Narbeli is MCEDC’s Business Retention and Expansion Manager. In this role, she brings her combined experience as a business owner and economic development leader. While serving as the Director of International Affairs and Trade at the Kansas City economic development corporation in Missouri, Narbeli was appointed by the former city mayor to oversee all aspects of Kansas City’s global strategy. She also served as the 2013 President of the International Trade Council of Kansas City and was a member of the Board of Directors for the International Trade Centre and International Relations Council.

Previously, she founded and was president of a consulting firm, GlobalEITrade, helping companies expand locally and globally, and was Managing Director of her own importing business, Narbeli’s Imports LLC.

Throughout her career, she has worked as an Associate Professor of International Business and Finance at the University of Missouri and served as Mealman Chair of Leadership and Innovation at Baker University, where she was tasked with launching the institution’s first-ever entrepreneurship program. As an Associate Professor of Business and Economics at Baker, she also developed new courses in global trade and international business. Additionally, Narbeli brings to Montgomery County vast corporate experience, having held various positions with companies such as Cerner Corporation, Sprint, AT&T and Warner Lambert Co.

Narbeli earned a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Abilene Christian University and a Master of Business Administration in International Marketing and Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona. She’s been recognized for her entrepreneurial achievements, including the Fast Trac New Ventures program at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City. Having completed various certifications from esteemed institutions such as Kauffman, Harvard Business School, and NCBFFA on leadership, business strategy and entrepreneurship, Narbeli is well equipped to support businesses across industries and remains deeply committed to helping local companies grow and thrive.