October Chairman’s Letter

October 4, 2022

“It’s a long road that has no turning” – English Proverb

Ten years ago, I renewed Port Houston’s NAFTZ membership and walked into a conference room in Paradise Island with no clue as to what to expect from a group called the “National Association of Foreign Trade Zones”, or their annual conference. I attended a few general sessions and a mix of the fundamentals and Grantee tracks. Little did I know that I made the “fundamental” mistake of not attending the NAFTZ Beach Olympics. The stories that were told, and are still told to this day, make me look back with sincere regret. I was new, what can I say? At that point, I continued to make rookie mistakes and made the decision to be a member of the association, but “not get too involved”. Writing my first Zones Report as the NAFTZ Chairman is evident to just how much things have changed since that first membership renewal and conference. Not only is this change evidential in my own personal involvement and vantage point, but it is true for our Association as well – you know, the one that I planned “to not get too involved ” in.  Let us take a look at the impact that the last 10 years has had…

We have seen:

  • Record Conference Attendance
  • Record Membership
  • Economic Impact Study fundraising and production
  • Some of the most aggressive trade restrictions since becoming an Association
  • A Global Pandemic
  • Did you miss that? A Global Pandemic (I feel like this needed be listed twice considering it’s impact in all of our personal and professional lives)
  • Transitioning to a completely virtual world; causing us to adjust for membership value and new revenue streams, to maintain viability for our Association. Which lead to…
  • Re-Opening in-person events post the Pandemic

 

We found success through all of these changes and challenges due to engaged and intentional membership! One of our great strengths as an Association lies in our ability to take our members and plug them into specific areas where they can not only showcase their expertise and knowledge, but truly find a sense of belonging. Now, more than ever, do I truly understand, and respect, the need for this type of engaged member, and not the “I don’t plan to get too involved” type that I was in San Diego ten years ago. Plugging in, building relationships, and feeling engaged in our organization not only provided me an atmosphere for growth in my own career, but also feed into the successes that we all share in as a member forward Association.

There are many more accomplishments to be had, and I look forward to playing a small role in helping guide us to new heights and building off of the successes of the Chairs that have proceeded me.

Now is the time: please help me accomplish our growth plans in 2022 and 2023 by sharing any suggestions you may have or specific areas you would like to be plugged into. And for those of you who might be reading this and thinking, “I am that member like Shane in Paradise Island”, I would love to talk to you and assist you in getting more out of our tight knit Association. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at Shane.Williams1@ey.com .

Last, and certainly not least, please join me in welcoming these new members and new and renewing committee members: Amber Tranum, Under Armour, Operator/User Designated ; Chris Sichette, Under Armour, Operator/User Additional ; Vanessa Alexander, Greater Maricopa FTZ, Grantee Additional ; Mike Hoover, Greater Maricopa FTZ, Grantee Additional ; Jennifer Behn, Deere & Co., Operator/User Designated ; Emily Falk, Deere & Co., Operator/User Additional ; Jeremy Merritt, Novolex, Operator/User Designated ; Maraisa Hernandez, Novolex, Operator/User Additional ; Julia Kimball, Novolex, Operator/User Additional ; Alberto Zorrilla, AZC Metropolitan Distributors, Inc., Operator/User Designated ; Luis Sanchez, AZC Metropolitan Distributors Inc., Operator/User Additional ; Russell Peaden, Capital Region Airport Commission, Grantee Designated ; Angelica Turner, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems America, Operator/User Designated ; Orlando Santiago, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems America, Operator/User Additional

New Committee/Working Group/Taskforce Members: Accreditation Committee: Audit Inspection Working Group: Katie Carney, Carney Trade Consulting LLC. Automation Committee: Katie Carney, Carney Trade Consulting LLC and Brandi Stoddard, Copper Hill, Inc.Operator/User Committee: Katie Carney, Carney Trade Consulting LLC and Brandi Stoddard, Copper Hill, Inc. Program Committee: Brandi Stoddard, Copper Hill, Inc.

We are just getting started on what will be a productive and expansive year! Thank you for your time, knowledge, and expertise.

Shane Williams
Chairman