AUSTIN, Texas—US Market Development Group announces the addition of Seth Koppel to its business development and project management team.

Koppel, a graduate of Columbia University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and will work closely with Joe Garvey in developing international business opportunities.

At Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Koppel earned a Master of International Affairs (MIA) with an emphasis in international economics. He holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an emphasis in marketing, finance and entrepreneurship. Koppel also studied abroad at L’Ecole Superière de Commerce in Lyon, France.

Koppel’s understanding of global trends was instrumental in his success as an equity trader at Datek Securities. He subsequently joined TRK Securities as a Partner to drive revenue growth, and the firm’s size increased by 200% over the next year, leading to their purchase by E-trade Securities.

Koppel’s international experience also includes assessing the impact and organizational strategy of La Coordinadora, El Salvador, assisting Ashoka – Innovators for the Public with their country launch in Spain, and advancing business development for International Executive Service Corps (IESC) in Mexico.

In the information technology field, Koppel founded Octet Media in 1994, an Internet service provider (ISP) and software developer. A key to Octet’s success was in developing valuable relationships with software developers in Russia, leading to the company’s sale to its investors, who still operate it today.

A native New Yorker, Koppel recently moved to Austin with his wife Nelissa and daughter Lorena. He enjoys playing the piano, volunteering as a math tutor and winning (not losing) in poker.