About Us

PARTNERSHIP. PRIDE. PROSPERITY.

At the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones, we connect global businesses with local communities through the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) Program. Our membership—which is comprised of public entities, public and private companies and individuals—works together to foster business growth, economic development, and U.S. employment.

FTZ Facts from the 2024 Foreign Trade Zones Board Annual Report (the most recent available)

BILLION
IN MERCHANDISE RECEIVED

U.S. RESIDENTS EMPLOYED

BILLION
IN EXPORTS FROM FTZS

ACTIVE FTZ OPERATIONS NATIONWIDE

Source: 2024 FTZ Board Annual Report

Our Vision

To serve our members and partners as the premier U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones advocacy and educational organization, though public-private partnerships to promote the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Program as an economic development tool for job creation and investment.

Our Mission

The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ), an association of public and private members, is the collective voice of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Program. The NAFTZ is the Program’s principal educator and the leader in demonstrating the program’s value and role in the changing environment of international trade. NAFTZ is instrumental in supporting economic development objectives and global competitiveness of its members by providing a forum for disseminating relevant information, and advocacy support on international trade issues.

Our Leadership

Our Board of Directors is a distinguished group of volunteers who bring experience, diversity, and passion in trade. Our members elect the Board to provide strategic direction to the Association. Board members also serve as ambassadors for the Association.

Over the years, the NAFTZ has been privileged to extend honorary life memberships to individuals who have had a significant impact on the FTZ community. Honorary Life Members are elected by the recommendation of the Board of Directors and a majority vote of the members present at the Annual Business meeting. These individuals have served the NAFTZ in the capacity of a Director and Officer for a minimum of four terms; provided exceptional leadership for the NAFTZ; and although retired from the NAFTZ Board of Directors they have remained active participants and contributors to the NAFTZ.

NAFTZ also acknowledges and offers profound gratitude for the selfless service of the Past Chairpersons of the Association.

View Past Association Chairs

Honorary Life Members are elected by the Board of Directors. These individuals have served the NAFTZ in the capacity of a Director and Officer for a minimum of eight (8) years; provided exceptional leadership; and remain active participants and contributors to the NAFTZ.

VIEW HONORARY Life Members

About Our Team

Board Members

Katie Tangman, Chair

Katie Tangman, Senior Director of Global Customs and Trade at Columbia Sportswear Company

Katie Tangman is the Senior Director of Global Customs and Trade at Columbia Sportswear Company, where she leads a global team of trade professionals across the U.S., Canada, France, and Vietnam. Her team is responsible for ensuring trade compliance and driving a wide range of duty optimization initiatives, including tariff engineering, FTA utilization, Foreign Trade Zones, Bonded Warehouses, and First Sale for Export programs.

With 16 years at Columbia Sportswear, Katie brings deep industry knowledge and strategic leadership to the company’s global trade operations. Prior to joining Columbia, she served as Managing Partner and Director of Strategic Resource Development at Geo. S. Bush & Company, a regional customs brokerage and freight forwarding firm, where she specialized in developing innovative trade solutions and client strategies.

Patricia Cannon, Vice-Chair

Patricia Cannon, Director of Special Projects at State of Delaware’s Department of State

Patricia A Cannon, MSM, AZS: Patty is the Director of Special Projects and FTZ #99 Grantee Administrator within the State of Delaware’s Department of State. She graduated with honors with a BS in Business Management and earned a Master of Science in Management from Wilmington University. Previously, Patty served as the Executive Director of Delaware’s Workforce Investment Board and the Director of Advocacy for the American Heart Association, serving the State of Delaware and Southeastern, Pennsylvania.

Patty relies heavily on the relationships and knowledge base that is available through NAFTZ, attending and participating in as many networking and educational events as possible. She serves on the Grantee committee, Program Committee and the Advocacy Committee. Patty is proud to have earned the Accredited Zone Specialist (AZS) designation through her work with NAFTZ. As a new member of the NAFTZ Board of Directors, she will work to be a voice for Grantees as well as the Operators and Users that depend on the benefits of the Foreign Trade Zone Act to promote safe and fair international trade that further supports positive economic impact across the US. Collectively, “The NAFTZ advocates for the practical application of international trade policies and regulations to achieve maximum simplicity and effectiveness for the FTZ community.”[1]

[1] https://naftz.org/get-involved/advocacy/

Leigh Ryan, Treasurer

Leigh Ryan, Vice President at World Trade Center Savannah

Leigh Ryan has taken World Trade Center Savannah full steam ahead, managing trade services and kicking off the organization's college internship program. As vice president, she works with World Trade Center Savannah partners to assist in the development and success of the international strategies of their companies or of their clients. This covers importing and exporting, customs research, expanding markets, identifying buyers, sellers and distributers as well as international connections and business match making. Ryan is also responsible for Foreign-Trade Zone 104, working with established foreign trade zone site and sub-zone operators as well as promoting the benefits for FTZ to the region. She has been instrumental in developing the tools needed to communicate the mission and benefits of the organization to the region and the world.

Diana Urelius, Secretary

Diana Urelius, Senior Manager at Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Inc.

Diana Urelius has 25 years of diverse international trade experience. Ms. Urelius has developed and implemented successful trade compliance programs resulting in tens of millions of dollars in savings for her current employer. She is responsible for leading and designing Trade Compliance activities for Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Inc., a global material handling equipment manufacturer, and its group companies. Ms. Urelius is a licensed U.S. Customs Broker, Accredited Zones Specialist and Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional.

Diana received her Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. She studied international law at the Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid, Spain.

Ms. Urelius was recently appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to serve as a member of the Houston District Export Council and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations. She is a member of the National Association of Manufacturers and the Chair of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) Accreditation Committee. She is a frequent speaker on international trade topics.

Robert Balli, Director

William Cawthern, Director

William Cawthern, Director of Foreign-Trade Zone #74 at Baltimore Development Corporation

William Cawthern is the Director of Foreign-Trade Zone #74 with the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), the economic development agency for the City of Baltimore. In his role, William serves as the Grantee for the FTZ, with a service area including Baltimore City and six surrounding counties. In addition to his FTZ responsibilities, William acts as the lead economic development officer for the Industrial and Logistics sector in Baltimore, driving business development efforts to attract and support manufacturers, distributors, and transportation functions of the local supply chain. Lastly, William administers the Brownfields Revitalization Incentive Program tax credit, which encourages environmental cleanup through real estate re-investment in Baltimore. William is a proud co-chair of the Grantee Committee, has served on various NAFTZ task forces and subcommittees, and is active in the Urban Land Institute chapter in Baltimore.

William’s previous career experience focused on corporate real estate, specializing in transaction management, financial analysis, and portfolio strategy for office and industrial property users for domestic and global clients in professional services and consumer packaged goods. His diverse background instilled a well-rounded understanding of corporate operations and a deep appreciation for high-quality client service. William holds a degree from Colgate University and a master’s of urban planning degree from CUNY Hunter College.

”

Danielle Converse, Director

Danielle Converse, AZS, Foreign Trade Zone Manager at Port of Corpus Christi

Danielle Converse is the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Manager and an Accredited Zone Specialist at the Port of Corpus Christi, FTZ 122. A graduate of Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Danielle has over 20 years of experience in navigating federal, state, and local regulations. An active member of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) since joining in 2019, she has contributed to various initiatives, including the Grantee, Operator, Sponsorship and Advocacy Committees, the Social Media Taskforce, and currently serves as Chair of the Awareness Working Group of the Advocacy Committee. She is also a founder of the Texas Association of Foreign Trade Zones, where she currently serves as the Secretary. Danielle’s strong relationships with operators and local U.S. Customs officials have been instrumental in the successful implementation and ongoing success of the Foreign-Trade Zones program in the Texas Coastal Bend.

Shana Head, Director

Shana Head, Senior Director of FTZ Product at GEODIS USA, LLC

Shana is based in Nashville, TN and is the Senior Director of FTZ Product for GEODIS USA, LLC.

Shana started her foreign-trade zones (FTZ) career in 2005 with an international furniture and home décor retail company. During her tenure, Shana played a pivotal role in pioneering the FTZ program for the company and assisted in starting up their three regional distribution centers as FTZs. From there, Shana took a promotional opportunity to become the FTZ Manager for a global healthcare company where she acted in the capacity of the corporate FTZ subject matter expert, designed FTZ policies and procedures, and aided in process improvements for the internal FTZ audit program. Before joining GEODIS as the Senior Director of FTZ Product, Shana led the FTZ Managed Services practice at a boutique, FTZ consulting firm, managing the day-to-day operations, providing compliance guidance, and assisting in project management for new zone activities.

Shana has been an active member of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) and holds the designation of Accredited Zone Specialist (AZS) and Certified Zone Specialist (CZS). She has been a member of the NAFTZ Operator/User Committee since 2007 which she currently serves as Committee Chair. She also serves on the NAFTZ In-Bond task force, ACE Automation Committee, the Program Committee, the FWS Working Group, and the Mentorship Program.

Ileana Klepeisz, Director

Ileana Klepeisz, Sr. Manager of Foreign Trade Zone at Tapestry

I currently serve on several committees including the Operator Committee, Social Media Committee and Advocacy Committee. I have 25 years of combined experience between Foreign Tade Zone, Inventory Control, Operations and Warehousing. With this experience I have been able to significantly reduce inventory discrepancies, increase cost savings and develop efficient processes. With my diversified experience I can bring valuable insights to the NAFTZ.

Sean Lydon, Director

Sean Lydon, President at ISCM Inc.

With a distinguished track record of service within NAFTZ, Sean Lydon has not only chaired but actively contributed to several key committees, including the Program Committee, Advocacy Committee, and Membership Committee. Currently serving as President of ISCM, which he founded in 2011, Mr. Lydon has experience successfully passing legislation in the U.S. Congress, and has secured favorable U.S. Customs rulings. His extensive experience in trade, advocacy, and business operations uniquely positions him to guide the NAFTZ towards continued success.

Sarah Messeih, Director

Sarah Messeih, Senior Manager at KPMG

Sarah is a Senior Manager in KPMG’s Trade & Customs practice based out of San Diego, where she assists companies with all aspects of international trade compliance, including implementation and review of duty savings programs (such as First Sale For Export, Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ), and Duty drawback), review of global trade compliance programs, application and annual review of Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism (CTPAT) programs. Sarah specializes in FTZ consulting and helps companies with all areas of FTZ management, including: FTZ feasibility and readiness assessments, working with the Grantee and FTZ Board to preparing applications for designation, working with local U.S. Customs and Border Protection on FTZ activation, FTZ Inventory Control and Recordkeeping System (ICRS) implementation and FTZ administration/managed services. Sarah also helps companies with compliance audits and systems health checks of FTZ operations and systems. Prior to joining KPMG, Sarah worked for a leading global trade management (GTM) solution provider, focusing on areas of duty deferral programs such as FTZ and duty drawback, import management and classification. Sarah’s technical and operational experience allows her to assist companies in understanding global processes and implementing end-to-end solutions to effectively manage global trade.

Sarah has been a member of NAFTZ for over 10 years, and notably over the past year served as the Chair for the Accreditation committee. Sarah graduated from the University of South Carolina with B.A. degrees in Accounting and Global Supply Chain and Operations Management. Sarah is a Licensed Customs Broker (LCB), Accredited Zone Specialist (AZS), and Certified Zone Specialist (CZS).

Jessica Miserendino, Director

Jessica Miserendino, Import Manager at AFL

Jessica Miserendino is the Import Manager at AFL in Duncan, SC where she is responsible for import customs compliance, free trade agreement qualifications, and Foreign Trade Zone management. Jessica has almost 20 years of customs compliance experience and was key in establishing AFL’s FTZ in 2019. Prior to joining AFL in 2012, Jessica worked as an on-site Customs broker for GE. She has a bachelor’s degree from Charleston Southern University and is a licensed Customs broker.

Christopher Smith, Director

Christopher Smith, Trade Advisor at IKEA

Christopher Smith is a trade advisor in the Customs Coordination Center, North America for IKEA Purchasing Services (US) Inc. He received a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York College at Brockport in 1996 and obtained his Customs Brokers License in 1998. From 1992 to 2006 Mr. Smith worked for Eastman Kodak Company in warehouse and logistics primarily as an Import Compliance Specialist. In his current position with IKEA his responsibilities include establishing and maintaining corporate compliance with all US Customs and other Government agency regulations, assist in communicating compliance requirements globally in the IKEA organization, develop and manage Customs related projects for North America.

“Concerns over the PGA integration into ACE and how it could affect our zone, was the main reason for rejoining NAFTZ. Since joining NAFTZ has given me great opportunities for professional growth. Being a member on the User/Operator committee, participating on a number of different working groups, to being a speaker at conferences have all come from being a member of the association. After being encouraged by two board members who I respect and admire, Rebecca Williams and Cornelia Steinert, I am now been given this chance to continue to grow while serving on the Board for the organization which has given me so much as a member.”

Kelly Steward, Director

Kelly Steward, NA iTrade Customs Compliance Senior Manager at Procter & Gamble

Kelly Steward is the North American International Trade Customs Compliance Senior Manager at Procter & Gamble, a multinational consumer goods company well-known for brands in household, health and personal care products. Within her role at P&G she leads a team that focuses on Global Import and Export Trade Compliance, Duty Reductions programs such as Foreign Trade Zone, Duty Drawback as well as Reconciliation. She is a licensed Customs Broker, a Certified Zone Specialist and an Accredited Zone Specialist through the NAFTZ/NEI and has 20 years of experience in the Customs and Trade Compliance sector.

Denise has worked for the City of Phoenix for over 25 years in various departments with experience in economic development, redevelopment, residential real estate, property management, property maintenance and zoning enforcement, and small business development. She has a B.S. in General Business from Arizona State University, is an Accredited Zone Specialist by the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ), serves on the NAFTZ Board of Directors, and is a member of the NAFTZ Grantee and Membership Committees.

Miguel Zamora, Director

Miguel Zamora II, Executive Vice President at Louisville Riverport Authority (FTZ #29)

Miguel A. Zamora II is a Supply Chain and Logistics professional with over three decades of experience. Throughout his career he has partnered with executives and entrepreneurs to develop cost-effective solutions for their supply chain challenges with a focus on international supply chains and distribution. Miguel believes that a customer-focused approach to supply chain planning is essential for creating a profitable and efficient organization.

Throughout his career, Miguel has worked with a diverse range of manufacturing and distribution companies, including Tier One Automotive, Appliances and Retail Electronics, Consumer and Industrial Electronics and Retail Distribution firms. His expertise lies in visualizing, planning, and executing a variety of internal and external supply chain solutions that effectively eliminate costs and time adders that do not provide value to customers. Key to his success has been a reliance on process definition and Kaizen methodologies. Notably, Miguel has considerable experience in establishing and managing 3PL operations, including those related to Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) operations.

In addition to overseeing Operations, Real Estate and Economic Development Activities for the Louisville Riverport Authority, Miguel leads the administration and promotion of Foreign-Trade Zone #29, for which the Authority serves as the Grantee. Under his leadership, FTZ #29 has grown over 50% since 2021, to include twenty-nine sites or sub-zones throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone program provides a variety of import savings and compliance benefits to firms involved in all forms of international trade.

Miguel is dedicated to driving efficiency and value in supply chain operations, promoting understanding of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone program so that its benefits can be utilized by as many Kentucky companies as possible, and advocating for trade and business policies that will ensure an effective and resilient supply chain for Kentucky and the United States.

A native Texan, Miguel is grateful to have found a home and raised a family in Louisville, Kentucky, where he has lived for nearly forty years. Throughout that time, he has served in a variety of leadership and volunteer roles at his local church and neighborhood. Miguel is a former U.S. Marine and classically trained pianist. He enjoys a wide range of activities including traveling with his wife, Holly, cooking for family and friends (and eating!), U of L sports, the Houston Astros, hiking, golf, and any other activity that offers a reason to enjoy the great outdoors.

James Grogan, Immediate Past Chair

James Grogan, Managing Director at Kroll

James Grogan is a global trade practitioner with substantial experience in the areas of Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ), duty and tariff mitigation strategies, general U.S. customs compliance and global trade function assessments. He provides regulatory and strategic guidance to small companies, complex multinational corporations, and local government entities.

Mr. Grogan assists his clients in all aspects of the FTZ program, including preparing strategic feasibility analyses, managing all federal and local implementation steps, conducting customized training, developing inventory control and operational procedures, responding to government agency inquiries, and building compliance programs. For grantees and economic development groups, he has built and executed tailored marketing plans designed to drive increased FTZ utilization in those regions.

Mr. Grogan has built a strong reputation in the FTZ community through his involvement with the NAFTZ. Since 2015, he has served on the Board of Directors, and currently serves as an Officer within the Executive Committee. He has also chaired several committees, working groups and task forces for the association. His network of professional relationships includes many operators/users, grantees, service provider colleagues and officials within the FTZ Board and CBP.

In addition to his FTZ expertise, Mr. Grogan works with companies to evaluate and periodically review their participation in other CBP partnership programs, including CTPAT, the Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) program (i.e., CTPAT Trade Compliance), and other AEO-modeled voluntary programs. He has designed testing processes for these programs and assisted companies navigate periodic reviews from the customs authorities.

Mr. Grogan also has unique experience assisting companies examine the structure and effectiveness of their global trade function. Whether through an internal audit lens or through the trade group directly, he has helped companies conduct reviews into the structure, location and success of a company’s trade-related personnel, procedures, and technology. These customized reviews typically generate escalation procedures, identify inherent risks and savings opportunities, and benchmark against global leading practices.

James graduated with honors from Saint Louis University where he received a B.A. in Economics, Spanish and International Studies. He is also a licensed US Customs Broker and Accredited Zones Specialist (AZS).

Trey Boring, Parlementarian

Mr. Trey Boring is the President of IMS Worldwide, Inc. (IMSW). He is the leader of the IMSW Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) practice and works with clients to assist them in developing and implementing systems pursuant to the activation and establishment of their FTZs. Mr. Boring has completed more than 120 FTZ projects for IMSW clients. He has prepared and revised operation/procedures manuals, security manuals and ISO procedures for clients activating and operating their Zone.

Mr. Boring’s position with IMSW makes him responsible for developing new business and consulting with clients on the systems they utilize in the operations of their FTZs. Mr. Boring has experience working with projects in regulatory compliance, manufacturing and warehouse management. He has worked with clients on their recordkeeping and inventory control systems, to ensure that those systems meet the guidelines put forth in federal regulations.

He has a Master’s of Business Administration degree, has served on the Board of two corporations, currently Vice Chairman of a 501C3 and is a former Chairman of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones.

Staff

Jeffrey Tafel, President

President // NAFTZ

jtafel@naftz.org
202-331-1950 x226

Jeffrey J. Tafel, CAE, is the President of NAFTZ. He is a member and mission-focused non-profit professional with nearly 30 years of association senior management experience and specializes in developing and executing strategy.

Previously, Jeff served as the CEO of the Home Builders Association of Western Michigan where he worked closely with the Board of Directors and oversaw the entire organization, it’s programs and initiatives. Serving Kalamazoo and the six surrounding counties (including the cities of Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Three Rivers, Coldwater, Albion, Hastings, South Haven and Allegan), the HBA serves and represents the entire residential construction and remodeling community.

Prior to HBA, Jeff served as the Executive Director of the IFMA (International Facility Management Association) Foundation where he led the organization out of near extinction to become a relevant, self-sustaining entity. He was responsible for creation of the IFMA Foundation’s Global Workforce Initiative to encourage Facility Management as a career of choice. He also served the members of IFMA as director of membership and councils where he worked with the more than 130 chapters and special interest groups of IFMA around the world helping local volunteer boards to implement successful strategic plans and best practices to increase member value.

In his volunteer life, he’s served on the board of directors of the Association Foundation Group, the Texas Society of Association Executives, Houston Society of Association Executives and was an active volunteer for the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives. He holds the Certified Association Executive credential from the American Society of Association Executives and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Michigan Technological University. In other words, he’s an association geek.

He is married with three sons living in Portage, MI, enjoys time with family and their 3 dogs, is an avid road and mountain bicyclist and self-proclaimed ‘foodie’.

Victoria Cartwright, CMP, Vice President of Events and Education

Vice President of Events and Education // NAFTZ

vcartwright@naftz.org
202-331-1950 x225

Victoria Cartwright, is the Vice President of Events and Education at the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) and handles all educational program development initiatives. She joined the Association as the Meeting Planner in August 2011.

Victoria is originally from Tennessee and has a B.A. in Communication with a double concentration in Public Relations and Organizational Communication and a minor in European Marketing from the University of Antwerp and James Madison University.

Kristine Wells, Director of Communications & Member Services

Director of Communications & Member Services // NAFTZ

kwells@naftz.org
202-331-1950 x224

Kristine Wells is the Director for Communications & Member Services at the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones.

Kristine works closely with the Membership Committee, Social Media Task Force, and the new ELITE group – working to enhance the membership experience, engage with the FTZ community on social media, and support those new to the U.S. FTZ industry. Though she wears many hats, Kristine’s commitment to engaging with members and expanding NAFTZ’s member reach is her number one priority.

Prior to joining NAFTZ in July 2021, Kristine served as the Manager of Member Services & Marketing at the International Communication Association (ICA), where she was employed for six years. Kristine holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in strategic communication from American University.

When she is not conjuring up ideas for the next big project, Kristine spends her time off exploring historical landmarks, hiking, and spending quality time with her two girls Haven and Storm, her beloved cats.

Melissa Irmen, Director of Advocacy and Strategic Relations

Director of Advocacy and Strategic Relations // NAFTZ

mirmen@naftz.org
202-331-1950 x223

Melissa Irmen joined the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) to execute the association’s advocacy vision and other program management. Melissa plays a pivotal role in building strategic partnerships and enhancing the membership experience while driving impactful change within the U.S. FTZ community.

Melissa has more than 20 years of experience in the foreign-trade zone (FTZ) industry, as a service provider to the U.S. importing and exporting community. She is a Certified Zone Specialist, an Accredited Zone Specialist and previously served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the NAFTZ. Melissa is an active participant in various international trade initiatives and organizations and speaks regularly on global trade topics. She provides technology and trade expertise to many CBP working groups, and is an Executive Committee member of the Trade Support Network (TSN).

Olivia McDonald, Operations and Programs Coordinator

Operations and Programs Coordinator // NAFTZ

omcdonald@naftz.org
202-331-1950 x. 227

Olivia has background in legal, government, and program coordination. She comes to us from Idaho with a B.S. in Political Science, with an emphasis in international relations, comparative politics, and foreign policy from Boise State University. She also received her master’s degree in International Affairs from Arizona State University. Olivia enjoys spending time curled up with her cat or traveling as much as possible.