North Dakota Company Named Exporter of the Year by U.S. Export Promotion Magazine

Roll-A-Ramp of West Fargo, N.D ., has been awarded a 2007 ThinkGlobal/Commercial News USA Exporter of the Year award from ThinkGlobal Inc., publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Commercial News USA is a catalog-style magazine distributed to an estimated 400,000 readers in 176 countries worldwide. Awards are given to one U.S. company in each of 15 industry categories. Privately-held Roll-A-Ramp was named Exporter of the Year in the Consumer Goods category.

Winners were chosen based on the total number of documented export deals completed in 2005, total percentage increase in sales in 2005 compared to 2004, exports as percentage of total sales, the company’s commitment to exporting, the company’s commitment to customer service, and the company’s innovation and originality in marketing products or services.

To be eligible for the award, the company must currently be exporting from the United States.

Roll-A-Ramp manufactures portable ramps that can be used for wheelchairs, scooters, or in a variety of industrial settings. The company reported total export sales of $750,000 in 2005, a 33% increase from 2004. Exports now represent 45% of the company’s total sales.

Founded in 2001, Roll-A-Ramp began exporting in 2002. “Exporting Roll-A-Ramp outside the U.S. was a big step and important step for Roll-A-Ramp. Because we are a smaller company, it allowed us to both open up the world to accessibility, as well as to add to revenue growth. It was accomplished with the much-needed help of the U.S. Commercial Service. Roll-A-Ramp is now exporting to 26 countries,” said Roll-A-Ramp President and CEO Thomas E. Kenville, Col. (Ret.).

Gregory Sandler, publisher of Commercial News USA, said that Roll-A-Ramp’s success is indicative of how American companies can benefit from exporting. “With 95% of the world’s market outside the U.S., there is significant growth opportunity for American manufactures and service providers.”

More information about the Exporter of the Year awards is available online at www.exporteroftheyear.com.