Clay E. Hickson

Managing Director, Rhôton Hill Group

Mr. Hickson is responsible for developing and managing international consulting activities of the Rhôton Hill Group. He has nearly 20 years experience in international marketing, business development and educational activities. Rhôton Hill Group, based in North Bethesda, MD, and Shiro, TX, is a management consulting firm providing international market research, corporate communications, strategic planning and cross-cultural communications services. Mr. Hickson previously was Director International Business Services/China Programs for International Technology and Trade Associates, Director of International Programs for the World Trade Center Boston and Account Director with Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Taiwan). He also worked with the 1993 Seattle Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Burson-Marsteller, the National Crime Prevention Council, Overseas Private Investment Corporation and US-Philippine Business Committee.

Mr. Hickson has developed and taught training programs, seminars and college courses that have prepared executives for doing business in international environments. He currently teaches graduate and undergraduate economics courses for the University of Phoenix. He was a regular contributor to China Business & Investment (Welt Research). Mr. Hickson is Chairman and President of the Maryland-China Business Council. He also serves on Advisory Board of the Diversity Management Institute. His current and past affiliations include the US Chamber of Commerce/Asia Task Force, Asia Society, Maryland-Anhui Sister State Committee, International Society and BYU Management Society. Mr. Hickson received his MA in International Relations from the School of Advanced International Studies at The Johns Hopkins University, received his BA in International Relations from The George Washington University, and studied Chinese language at Columbia University.