Saturday, September 21

1:00-4:30PM | NEI Committee Meeting 

Regency B

4:30-5:30PM | Legislative Committee Meeting (Open to all NCBFAA Regular Members) 

Regency B

5:30-8:00PM | APN Committee Meeting (Open to all NCBFAA Regular Members) 

Regency CD

Sunday, September 22

8:00-9:00AM | RAC Meeting (Open to Regular Members)

Regency CD

9:00-11:30am | Transportation Committee Meeting (Open to all NCBFAA Regular Members)

Regency CD

11:30AM-2:00PM | Customs Committee Meeting (Open to all NCBFAA Regular Members)

Regency CD

2:00-5:00PM | Board of Directors Meeting (Open to all NCBFAA Regular Members)

Regency CD

3:00-5:30PM | NCBFAA Registration Desk Opens

Hall of Battles

6:00-7:00PM | Opening Reception (For All Attendees)

Thornton - 11^th Floor

Monday, September 23

8:00-8:45AM | Breakfast on Your Own

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8:00AM-5:00PM | NCBFAA Registration Desk Opens

Hall of Battles

8:45-9:00AM | Call to Order & Welcoming Remarks

Regency CD

• Jose D Gonzalez, NCBFAA President, Jose D. Gonzalez CHB
• Eduardo (Lalo) Acosta, NCBFAA GAC Chair, Richard L. Jones Customhouse Brokers

9:00-9:15AM | Preparation for Hill Visits / Discussion of Issues from Congressional Meetings

Regency CD

Whether your Congressional meetings are in-person or virtual, please join us for this important session to discuss NCBFAA's policy priorities. We will review talking points, position papers and answer any questions you may have to ensure that you are prepared to meet with your Congressional representatives.

• Leah Ellis, NCBFAA Legislative Committee Chair, JAS
• Nicole Bivens Collinson, NCBFAA Legislative Advisor, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.

Moderator:  Eduardo (Lalo) Acosta, NCBFAA GAC Chair, Richard L. Jones Customhouse Brokers

9:15-10:00AM | Session

Regency CD

10:00-10:15AM | Break

Hall of Battles

10:15-11:15AM | Session

Regency CD

11:15AM-12:00PM |  Session

Regency CD

12:00-1:15PM | Lunch with Keynote Speaker - Brandon Lord

Capitol AB

• Brandon Lord, Executive Director of Trade Policy and Programs, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Introduced By: Jose D Gonzalez, NCBFAA President, Jose D. Gonzalez CHB

1:15-1:30PM | Transition Break

PAC raffle and announcements.

• Jenette Prince, NCBFAA PAC Chair, Kuehne + Nagel Inc.

1:30-2:30PM | Session

Regency CD

2:30-3:15PM |  Session

Regency CD

3:15-4:00PM | Session

Regency CD

4:00-5:00PM | Election Talk with Jessica Taylor

Regency CD

The Cook Report's Jessica Taylor will join us to discuss the House, the Senate, and the Presidential races and the possible outcomes.

• Jessica Taylor, U.S. Senate & Governors Editor, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter
  

5:00-5:15PM | Closing Announcements

Regency CD

• Eduardo (Lalo) Acosta, NCBFAA GAC Chair, Richard L. Jones Customhouse Brokers, Inc.

5:15-7:00PM | Drawback Committee Meeting (Open to all NCBFAA Regular Members)

Capitol A

5:30PM | Dinner on Your Own

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Tuesday, September 24

7:30-9:00AM | Breakfast

Capitol AB

8:15-8:45AM | Breakfast Keynote Speaker

Capitol AB

Introduced By:  Jose D Gonzalez, NCBFAA President, Jose D. Gonzalez CHB

9:30AM-5:00PM | Congressional Appointments on Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill

5:00-7:00PM | Congressional Reception

Rayburn House Office Building - Foyer

Wednesday, September 25

9:00AM-5:00PM | Customs Committee Meeting with CBP (Open to all NCBFAA Regular Members)

Capitol AB

12:00-12:30PM | Lunch

Speaker/Moderator Bios
 

Eduardo Acosta

Eduardo Acosta is currently the President of the Pacific Coast Council (PCC) of Customs brokers. He is also the Vice President of R.L. Jones Customhouse Brokers, with offices in 8 southern border cities and Los Angeles. He has been a partner since 1996.  Eduardo started his brokerage career in San Diego/Otay Mesa in 1990.  He got his Brokers license in 1997.

He also served as president of Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce for 4 years.  He is an active board member of the SD Brokers Association, Tijuana Development Corporation (DEITAC), Tijuana Maquiladora Association (Index), Border Trade Alliance (BTA) and Smart Border Coalition. 

Eduardo is a graduate of the University of Arizona and is married (Anna) and has 3 children (Eduardo, Anna Lucia, and Maria Ines).

Nicole Bivens Collinson

Nicole Bivens Collinson leads the International Trade and Government relations practice of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., and serves as managing principal of the Washington, D.C. office.  She is also a member of the Firm's Operating Committee. Ms. Collinson has appeared on MSNBC, NPR and BBC Worldwide as a subject matter expert and has over 35 years of experience in government, public affairs, and lobbying.  She has drafted and guided the successful implementation of several pieces of key international trade legislation positively affecting the bottom line of many U.S. companies.  She is the lead professional on ST&R's engagement as Legislative Advisor to the National Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA).

Leah Ellis

Leah Ellis began her carrier in the forwarding industry in 1990. She has worked for various forwarders and Maersk Line and passed the brokers exam in 2008. Leah joined JAS Forwarding USA Inc in 2008 as the Import Manager. In 2009 she started working part time with the JAS Corporate Compliance team and full time 2011. She also holds the NCBFFA CCS and CES certifications. Leah is the former President of the Houston Customhouse Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association since 2014 and she is the Legislative Committee Chair for the NCBFAA. 

Jose D Gonzalez

Jose D. Gonzalez is a licensed U.S. customs broker who has operated a customs house brokerage business under the same name since 1994.   He currently serves as President for NCBFAA representing over 1,100 member firms and previously as Area 8 Rep. He was previously appointed to the 15^th term of CBP COAC, and is a senior advisor to the board of the Laredo Licensed brokers (LLUSCBA). Prior to his involvement with these Committees, JD was Executive Chairman of the LLUSCBA, president of the Laredo Customs Brokers Association in 2010-2011 which represents one of the largest concentrations of customs brokers in the nation who works closely with CBP. He was also reappointed for the 16^th Term COAC

Mr. Gonzalez has been actively involved in the international trade industry on a consistent basis for 28 years and has held various positions in the import and export operations, consulting, and compliance and continues to be involved in many trade and civic related entities. A few of the organizations he is involved with are the following: Present Committee chair of The Laredo Airport Advisory Board, City of Laredo Port of Entry Committee member, City of Laredo Redistricting Commission member, advisory board member of The Laredo Development Foundation past vice chair of the City of Laredo Blue Ribbon Committee, in addition to being recognized for several accomplishments for Trade related development.

Mr. Gonzalez proudly served in the United States Navy from 1982 until he was honorably discharged in 1992 after being named Sailor of the Year. During his enlistment, he was involved in Mediterranean Peacekeeping operations off the coast of Beirut, operations in the North Atlantic, as well as several Western Pacific operations during the Iran Iraq crises. In addition, during his enlistment he continued his education and graduated in 1992 from National University in San Diego CA, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accounting. 

Brandon Lord

Brandon Lord serves as the Executive Director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Trade Policy and Programs Directorate, in the Office of Trade. He also serves as the Deputy Director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), located in Washington D.C.

He is responsible for policy implementation, trade enforcement priorities, and stakeholder outreach related to CBP’s national trade strategy. He manages policy implementation on a variety of key trade issues including combatting illegal wildlife trafficking, countering illicit trade and counterfeit goods. He oversees trade processes that impact supply chain traceability and fair trade including: CBP’s 21st Century Customs Framework (21CCF) efforts, the enforcement of Section 201, 232, and 301 trade remedy measures and duties, the Global Business Identifier (GBI) initiative, E-Commerce Section 321, and Entry Type 86 data pilots, and the CBP Green Trade Strategy. His work with U.S. stakeholders, partner government agencies, and U.S. Congress on 21CCF will increase supply chain compliance creating further transparency, and allow CBP to continue modernizing its trade procedures, and adjust to changing global trade practices. Additionally, he oversees CBP’s Commercial and Targeting Analysis Center which streamlines and enhances federal efforts with a focus on the importation, exportation and trafficking of articles that pose a risk to import health and safety.

Mr. Lord has been with CBP for over ten years, providing critical technical trade assistance and guidance spearheading national enforcement operations to combat trade evasion schemes. He holds degrees in political science and economics from the George Washington University.

Jenette Prince

Jenette Prince, Director of US Trade Control – Imports for Kuehne + Nagel, Inc. is a licensed U.S. Customs Broker and Master Customs Specialist. Jenette’s career began in San Francisco in 1993 at Expeditors as an entry writer where she quickly became a supervisor. In 1998, she joined Kuehne + Nagel Inc. where she has held a variety of position throughout the U.S. positions. In San Francisco she held the positions of Customs Brokerage Supervisor, Manager, West Coast Regional Customs Brokerage Manager and Import Manager for the local branch.  In 2007, she was promoted to the corporate office located in Jersey City, NJ where she held the positions of East Coast Regional Customs Brokerage Manager, Strategic Accounts Manager and was responsible for ACE Implementation and Training.   In 2015, after assuming her current role as Director of U.S. Trade Control – Import, she relocated to Tampa, FL where she leads Kuehne + Nagel Inc.’s U.S. Trade Control - Import Team.  She also served as the lead on the Automated Invoice Interface Working Group with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Trade Support Network.  She is actively involved with the National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association serving on the Legislative Committee, Transportation – Air Freight Subcommittee and is the Chair for both the Political Action Committee and the NEI’s Content Committee. 

Jenette is currently the President for the Florida Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association (FCBF), a leading trade association for industry professionals in the import and export community.   She has previously served as the 2^nd Vice President – Customs, Chair of the Government Affairs Committee and general board member for FCBF through the years.  In the early years of her career, she also served as the Chair of the Customs Committee and Vice President of the Customs Broker and Forwarder Association of Northern California (CBFANC). In her spare time, she also attends school full time where she is the V.P. of Leadership for Phi Theta Kappa, and Treasurer for the Student Justice Association.

Jessica Taylor

Jessica Taylor is the Senate and Governors Editor for The Cook Political Report. Founded in 1984, The Cook Political Report provides analyses of presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races. The New York Times has called The Cook Political Report, "a newsletter that both parties regard as authoritative."

Before joining Cook, Taylor was a political reporter for National Public Radio for five years, where she covered elections and breaking news, ranging from the White House to both chambers of Congress and statewide elections. She was also a contributing author to the 2020 edition of The Almanac of American Politics.

Taylor has previously served as a senior analyst/reporter for The Rothenberg Political Report (now Inside Elections), where her quotes and analysis appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and numerous other publications. She has reported on politics for several prestigious outlets over the past decade — including the NBC News Political Unit, National Journal, Politico and The Hill, where she served as campaign editor. She has appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, C-SPAN and CNN. Her expert analysis contributed to real-time election night coverage and analysis at CBS in 2012.

A Tennessee native, she graduated magna cum laude in 2007 with a B.A. in political science from Furman University in South Carolina.