Joshua (“Josh”) Kaplan is the Director of the U.S. Commercial Service, Kansas City Field Office. In this capacity, Josh leads a team of International Trade Specialists responsible for working with the business community in Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri to increase sales in markets around the world. Josh has spent the last 10 years working with this agency, and prior to his time in Kansas City he served 5 years in Central Virginia advising urban and rural businesses in a variety of industries on best practices for achieving international sales objectives. Notable projects impacted by Josh during his time with the U.S. Commercial Service include Trade Winds (led delegations to Chile, Serbia, and Bangladesh); Discover Global Markets (event team for programs in Miami and Salt Lake City); and many regional export promotion events and programs throughout Virginia, Kansas, and Missouri.

Prior to his work with the U.S. Commercial Service, Josh held a variety of positions related to international trade, including managing foreign assistance programs at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and leading trade remedy investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission. Josh has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in international Trade Policy from George Washington University. Josh resides in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife and two children.