From the Suite Source: Discoveries in Asia

I am honored to have joined the Montgomery County Sister City & Economic Development Delegation early in November for a monumental trip to South Korea and China. We traveled some 7,000 miles to create new relationships that expand our economic and social ties with our sister cities. We in turn, created a deeper experiential understanding of the cultures and traditions of our Korean and Chinese Americans living in Montgomery County.

I offer my congratulations to all who were involved in the planning and implementation of this flawless trip. Thank you to Mr. Leggett for having the vision to establish this program, and the Office of Community Partnership staff – Bruce Adams and Dianne Vu.

During our travels, it was amazing to see the contrast of progressive building and economic growth against the incredible architecture, palaces, pagodas and statues that represented dynasties and the rich history of the regions. I was touched by the kindness and welcoming nature of all the people we met. I enjoyed sharing in Chinese and Korean culture and had the pleasure of giving insight on the diversity and skill of our county’s workforce.

I am proud to have witnessed the forming of new partnerships in education and local leadership. I joined MCEDC and local business representatives in talks with over 50 businesses that shared their innovations and excitement for the future. We discussed how we could help each other through talent development, shared objectives and potential new directions. Our days were well spent in meetings that forged new alliances and our evenings of delegation dinners were filled with traditional regional delicacies and practices that helped spark new friendships.

During our downtime, I enjoyed a few moments to explore the sights and of course purchase beautiful gifts for my family and friends. This experience was truly incredible and I look forward to implementing my new insights into my personal life and into my role here at WorkSource Montgomery.

– Ellie Giles