Our recent week in Washington, D.C., was nothing short of extraordinary. From strategic discussions to high-impact advocacy meetings, we made significant strides in advancing the FTZ program. While there’s far too much to capture in a single message, here are some key highlights that stood out for me:

Sunday: Laying the Groundwork for the Future

The Executive Committee kicked off the week with a half-day strategy session focused on shaping the future of NAFTZ. We tackled topics such as committee structuring, expanding event opportunities (both in-person and virtual), strengthening our advocacy strategies to better serve all members, and brainstorming creative ways to continue delivering value to all of our members.

Monday: Driving Growth and Innovation

During our in-person Board meeting, Jeff shared exciting updates on our record membership growth and strong financial position. We also laid the groundwork for our Spring strategic planning session in Savannah, GA. A key milestone was the approval of a new NAFTZ membership type for Third-Party Fulfillment Providers—an initiative we believe will drive greater engagement and expand our reach within that sector of the FTZ community.

We were also honored to welcome Executive Secretary Liz Whiteman and CBP Director Brad Slutsky for candid, off-the-record discussions on our priorities and ways to enhance communication between NAFTZ, CBP, and the FTZ Board. We greatly appreciate their continued commitment to working with our team.

Looking ahead, we previewed an exciting revamp of the 2026 Spring Event, centering on technology, operational guidance, technical tips and tricks, and best practices. We’re considering branding it as FTZ-Tech or “Z-Tech”—and we welcome your ideas to make it a creative and memorable experience!

Tuesday: Adapting to a Dynamic Trade Environment

The overarching theme of this year’s Summit was navigating an increasingly complex trade landscape. Throughout the day, we heard from CBP, the FTZ Board, and leading trade policy and association experts about the evolving regulatory environment and the importance of staying ahead of change.

CBP shared updates on:

• Non-processing stipulation guidance to CBP field offices
• The development of the CBP regional exchange model, which could shape future communication and training initiatives
• Progress on the FTZ category for CTPAT members
• Clarifications on new tariffs and executive orders, provided to the NAFTZ TRRT

Executive Secretary Liz Whiteman reinforced the importance of annual reporting, highlighted upcoming webinars to support FTZ compliance, and previewed the rollout of new dashboards on the FTZ Board’s website. We also heard from four of NAFTZ’s Advocacy Working Group chairs, who shared updates on their critical initiatives.

A special moment of the day was celebrating Katie Tangman, this year’s recipient of the prestigious Homer Maxey Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to NAFTZ advocacy. Congratulations, Katie!

Wednesday: Hill Visits -- Advocacy in Action

Thanks to the incredible efforts of SSA and NAFTZ staff, we successfully organized over 50 meetings with Members of Congress and their staff to champion the FTZ program. In teams of eight, we covered multiple Senate and House buildings, advocating for:

• The role of FTZs in U.S. job creation, investment incentives, and supply chain security
• De minimis parity for FTZs
• USMCA parity for FTZs
• CBP resources and system funding

Given the heightened focus on trade policy in Washington, our meetings were met with enthusiasm and genuine engagement. While advocacy is always an ongoing effort, this week reinforced our influence and set the stage for continued progress.

Looking Ahead: Join Us at Upcoming Events!

Mark your calendars for two key opportunities to stay engaged:

• Spring Seminar – Savannah, GA | May 18-20
• Annual Conference – Kansas City, MO | September 14-17

Visit naftz.org for details and registration.

Thank You!

Your dedication and passion fuel the success of NAFTZ and the FTZ community. We’re in this together, and the impact we’re making is only possible because of engaged professionals like you.

If you have ideas—big or small—don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I will always want to chat about ways we can collectively improve the FTZ program and its value for NAFTZ members.

Looking forward to seeing you on the advocacy trail!