Greater China

Ben Zhang

Ben is CEO and founder of Greater China.  Ben holds an EMBA from Cornell University and Queen’s University. He is also a University of Washington and Harvard University Alumni.  

Ben provides the strategic vision for Greater China. Under his direction, the company continues to experience significant growth. He is continually training and coaching the Greater China team to build the best organization for the future. He is passionate about continual learning, commitment to the community, personal as well as professional improvement, and striving for success.  

Ben was awarded the University of Washington Foster School of Business “Asian Business Leadership” Award in 2008 and City University's prestigious 2009 Global Innovator Award for his multi-cultural business success. He was a semi finalist for Ernst & Young’s 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year and has been recognized as an Asian Business Leader by Washington State Governor, Christine Gregoire. Ben is also the honorary dean of his elementary school in China.

Ben is proud that Greater China has been honored with several awards:

• One of Puget Sound Business Journal's "Largest Minority Owned" Washington State businesses 2008 through 2012.
• 2009 Minority Business of the Year for King County by the University of Washington.
• ASI Counselor Magazine’s“ Best Places to Work” in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
• Promo Marketing Magazine’s Top 50 Supplier list for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Michael Parks

Michael is Vice President of Sales for Greater China. He joined Greater China in 2003 after a successful 10 year career on the ASI distributor side and has been a top producer ever since.

Michael’s experience in marketing, creative product development and sales management have followed him to Greater China and he believes that our greatest value is in the team atmosphere that we approach every project with here. Michael is working to build new streamlined processes that will increase the communication channels between our customers and our manufacturing partners in China. We want our customers to have the utmost confidence that we are following every aspect of their orders and creating efficiencies to deliver the ultimate importing experience.

Mel Cutter

Mel is Greater China’s Human Resource Manager. He has been with Greater China since 1996 and was its first employee. Mel has filled many management positions within Greater China during the company's history. He has extensive experience on both the import and production side of operations to compliment his sales and marketing background. Mel is a graduate of the University of Washington TMP Management Program, where he also received his BA in Human Resource Management. He recently was awarded Top Performer recognition for the Dale Carnegie leadership program. 

Mark St. Peter

Mark is Marketing Manager for Greater China and has been with the company since 1998 and filled a number of sales and management positions. Mark is working to enhance brand recognition for Greater China. His goal is to continually build awareness of Greater China in the marketplace and communicate the Greater China value proposition in all aspects of the company's marketing, advertising, promotions, product flyers, and communications. He strongly belives that keeping a fresh and creative look to everything we do and to the service we provide our clients helps them to be more successful. Mark has an MBA from Seattle University and BS degree in Marketing from the University of Washington.  

Mervin Olieslager

Mervin Olieslager is the company Financial Controller. He is a recent immigrant from CapeTown, South Africa, where 14 years ago he started a manufacturing business with 3 partners in the Ostrich Leather manufacturing industry. His company manufactured and exported handbags, wallets, purses and belts from ostrich, crocodile and other exotic leathers. At the time of his departure he was Financial/Operations Manager.

Although from an accounting background, Mervin takes a “hands-on” approach to business operations, with a view of improving business processes and delivering efficiencies in operations.

Mervin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business through Newport University, California, and is in the process of doing his dissertation to complete his MBA through Milpark Business School, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Paul McNabb

Paul is Greater China’s Logistics Manager and possesses over 22 years of international logistics and customs brokerage experience. Paul has worked as a customs runner, entry writer and senior import manager for a customs brokerage firm, and has managed Greater China’s logistics since 2001. Paul is in the process of obtaining his customs broker license and is presently supervising the implementation of Greater China’s in-house customs brokerage.    

Tabatha Bauer

Tabatha is Greater China’s Product Safety and Compliance Officer. She has been in the promotional marketing industry since 2000, having worked for both a distributor and a supplier. Her areas of expertise include product integrity, quality, social compliance and environmental factory assessment. She is well versed in CPSIA, FDA, ASTM F963-11, CA Prop 65, FCC, EN 71, REACH, RoHS and Health Canada regulations. Tabatha has a dual Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and French from the University of Central Missouri and a Master of Arts in International Politics from Webster University, St. Louis. Her goal is to ensure all Greater China products are delivered properly tested, compliant and safe.

Christine Fei

Christine is Greater China’s Production Manager and has been with the company since 2000. Christine manages the production staff in our Bellevue, WA headquarters as well as oversees operations in our China offices. Christine's strengths are that she is an experienced purchaser, negotiater and problem solver. She has worked to greatly enhance our factory selection and evalution process as well as implement a Quality Assurance progran and improve Quality Control processess and procedures. She is a graduate of the University of Washington.