Featuring: Miguel Zamora II, Louisville Riverport Authority
In a few sentences tell us about you:
I’m a former U.S. Marine from Texas that was adopted by Louisville, KY some 35 years ago. I’m a musician, erstwhile, cook, outdoors, and football fan, father of two, husband to one and brother to six!
Tell us a fun fact about you:
When I started kindergarten at age six in Pasadena, TX, I barely spoke any English. Up until that point my mother had mother had primarily spoken and read to me and my sisters in Spanish.
Why did you decide to enter this field?
I’ve been involved in international supply chain, transportation, distribution and logistics operations and planning for over 20 years. FTZ operations were a natural part of that work.
Do you have any recent achievements (promotions, awards received etc.) you’d like to share? If yes, please explain.
I recently joined the Louisville Riverport Authority (June 7, 2021) which has brought a serendipitous journey that I didn’t know I began 21 years ago to its next stage. In 1999, as the manager of a distribution center that operated within the FTZ, I visited with our Grantee (LRA) to get assistance and advice on best practices, etc. Little did I know then that I would be sitting in the opposite chair some years later!
What advice or comments would you give to a Grantee professional, or someone interested in getting into this profession?
For day-to-day operations one thing I’d recommend is that you standardize agreement and application documents so that you can provide prompt and consistent support to applicants and users. With respect to professional development and / or someone that might be interested in the profession, I can’t recommend the NAFTZ training programs enough. In addition to the knowledge they provide, participation in them provides invaluable networking opportunities with people that are passionate about the FTZ program and helping others learn more about it.
How has your membership with NAFTZ helped you in your career?
Lately it’s helped me realize that I haven’t forgotten as much as I thought, AND, that I don’t know nearly enough! That second part is important because it keeps me focused on learning and discovering new things, which, happily enough, can usually be found within NAFTZ programs or members that are willing to share their insights and knowledge.
What do you like most about your NAFTZ membership?
Networking opportunities
Learning opportunities
Advocacy (legislative and executive)
If you would like to share your story and be part of the We Make NAFTZ series, please visit our website: https://naftz.org/we-make-naftz/
