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CALL FOR SPEAKERS and PRESENTATIONS

Spring Seminar 2026: May 17-19, Portland, ME

NEW NAFTZ Spring Seminar 2026 will introduce Z-TECH sessions as well as various Grantee, Operator/User, and Advanced Professional sessions.

The topics below will be considered through NAFTZ's  CALL FOR SPEAKERS and PRESENTATIONS process.  The NAFTZ Program Committee will determine speakers for sessions listed 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 via the Call for Speakers & Presentations process.

Essential Information

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 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/80353/submitter
    1. Log in or create a new account in Oxford Abstracts.  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 December 1st, 2025 deadline.
  4. Note the Call for Speakers and Presentations deadlines:
    • Session submissions for consideration deadline:  December 1, 2025
    • Outcome notification deadline:  Wednesday, December 31st (or sooner if possible)

IMPORTANT - NAFTZ Speaker & Moderator Policy

  • NAFTZ events are strictly educational—not promotional. Sales-oriented proposals will be declined.

  • We seek well rounded sessions that include a variety of perspectives from session speakers, thus should there be multiple presenters for any given session, and speakers should not all be from one firm.

  • Presentation materials (slides, handouts) must use NAFTZ event templates only - no company logos or other formats are allowed.

  • 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.

  • We welcome proposals from across the community to broaden voices and keep content high-quality.

NAFTZ believes this Call for Speakers and Presentations process will better enable our Program Committee to identify new speakers, provide the opportunity present at our in-person events to all members and non-member constituents, and help us to continue to deliver high-quality content to our attendees.

 

Topical Areas
Open Submissions Open Submissions – FTZ Topics, standard format

  • Desired Content:  We invite proposals on substantive FTZ topics—emerging policy developments, operational best practices, data/analytics, technology, and strategic approaches.
    • Sessions should be clear, compliant, and application-focused; case studies and measurable takeaways are strongly encouraged.
    • Panel or workshop formats are preferred, but solo presenters will be considered.
    • Proposals must not contain promotional content and demonstrate practical value for practitioners and decision-makers.
  • Suggested skill level: Intermediate–Advanced level preferred.

 

Open Submissions - Z-Tech 

  • What is a Z-Tech: Z-Tech showcases hands-on, deeply practical FTZ sessions—techniques, technology, and technical workflows. We’re looking for detailed workshops or presentations that move beyond slides to the how-to: build the checklist, run the report, configure the control, and pass the audit, etc.  Vendor-neutral; substance over sizzle; strictly non-promotional.
    • Format & duration: Propose 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes. Choose workshop, lab, or technical clinic formats and set clear outcomes (3–5 measurable skills).
    • Room setup & participation: Standard conference-table seating. Laptops are optional; power at tables will be limited, and many attendees won’t have devices. Design exercises that work well on paper or as small-group table work.
    • Materials (encouraged): Provide take-home assets: checklists, SOP excerpts, templates, sample datasets, screenshots/diagrams, and brief step-by-step guides. Pre-reads and post-session resources are optional but welcome as appropriate.
  • Desired skill level: Intermediate and Advanced
Z-Tech /

General Audience

 AI in the International Trade Arena: Promise, Pitfalls, and Practical Uses

  • Desired content:
    • How could AI be used in global trade platforms and what impacts could result - good and bad?
    • What improvements can AI potentially deliver to the Trade in compliance, data analytics, and beyond?
    • Can AI be trusted and relied upon is such a technical, compliance environment?
    • Could AI impact jobs in the global trade space, and if so which ones and how?
  • Suggested skill level:  Intermediate
Operator / User Production Authority: From Application to Audit

  • Desired content: 
    • Review in detail federal registry notices, data, requirements, movements
    • Understand reporting requirements
    • Explore tips to ensure compliance
    • Review how manage scope of authority creep and identify scope-change triggers (new components, processes, suppliers)
  • Suggested skill level:  Intermediate
Operator / User

General Audience

 Trade Enforcement: Company vs. Individual liability

  • Desired Content:
    • Address where liability really lands in trade enforcement—company vs. individual—across customs, export controls, and sanctions.
    • Demystify standards like negligence, willfulness, and “knew or should have known,” and explain who gets named (C-suite, compliance, brokers) and why.
    • Walk through disclosure and internal-investigation decisions, penalties (fines, etc.) and mitigation.
  • Suggested skill level:  Intermediate
Grantees Strategies/Messaging and Promoting FTZs to businesses and communities

  • Desired content: 
    • Diving deeper into the balance of economic development mindset and FTZ company benefits in reaching target audiences
    • How to craft FTZ value propositions for the C-suite and civic leaders
    • Balance economic-development goals with compliance credibility and myth-busting talking points.
    • Community storytelling: Translate FTZ benefits for local stakeholders (jobs, capex, resilience) without hype; prepare elected-official talking points and “why here/why now” narratives.
  • Suggested skill level:  Advanced
General Audience Secondary Tariff Reporting – 232

  • Desired content:  Review rules regarding identifying and reporting 232, and other tariff developments
  • Suggested content:  Expand topic with real-world examples, case studies, stories, etc.
  • Suggested skill level:  Intermediate
Grantees From Interest to Activation: Modern Strategies to Market Your U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone

  • Suggested content: Explore Marketing methodologies specific zone sites, magnet sites, local industry, and unique strategies
  • Suggested skill level:  advanced
Advanced Country of Origin within FTZs

  • Desired content:  Review rules of identify and reporting origin and verifying being out of zone
  • Suggested content:  Expand topic with real-world examples, case studies, stories, etc.
  • Suggested skill level:  Intermediate
General Audience Penalty exposure under additional tariffs

  • REQUIRED: Speakers must have legal background & Experience in penalty/fines area
  • Desired content:  Explore issues, customs penalties and potential mitigation under Section 232, 301, IEEPA, and other new tariffs
  • Suggested skill level:  Intermediate

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 or 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, review the information above and then visit https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/80353/submitter to apply!