Skip to content

Annual Conference & Exposition Agenda

This year’s agenda features tracks include general Foreign-Trade Zone topics, as well as specific tracks for:

Grantees, Operator/Users, Petroleum Professionals, Advanced Professionals, and those learning the Fundamentals.

Sunday, September 14, 2025

5:00pm Registration
5:30pm-6:30pm Attendee Reception

Monday, September 15, 2025

7:30am Registration
7:30am-8:00am Continental Breakfast
8:00am-8:10am Opening Remarks & Welcome

  • Review key association developments and provide an event overview.
 SPEAKER: James Grogan, KROLL MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
8:10am-8:40am Top Advocacy & NAFTZ Insights

  •  Review key ongoing trade developments incl. USMCA updates, diff. requirements each country such as prep for 2026 renewal
 SPEAKER: James Grogan, KROLL, Melissa Irmen, NAFTZ MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
8:40am-9:40am CBP “Taking it from the Top – The CBP HQ Perspectives”

  • Review changes affecting the Foreign-Trade Zones program and other importers.
    • CBP Focus in FY 2024+
    • The Future of Port/Trade Resources
    • ACE and Other CBP Budget Priorities
    • Section 321 (de minimus) and its growing impact on cargo processing
 SPEAKERS INVITED Acting Commissioner, & EAC Sabatino, XD Thomas MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
9:40am-10:10am REFRESHMENT BREAK
10:10am-11:10am FTZ Board: Developments

  • Review FTZ Board current and ongoing developments.
 SPEAKER INVITED: Liz Whiteman, US FTZ Board MODERATOR: James Grogan, KROLL
11:10am-12:00pm 2025 Regional FTZ: Driving economic decisions for FTZs

  • Local factors with Operator Panel - supply chain, renewable, etc. (Panasonic invite)
  • Expand discussion to Rail transportation & FTZ as applicable
 SPEAKERS INVITED: Jeff Kimble, Kawasaki & Laura Gipson, Bayer & Eric Valentin, Panasonic MODERATOR: TBD
12:00pm-1:00pm LUNCH
1:10pm-2:10pm FUNDAMENTALS: FTZ Overview, Benefits, Participants & Zone Types

  • Identify benefits & review the regulatory process (review advanced webinars highlighting benefits, application, activation).
  • BONUS Grantee 202 Webinar — click here to purchase.
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
Operators/Users Track: What I was doing on Feb. 1, 2025?

On the evening of February 1st, significant punitive tariffs were announced affecting almost 40% of U.S. international trade. This came on the heels of announcements that the funding for several economic develop programs had been eliminated. Join this panel of veteran policy & FTZ professionals as they map the process that unfolded inside and outside their organizations to deal with the crisis. Our panelists will address:

    • Assessing and communicating the impact
    • Developing and implementing contingency plans
    • Defining the role of FTZs in a volatile trade environment
    • Exploring what's on the horizon: China, Europe & Great Britain
 SPEAKERS INVITED: Torrey Chambliss, Port Tampa Bay MODERATOR: TBD
GRANTEE Track: A step-by-step Guide on what to do before/after an activation request (102 class process and procedures)

  • Explore the Economic development approach – constituents vs. Control approach
  • Understand Documented process & procedures (internal process)
  • Review Application Procedure
  • Define how to communicate; enable the process; & be more efficient in timelines/process/empower by board vs paperwork approach etc.
  • Increase FTZ knowledge and usage within their own communities.
  • Define what the steps are in submitting an operator for activation
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
PETROLEUM: Washington Trade Relations Update

  • Review latest developments impacted Petroleum FTZ Industry
 SPEAKERS:
Larry Hanson, STR		 MODERATOR: Amy Schnipke, Marathon Petroleum
2:10pm-2:20pm BREAK
2:20pm-3:20pm FUNDAMENTALS: FTZ Application Process

  • Identify proper documentation.
  • Determine delivery type & authorization requirements
  • BONUS Grantee 202 Webinar — click here to purchase.
 SPEAKER INVITED: Camille Evans, US FTZ Board  MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
GRANTEE TRACK: A Review of all the Risk and Cost strategies for Global Supply Chains  

  •  Explore how to overcome costs by utilizing the FTZ program.
 SPEAKERS INVITED:  Larry Hanson, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. + TBD MODERATOR: TBD
 OPERATORS/USERS Track: CPSC E-Filing requirement and timelines

  • Review the January 8th CPSC published final rule requiring the submission of CPSC Certificates of Conformity to be filed at the time of entry. There are currently two ways to file this through the message set. One is a full message set and one is an abbreviated message set referencing their data base reference number. There is an 18 month implementation for entries and a 2 year implementation for FTZs
 SPEAKERS INVITED: Chris Smith, IKEA, Polia Comella, Rockefeller Group, Katie Tangman, Columbia Sportswear   MODERATOR: TBD
PETROLEUM: CTPAT Trade Compliance Update & CEE Update

  • Provide an overview and benefits of the CTPAT Trade Compliance program along with the partnership with trade compliant members
  • Explore an overview of Petroleum CEE’s role and responsibilities, update on current initiatives, update on renewable initiatives and Q&A
    session (questions will be submitted prior to conference to CBP)
  

SPEAKERS INVITED: 2:20pm
Petroleum personnel: Bryan Gray, NAM, Petroleum CEE, Kimbra Miller, Jeff Saum, David McGurk, TJ Kendrick

 MODERATOR: Beverly Cruz, SHELL
3:20-3:50pm REFRESHMENT BREAK 
3:50pm-4:50pm FUNDAMENTALS: Zone Status, Inventory & Recordkeeping

  • Identify storage, removal, and destruction rules.
  • Determine necessary authorization required.
  • BONUS Grantee 202 Webinar — click here to purchase.
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
 Operator/user Track: How to Leverage FTZ's to manage increased tariffs and the impacts on insurance and customs bonds

  • Explore methods to navigate the ever-changing tariff landscape
 SPEAKER: Patrice Lafayette, Roanoke Insurance Group Inc. & Wanda Sample, Avalon Risk Management MODERATOR: Maddi Krieger, QAD
GRANTEE TRACK: Stronger Together: Building FTZ Relationships That Save Time, Cut Risk, and Drive Success
 SPEAKERS: Sara Hastings, Aqua Golf MODERATOR: TBD
PETROLEUM: Vessel Clearance Panel & Understanding Jones Act It's implications (Introduction and Advanced topics)

  • Understand project overview & update on implementation/project
    status since go-live and CBP’s implementation plans for other sectors.
 SPEAKERS INVITED: Marc Herbert, Jones Walker MODERATOR: Helen Estrada, P66
5:00pm-6:00pm FUNDAMENTALS: Merchandise Handling & Admissions

  • Identify discrepancies.
  • Define HMF.
  • Review Reporting Responsibilities.
  • BONUS Grantee 202 Webinar — click here to purchase.
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
GRANTEE Track: FTZ Board Changes-Navigating UncertaintyThe U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board has not been immune to the changes in Washington, D.C. From DOGE to staff reductions and a general pivot to import enforcement, interactions with Board staff have changed. Join this panel of industry experts to review how that in turn should change Grantee interactions with operators, prospects and applicants. Our panelists will address:

    • Shifting FTZB staff assignments and their impact
    • Additional information requested in the application processes
    • Changes to application timelines
    • Sunset confirmation procedures
 SPEAKERS INVITED: Denise Yanez, City of Phoenix, Patty Cannon, State of DE, Leigh Ryan, WTC Savannah MODERATOR INVITED: Rebecca Williams, Rockefeller Group
OPERATOR/USER Track: CF3461 estimates regulations, and supplemental.

  • The regulation on a estimate with HTS/ MID combination surpassing the estimates. How and when the supplemental can take place and be in regulation with CBP.

PETROLEUM: Key to Successfully Balancing FTZ, FTA and Drawback 

  • Conduct of introduction as well as advanced discussions of the interworking of these elements
 OPER/USER SPEAKERS: TBD

 

 

PETRO SPEAKERS:
Matt Anderson, Charter; Todd Davis, EY; Hillary Jones, Marathon

 OPER/USER MODERATOR: TBD

 

PETRO MODERATOR: Megan Niese, Marathon Petroleum
6:00pm ADJOURN
6:00pm-7:00pm Grand Opening Welcome Reception

  • Network with industry peers and providers at this Expo Hall opening reception.

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

 

7:30am Registration
7:30am-8:00am Continental Breakfast  
8:00am-8:30am Opening Address

  • Review Outlook/trade developments of the day
 SPEAKERS: James Grogan, FTI Consulting Inc. MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
8:30am-9:30am FTZ Program Enforcement Updates From CBP

  • Hear direct from CBP on the current status of trade developments such as:
    • Forced Labor
    • ACE functionality updates Impacting FTZs
 INVITED SPEAKERS: Director Brad Slutsky & CTPAT Program Office Representative, CBP MODERATOR: James Grogan, FTI Consulting Inc.
9:30am-9:40am BREAK
9:40am-10:40am FUNDAMENTALS: Transfer of Merchandise, Periodic Reporting

  • Identify discrepancies
  • Review reporting responsibilities
  • BONUS Grantee 202 Webinar — click here to purchase.
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
ADVANCED Track: Export controls and compliance reports for FTZ Exports

  • Understand FTZ Exports: Translating the Complexities into Simple Terms & Defining Liabilities
  • Review Export in-bond vs not in-bond including all of the in-bond options and nuances/liabilities of each; Incoterms and their impact; EEI filing responsibilities; PGA export compliance responsibilities; BIS export compliance responsibilities; selling to US entity buyer vs foreign entity buyer, etc.
 INVITED SPEAKERS: TBD  MODERATOR: TBD
OPERATOR/USER Track: Is it True?  (Are your assumptions about imports and FTZs (always) correct?)  Previously Documentation compliance and scope of authority issues

  • Understand Nuances to not keeping in regular upkeep
  • It would be beneficial to provide guidance to operators, particularly manufacturing operators, in how to recognize and utilize their scope of authority to confirm they're compliant with CBP/FTZ Board requirements. Particularly for legacy FTZ Operators, Scope of authorities or needs/operations may have changed and the appropriate FTZ Board filings may not have occurred.
 SPEAKERS:  Brian Murphy, Miller & Co. PC MODERATOR: TBD
PETROLEUM: Renewables Panel Discussing the Nuances of Import, Export, FTZ, FTZ & Drawback

  • Review special nuances involved with zone inventory measurements in the petroleum FTZ sector. This includes meters, scales, and tanks.
  • Understand CBP approach to meter readings
  • Review meter reading audit and calibration criteria
  • Review employing scales, tanks and more in the process
  • Understand how recordkeeping for petroleum is different
 INVITED SPEAKER: Robert Munivez, National Petroleum Chemist Division, Petroleum CEE personnel CBP; Michael Leightman, EY;  Kelly Towner, Valero; Robert Balli, P66; Greg Towne, Charter Brokerage; Christian Szymanski, Charter Brokerage; Jonathon Dicks, Neste MODERATOR: James Rojas, P66
10:40am-11:10am REFRESHMENT BREAK
11:10am-12:10pm FUNDAMENTALS: Regulatory Requirements & Inspections

 SPEAKER(S): TBD MODERATOR: TBD
ADVANCED TRACK Penalty exposure under additional tariffs-Customs penalties and potential mitigation under Section 232, IEEPA, and Reciprocal Tariffs SPEAKER INVITED: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
OPERATOR/USER Track: FTZ Inventory Discrepancies & Reporting: A DEEP DIVE

  • Understand the reasons and ways to report nuances
 SPEAKERS: Justin Poyser, ITC Diligence International,  Will Coffey, Thomson Reuters & Wanda Wiggins, Kontane Logistics MODERATOR: TBD
PETROLEUM: Benefits Beyond Manufacturing

  • A deep dive into savings and utilization
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
12:10pm-1:10pm LUNCH
1:20pm-2:20pm  General session: New Trade Developments

  • Review the latest hot topic with more details shared in June
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
2:30pm-3:10pm FUNDAMENTALS: ABCs of FTZs — Game Show of Knowledge

  • Utilize FTZ knowledge in real world scenarios in jeopardy style interactive format
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
ADVANCED Track: Duty Drawback Parity between FTZ and Non-FTZ duty drawback claims

  • Explore how these differ, what are your liabilities, requirements, etc.
 SPEAKER: David Murphy, GDLSK MODERATOR: TBD
OPERATORS/USERS: Trade Enforcement under the New Administration  (old title compliance risks)

  • Review required data points for CBP filings, and the risks to a Zone operation without them. Defined HTSUS, MID codes for Manufacturers, Etc...

PETROLEUM: AI for Today, Tomorrow and FTZs (Digital Transformation NEOFLOW & CBP)

  • Explore interaction between trade compliance and technology.
 Oper/User SPEAKER: David Murphy, GDLSK & Sean Murray, Miller & Co. PC

 

 

 

PETRO INVITED SPEAKERS: Russell Labuik, Enbridge, Jeff Saum, US CBP, Chris Wallace, NEOFLOW, Twila Riffel, NEOFLOW, Amy Schnipke, Marathon

 MODERATOR:   TBD
3:10pm-3:40pm REFRESHMENT BREAK

3:40pm-4:30pm

  

FUNDAMENTALS: Professional Development in the FTZ industry

  • Utilize FTZ knowledge in real world scenarios
 Speakers: Chris Smith, IKEA +ELITE Committee Co-Chair: Courtney Stiers Moderator: NAFTZ ELITE Committee Co-Chair: Angela Cook
3:40pm-4:30pm ADVANCED Track: Bonded Shipments/In-bond

  • Explore all in-bond transportation including export
  • Understand how to help forwarders and carriers understand the process to help us ship with them. We find we have to educate them most of the time.
  • Review Port to port, same operator vs. different operator
 SPEAKERS: Carrie Cooper-Grubs, Host Terminals, LLC MODERATOR: Tasha Wooten, Kravet
OPERATORS/USERS: Local FTZ Perspective and Operational Realities

  • Explore CBP Officers (and national FTZ trainers) from their local perspective
  • Understand best scenarios:
    • Before I concur with your applications, I would like…
    • Before you apply for activation, make sure you do THIS
    • Facility security dos and don’ts
    • The best activation meeting I ever went to looked like this...
    • Review Implementing state law taxes
    • Ocean House Bill release update - policy impact (OFO)
    • Looking ahead to In-Bond Reg changes (OFO)
    • Forced Labor - Security (OFO)

PETROLEUM: TBD

  • TBD
 Oper/User SPEAKERS INVITED: Deputy Chief Officer Stephen Long and Local FTZ Officers

 

 

 

 

 

PETRO Speakers: TBD

 MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
4:30pm-6:00 pm GRANTEES: Grantee Roundtable

  • Explore today's trending topics with fellow Grantees in this roundtable discussion.
 MODERATOR: Justin Ryan, JAXPORT & William Cawthern, FTZ #74 Baltimore Development Corp. 
OPERATORS/USERS: Operator/User Roundtable

  • Explore today's trending topics with fellow Operator/Users in this roundtable discussion.
 MODERATOR: Shana Head, GEODIS
PETROLEUM: Petroleum Roundtable

  • Explore today's trending topics with fellow Petroleum Professionals in this roundtable discussion.
 MODERATOR: Amy Schnipke, Marathon Petroleum
6:0pm-8:00pm TUESDAY MAIN RECEPTION

  • Connect with industry partners while enjoying a taste of New Orleans during the Tuesday night reception.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

7:30am-10:00am Annual Business Meeting MEMBERS ONLY Breakfast
9:00am-10:00am Non-Member Breakfast
10:00-10:30am BREAK
10:30am-11:30am ADVANCED: Identifying FTA Qualifications

  • Provide the different ways of checking if a product qualifies as FTA.
  • Identify how to do calculations.
 SPEAKERS INVITED: Kevin Bruning, Clarks America MODERATOR: TBD
OPERATORS/USERS: Info on PGAs (especially FDA) and how it relates to FTZ

  • Address topic with Univeral approach (to include Grantees)
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
GRANTEE Track: Developing the skill sets necessary for managing and operating FTZ’s

  • Identify how to Equip a grantee with knowledge of needs such as import/compliance department, operations approach to run an FTZ (what’s required – inventory control system, etc.), role of customs broker, etc.
 SPEAKERS INVITED: Leigh Ryan, WTC Savannah & David Sikkink, Hawaii FTZ MODERATOR: TBD
11:40am-12:40pm ADVANCED Track: FTZ Scrap, Waste & Destruction: Options for Handling in Manufacturing and Distribution Operations"

  • (Destruction, unusable options – destruction, scrap entry, expired inventory, damaged, etc.– 2019 webinar
  • Connect with FTZ Manufacturers on the A-Z Process for Scrap from Manufactured Goods
  • Explore Specifically, scrap that is subject to Tariff Remedies and AD/CVD and if possible to avoid.
  • Identify how to track, report, and what is needed to support scrap claim?
  • More ways for benefits (amidst tariffs)v
  • Increased recycling – residuals options, etc.
 SPEAKERS: Rebecca Williams, Rockefeller Group
 MODERATOR: TBD
OPERATORS/USERS Track: How "cargo" becomes "inventory"

  • Define when it happens: leaving a foreign port or while it is in a container on the ocean? Or maybe when it leaves the destination port here in the US and/or when the container is attached to a truck or a rail car?
  • Explore When & where does that "cargo" stop being cargo and begin being inventory??
  • Define what does that mean for the importing operator/user as well as CBP??
 SPEAKERS: Darcy Emehiser,US DSV MODERATOR: TBD
GRANTEE Track: Leveling the Playing Field: Harnessing Free Digital Tools & AI To Market & Manage Your U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone

  • Explore Marketing methodologies specific zone sites, magnet sites, local industry, and unique strategies (Welcome expanding upon the topic)
 SPEAKERS: Danielle Converse, Port of Corpus Christi & Justin Ryan, JAXPORT MODERATOR: Robbie Williams, America's Central Port
12:40pm ADJOURN