Board of Directors
Mike Bellamy
Founder & China Operations Director
Having faced the China Intellectual Property and Quality Control monster early on in his career, Mike decided to do something about it by creating the PassageMaker concept while an MBA student in the late ’90′s. Before organizing PassageMaker, Mike worked with The Brock Group, an international trade and investment consulting firm managed by President Reagan’s US Trade Representative Bill Brock in Washington DC. Mike moved to Asia in 1994 and has structured sourcing investments in over 150 production classifications for US and European clients during his time in China. He received his double degrees in Diplomacy and Economics in Washington DC and later went on to gain an International MBA from the University of South Carolina which included a year of full-time graduate level courses at the Harbin Institute of Technology and University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. Recognized as expert on China sourcing, Mike has been a featured presenter for a number of high profile seminars and trade shows including Global Sources Asia Expo HK, Global Sources Dubai, Boat Tech China, Rotary Foundation, US Chamber of Commerce, British Chamber of Commerce and State Bar of California among others. Before building a career in China, Mike spent 2 years as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar studying Japanese Factory Management in Tokyo and Osaka. Later he studied the Chinese language in Manchuria and Beijing. Mike reads, writes and speaks Chinese. Based in Shenzhen with his wife and daughter. Born in 1972.
Brian Garvin
Director of New Business Development
Brian brings over 15 years’ manufacturing experience to PassageMaker, including 5 years as a process engineer and 10 years of technical sales of engineered ceramics, electronics, plastic injection tooling, and capital equipment. At PassageMaker, he helps bring client blue prints to life as he handles Requests for Quotation (RFQ) and new project development. Brian earned his B. S. in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama, and later received EIT certification. Based in Shenzhen full time since 2003 with his wife and son. Born in 1964.
Whitwell C. Kelly
Director of Global Sales
Director of PassageMaker North America
Whit has over 20 years of experience in quality and lead-time intensive markets like the North American automotive industry. Formerly CEO of Salem Vent International, Inc. (SVI), which long ago was PassageMaker’s first customer. Whit received his BA from Roanoke College in International Relations and his MBA at the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business, where he focused on operations. Whit has been working in Asia since 1994, including periods living in Singapore and Taiwan. He makes regular trips to the People’s Republic of China. Whit now heads PassageMaker North America (PMNA) and is responsible for PassageMaker’s global sales. At the time of writing we have sales teams servicing China, USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia/NZ, Brazil and India. Whit is dedicated to promoting the PassageMaker Model of Trust & Transparency. He speaks Mandarin and is based in Salem, VA, USA.
Lion Lu
Director
Lion has been working with Mike for almost a decade, initially as an employee and later as a business partner. We are honored to have Lion on our board of directors as he brings a wealth of China business knowledge with him. Out of college, Lion worked for a division of the Ministry of International Trade. Later, he managed the high stakes trade of antiques between Japan, China, and Europe for an Italian company based in Xi’an. During his time as a PassageMaker employee, Lion served as an advisor on general China business and worked closely with Brian Garvin to ensure that product information flowed efficiently between our Western customers and our Chinese staff. Originally from Heilongjiang, educated at the prestigious University of International Business & Economics in Beijing, Lion is now based in Shenzhen and owner of a manufacturing operation and trading company.
James H. Bellamy
Director
With over 25 years experience in the US Boating & Recreation Industries, Mike’s father Jim provides direction to PassageMaker in our key business clusters such as the Marine and Motorcycle industries. Additionally, with 30 years as a successful business owner, he is our key advisor on issues of business management at PassageMaker. Based in Upstate NY.
