Sue Welch, founder and CEO of TradeStone Software, is an established leader in the global sourcing and world trade industry. For 20 years Welch has been at the forefront of global trade, developing technology that enables collaboration between global commerce communities.

Prior to founding TradeStone, Welch started two other companies. IMC was the first to automate the import operations of global organizations. After IMC, Welch founded RockPort Trade Systems whose RockBlocks software became the number one global sourcing solution in the world. Rockport Trade Systems was acquired by QRS in 2000 and many of Rockport’s customers are now users of TradeStone’s Merchandise Lifecycle Management suite.

In addition to leading TradeStone, Welch is a frequent speaker on global trade automation and has addressed numerous organizations including a full delegation of the World Trade Organization, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade, the ICC and the National Retail Federation. She has been celebrated for her innovation in the industry by such publications as Fortune and World Trade Magazine, in which she was named as one of the 50 most influential executives.