Willard M. Berry
President
Will Berry is the President of the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones (NAFTZ). He joined the Association in May 2004. The NAFTZ is an 800 member organization comprised of public entities, corporations and service providers focused on promoting the use of the US Foreign Trade Zone program. Foreign Trade Zones play an important role in facilitating international trade and increasing the global competitiveness of U.S. based companies.
Mr. Berry has been involved in international trade and competitiveness issues for 25 years. Before joining the NAFTZ, Berry served as the President of the European-American Business Council. Berry also served as Vice President for Congressional Affairs for the National Foreign Trade Council, as President of the Special Committee for U.S. Exports, and as Executive Director of the Coalition for Employment thru Exports. He began his career in the field of trade as the Staff Director for International Trade and Foreign Relations for the National Governors Association.
A native Californian, Mr. Berry holds a B.A. degree in International Relations from Pomona College. He also has an M.A. and PhD in Political Science from Duke University. Will has one daughter and three grandchildren that reside in Paris.
Tara K. Rohde
Director
Tara Rohde is Director at the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ), where she is responsible for public affairs, public policy, communications and membership relations for the Association. She joined NAFTZ in August 2010.
Previously, Tara was a Principal at Public Strategies, Inc., a strategic public affairs consulting firm headquartered in Austin, Texas. During her tenure at Public Strategies, Tara was based in Dallas, where she assisted with public affairs, communications and government affairs activities for a Fortune 500 electric utility.
Before joining Public Strategies, Tara was a strategic planner with the Oklahoma State Department of Health in Oklahoma City. As a graduate student, she worked as a research fellow at the Charter School Policy Institute in Austin. Tara received a master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin in 2007.
Tara graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Trinity University in San Antonio with a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics. While at Trinity, she was a member of the women’s basketball team that won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2003. She was named a DIII Kodak All-American in 2005 and was also awarded the 2005 Jostens Trophy recognizing the “most outstanding student-athlete in NCAA Division III basketball for excellence in the classroom, on the playing court and in the community.”
Brandon W. Toth
Manager of Membership & Legislative Outreach
Brandon Toth is the Manager of Membership & Legislative Outreach at the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) and handles all membership and legislative affairs. He joined the Association as the Membership Assistant in July 2007.
Brandon previously worked at Stream Marketing Group LLC. in Charlotte, NC where he entered on the ground floor for the online consumer search engine YaPrice.com. As a data analyst, Brandon headed a project that was responsible for the categorization of a database containing over 8 million products. While attending college, Brandon was an intern at the law firm of Massengale & Ozer where he worked with the partners on appeals cases for death row inmates in North Carolina.
Brandon is originally from Concord, North Carolina and has a B.A. in American History and a minor in Philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Helaina R. Matza
Manager of Professional Development
Helaina Matza is the Manager of Professional Development at the National Association for Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) and handles all educational program development initatives. She joined the Association as the Meeting Planner in April 2009.
Helaina previously worked at Quepoa Expeditions in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, where she managed the day to day operations of the new tour company. As the Office Manager, Helaina launched a series of promotional events which aided in establishing the company as one of the most popular adventure tourism venues in the Manuel Antonio area. Previous to her time in Costa Rica, Helaina worked as a Special Event Assistant for the International Ecotourism Society (TIES) located in downtown Washington DC. During her time with TIES, Helaina organized their 2008 Annual Auction and Gala, as well as worked on fundraising initiatives for the organization.
Helaina is originally from New York and has a B.A. in International Affairs, minor in Psychology, Concentration in Conflict and Security, and Business Certificate from the George Washington University.
Claire Lerner
Membership Assistant
Claire Lerner is the Membership Assistant at the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones (NAFTZ) and handles all membership inquiries. She joined the Association in March 2010.
Claire previously worked at an e-advocacy organization, Wired for Change, that helps political candidates and non-profits with their campaign's organization and online advocacy. Here, Claire helped make sales to international clients, organized the organization’s social networking and client events, and worked with the political candidates to make sure their Customer Relationship Management needs were met. Prior to WFC, Claire’s internships ranged from doing content development at AOL’s Money and Finance division, working with constituents in Senator Edward Kennedy’s office, and providing executive assistance at a campaign fundraising firm. Claire majored in International Relations at Bucknell University, and also studied Linguistics throughout. As an undergraduate, she participated in a “Links to Literacy” program that worked with local elementary schools to ensure children were able to strengthen their reading and writing skills.
As a second native Washingtonian at NAFTZ, Claire has been taking advantage of the diversity of the city for years, frequenting dance studios, music venues, and Ben’s Chili Bowl.