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NDTO News Article

Press Release: North Dakota Trade Office Hires New Executive Director

The North Dakota Trade Office (NDTO) is pleased to announce that after an extensive search process, current team member Drew Combs has accepted the role of Executive Director. He will lead and manage the administration, programs and strategic vision plan for the NDTO. Drew has nearly two decades of international and domestic experience in agriculture and energy, and has lived and worked in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

“Drew has the knowledge, experience and passion to lead the North Dakota Trade Office,” said Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford, NDTO’s chairman of the board of directors. “We’re especially excited about his background in agriculture and energy – pillars of North Dakota’s economy – as well as his experience in logistics, a vital issue for our exporters.”

Drew joined the NDTO in August 2019 as a Business Development Executive. Prior to his involvement with NDTO, he was Director of Minerals Management at the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands for over eight years. He has also consulted and worked with agricultural as well as oil and gas companies both domestically and internationally and gained a reputation for helping companies succeed in extremely complex and challenging markets.

“I am honored that our board, comprised of business and government leaders, selected me for this position,” said Combs. “I look forward to leading a team dedicated to making a positive difference in North Dakota and its businesses while empowering people to expand trade across all borders.” A proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Drew has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in political science and history from West Texas A&M University, and a Master’s Degree in Energy Business with a logistics focus from the University of Tulsa.

The North Dakota Trade Office is a membership-based, private/public partnership founded in 2004 that provides education, research, advocacy, organization, and leadership so that NDTO members and North Dakota companies can increase exports and grow their international business.