The Piedmonter

Itıs dinnertime and an international game of charades commences in the kitchen of Lou Butyıs Piedmont home. Alexander Volvenkin offers to make the salad, but despite years of English classes, he still looks befuddled when Buty explains he doesnıt have to wash the pre-packaged lettuce. Meanwhile, Igor Smirnov has opened a Napa Valley cabernet and innocently put the cork back in the bottle. "You have to let it breathe," Buty says, swinging his arms and taking deep breaths to illustrate. Smirnov gives an uncertain nod and leans over to smell the wineıs rich aroma. "No--breathe," Buty tries again, fanning the top of the bottle with one hand and using the other to hold an imaginary glass up to his nose. Volvenkin steps in and attempts to translate. Thereıs a silent moment of awkwardness while everyone wonders whether communication has actually transpired. Then Buty shrugs, raises his glass and toasts his guests.

This exchange was light-years ahead of where they were last week. For two weeks, Buty has been host to the Russian businessmen. Learning American culture is only Smirnov and Volvenkinıs secondary responsibility. They are two of nine non-English speaking auto service and repair entrepreneurs whose primary goal is to immerse themselves in U.S. business practices for four weeks. They will then return home and pass on their acquired knowledge, thereby speeding progress in Russiaıs developing industries.

Buty is president of the Kiwanis Club of Richmond, which is sponsoring this particular delegation from the Productivity Enhancement Program of the Center for Citizen Initiatives. Every night since his guestsı arrival, they have been in a constant dialogue via translation software about how to run a successful business. As the owner of his own business, American Textiles of Richmond, Buty appreciates the complexity of the issues his Russian counterparts face. "The first night they asked, ŒHow do you keep good employees?ı Thatıs an in-depth question and for three hours on the computer we were going back and forth. I thought, ŒIf thatıs the first question, then whatıs next?ı Theyıre here to learn, theyıre not here to play," Buty says.

The Center for Citizen Initiatives was founded to empower individuals in post-Soviet Russia to forge their own political and economic futures. Every month, they send eight to 10 delegations from varying industries to tour volunteer American companies and get worksite training in running a capitalist business.

Through an interpreter, Smirnov and Volvenkin explain why this is an invaluable opportunity for them. "When I have a problem, I have to see what is happening in other countries, because in my country I have no one to turn to. Here I can compare 200 years of experience with my five years of experience because I donıt want to make the same mistakes," Smirnov says. "Why invent the bicycle when itıs already been done," Volvenkin adds.

According to Irina Dyatlovskaya, a facilitator for the auto service delegation, all those selected for the program have been in business for at least two years--what is considered a mature business in Russia. They take their responsibility as delegates for an entire industry extremely seriously. "Every day they have brainstorming sessions after they complete their tour--what have we learned, whatıs useful, whatıs not useful. Their notes will be used to train other businessmen when they get home," Dyatlovskaya says.

Of course, gaining and understanding of how the United States does business wonıt hurt when the entrepreneurs start breaking into the American market. Volvenkinıs firm produces food as well as auto supplies and is particularly interested in marketing to American grocery shoppers. "Business is the same all over the world, but the difference is the people here have a different lifestyle and way of buying products (than in Russia) and we have to learn that," Volvenkin says.

Buty has sensed that doing business by the numbers is easy for Russian companies, but doing business with people is where they have to catch up with Western practices. But the Russians arenıt the only ones getting a lesson at the dinner table each night. "Iım learning that Americans donıt know jack about international relations. Until we do, we canıt do good business."

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