Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Languages
Timeline
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Alexander Sokoloff

Sarasota,FL

Summary

Experienced economic and commercial professional with a strong background in public and private sector market development, project negotiation, management and strategic planning. Extensive international exposure.

Overview

40
40
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Counselor for Political, and Economic Affairs

State Department
08.2018 - 12.2022
  • Led combined Political and Economic section staffed by ten officers and specialized staff.
  • Directed Embassy analysis and reporting on Jamaica's political and economic conditions. Our team was regularly cited by Department for outstanding reporting.
  • Promoted U.S. commercial interests in Jamaica with focus on enhancing U.S. competitiveness in strategic economic sectors such as cybersecurity, digital transformation, renewable energy, and climate change.
  • Coordinated with USAID and Inter-American Development Bank to support $15 million project to enhance Jamaica's cybersecurity capabilities.

Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs

State Department
07.2015 - 07.2018
  • Delivered political subject matter expertise to Embassy Leadership.
  • Led reporting on Ebola-related threats in Liberia and U.S. efforts to contain potential pandemic-related threats.
  • Collaborated with U.S. interagency teams to advance U.S. strategic interests in West Africa.

Economic Officer

State Department Economic Bureau
07.2014 - 07.2015
  • Coordinated bilateral trade policy within State Department and U.S. interagency for 17 countries in Eurasia and central Asia including Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.
  • Built and maintained relationships with strategic community and business leaders.

Political and Economic Section Chief

State Department
07.2011 - 07.2014
  • Led combined Political and Economic section.
  • Reported on political and economic issues of strategic interest to United States including energy, irregular immigration, and illicit narcotics trafficking.
  • Worked with Bahamian government to improve anti-trafficking interdiction, prosecution, and victim protection. This improved The Bahamas Trafficking in Persons ranking from Tier 2 watch list to Tier 1.

Economic and Commercial Officer

State Department
03.2008 - 07.2014
  • Analyzed and reported on economic and commercial issues in Rwanda and Central Africa.
  • Advocated for and promoted US commercial interests in Rwanda. Doubled U.S. exports to Rwanda over two-year period.

Consular Officer

State Department
02.2006 - 03.2008
  • Non-Immigrant Visa and Immigrant Visa Officer in one of Department's busiest Consular sections.
  • Interviewed and adjudicated up to 150 visa applicants daily.

Political Officer

State Department
08.2003 - 02.2006
  • Researched and reported on human rights issues including, instances of trafficking in persons (TIP), labor abuse, religious freedom restrictions, and law enforcement misconduct.
  • Delivered political subject matter expertise to government representatives and civic officials.
  • Offered recommendations to reform Malaysian institutional programs and policies to better address TIP and improve victim protection.

Certified Business Analyst

Florida Small Business Development Center Network
09.1999 - 05.2003
  • Counseled small and medium-sized businesses on best business and management practices
  • Analyzed key aspects of client business to identify and evaluate vulnerabilities and factors driving bottom line results
  • Applied problem-solving skills to help business owners to resolve issues impacting their operations.

General Manager

DuraMaroc SA
07.1988 - 05.1995
  • Managed company sales, marketing, and budget. Supervised 30 employees. Led contract negotiations with vendors and key clients.
  • Built sales from scratch to $25 million over four-year period.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers.
  • Coached and mentored staff on management priorities, best industry practices, and company procedures.

Relationship Manager

Chemical Bank NY (Now Morgan Chase Bank)
04.1983 - 06.1988
  • Built and maintained bank relationships with new and existing clients in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Yemen.
  • Built and expanded Bank client relationships to understand needs, evaluate current bank services and product use, and develop strategies to cross-sell new financial products to expand market share.

Education

Master of Science - Africa Studies

Johns Hopkins School For Advanced Intl Studies
05.1983

Bachelor of Science - Foreign Affairs

Georgetown, School of Foreign Service
05.1980

Skills

  • Team building
  • Strategic planning
  • Interagency coordination
  • Relationship management
  • Market development
  • Counseling
  • Office Administration

Certification

Florida Small Business Development Center Certified Business Analyst


Florida real estate license (expired)


Florida insurance license (expired)

Languages

English
Native or Bilingual
French
Professional Working
Spanish
Limited Working

Timeline

Counselor for Political, and Economic Affairs

State Department
08.2018 - 12.2022

Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs

State Department
07.2015 - 07.2018

Economic Officer

State Department Economic Bureau
07.2014 - 07.2015

Political and Economic Section Chief

State Department
07.2011 - 07.2014

Economic and Commercial Officer

State Department
03.2008 - 07.2014

Consular Officer

State Department
02.2006 - 03.2008

Political Officer

State Department
08.2003 - 02.2006

Certified Business Analyst

Florida Small Business Development Center Network
09.1999 - 05.2003

General Manager

DuraMaroc SA
07.1988 - 05.1995

Relationship Manager

Chemical Bank NY (Now Morgan Chase Bank)
04.1983 - 06.1988

Master of Science - Africa Studies

Johns Hopkins School For Advanced Intl Studies

Bachelor of Science - Foreign Affairs

Georgetown, School of Foreign Service

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