Alex has been an active leader in the international business arena for over 12 years, primarily in the areas of strategic planning, sales and marketing, global logistics, product development, joint ventures/partnerships/wholly-owned foreign enterprises and general management.

Alex founded East West, a strategic consulting firm that specializes in assisting mid-sized globally-expanding companies in building successful businesses in China and surrounding Southeast Asia. Alex previously spent 8 years as the Director of International Sales and Business Development for Barnhardt Manufacturing Company, a leading manufacturer supplying the global medical market and importer of consumer products. His primary responsibilities included (1) developing/executing global strategic initiatives through partnerships, joint ventures and licensing arrangements, (2) introducing disciplined product development procedures with manufacturing, R&D and technical divisions to increase sales of new products, (3) building an Asian, European and South American customer base and management of sales, marketing and product distribution in these areas, and (4) marketing patented and trademarked products to global converters and end-users within each foreign market.

During his tenure at Barnhardt, Alex was awarded the North Carolina Governors International Trade Award in 1998, 2000 and 2002 for significant increases in international trade, primarily in Asia, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement Certificate. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina World Trade Association, a U.S. trade organization representing major companies with domestic and global operations.

Prior to Barnhardt, Alex practiced law for Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and StEWrt, the third largest labor and employment law firm in the U.S., specializing in employment and business law. Before law school, Alex served as a Congressional Lobbyist in Washington, DC for the American Textile Manufacturers Association, the National Association for Textile Manufacturers, and as a Committee Assistant to Congressman Elton Gallegly of California. As a lobbyist, Alex was responsible for international trade and business legislation before the U.S. Congress and traveled overseas with manufacturers interested in establishing foreign operations.

Alex received a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee University. He and his wife reside in Charlotte, NC.