Celebrating 25 Years of Vision and Passion: The Power and Legacy of Carol Rowen
25 years ago, a visionary idea took root, thanks to the foresight and dedication of our founder, Carol Rowen, and a passionate group of founding members. What started as a dream fueled into EXP, a beacon of opportunity and growth 25 years on.
Today, we celebrate the success of EXP and honor the legacy of Carol Rowen, a woman whose vision and dedication continue to inspire us all.
EXP founder Carol Rowen honoring the Port of Los Angeles Geraldine Knatz with Keeper of the Flame Award in 2010.
The Original Girl Boss
A dynamic wife, mother, volunteer, entrepreneur, and politician, Carol is one of the original girl bosses. She is passionate about empowering individuals and recognizing their potential, especially that of children and young adults.
In 1993, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan appointed Carol to the Los Angeles Harbor Commission. With her roots in the San Fernando Valley, she dove headfirst into international trade, the Port, and the critical role they play in California and the US.
Reflecting on her experiences in a Los Angeles Times article, Carol shared, “I finally realized why they called the 110 the Harbor Freeway. One of the most thrilling things is to come over the rise of the freeway and see all of those cranes operating. It was so impressive, so important, and so vital, and I was lucky to be part of it.”
EXP founder Carol Rowen at the 2014 Oceans of Opportunity
A Vision for the Future
During her tenure as the Port Commissioner, Carol recognized the Port’s importance and sought to address the industry’s need for a skilled workforce while tackling the challenges local high schools faced in graduating students.
In 1999, Carol’s vision for introducing high school students to careers in international trade took shape with the support of her business partner and former EXP COO Bonnie Bair and the Port staff like the late Bill Stein and Martín Chavez. The International Trade Education Programs, Inc. (ITEP) was born.
ITEP started as a pilot program at Phineas Banning High School in Wilmington and has since expanded significantly. Under Carol’s leadership, ITEP evolved to include multiple academies focusing on global trade, environmental science, and maritime studies. These programs profoundly impacted the local community by providing students with practical career pathways and increasing graduation rates at participating schools.
Dalia Palsson ‘03, former EXP COO Bonnie Bair, EXP Founder Carol Rowen, and former EXP CEO Amy Grat
Unmatched Dedication
Everything Carol does, she does it with boundless enthusiasm and dedication. A formidable figure in the Los Angeles business scene at the time. As many of her friends and colleagues would tell you, there is no saying no to Carol. You do it when she asks you to volunteer or support ITEP. That is just how many of our past and present board members and volunteers joined the board of directors, including our former CEO Amy Grat.
Even the students could not say no to her! As EXP alum Dalia Palsson ‘03 tells it, Carol never gave up on her despite being quite a troublemaker in high school. Carol made sure she stuck with the program, went on to college, and became the successful professional she is today.
Over the years, Carol’s efforts have been widely recognized. She has been honored by numerous organizations and praised for her dedication to education and workforce development. ITEP, now EXP, has supported thousands of students with internships, professional interaction, and real-world experiences in maritime trade, transportation, and logistics and expanded our reach to 20 other industry pathways.
Carol’s legacy has paved the way for future leaders, including Amy and current CEO Mary Tran, to continue driving the organization forward.
As we celebrate 25 years of creating opportunities, we honor Carol’s visionary spirit and the passionate commitment of our founding members. Together, we look forward to many more years of growth, innovation, and community impact.
Join us here to learn EXP’s history as we celebrate our 25th anniversary from now through June 2025.