growth metrics. She noted that new business registrations in North Carolina have doubled since 2017. In 2025 alone, the state saw 172,394 new businesses registered, leading to a record-setting second half of the year and doubling her department’s workload.

The evening prior to the luncheon, MI CEO Daniel Andrepont attended an exclusive private dinner with Secretary Marshall and WACC leadership. “Speaking with Secretary Marshall, it was clear that the state’s leadership truly understands the operational realities foreign manufacturers face,” said Andrepont. “Her commitment to fostering North Carolina FDI proves exactly why this region is the premier destination for European SMEs executing a U.S. expansion.”

“North Carolina’s business-friendly climate and robust manufacturing infrastructure make it an unparalleled launchpad for European companies entering the U.S. market,” added Melissa Ratliff, COO of Management inSites. “We were honored to sponsor this vital conversation and to attend alongside our client, CPS. Integrating European SMEs into this thriving local economy is at the very core of our mission.”

For over 20 years, Management inSites has acted as the operational bridge for foreign manufacturers expanding into the U.S. market. If your company is looking to join North Carolina’s record-setting business ecosystem, contact our team today to learn how our International Business Incubator can support your U.S. expansion.

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I have a foreign-based client who has been in the U.S. market for a few years, but was struggling with their sales agent relationship. MI's unique IBI program allowed this client to bring order processing and marketing in-house, without having to add staff. Now the business is in a better position to penetrate the U.S. market. I will definitely refer future clients to the MI team.
Joseph J. SantanielloAttorney, Shumaker Attorneys at Law
Starting as the new HR Manager for FITT USA's plant in Indiana was a massive undertaking, so having the MI team on call, with so much knowledge about the USA Enterprise, and how HR integrated with the rest of the company was POWERFUL. They seamlessly continued with payroll while we focused on staffing up and were a big help with our ADP Workforce Now implementation. For any foreign company building a manufacturing presence in the U.S., you absolutely need MI on your side.
Sheri WoodwardHR Plant Manager
MI provided knowledge, clarity and support on all of the things that were required for us to set up in the USA. It would have been a much longer and more costly process without them and many things would have been missed or problematic. Melissa and her supporting team were invaluable in getting us started. I'm happy to recommend them and their International Business Incubator service.
Ian CromieDirector
We regularly refer our clients to Management inSites for assistance with setting up their U.S. business, and we work with MI to provide visa support for foreign-owned U.S. companies. They have a wealth of expertise and knowledge of multiple industries, business best practices, and practical experience that makes working with them easy, and sets companies up for success.
Meredith W. BarnettePartner, Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm
When our biggest client required EDI for order processing, we knew we were in a tough spot. As a new company in the U.S., our team just wasn't equipped to handle such a technical implementation. That's where Management inSites became an absolute lifesaver. Their team became our 'in-house' experts, managing the entire project to ensure we met our client's needs. They created manuals for our team, handled the SPS Commerce integration, and tracked down every technical answer we needed. They made the whole implementation a huge success, and their support was just as vital when we started selling to more customers and switched accounting systems. We honestly don't know how we would've managed without them.
Dave EglintonPresident, FITT USA
Working with a foreign subsidiary is very different from working with one whose parent company is in the U.S. The questions you need to ask are different, and the process itself can be drastically more complicated. We enjoy partnering with MI because they know about all of those pitfalls and can help companies grow without making the classic mistakes.
Doug MitchellInsurance Advisor, Lowry Insurance
We hired MI to act as our controller since our U.S. team is small. And we are glad we did! We unexpectedly had turnover in our internal bookkeeping position, and MI was able to seamlessly carry out the functions while they searched, hired, and trained our new employee.
Jaume GrauManager, TecCoat
We have worked with MI across several clients. We find that we are able to get answers and process tax returns faster when MI is involved. MI's experience and knowledge of the US makes them a great partner for companies entering and navigating the U.S. market.
David JonesPartner, GreerWalker CPAs & Advisors
I have been referring clients to MI for over ten years because their services are tailored to foreign companies and meet the operational needs my clients previously struggled with. Plus, MI’s end of year financial packets are professional, making my firm’s tax services easier.
Elizabeth P. MurphyTax Partner, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP
The support we’ve had from MI during our first year in the U.S. has been invaluable…[It] ensured that we were able to hit the ground running and focus on building revenues as quickly as possible.
Hugh FreerPresident, MasterMover, Inc.
As a family-owned and operated business, it was important that the team we worked within the U.S. understood our needs and worked for our company as if it was their own. Management inSites has been that and more.
Alessandro MelottiCEO, Dulcop International
With Management inSites, we knew we were in great hands. Their internationally-minded consultants and professional team supported us at every step along the way. MI gave us the start we needed.
Stefano CazzanigaCEO, LC America
From helping with business plan writing to hiring personnel and looking for a showroom, MI’s IBI service has taken the burden off us so we can focus on sales and really penetrate the U.S. market.
Giuseppe BacciCEO, Bacci America
MI’s consultants optimized our U.S. entry strategy by directing us to form a joint venture with a complementary product offering to achieve the economy of scale needed to support our U.S. operations.
Luigi FabriFormer Managing Director, Comi Condor, S.p.A.