G.O. Global Trade & Investments, Inc., was founded in 2003 by Rick Glissendorf and Kevin O’Connell. The firm engages in strategic import/export and investment opportunities in Central & Eastern Europe.   G.O. Global’s focus is to promote the introduction of innovative products and services into new markets.  The firm is dedicated to promoting Hungary’s great winemaking renaissance in partnership with the country’s finest winemakers.  G.O. Global represents the Bock, Gere, Malatinszky, Patricius, Weninger, and Weninger & Gere wineries in the United States.

Richard E. Glissendorf Jr. AKA: “Rick”

Richard Glissendorf graduated in 1992 from Arizona State University with a Bachelors degree in Communications.  Shortly after graduating, his passion for travel led him to become National Sales Director of Cerkvenik-Anderson Travel, a wholesale travel company, based in Phoenix AZ, that focused on bringing thousands of students each year to the coastlines of Mexico. In this role for over 4 years, Rick organized events, tours and logistics to places such as Cancun, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas, doing what he loves most - bridging people and places.

Over the next eight years Rick applied his knowledge of sales and marketing to the field of telecommunications as an Account Executive, ISP Manager and Major Account Manager for Electric Lightwave, Inc, and Qwest Communications, based in Phoenix, obtaining numerous recognitions for outstanding performance within the company.  Rick still maintained his passion for travel and discovering new cultures, fulfilling his personal goal of visiting one new country every year by traveling to Canada, Belize, Costa Rica, Colombia, Honduras, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.

Rick visited Prague and Budapest in the summer of 2002, discovering a new love for the Central and Eastern European countries. The insight and relationships Rick gained in those countries, which were, for a long time unrecognized by international business, provided perspective to new products and business opportunities.  Rick’s interest in cultural exchanges led him to become involved with the Phoenix Sister Cities Commission, an organization dedicated to promoting cultural and commercial exchanges, and fostering “sister-relationships” between Phoenix and other foreign cities. He currently Chairs that organization’s Prague Committee and sits on the Board of Directors.

Rick’s love for travel was paralleled with a personal interest for wines from all over the world. Increasingly, Rick’s entrepreneurial desire pushed him toward seeking to start a business venture.  During a trip to Hungary, Rick and future business partner Kevin O’Connell discovered several excellent wines whose producers had no representation in the United States.  Soon thereafter, Rick and Kevin founded G.O. Global Trade and Investments, a company dedicated to the import and distribution of “Great Hungarian Wines.” Rick and Kevin have since established exclusive partnerships with several wine growers in the famous wine region of Villány, Hungary. Every year Kevin and Rick conduct several trips to this country, where they visit existing partners and explore new regions for undiscovered wine treasures.

Go Global Trade and Investments lets Rick combine passion with business.   “This new venture lets me continue my passion for travel, meeting new people and seeing new places, while giving us the opportunity to seek out new business potential and personal growth.” 

Kevin is a true cosmopolite.  He grew up living with his family in Venezuela, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, and the United States, and has traveled extensively throughout the world.  He is fluent in English and Spanish, and learning Czech and Hungarian. 

Upon graduating from Arizona State University with degrees in Political Science, and History, he worked for the Arizona-Mexico Commission, managing projects and resources while helping to develop, implement and manage Arizona’s economic and political policies with Mexico.

After graduating with an MBA from Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management, Kevin got to ride the Internet dot-com wave with Phoenix-based Quepasa.com, a bilingual Internet portal for the Hispanic world.  As a Content Producer with this young, dynamic company, he contributed marketing, content development, and business development expertise to the firm’s growth.

Kevin spent two years with the Arizona Department of Commerce, marketing Arizona internationally as the ideal location for high technology companies to locate or expand their North American presence.  Within that function, he helped promote high tech business and investment opportunities with Canada, Japan, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. 

Kevin is the founder and President of Earth 2U Communications, an international marketing and business development company primarily focused on linking the markets of Central and Eastern Europe.  Current and past clients have included businesses, international trade and policy organizations. An active member of the Phoenix Sister Cities Commission, Kevin serves on the Board of Directors, Co-Chairs the Economic Relations Committee, and is the Past-Chair of the Prague Committee.

G.O. Global Trade & Investments is the exciting new project founded with long time friend Rick Glissendorf (the G.O. in the firm’s name actually stands for Glissendorf-O’Connell).  Kevin had been focused on business opportunities in Central Europe, and introduced Rick to the region while on a trip to Hungary and the Czech Republic. 

After tasting some great Hungarian wines, and visiting the Villány appellation, both men understood that these world-class wines needed introducing to the U.S.  The company reflects the unique experiences and talents of its founders, and is a vehicle enabling them to pursue their passion for traveling, meeting people, and participating in Hungary’s winemaking renaissance, not to mention drinking some fantastic wines.