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CALL FOR SPEAKERS and PRESENTATIONS

Annual Conference 2025: Sept. 14-17, Kansas City, MO

NAFTZ Annual Conference 2025 will again this year feature educational tracks for Grantees, Operator/Users, Advanced Professionals, and NAFTZ's Fundamentals of FTZ course.

The topics below will be filled through NAFTZ's new CALL FOR SPEAKERS and PRESENTATIONS process.  The NAFTZ Program Committee will determine speakers for all sessions below from submissions received to speak on these topics.  The Program Committee welcomes anyone with knowledge or experience on these topics to submit an overview of their proposed session to be considered for the 2025 Annual Conference.

Here are the steps to be considered:

  1. Review the topics and content guidelines from the NAFTZ program committee below.
  2. For each session you'd like to be considered as a speaker for, prepare a submission for the Call for Speakers and Presentations.  Each submission will need to include:
    • Your presentation title
    • A brief paragraph summary (up to 350 words) of your proposed presentation
    • A complete list of co-presenters or panelists (including yourself) and basic information about each (Name, email, designations and company/organization affiliated with).  Each co-presenter / panelist will be sent an email from the Oxford Abstracts system which will request each to submit separately a brief bio, prior speaking experience, etc.
    • Three (3) learning objectives that session attendees will take away from attending your session
    • Session information such as target audience, experience level, materials to be shared with participants, if the content has been presented elsewhere, etc.
  3. Go to https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/78012/submitter
    1. Create a new account in Oxford Abstracts, or log-in if you participated in the Spring Seminar Call for Speakers process and created an Oxford Abstracts account at that time.  Please note - NAFTZ log-in information is NOT connected to Oxford Abstracts and you will need to have a separate account log-in for Oxford Abstracts.
    2.  Enter your submission information. Oxford Abstracts does allow you to return to your submission to make amendments, additions or changes. However, you must first submit information in all required fields, keeping in mind that you can return to update your submission later. All submissions need to be fully completed by the April 11th deadline.
  4. Note the Call for Speakers and Presentations deadlines:
    • Session submissions for consideration deadline:  Friday, April 11th, 2025
    • Outcome notification deadline:  Friday, May 16th (or sooner if possible)

IMPORTANT - NAFTZ Speaker & Moderator Policy

NAFTZ is a non-profit professional association, providing educational events for professional development purposes only and may not be used for promotional or sales purposes of any kind.  Submissions that are of a sales nature or approach will not be accepted.

The program committee seeks well rounded sessions to include a variety of perspectives from session speakers, thus should there be multiple presenters on one topic session, the speakers should not all be from one firm.

For presentation materials, PowerPoint slides, handouts, etc. provided to attendees, all must use only NAFTZ provided templates, images or event branding with no company logos included.

Please review NAFTZ's Speaker/Moderator Policy here.  You will be asked to confirm that you have read and understand these guidelines when submitting for the Call for Speakers.

 

NAFTZ's new Call for Speakers process will better enable our Program Committee to identify new speakers, provide the opportunity present at our in-person events to all members and constituents, and help us to continue to deliver high-quality content and information to our attendees and members.  Anyone interested in presenting is highly encouraged to submit a proposed session though the Call for Speakers process! 

Monday, Sept. 15 2025

1:10-2:10pm OPERATORS/USERS Track: What I was doing on Feb. 1, 2025?

  • Desired content: Review consequence of cut programs under the new administration
    • Explore tariff influence on FTZs (25% on Canada/Mexico, etc.)
    • Navigate anticipated upcoming developments
    • Understand proper methods for users and operators to adjust for this. For example, how to change FTZ status from Non-Privileged to Privileged.
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
 OPERATORS/USERS Track:  How "cargo" becomes "inventory"

  • Desired content: 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 "cargo" stop being cargo and begin being inventory?
  • Define what does that mean for the importing operator/user as well as CBP?
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
2:20-3:20pm GRANTEES Track: A Review of all the Risk and Cost strategies for Global Supply Chains

  • Desired content:  Explore how to overcome costs by utilizing the FTZ program.
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
12:40 pm-1:40pm OPERATORS/USERS Track: CPSC E-Filing requirement and timelines

  • Desired content: 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. The clock is already running on the 18-month implementation, and 2-year implementation for FTZs!
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
3:50pm-4:50pm GRANTEES Track: How to Leverage FTZs to manage tariffs impact

  • Desired content: Explore methods to navigate the ever-changing tariff landscape
  • The program committee welcomes alternative titles for this session.
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
OPERATORS/USERS Track: Physical Security at FTZ site

  • Desired content: Explore a detailed review of the Security Guidelines from CBP and the implementation of CBP approved Security at your Zone Operations
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
5:00 -6:00 pm GRANTEE Track: A step-by-step Guide on what to do after an activation request

  • Desired content: Explore the Economic development approach – Constituents vs. Control approach
  • Understand Documented process & procedures (internal processes)
  • 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
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD

 

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025

9:40am-10:40am ADVANCED Track: FTZ Exports: Translating the Complexities into Simple Terms & Defining Liabilities

  • Desired content: 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.
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
OPERATOR/USER Track: Documentation compliance and scope of authority issues

  • Desired content: 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.
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
11:10 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. ADVANCED Track: Lacey Act - new requirements and how they impact the FTZ

  • Desired content: Understand the nuances and interconnections between the programs
 SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
OPERATOR/USER Track: FTZ Inventory Discrepancies & Reporting: A Deep Dive

  • Desired content: Understand the reasons and ways to report nuances
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
2:30 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. CALL FOR SPEAKERS: ADVANCED Track: Duty Drawback Parity between FTZ and Non-FTZ duty drawback claims

  • Desired content: Explore how these differ, what are your liabilities, requirements, etc.
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
OPERATORS/USERS: Compliance Risks with Incomplete Item Master Data

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

ADVANCED Track: Bonded Shipments/In-bond

  • Desired content:
  • 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

GRANTEE Track: Developing the skill sets necessary for managing and operating FTZ’s

  • Desired content: 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: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 11:40a.m. - 12:40 p.m. ADVANCED Track: FTZ Scrap, Waste & Destruction: Options for Handling in Manufacturing and Distribution Operations

  • Desired content: 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 it is possible to avoid.
  • Identify how to track, report, and what is needed to support scrap claim?

OPERATOR/USER Track: FTZ Manufacturing in an FDA-regulated Industry

  • Desired content: Explore from intermediate potential cross over with PGA session
  • Identify difficulties with manufacturing in an FTZ whose products are FDA-regulated.
  • Highlight strategies to efficiently process and move goods while maintaining Customs and FDA compliance.

GRANTEE Track: Marketing methodologies for Foreign Trade Zones

  • Desired content: Explore Marketing specific zone sites, magnet sites, local industry, and unique strategies
  • The Program Committee welcomes expanding upon the topic
 SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD

 

The program committee members will evaluate submissions on the following criteria:

  • Learning objectives
  • Session design including any interactive learning elements
  • Speaker(s) experience and knowledge of the subject matter
  • Speaker(s) presenting experience
  • Overall session quality and alignment with desired session content

 

Questions?  Comments?  Contact NAFTZ VP of Events, Victoria Cartwright or NAFTZ President Jeff Tafel or call the NAFTZ office at 202-331-1950.

To respond to the Call for Speakers and Presentations and submit your proposed session, review the information at the top of this page and then visit  https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/78012/submitter to apply!