Why OPL - About Us

OPL was founded with a passion to help small and mid-size companies learn, diversify, and succeed internationally.

Our Story

Having lived and led global businesses on 4 continents, our multi-cultural team understands both the opportunities and challenges of international expansion.

Collaborating with clients, we share decades of international experience, a trusted network of resources and a successful track record of building global businesses. Importantly, we also help clients build their own capabilities required to succeed internationally.

Our network includes in-country local experts in marketing, finance, accounting, regulatory, e-commerce, logistics and other support functions to help clients navigate through local market unknowns.

OPL is led by Dan Usher, who has lived and led businesses in Japan, China, Australia, Germany and the U.S. and worked in more than 25 countries. Dan is a respected Asia insider who leverages deep regional knowledge, local market understanding and trusted relationships to increase clients’ likelihood of success. Dan earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary and his MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Specialty materials
Natural additives and ingredients
Specialty chemicals
EV-related materials
Minerals
Building products
B2B primarily

Food
Beverage
Nutrition
EV
Paper
Construction
Developed and emerging

Industries

Markets

Project Experience Includes

About Dan

For over 25 years, Dan has helped businesses grow internationally. He’s lived and led businesses in Japan, China, Australia, Germany and the U.S. and worked in more than 25 countries. Recognized as an accomplished business developer and commercial leader, Dan leverages deep Asia knowledge and trusted relationships, a multi-cultural skillset and a track record of success helping companies grow across the Pacific. He is culturally savvy, bringing practical approaches and local market knowledge to capture opportunities and overcome challenges in foreign markets. Dan assists small-and mid-sized businesses through his own firm One Pacific Link, LLC.

Dan began his career in Germany as Manager of an automotive trading firm. Upon his return to the U.S., he joined Xerox Corporation as Account Executive and marketer of Xerox products. He then stepped back from the corporate world to pursue an MBA in international business and Asia studies at Thunderbird School of Global Management. Upon graduation, he relocated to Tokyo with Pasona Corporation, a leading human resource staffing and entrepreneurial ventures firm.

Dan later joined JM Huber Corporation, a US-based, multi-billion-dollar manufacturer of natural additives, specialty chemicals and wood composites. With Huber for over 22 years, he held senior international sales, business development and general management roles. As the first JM Huber executive in China, he established the Asia Pacific headquarters in Shanghai and led strategy, marketing and business development within the Asia region. Then from Tokyo as Japan Country Director and leveraging his Japanese language capabilities, he led a local team including distributors and managed all market-facing activities - strategy, commercial, HR, technical and supply chain.

Originally from Virginia, Dan earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and, as mentioned, his MBA from Thunderbird in Arizona.

Dan has been involved in numerous international non-profits including CARE, MedShare (Board), the Southeast United States Korean Chamber of Commerce (Board) and the Georgia District Export Council (Chair of Board), a trade promotion and advocacy organization.

With over 20 years of international business development and sales management experience including with KPMG, Nobuko assists small- and mid-sized Japanese and US companies grow internationally, providing various business development services. She connects Japanese and US businesses by leveraging her significant business development experience, multilingual ability, and true global mindset. Her value includes product sourcing for US and Japanese companies, cross-cultural facilitation at meetings and representing US/Japanese companies at bilingual trade events.

Originally from Japan, Nobuko has lived in US for 18 years and China for 5 years. She is a native Japanese speaker and has achieved full professional proficiency in English and professional working proficiency in Chinese. She holds a BA in English Communication.