Maryland Firms Encouraged To Export Products

Bobby Patton transformed a trip across Europe into a working vacation by stopping at hotels to promote Patton Electronics.

This was in the early years of the Gaithersburg-based business, and the first time it went global. The company's efforts to reach an international market paid off, and now it does about 70 percent of its business outside the United States.

Patton shared his company history at Anne Arundel Community College recently, during a session designed to encourage manufacturers to export their products.

He said businesses often are reluctant to expand overseas because of the risk.

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