Dear NAFTZ Friends,

I am deeply honored to be serving in the role of NAFTZ Chairman of the Board. Thank you so much for your support of our leadership team and for your commitment to the association. As I reflect on my almost 10 years of serving on the NAFTZ Board, I’m struck by how much has changed, but also how many great things have stayed the same.

Over the past decade, we’ve navigated significant events. We’ve seen three different NAFTZ Presidents, each bringing their own rich perspectives. We’ve faced substantial tariff policy shifts, including Section 301, Section 232, and the complexities of USMCA renegotiations and de minimis treatment, all while advocating for U.S. FTZ program parity. And let’s not forget COVID—we adapted to unprecedented challenges, shifting to virtual events and exploring new and innovative ways to connect. Now, we’re tackling new challenges, such as UFLPA and forced labor issues.

Despite these obstacles, we’ve achieved remarkable success over the last 10 years. Under Rebecca Williams’ leadership, for example, we conducted a comprehensive economic impact study that showcased and quantified the benefits of the U.S. FTZ program. Shannon Fura’s efforts have strengthened our relationships with CBP, key Congressional offices, and other essential federal agencies. We successfully lobbied for a groundbreaking USITC study affirming the need for the U.S. FTZ program to achieve greater competitive alignment with Mexico’s PROSEC and IMMEX programs—the most thorough government study of the U.S. FTZ program to date.

Amidst these challenges and achievements, certain constants remain. Celebrating 50 years of our association reminds us of the incredible work done by those who came before us. We stand on the shoulders of association pioneers, and it is our duty to honor their legacy while looking toward the future.

Our membership has well surpassed 800, and we are engaging with members in innovative ways, bringing them along on our advocacy journey. This feat would not be possible without the dedicated contributions by our incredible NAFTZ staff: Jeff, Victoria, Kris, and Melissa. In 2022, U.S. FTZs recorded over a trillion dollars in merchandise received. U.S. FTZ exports have more than doubled since 2016, illustrating our program’s resilience and potential. Today, there are over a half million jobs tied to this program.

Looking forward, we have exciting opportunities. Here are three highlights I want to focus on in my role as Chair:

1. Visibility: As we know, the U.S. FTZ program often flies under the radar. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but it also has its drawbacks. We’ve made amazing progress in this area, but we can do more—working with a broad network of stakeholders, public and private, to raise awareness and showcase its value to both elected officials and the business community.
2. Innovation: With some types of technologies, manufacturing, and investment returning to the U.S., how will emerging technologies shape the U.S. FTZ program in the next decade? We need to harness these changes and propel our program forward. I want to make sure we’re proactively thinking about these industries that may be newer to the program, and how they can help us achieve our advocacy goals with government stakeholders.
3. Future Leaders Program: The future of NAFTZ will rely on nurturing new leaders who will carry our mission into the next 50 years. I want to prioritize younger and emerging leaders by giving them opportunities to network, generate ideas, and take on leadership roles within the association. For the upcoming legislative summit, in particular, there’s no better way to be exposed to what we do from an advocacy standpoint. We will be rolling out more details on this shortly!

As I’ve been reflecting on my own journey, I’m reminded of the people who have guided me. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to my early mentors—Michael Leightman, Mike Heldebrand, Bill Methenitis, Ray Shaw, Nesia Warner—and to those who welcomed me to the NAFTZ Board and shared their wisdom—Sean Lydon, Trey Boring, Melissa Irmen, Rebecca Williams, Angie Atwood, Brian Hannigan, and so many others. I will never forget the kindness you all showed to me when I was new – taking me under your wings, introducing me to people, and letting me be myself (which sometimes included karaoke).

What stays the same in this association are the people, pure and simple. I encourage you all to lean into our community, perhaps more than you’ve done in the past.

• If you’re a new member, join a committee, task force, or the mentor program. Join the virtual fly-ins. Get involved.
• If you’re a seasoned veteran, pull others into your network; be generous with your expertise. We need it.

NAFTZ started in 1973, but we’re closer to 2073 than we are to 1973. In 10 years, we will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the U.S. FTZ program. I’m excited to think about how it will evolve. I’m looking forward to seeing what all your avatars look like in the metaverse.

Many of you will be the ones shaping that future, and I have no doubt that with our collective efforts, NAFTZ will continue to thrive.

Thank you for your support and commitment. Here’s to the next chapter of our shared journey.