Guy F. Tozzoli Dies, Visionary Founder of World Trade Centers Association

NEW YORK, NY, February 4, 2013 – A man who changed the world through international trade – and did so more than once – Guy F. Tozzoli, President Emeritus of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), died Saturday evening in his sleep in Myrtle Beach, SC.  He would have turned 91 on February 12.

“It is with great sadness that we note Guy’s passing,” said Eric R. Dahl, Chief Executive Officer of the WTCA. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends worldwide. Guy leaves behind the powerful legacy of having built the WTCA into a global presence in nearly 100 countries since he founded it in 1970. More importantly, his vision of prosperity through trade and investment lives on. We remain committed in our pursuit of this vision.”

Tozzoli was responsible for overseeing the planning, construction, and operation of the former 110-story World Trade Center towers. His impact ranges from pioneering the containerization of cargo by helping build the world’s first container port in Newark, NJ, to managing the design and construction of the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City, to founding and building the World Trade Centers Association that now comprises more than 300 members with “World Trade Center” branded facilities spanning the globe.

For the past four decades, Tozzoli was affiliated with the WTCA, which he founded in 1970 and served as president until 2011. “In January 2011, we congratulated Guy on his many grand accomplishments as he retired from being the WTCA’s first and only President,” said WTCA Chairman Ghazi Abu Nahl.  “Today, we bid him farewell, knowing that his work is continued on through countless people, hundreds of centers and a network of nations.”

“Decades ago, United Nations Secretary General U Thant recognized Guy’s vision as a ‘United Nations of Commerce,’ and so it remains today,” he added.

Tozzoli was born in North Bergen, NJ and joined the Port of New York Authority in 1946.  He served in the Navy during the Korean War from 1950 to 1952, and then returned to the Port Authority where he was responsible for construction of the first container port, shifting maritime activities from New York to Newark.

In 1961, he created the transportation section of the New York World’s Fair and, in 1962, was named the Port Authority’s Director of World Trade and assigned responsibility for founding the World Trade Center and constructing its headquarters.  Tozzoli’s vision, encouraged by some and discouraged by many, led to the construction of the 110-story, 10 million-square-foot Twin Towers in lower Manhattan.  Dedicated in April 1973, they were the tallest buildings in the world and included – at his insistence – the world-famous Windows on the World restaurant.  Readers’ Digest termed the project, “the largest building project since the Egyptian Pyramids.”

In 1962, international trade accounted for 2.7 percent of the United States’ gross national product.  Today, it accounts for more than 22 percent, growth that is due in no small part to Tozzoli’s singular focus on fostering world trade.

In 1970, Tozzoli shifted his perspective from one to many, founding the WTCA with an initial contingent of 15 cities in seven countries.  He was immediately named its first volunteer leader and then sought relentlessly to expand to other countries.  When the representatives of the People’s Republic of China asked for advice in the 1970s, he insisted they create world trade centers, overcoming their resistance because there was one in Taiwan.

In the 1990s, he worked to launch world trade centers in South and North Korea, an effort for which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Upon retiring from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey in 1987, Tozzoli became the first WTCA staff President, a post he held until his retirement in January 2011, when he was named President Emeritus.

In 1993, when the terrorist truck bombing seriously damaged the Twin Towers, Tozzoli, who had an office in the building, was trapped in a staircase for three hours.  On September 11, 2001, he was stuck in traffic and just about to enter the Holland Tunnel.  Looking across the Hudson River, he saw fire in the North Tower and then watched in horror as the second plane slammed into the South Tower.

In a letter to WTCA members shortly after, he mourned the tremendous loss of life, but said, “We must redouble our efforts to bring the world together under the banner of ‘Peace and Stability Through Trade.’”

“Guy did so very much that encompassed the world, from the world’s fair to world trade,” concluded Abu Nahl.  “He was first and foremost a citizen of the world, and the world is a better place thanks to his Herculean efforts.  We will miss him greatly.”

Tozzoli is survived by his wife, Cynthia, children Susan Tozzoli, Richard Tozzoli, William Tozzoli, Michael Tozzoli, Kathleen Bernaldo and Tom Tozzoli, and two grandchildren.

ARRANGEMENTS: Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Sunday, February 10^th from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, New Jersey. Funeral service follows on Monday, February 11^th at 10:15 am at St. Matthew’s Church, 555 Prospect Ave., Ridgefield, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, the Tozzoli family requests donations be sent to the World Trade Centers Association Foundation for the establishment of the Guy F. Tozzoli Scholarship Fund. Donations accepted by check or wire transfer:

Account Name:   World Trade Centers Association Foundation

Address: 420 Lexington Ave, Ste518, New York, NY 10071

Account# 619781858

Swift# MRMDUS33RTL

Aba# 021001088

HSBC Bank USA, 415 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10017

About The World Trade Centers Association

The World Trade Centers Association, headquartered in New York City, is a global network of more than 300 licensees in nearly 100 countries.  Its mission is to promote prosperity through international trade and investment.

World Trade Center Tacoma leads the way in building Sister City relationships.

http://www.businessexaminer.com/March-2013/Sister-Act/

WTC Tacoma in The News Tribune

President/CEO Anthony Hemstad’s Opinion Piece from December 11th, 2012.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/12/11/2398247/asia-could-hold-the-key-to-tacomas.html#storylink=misearch

World Trade Center Tacoma adds three new board members.

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/business/2012/02/02/world-trade-center-tacoma-adds-three-board-members/

WTC Tacoma in the Pacific Northwest Local News

World Trade Center Tacoma has quadrupled it’s membership since 2009! The organization’s growth demonstrates the positive influence they are gaining in Pacific Northwest trade. The following article honors this impressive development:

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/business/131296759.html

WTC Tacoma in the Reporter

A steel beam from the 9/11 aftermath at the World Trade Center in New York was on display at the 2011 Globe Awards in Tacoma. The beam will soon become part of a permanent display on Federal Way.

http://www.maplevalleyreporter.com/business/129274513.html

WTC Tacoma Globe Awards on South Sound Business Report

Watch the full episode. See more South Sound Business Report.

Watch WTC Globe Awards on PBS. See more from SOUTH SOUND BUSINESS REPORT.

In-studio guests include Anthony Hemstad, World Trade Center Tacoma; Pierson Clair, CEO of Brown & Haley candy named Exporter of Year; and Skip Smith, president of Smith-Western Co., Importer of the Year.

World Trade Center named five companies winners of Globe Awards recognizing accomplishments in International Trade by firms based in Washington state.

WTC in the Tacoma News Tribune

WTC executive director talks trade  http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/09/04/1809326/director-talks-trade.html

WTC on South Sound Business Report

Watch the full episode. See more South Sound Business Report.

 In-studio guests include Riley Moore, Ph.D., assistant professor of Economics at Saint Martin’s University, and Anthony Hemstad, executive director of World Trade Center Tacoma. Moore has traveled to China with local business and government leaders. Hemstad posits that South Sound connections have real impact in developing export and export opportunities.

VIDEOS

The 19th Annual Globe Award Winners videos are available now.  Click here to see Grakon, LLC, Access the USA, LLC and Johnny’s Fine Foods profiles.  *NEW* South Sound Business Report featuring WTC Tacoma President and CEO Anthony Hemstad discussing the Globe Awards and this year’s award winners.

NEWS

Check out WTC Tacoma in the News and our Press Releases for the newest happenings at WTC Tacoma.

EVENTS

More Upcoming Events! WTC Tacoma Monthly Speaker Series (June 22nd), NAIOP Boeing Property Tour (July 26th), and 19th Annual Globe Awards (Sept. 6th).
Partner Events - Presentation: Readings from an Indian Journal (June 13th), Seminar: Complying with U.S. Export Controls (June 14th & 15th), TDA Annual Dinner (June 21st), RAPP Annual Meeting (Sept. 19-20th)
Events calendar – Including all prior and upcoming events! Please note that a recording of select portions of the Port of Tacoma Annual Breakfast is available here.

TRADE MISSIONS

We are exploring trade missions to China and Russia in September 2012.  Please click here for further information.

ON EXPORTING

Take a look at our Import/Export page for information on the new Washington Export Initiative from Washington Department of Commerce.  They have posted a series of vignettes to showcase the economic benefits of exporting and promote state export assistance services.  Absolutely worthwhile for businesses looking to export!

Mike Veseth, a Professor at the University of Puget Sound discusses the impact of globalization on the wine industry by comparing it to the apple industry.

Read the blog post here

Foreign Investment Takes Off

President and CEO of the WTC Tacoma, Anthony Hemstad, is featured in an article along with WTC members, Vijay Mathur, G.R. International, Inc., and Michael Mattox, principal of Access the USA. The rise of foreign investment in the Puget Sound region is discussed.

Read the full article here

Market Reports from CBRE

Brazil: Recovery Choppy, but More Vigorous Expansion Ahead

Read the full report here

U.S. Industrial Availability Expected to Decline Next Year

Read the full report here

Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (EFACW)

WTC Tacoma member, the Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (State) (EFACW) will receive the City-State Partner of the Year award from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). The award will be presented at the Bank’s 37th Annual Conference, “Ex-Im –Your Competitive Edge,” on April 12 in Washington, D.C. EFACW provides export-finance counseling to current and prospective exporters based in Washington State. EFACW also helps clients identify prospective overseas buyers and assess their creditworthiness.

Click here to see the full press release

Almond Roca Ad Sweep in Hong Kong

WTC Tacoma member Brown & Haley has invested a high-profile advertising campaign in Hong Kong for Chinese New Year, including a TV commercial and pink bus advertisements. Exports represent 40 percent of the company’s business, with 20 percent of that in China. Brown & Haley hope to expand their business through international trade in the coming years through increased advertising and recognition world-wide.

Click here to see the full article.

TagMaster North America, Inc.

WTC Tacoma member TagMaster North America Inc.’s RFID products are now used in conjunction with Coencorp’s automated fuel management system, FuelZone Transit, at all six of the Coast Mountain Bus Company’s service locations.  Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) is based in Burnaby, British Columbia and is a vital link in the Metro Vancouver multi-modal public transportation network.  Known formerly as BC Transit, it is an operating subsidiary of TransLink, the South Coast BC Transportation Authority.

Click here to see the full press release.

In October of 2011, the WTC Association held its 42nd Annual General Assembly in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  WTC Tacoma Vice President and COO, Sandra Forero Bush, attended the event and was pleased to travel with WTC Member Sygnet Rail Technologies.  Sygnet Executives David Swanson, CEO, and Leah Gray, CFO, participated in several general panels at the event and in several individual meetings with current and potential business partners.  Sygnet was also able to draw on the WTCA network to help establish new connections with both local businesses and other WTCs in Latin America which will help facilitate business in other countries in the region.

How can WTC Tacoma help you?