Principals
Lisa is an appointed member of the Illinois District Export Council, which is an appointment of from U.S. Department of Commerce. Lisa is the Secretary of the Executive Board of the IL District Export Council.
Lisa is the Vice President of the Chicago Customs Broker and Forwarder Association.
Lisa is a Licensed Customs Broker, Certificated Export Specialist and a Certified Customs Specialist. She is well versed in the up-to-date changes with U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and the many Partner Government Agencies. Lisa has traveled professionally throughout the world and running the India office provides firsthand experience not only in trade, but also business management offshore. Practical experience in international trade has provided Lisa insight into how importers and exporters can improve their global processes. With dedicated international trade experience since 1993, Lisa consults, trains and speaks around the country educating importers and exporters how to streamline their logistics operations, implement corporate compliance processes, understand international documentation, and most importantly how to make export and import easier within a global environment.
Lisa has a Bachelor’s of Science in International Business with an emphasis on Eastern Studies from Illinois State University.
IN MEMORY OF
As President of BDG, he was committed to responsible growth with cutting-edge advancements. Because of the foundation put down by Bengt Anderson, BDG was at the forefront of being 100% paperless and allowing for remote working when it was required due to Covid. Over the course of his thirty-two-year career, he traveled to twenty-eight nations on four continents and thirty-seven states. He was an integral part of expanding the business to New Delhi and Mumbai, India.
Bengt was born on July 26, 1967, as a citizen of the United States, but with his maternal family in Jönköping, Sweden to parents Mark Reed and Kerstin G. (nee Axelsson) Anderson. Bengt took his first international trip home to the USA when he was three months old. Bengt’s sister was born a little over three years later. Two peas in a pod, they spent an idyllic childhood growing up together near Burlington, IL.
He attended Burlington Central High School from 1981-1985 where he joined the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and made lifelong friends who remained bonded through the years and showed up for each other through all of life’s up and downs.
In 1989 he graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelors’ Degree in Economics and joined his family business, BDG International, Inc.
On October 21, 1995, he married his true love Tricia Lynn Kushman and together they raised two remarkable children, Lauren Regina May and Evan Reed Thomas. Bengt’s proudest achievement was guiding his children with life lessons to become the well- rounded human beings with strong integrity they are today.
Bengt had a zest for life. He was a true adventurer who loved to explore new places, try new foods, and gaze at the stars. He was a proud member of the Northwest Suburban Astronomers Club. He loved nothing more than an off-road bike trail or taking the family on the road less traveled. Whether it was a trip to Door County, canoeing down the Kickapoo River, fishing at Trout Lake Resort or loading up the camper for the long weekend; those were the simple pleasures that filled his heart.
Bengt Reed Anderson, 54, died peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family on August 25th, 2021. Known for his strength and perseverance, he gave it his all, leaving no stone unturned getting life-extending treatment for Metastatic Melanoma.
Today, it is very special to able to attend events throughout the Midwest and to share so many positive memories with those who remember Bengt and the light he brought to their lives.
“Love, like the ocean, continues beyond the horizon…
and life, like the sun, shines where we cannot see.”
Kerstin was born Feb. 18, 1946, in Stockholm, Sweden, the daughter of Erik and May Axelsson, and grew up in Jonkoping, Sweden. Kerstin came to the U.S. in her early 20’s to spend time with family and learn English. During her stay, Kerstin met her future husband, Mark Reed Anderson. On Aug. 20, 1966 Mark and Kerstin married. In 1971, she proudly became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States.
Kerstin had a vibrant personality. She enjoyed traveling and visiting agents around the world, as well as vacationing and getting to know the local people. She was the epitome of a “people person” and she immediately set those around her at ease.
Later, when she slowed down a little bit, Kerstin was a member of the Sun City Scandinavian Club, Social Committee neighborhood No. 25, SWEA International (Swedish Woman’s Educational Association), SOS/Save Our Shoreline and Menominee (MI) Historical Society.
Kerstin G. Anderson, 64, of Huntley, died peacefully with her family by her side Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, at Sherman Hospital in Elgin after a sudden, but courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Kerstin also endured Parkinson’s disease for several years, but still maintained an active lifestyle for as long as she was able. Kerstin was a force to be reckoned with, because even facing death, she was undefeated. She lived her last days without rancor and accepted that death was simply a part of this beautiful life.