Monday, September 28
8:00-8:45AM | Breakfast on Your Own
8:00AM-5:00PM | NCBFAA Registration Desk Opens
Capitol Reg B
8:45-9:00AM | Call to Order & Welcoming Remarks
Capitol DE
- Karen Damon,
NCBFAA President; Vice President, Regulatory Compliance, Mohawk Global
- Jenette Prince,
NCBFAA GAC Chair; Vice President, Trade Control – Import & Export, Kuehne + Nagel Inc.
9:00-9:15AM | Inside the Hill: What to Expect, What Matters, and How to be Effective
Capitol DE
Whether it is your first congressional visit or your fiftieth, understanding how Capitol Hill operates can make all the difference. This panel will provide an insider’s perspective on what to expect during meetings with Members of Congress and staff, current legislative dynamics, and practical tips for navigating Hill visits with confidence and professionalism.
- Leah Ellis, NCBFAA Legislative Committee Chair; Compliance Operations Manager, JAS Forwarding USA Inc.
- Dave Corn, NCBFAA Legislative Committee Co-Chair; Executive Vice President, Comstock & Holt, Inc.
- Nicole Bivens Collinson, NCBFAA Legislative Advisor; President, International Trade & Government Relations, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
9:15-10:00AM | Session
Capitol DE
10:00-10:15AM | Break
Foyer
10:15-10:45AM | Session
Capitol DE
10:45-11:15AM | Session
Capitol DE
11:15AM-12:00PM | Making Every Visit Count: Turning Advocacy into Action
Capitol DE
Join NCBFAA Legislative Committee leadership for an in-depth review of the position papers that will be presented during your congressional meetings, and how to build on those meetings for lasting relationships with policymakers. Attendees will learn how to frame the message from each position paper, determine what the asks might be from Congress and to compile strategies for ensuring impactful Hill visits.
- Leah Ellis, NCBFAA Legislative Committee Chair; Compliance Operations Manager, JAS Forwarding USA Inc.
- Dave Corn, NCBFAA Legislative Committee Co-Chair; Executive Vice President, Comstock & Holt, Inc.
- Nicole Bivens Collinson, NCBFAA Legislative Advisor; President, International Trade & Government Relations, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
12:00-1:15PM | Lunch with Keynote Speaker
Capitol FG
1:15-1:30PM | Transition Break
1:30-2:00PM | How from the Hill
Capitol DE
Briefing update from Democratic Chief Trade Counsel and Trade Subcommittee Staff Director for Ways and Means. This session is OFF THE RECORD.
- Alexandra Whittaker, Democratic Chief Trade Counsel and Trade Subcommittee Staff Director, U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means
Moderator: Nicole Bivens Collinson, NCBFAA Legislative Advisor; President, International Trade & Government Relations, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
2:00-2:30PM | Session
Capitol DE
2:30-3:00PM | Session
Capitol DE
3:00-3:45PM | Session
Capitol DE
3:45-4:00PM | Break
Foyer
4:00-4:30PM | CPSC eFiling - A View from the Top
Capitol DE
CPSC launched certificate eFiling on July 8, marking a significant change in how the agency receives and uses product certification data. CPSC's Director of Import Surveillance, will provide a big-picture assessment of the rollout, including early successes, implementation challenges, lessons learned, and the agency’s priorities moving forward. Looking beyond the technical details of filing certificate data, this session will explore how eFiling fits into CPSC’s broader import surveillance and enforcement strategy—and what customs brokers and importers should expect next.
- James "Jim" Joholske, Director of the Office of Import Surveillance, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Moderator: Adam Lees, NCBFAA RAC Committee Vice Chair; VP Customs Brokerage, Alba Wheels Up International, LLC
4:30-5:15PM | Session
Capitol DE
FDA's lead for ImportShield will reflect on the program's first year — how the program has evolved, what has changed, what is still a challenge for the trade, and practical guidance for customs brokers and importers for navigating common scenarios.
- Theresa Smedley, Director Investigations Branch - Northeast Division, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Moderator: Mike Lahar, NCBFAA RAC Committee Chair; Regulatory Affairs Manager, A.N. Deringer, Inc.
5:15PM | Closing Announcements
Capitol DE
- Jenette Prince, NCBFAA GAC Chair; Vice President, Trade Control - Import & Export, Kuehne + Nagel Inc.
5:15-7:00PM | Drawback Committee Meeting (Open to all NCBFAA Regular Members)
Capitol HJ
5:30PM | Dinner on Your Own
