International Business Management Team
We are so proud of our international business management team. It is truly a mini United Nations group with each member bringing so much cultural and language diversity, in addition to over 100 years of combined experience and knowledge in all facets of exporting and importing – marketing and sales, logistics, regulatory, financing, legal, supplier management, customer service.
Sonya Kosta Di Nova
Sonya Kosta Di Nova, President of Transcon Trading Co., Inc., Export Management Company, located in Columbia SC, USA, is a graduate of the Master of International Business Studies (MIBS) Program at The Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina (USC), consistently ranked the number 1 Master of International Business Program in the U.S.A. by U.S. News & World Report. Upon graduation, Sonya was awarded the prestigious Allen Dickerman Award for top academic achievement. Prior to MIBS, she was enrolled in the Political Science Department’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) as Fulbright Scholar. Additionally, her European descent brings to her resume a graduate degree from Varna Economic University.
Sonya’s professional experience includes a number of positions within the area of international business: Director Economic Analysis and International Business Relations for Regional Government Offices; Marketing and Sales Manager for a State Foreign Trade Office; Director European Distribution for Carolina International USA; Special Projects Manager for the Solvay Group in Europe; Business Intelligence and Market and Economic Analysis in The Department of Strategic Planning and New Market Development at Amoco Inc. (British Petroleum) Corporation in Chicago, USA.
Having worked for multinational companies’ Head Quarters and Subsidiaries alike, Government Agencies, as well as running her own import/export management company in Europe prior to owning an export management company in USA, Sonya has gained extensive experience in all facets of international business. Having been herself in the shoes of exporters/importers, manufactures/suppliers, customers/distributors, logistics companies, and government regulatory agencies, coupled with her involvement in strategic planning, supply chain, finance, accounting, regulatory, marketing, advertising, and sales management on two continents, gives her a very unique competitive edge.
Sonya has also worked as an Adjunct Professor at The Renowned Moore School of Business at USC, teaching two IBUS “Exporting and Importing” classes a week for 14 years, essentially unveiling International Trade in Action to the students in the international business-related functional areas such as financing, marketing, negotiations, logistics, government regulations, etc. along with the legal aspects of international (export/import) transactions.
Sonya has served on the Boards of the ECI-Find New Markets (former SC Export Consortium) and SBEA, the Advisory Board of the SCWTC (South Carolina World Trade Center); The Executive Committee of MITA (Midlands International Trade Association). She speaks fluent English, Russian, and Bulgarian and some Macedonian and Italian. She represents Transcon as a member of SCWAC (South Carolina World’s Affairs Council), USEA, APPMA (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association), NSBA/SBEA (Exporters Association), and other renowned professional organizations.
Outside of her primary roles as President and Board Chair (and previously of CEO) at Transcon Trading Co., Inc., Sonya Kosta Di Nova was an invited speaker at the Global Pets Forum in Shanghai in 2019. Her presentation to pet industry executives from all over the world and the following Q&A session was on the topic of “Globalization of the pet industry and how to overcome trade barriers”. She received the South Carolina Women in Business Award from the Greenville Business Magazine on the recognition of her career achievements, contributions to her company, her community involvement, and impact in 2021.
Sonya has been inducted into the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who biographical registry and has been featured in the Who’s Who in America 2022 Diamond 75th Edition of Expanded Biographies. The Marquis Who’s Who Publication Board certified that she has been approved as a subject of biographical record inclusion in which is limited to individuals who possess professional integrity, demonstrate outstanding achievement in their respective fields and have made innumerable contributions to society. It is included in the Library of the US Congress in Washington DC. For more than 120 years this flagship publication has offered extensive coverage of prominent individuals representing every major field of endeavor.
Sonya likes history, piano, water sports, dancing, reading, painting oil on canvas, and travel among other avocations. Her interest in international trade and her curiosity about the world and how it functions is what sparked her involvement in international business. The highlights of her career include providing opportunities for US manufacturers to expand internationally and providing opportunities for her company’s team which she fondly calls “mini United Nations” and her contribution to the well being of many people worldwide by bringing to them exclusive, innovative, and technologically advanced products.
Mrs. Kosta Di Nova defines leadership as having a vision and a strategy to achieve it. It also requires courage, energy, persistence, relentless focus, and passion.
Transcon has developed working relationships with agents in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and South America supporting market information gathering and on-ground contacts in these markets.
Recognitions and Awards
Transcon has been featured in publications like SCBIZ News and regional Business Report, Columbia Business Monthly, Times Magazine, Pets International Magazine, The State newspaper, Columbia Metropolitan Magazine, The Port News and TradeRoots Magazine. Transcon is the Recipient of the President’s “E” Award, the Nation’s Highest Honor for Excellency in Exporting, the SCWTC Trader of the Year Award, theThinkGlobal/Commercial News USA Exporter of the Year Award, and the US Department of Commerce International Trade Administration’s Export Achievement Award.
“ I am truly humbled by the recognition” Sonya Kostadinova said of the Export Achievement Certificate, which recognized Transcon’s success in exporting US made products, awarded by the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade at the Trade Winds 2012 Conference in Singapore. Sonya is President of Transcon Trading Co., Inc., and Professor at the Moore School of Business, ranked consistently No 1 International Business Program in the USA by U.S. News and World Report.
