On Tuesday November 3, I'll be participating in the China Business Boot Camp in Cleveland. The event is organized by the China Business Network. Its CEO Janet Carmosky is a China veteran and spoke at Plastics News' own China Forum back in 2006.

The panel I'll be moderating features an interesting theme: innovating with trust. In a society where the human factor matters more than systems and rules, nothing can be achieved without trust. Even counterfeiting in China takes a lot of trust. Think about it. A counterfeiter will need trustworthy partners along the entire process of supply, manufacturing and distribution. They have to establish trust with every involved person: factory workers, truck drivers, potential customers, and many more. (Disclaimer: I'm 100 percent supportive of the battle against counterfeiting.)

But innovating in China certainly demands a new level of trust. Still remember the young Chinese worker who committed suicide after a fourth-generation iPhone prototype he was responsible for went missing just a few months ago?

I'll be joined by panelists Mike Maczuzak, founder of industrial design firm SmartShape, Doug Smith, senior vice president of technology at bearings manufacturer Timken, and Allan Goldner, a partner at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP who heads the law firm's China Group.

The conference's full agenda is available online, including two other panels, a three-hour China orientation by Carmosky, a speech by Len Komoroski, President of Cavaliers (which recently sold a minority ownership stake to a Chinese investment group) and Quicken Loans Arena, as well as a dedicated networking session.

Sounds like fun? Then we'll see you there! I'd love to take this opportunity to meet with our readers in the region. The China Business Network is offering Plastics News readers a special 25 percent discount code. I'll be glad to pass it along, if you send me an email.

If you can't make it to the event but hope to have a question addressed, you can send it to me. I may be able to help you get an answer.