**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

November 01, 2023 

CONTACT: Emilia Rowland, Emilia.Rowland@mail.house.gov

U.S. Congresswoman Summer Lee Honors Pittsburgh Company for Exporting Efforts

PITTSBURGH, PA – The office of Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12) today presented Mallory Barrett and Melinda Su-En Lee, co-founders of Pittsburgh-based Parcel Health, with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement Certificate.  

The Export Achievement Certificate recognizes U.S. companies that have either made their first export sale or expanded their sales into overseas markets with assistance from the U.S. Commercial Service.

“Parcel Health is a great example of the innovation and sustainable solutions upon which Pittsburgh is building its future,” said Congresswoman Lee.  “Bringing its product to international markets with the support and resources of the U.S. Commercial Service not only demonstrates that companies of any size can make exporting a key component of their growth strategy but also highlights the strengths Pittsburgh has to offer.”

Parcel Health is a female-founded company that creates sustainable packaging solutions for pharmacies. The U.S. Commercial Service began working with Parcel Health to develop an international business strategy in 2022. Within a matter of months, Parcel Health was shipping its Phill Box to Canadian pharmacies and is leveraging additional state and federal resources to grow its distribution channels in this market.

“Parcel Health serves as a great example in effectuating its growth strategy through international sales by leveraging the resources of the U.S. Commercial Service. The U.S. Commercial Service helps companies of all sizes compete in the global marketplace. We are grateful for their support of the companies in the region,” said Ven Raju, president and CEO of Innovation Works

Parcel Health’s Melinda Su-En Lee commented, “The U.S. Commercial Service has been instrumental in growing our business internationally. Their services and support significantly shortened our timeline to international success. I encourage more early-stage companies to leverage the resources of the U.S. Commercial Service to enter global markets.”

“The success story of Parcel Health is that of a firm that recognizes the benefits of exporting and utilizes the U.S. Commercial Service’s strong global network,” said Ryan Russell, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service Pittsburgh Office. “We have been impressed with Parcel Health’s planning and vision and are pleased to congratulate them on such a prestigious award.”

Innovation Works (IW) is the Pittsburgh region’s most active investor in and supporter of early-stage companies developing hardware, software, and life sciences technologies. Though focused exclusively on helping startups in the southwest PA region, IW’s level of investment activity makes it one of the most active investors in the U.S.  Innovation Works is part of the statewide Ben Franklin Technology Partners, a network of four centers developed to help diversify PA’s economy and retain the state’s high caliber innovations that are invented and incubated here. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners are partially funded by the Commonwealth of PA and overseen by the Department of Community and Economic Development. To date, IW has invested $117 million in over 700 companies that have brought in an additional $3.3 billion in outside funding, making it one of the most productive uses of state dollars.

The U.S. Commercial Service is a U.S. Department of Commerce agency that helps U.S. businesses sell their products and services globally. The Pittsburgh Office of the U.S. Commercial Service is a part of the agency’s worldwide network, which includes offices in more than 100 U.S. cities and 80 markets around the world. For more information on the U.S. Commercial Service, please visit https://www.trade.gov/pennsylvania-pittsburgh or call 412-644-2800.

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Since taking office in January, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $870 million brought back to Western PA, including over $200 million for infrastructure, over $50 million for affordable transit, and over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 1,330 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.

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