World Trade Association Honors Holy Family University
The World Trade Association of Philadelphia (WTA) honored Holy Family University at its 92nd annual banquet, celebrating the University’s pivotal role in revitalizing the organization's global image and operational reach.
The recognition not only highlighted student success in international business, but also drew attention to the importance of university-led rebranding projects in shaping the direction of global trade institutions. It underscored the WTA's role as a cornerstone of global commerce, while emphasizing the urgent need for readiness in navigating the complex demands of a rapidly evolving global market.
A Visionary Makeover Rooted in Academic Excellence
Under the guidance of Professor Stephen Sergi of the School of Business & Technology, a leading expert in international marketing, and executive director for global initiatives HRH Prince Adnan El-Hashemite, a recognized authority in global affairs & the United Nations, business students Toby Karamoutchev, Sergio Gonzalez, and Bogdan Stere developed a comprehensive branding and communications strategy that repositioned the WTA as a world-class organization both in image and function.
Working closely with WTA leadership, the students played instrumental roles in digital transformation efforts and market engagement campaigns. These initiatives have broadened the WTA’s exposure, making it more accessible to emerging markets and more responsive to its members’ needs, demonstrating the real-world power of academic excellence in business education.
Setting the Stage for the Future
The delegation's work extended beyond branding. Through innovative policy recommendations and stakeholder engagement strategies, they helped the WTA redefine its service model, providing improved support for trade professionals, businesses, and member organizations everywhere.
This transformation has enhanced the WTA’s ability to operate its website as a global meeting hub, a dynamic networked platform that connects industries, governments, and academic institutions in meaningful dialogue and collaboration. The students recognized at this international trade event exemplified the best of academic-industry partnership; these three young men turned ideas and visions into actions, and set the WTA on a path to meet and serve a greater world.
A Model for Global Readiness and Institutional Impact
In a time of geopolitical shifts and supply chain challenges, the WTA’s renewed posture shaped in part by Holy Family University’s School of Business and Technology and Office of Global Initiatives, has made it better prepared to service partners, engage new opportunities, and respond to local and global trade demands.
The recognition of academic excellence signifies more than gratitude; it signals the WTA’s commitment to working with forward-thinking institutions to tackle the complex future of global commerce.
“We helped rebrand an organization and redefined what it means to be globally connected,” Sergi said.
