CSIC Advisory Board Members

• Michael Bellamy, China Operations Director of PassageMaker
• Kevyn Kennedy, CBI Consulting LTD
• Thaddaeus Mueller, Manager of Business Development for Fiducia Management Consultants Fiducia Management Consultants
• Julien Roger, GM of Asia Quality Focus
• Sophie Mao, Founder of Chibridge Law Firm

Chairman of the Advisory Board: Michael Bellamy

Mike serves as the Chair of the CSIC advisory panel and is the founder of PassageMaker. Having faced the China Intellectual Property and Quality Control monster early on in his career, Mike decided to do something about it by creating the PassageMaker concept while an MBA student in the late ’90’s. Before organizing PassageMaker, Mike worked with The Brock Group, an international trade and investment consulting firm managed by President Reagan’s US Trade Representative Bill Brock in Washington DC. Mike moved to Asia in 1994 and has structured sourcing investments in over 150 production classifications for US and European clients during his time in China. He received his double degrees in Diplomacy and Economics in Washington DC and later went on to gain an International MBA from the University of South Carolina which included a year of full-time graduate level courses at the Harbin Institute of Technology and University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. Recognized as expert on China sourcing, Mike has been a featured presenter for a number of high profile seminars and trade shows including Global Sources Asia Expo HK, Global Sources Dubai, Boat Tech China, Rotary Foundation, US Chamber of Commerce, British Chamber of Commerce and State Bar of California among others. Before building a career in China, Mike spent 2 years as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar studying Japanese Factory Management in Tokyo and Osaka. Later he studied the Chinese language in Manchuria and Beijing. Mike, based in Shenzhen with his wife and daughter, reads, writes and speaks Chinese.

Executive Staff

Interim Executive Director:  Heidi Ruhling

Heidi is originally from the Washington DC greater metro area. She received a BA in Political Science from Radford University. While at Radford, she was awarded the Zylphia Shu-En Kirk scholarship to study Mandarin for a year which allowed her to study in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.   After college, Heidi returned to USA and worked in customer service including projects with World Bank employees and ambassadors from various countries.  Heidi returned to China in 2010 and is currently an account manager at Chibridge Law Firm while volunteering at the CSIC.  Heidi speaks conversational Mandarin, some Spanish and is native English speaker.  Heidi is based in Shenzhen.

Project Development Manager: Mark Pointu

Originally from London, United Kingdom, Mark has a background in Small Business Management and whilst studying for his Ph.D has worked closely with UK Government institutions, such as the Department of Trade and Industry and Business Link. Mark has a degree in Financial Services and relocated to Hong Kong in 2007 when he established his industrial design and trading company and has resided in Shenzhen since 2008. Mark speaks English, French and Basic Mandarin.

Marketing Manager: Curt Kirkhoff

Curt, originally from Pennsylvania,  joins CSIC as the Marketing Manager.  After graduating from North Carolina State, Curt relocated to China in 2008 doing graphic design for companies from around the world. Curt assists the Executive Director in web & print marketing for the China Sourcing Information Center and its online magazine the “China Sourcer”. Curt divides his time between Shenzhen & Washington DC. He speaks English and Chinese.

Technical Advisor: Adam Supernant

Adam comes to us from Michigan in the USA. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Adam previously worked in IT development and support for the federal government. He is now helping on a part time basis with a focus on assisting the Executive Director with web development and maintenance. Adam, based in Shenzhen, speaks English and Chinese.

Content Manager: Shaher Husein

Before embarking on a China career, Shaher and his brother founded a health and beauty supply store in New York City. In memory of their father, the store was called Yaba Bath & Body (“Yaba” being the slang term for “father” in Arabic).  An entrepreneur at heart,  he moved to China in 2011 to learn about International Trade and the Chinese market with the goal of sourcing quality products for Arabic speaking buyers.  Shaher joined CSIC/ PassageMaker as a content manager/ import-export trainee in 2012 to fully immerse himself in  China and international trade.  He has a Bachelors in Business, Management and Finance from Brooklyn College.  Shaher speaks English and Arabic and is based in Shenzhen.

Support Staff of the China Sourcing Information Center

Administrative Assistant: Rechel Tang

Content Editors: Varous sourcing experts

Staff Writers

Mike Bellamy (Bio Above)

Mark Pointu (Bio Above)

James Cissel

Jim is originally from South Carolina, USA and holds bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and an International Business MBA from the Citadel.  Jim previously worked as a Sales Manager for Pepsi and in the quality control and business strategy department for BMW manufacturing in the Spartanburg South Carolina. At CSIC, as a staff writer and researcher he focuses on industry and sourcing trends in Asia.  Based in Shenzhen.

Zach Griffith (Summer 2012)

Zach is a student of economics and international studies at the University of Buffalo. Originally from Western NY, he is spending his summer internship with us in Shenzhen with a focus on of intellectual property, corporate social responsibility, the challenges of entering the Chinese market. We hope to help him preprare for his future dream job as a Foreign Service Officer with the US State Department. Student of the Chinese language.