Description

LIVE ONLY: This training is complimentary to 2024 Annual Conference registrants (all past registrants should have received a promo code for access and contact vcartwright@naftz.org with any questions. If you did not attend the in-person conference and seek to attend - a small fee applies with the option to purchase the training a la carte as follows.

This 60-minute virtual only session will cover the latest information on FTZ updates & outlook strategies

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Diana Urelius Senior Manager | Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Inc.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.

James Grogan Managing Director // FTI Consulting Inc. 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).

Rebecca Williams is Managing Director for Rockefeller Group Foreign Trade Zone Services, a division of Rockefeller Group Development Corporation and a part of Rockefeller Group. Rockefeller Group is a private corporation dedicated to excellence in commercial real estate development and services including foreign-trade zone (“FTZ”) feasibility, site selection, approval, activation, and operational support.

Ms. Williams assists companies with the implementation and integration of FTZ operations as well as general import/export compliance strategies. Ms. Williams and the Rockefeller Group FTZ team successfully lead multi-national clients across a broad range of industries through every aspect of FTZ implementation including detailed FTZ feasibility analysis, FTZ designation and production authority, activation preparation and approval, coordination with Partner Government Agencies (“PGAs”), detailed FTZ “go live” and operational support, and ongoing compliance advice and training. Ms. Williams also assists clients with a variety of general import/export issues related to classification, valuation, internal compliance assessments, C-TPAT requirements, prior disclosures, trade preference programs, and other regulatory matters.

Prior to joining Rockefeller Group Foreign Trade Zone Services, Ms. Williams was a Manager at TradeStar Advisory Services and an Associate at KPMG’s Trade & Customs Practice. Ms. Williams earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, is a licensed Customs Broker and an NAFTZ Accredited Zone Specialist.

Ms. Williams is an active member of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (“NAFTZ”) where she previously serviced as Chair of the Board of Directors and has led NAFTZ’s substantial efforts to integrate PGA reporting requirements for FTZ filers in the Automated Commercial Environment.

Any additional questions contact vcartwright@naftz.org or 202-331-1950 ext.225.