Northeast Trade & Transportation Conference 2010

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2010

12:45 pm

Registration & Light Refreshments

1:15 pm

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Speaker:

Rick Bridges – Roanoke Trade Services, Vice President;

CONECT Director; Wednesday Conference Chair

Import Session

1:25 - 3:45 pm (Concurrent with Export Sessions)

General Valuation and Jewelry Classification

Seminar

Moderator:

Susan Albatal – CVS Pharmacy, Inc., Customs Compliance

Manager; CONECT Director

Speaker:

Kelly Brady – US CBP Providence, Senior Import Specialist

This session will cover classification, valuation, informed

compliance, country of origin marking and other topics to

help your company maintain a compliant import operation.

Export Sessions 1 & 2

Representatives have been invited from the six New England

states’ Export Offices to answer questions and provide

informational materials.

1:25 - 2:30 pm (Concurrent with Import Sessions)

Session 1: “The New Focus on Export

Compliance & Enforcement”

Moderator:

Luiz DaCosta – Genzyme Corp., Trade Compliance Manager;

CONECT Director

Panelists:

Robert J. Leo – Meeks & Shepard, Partner

Robert Rawls* – US CBP, Program Manager

John McKenna* – Boston Office of Export Enforcement (BIS)

Every company engaged in export transactions should attend

this seminar. Federal agencies engaged in export licensing have

stepped up enforcement activity. At the same time, the

Automated Export System, newly administered by CBP, is

presenting documentation challenges for non-licensed exports,

with duplicate document submission requirements and penalties.

2:40 - 3:45 pm (Concurrent with Import Sessions)

Session 2: “Fair Trade?? Trade Barriers Facing

Exporters”

Moderator:

Robert Shepard – International Forest Products, Director,

Transportation & Logistics; CONECT Director

Panelists:

Jeanne Hulit* – U.S. Small Business Association, New England

Regional Administrator

David Woronov* – Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP, Partner

While the declining value of the U.S. dollar is increasing a

global demand for U.S. exports, including agriculture, forest

products and manufactured goods, some of our largest customers

have implemented non-tariff import barriers. This panel

will discuss the barriers being erected in China, Korea, the

European Union, what the U.S. government is doing to dismantle

them, and how U.S. exporters are able to access foreign

markets despite these challenges.

4:00 - 5:30 pm

“Off the Record”

Speaker:

Peter Friedmann – FBB Federal Relations; CONECT Counsel

One of the highlights of the T&T each year, this is a candid discussion

by the attendees of their current logistics, transportation

and compliance challenges. Conducted in round-table format, no

press or government officials will be present, allowing for candid

and open discussion. Real problems seeking real solutions.

CONECT member attorneys also participate, solving problems

raised by the participants. Don’t miss this!

6:00 - 7:00 pm

Welcome to Newport Cocktail Reception

Rose Island Ballroom, Hyatt Hotel

7:30 pm

Post-Reception Gathering

Celtica Public House, 95 Long Wharf, Newport

Live music and sponsored buffet

Hyatt shuttle available for transportation

* Invited

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010

8:00 am

Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 am

Opening Remarks

Karen Kenney – Liberty International, COO; CONECT President

Linda Wood – Bennett & Company, Import Manger;

CONECT Director; Thursday Conference Chair

Anne Neary – Christmas Tree Shops, Import Manager;

CONECT Director; Chair of Sponsorship Committee

8:45 - 9:15 am

Welcome to Rhode Island

Senator Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island gubernatorial candidate

Senator John Chafee Annual Scholarship Awards

Bob Leadbetter – The Robert Allen Group, Director, Global

Logistics; CONECT Director; Chafee Scholarship Chairman

9:15 - 11:30 am (Break at 10:30 am)

Importers’ Town Meeting

Moderators:

David Katzman – CH Powell, Director Regulatory Compliance;

CONECT Director and Treasurer

Karen Lobdell* – Drinker, Biddle & Reath; Director, Trade

Security & Supply Chain Services

Panelists:

Dan Baldwin* – US CBP, Assistant Commissioner, Office

of International Trade; ACE Executive Business Owner

Rich DiNucci – US CBP, Director of Secure Freight Initiative

& Cargo Conveyance, Office of Field Operations

Alan Klestadt – Partner, Grunfeld, Desiderio et al

Jeff Meeks – Meeks & Sheppard, Partner

Lois Davis* – Abercrombie & Fitch, VP, Trade & Transportation

An open forum presented by industry experts focusing on

these topics: Lacey Act, CPSC, ACE, ISF/Bond Information,

Ruling/Regulations, C-TPAT, Cargo Scanning.

Questions in advance requested. Send to conect@charter.net.

There will also be an opportunity to ask questions at the event.

12:00 pm

Thursday Keynote Luncheon

Speaker

Ambassador Miriam Sapiro*

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative

1:45 - 3:15 pm

New Trends in Overseas Sourcing

Moderators:

Herb Rothstein – H. Rothstein & Associates, Inc.;

CONECT Director

Peter Tirschwell – Journal of Commerce, Senior VP for Strategy

Panelists:

Francesco Duina – The JLJ Group, Partner (China)

Julio de Castro – Babson College, Professor, Department

of Entrepreneurship (Latin America)

Embassy of India Representative* – Commerce Division,

Washington, DC

With global transportation challenges driving longer transit times,

eligibility for duty-free treatment changing almost daily and quality

production capacity expanding beyond traditional sourcing

countries, this panel will provide a country-by-country report on

sourcing information from China, Latin America and India.

Questions in advance requested. Send to conect@charter.net.

There will also be an opportunity to ask questions at the event.

3:45 - 4:45 pm

Global Economic Assessment & Forecast

Featured Economist:

Steve Owen – IHS Global Insight, Trade & Transportation Group

Each year the T&T provides attendees with a fascinating

overview of the current global economy and a glimpse into the

future. This provides an invaluable means for attendees to plan

future business practices and to understand how global economic

and political developments will impact us all.

5:45 - 9:00 pm

Gala Dinner at Ochre Court

100 Ochre Point Ave, Newport, RI

Motor coaches will be provided.

* Invited

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Goat Island

Booking Information:

Book early! For Hyatt reservations, call 1-800-233-1234.

Request CONECT’s block rate of $109 per night.

Deadline for discounted rate is 2/19/10.

Ochre Court

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010

8:00 am Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 am Opening Remarks

Bette Little – Reebok International, Senior Manager for

Customs; CONECT Vice President; Friday Conference Chair

8:45 - 9:30 am

Friday Keynote Speaker

John Isbell – Starboard Alliance Co., LLC, Vice President;

Recently retired Nike Director of Corporate Delivery Logistics;

Former Chair, Waterfront Coalition

“Worldwide Logistics in Today’s Rapidly Changing Global

Environment”

Bringing more than 30 years of logistics managment experience

at one of the world’s largest consumer goods company, Mr.

Isbell offers a comprehensive look into establishing a secure,

efficient and profitable worldwide supply chain.

9:30 - 10:45 am

Sustainability Panel – “Is Your Supply Chain Green?”

Moderator:

Peter Diehm – nora systems, Incorporated; Planning Manager,

Purchasing & Materials

Panelists:

Bernd Kasemir – Sustainserv, Inc., Director

Andrew Chinigo* – Maersk, Inc., Vice President Special Projects

Peter Friedmann – FBB Federal Relations;

“DC View on Green Initiatives”

Walmart Representative* – Sustainability Program

Today’s political realities require that all companies elevate their

focus on the environmental impact of their supply chain. This

panel will review Sustainability Basics, Importers’ Carbon

Footprint, Greenwashing, Cap & Trade, Sustainability = Efficiency,

Energy Issues, Tax Implications and Global Reporting Initiatives.

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

International Logistics Overview: “What’s Next?”

Moderator:

Barry Horowitz – CMS Consulting Services, Principal;

Former Nike Director, International Transportation

Special Report:

Joe Bonney – Journal of Commerce, Executive Editor,

“Trans Pacific Maritime Conference Recap”

Panelists:

Robert Sappio* – American President Line, Senior Vice President

National Air Cargo Representative*

Leslie Topp Blakey – Coalition for America’s Gateways & Trade

Corridors, President

A comprehensive overview of current trends, capacity and

pricing, covering air, ocean and domestic cargo movement.

1:00 - 2:30 pm

Wrap Up Luncheon

Speaker:

Peter Friedman – FBB Federal Relations; CONECT Counsel

“Our Man In DC” offers a fast-paced and lively wrap up session,

touching upon every topic covered at the T&T conference. Peter

mixes legislation, politics and regulation to provide an insider’s

view into what goes on “Inside the Beltway” giving us a glimpse

into the year ahead. This is your opportunity to get your questions,

on any topics of the prior two days of the T&T answered.