Grantee 202 Track – VIRTUAL 2025 Session

Part A speakers - Feb. 27, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 pm Eastern

Danielle Converse has served as the Foreign Trade Zone Manager for the Port of Corpus Christi since 2019. She graduated from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi with a Bachelor of Science, and has 20 years’ experience with federal, state,  and local regulations. Filling a dual-purpose role as both the Grantee and as an  operator, Danielle will share her recommendations for closing out the existing year and getting the new zone year off to a great start. While her time in the FTZ industry is short, Danielle’s excellent working relationships with operators and local U.S. Customs officials have ensured the successful implementation and continuation of the Foreign-Trade Zones program in the Corpus Christi region.

Miguel A. Zamora II, Vice President of the Louisville Riverport Authority (FTZ #29), is a Supply Chain and Logistics professional who partners with CEOs, executives, and entrepreneurs to find cost effective solutions to their supply chain challenges.

Miguel knows that a customer focused approach to supply chain planning is the key to a profitable and efficient organization. He has spent over two decades working with manufacturing and distribution companies ranging from tier one automotive, white goods, consumer and industrial electronics and retail distribution firms to plan and execute a host of internal and external supply chain solutions that eliminate cost & time adders that do not provide value to the customer. His experience includes establishing and managing 3PL operations that included FTZ zone operations Having recently joined the Louisville Riverport Authority, Miguel has taken the lead on the promotion and administration of Foreign Trade Zone #29, for which the Louisville Riverport Authority is the Grantee. The FTZ program can provide a variety of import savings and compliance benefits to firms involved in all forms of international trade.

Part B speakers - Feb. 28, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 pm Eastern

David Sikkink currently serves as the Administrator of the Hawaii Foreign-Trade Zone No. 9 (FTZ9), a division of the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. FTZ #9 is the Grantee for the state of Hawaii and is one of the oldest and most diverse FTZ projects in the nation, overseeing the state’s general-purpose zones and subzones, which services over 390 clients. FTZ9 also operates a general purpose zone warehouse facility at Pier 2, Honolulu Harbor, for the State of Hawaii which has come to be known as the “Hub of International Trade” for the state.

Mr. Sikkink has been involved with the Foreign-Trade Zone program for over a decade and has served as FTZ9’s Administrator since 2011.

Mr. Sikkink oversaw the development and construction of the Homer A. Maxey International Trade Resource Center which was opened in early 2015 and completed FTZ9’s plan to create a “one-stop shop” for international trade in Hawaii.

Prior to being involved with the Foreign-Trade Zone program, Mr. Sikkink led new media development teams in the creation of digital and interactive media, websites, and software development in Hawaii and on the mainland. He has also owned two New Media and Video Production companies and was instrumental in the development of one of the first commercially available multimedia software programs produced for the consumer market.

Mr. Sikkink is originally from the Minneapolis, Minnesota area and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in

Business Management from the Curtis L. Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

Patricia A Cannon, MSM, AZS: Patty is the Director of Special Projects and FTZ #99 Grantee Administrator within the State of Delaware’s Department of State. She graduated with honors with a BS in Business Management and earned a Master of Science in Management from Wilmington University. Previously, Patty served as the Executive Director of Delaware’s Workforce Investment Board and the Director of Advocacy for the American Heart Association, serving the State of Delaware and Southeastern, Pennsylvania.

Patty relies heavily on the relationships and knowledge base that is available through NAFTZ, attending and participating in as many networking and educational events as possible. She serves on the Grantee committee, Program Committee and the Advocacy Committee. Patty is proud to have earned the Accredited Zone Specialist (AZS) designation through her work with NAFTZ.

DISCOUNTS: Join NAFTZ for additional event discounts. On special occasions we have complimentary webinars opened to all.