Board Members

 


Karen M. Kenney, President
 


Karen Kenney serves as Executive Vice President of Liberty International, Inc, a customs broker and international logistics service provider based in Pawtucket, RI. In her present position, Ms. Kenney is responsible for the operation of four of the company’s divisions including freight forwarding, inbound deconsolidation, warehousing & domestic distribution and IT/telecommunications services. She serves on the company’s executive board which plans the long term goals and daily administration of the company, directs Liberty’s overseas agency development in Asia and is active in key account sales. She has traveled extensively in the Far East, with particular emphasis on mainland China.

Ms. Kenney also serves as President of Logistics Express Worldwide, a deconsolidation agency, servicing Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami and New England.
 
Ms. Kenney is a founding member of the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade and currently serves as its President. She is a past president of the Rhode Island World Trade Club and has been an active member of the college scholarships programs for both organizations. Ms. Kenney also serves on the Advisory Board to the International Maritime Business Department at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.




Bette Little, Vice President


Bette Little  is the Senior Manager for Customs - U.S. for Reebok/adidas/Rockport, in Canton, Ma. She oversees the Import Compliance team, Export Department and the Foreign Trade Zones in Boston and Spartanburg, SC on the Customs side. She is also responsible for the C-TPAT program for adidas and Reebok. Bette previously held management roles at Chadwick Miller, Inc and New England Pottery/GKI Bethlehem Lighting.
 
Bette is the CONECT Vice President and has been a Board member since 1995. She is a Licensed Customs Broker and Certified Customs Specialist, as well as a member of the Foreign Commerce Club of Boston and the NAFTZ Operator Committee. A graduate of Stonehill College, Bette holds a BS in Business Administration.  She is a faculty member at the Boston Center for Adult Education.
 





David Katzman, Treasurer


 

David Katzman is the Director of Regulatory Compliance for C.H. Powell Co., a national Customs Broker, Forwarder and International Logistics Firm headquartered in Canton, MA.  David is responsible for compliance and security issues, both internally with the firm offices and externally with the firm clients.  He also consults on compliance and security issues affecting the importing trade community. 

David has over 35 years experience in import and export field and is a Licensed Customs Broker and Certified Customs Specialist.
David is a founding member of CONECT and currently serves as its Treasurer.  David is past president of the Boston Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association and currently serves on its Board of Directors.  David is actively involved with the Nations Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America and the CBP Trade Support Network. 




Richard Bridges, Director Representative 


Rick Bridges is a Vice President of Roanoke Trade Services, Inc. located in their Boston, MA office. Rick is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island where he completed a Bachelor or Arts in Marine Affairs and went on to complete an Honors Degree in Maritime Business and Law at the University of Plymouth in England.
 
 
Rick was one of the youngest insurance brokers to become tribunalized with Lloyd’s of London and he holds full underwriting privileges on cargo insurance risks.  Knowing that shippers face more diverse risks than ever before, Rick specializes in the customization of supply chain insurance and surety solutions backed by major international insurance companies. He currently manages cargo insurance and bond programs for various shippers associations and manufacturing groups; Rick also works closely with Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers to design programs that best suit their client’s needs.
 

Linda Wood, Clerk


Linda Wood is the Import Manager for Bennett & Company, a lingerie design and manufacturing company located in Newburyport, Massachusetts.    The company has wholly owned and joint venture factories in China and Sri Lanka, where shipments are destined to leading retailers around the world.  

In past lives Linda has worked in the pharmaceutical and sporting goods industries in both export and import.  She has lived and worked in Wales, England and Ethiopia.   In 2000 she joined CONECT and became a Board Member in 2006.  Linda lives on Plum Island, Massachusetts and appreciates what CONECT so successfully does  to help small to mid size companies be competitive in the global marketplace.  




Susan Albatal, Rhode Island State Chair



Susan Albatal has been in the trade industry for over 16 years. She currently holds a position as the Customs Compliance Manager at CVS Pharmacy, Inc. She started with Hasbro, Inc. where she spent most of her time on US Customs compliance and acquired her US Customs Broker License. She has been a member of CONECT since 2003 and was elected to the board in 2004. She is a member of the Trade Support Network, supporting the efforts of the Automated Commercial Environment.

 

 

Luiz da Costa

Luiz da Costa is the Trade Compliance Manager for Genzyme Corporation, one of world’s leading global biotechnology companies headquartered in Cambridge, MA.  He is responsible for developing import and export compliance policies & procedures and promoting a global trade compliance auditing program. He assists in the management of supply chain security related programs such as C-TPAT, AEO and other TSA related programs. He has been a board member of CONECT since 2003 . Prior to joining Genzyme, Luiz was the Lead Air Export Agent for FedEx Trade Networks (formerly Tower Group International), East Boston, MA. Luiz started his career in the international trade industry in Brazil, his native country, and his background includes more than 20 years of experience in international banking, logistics and transportation. He received training in Transportation and Physical Distribution Management from Northeastern University and holds an MBA from Suffolk University. He, his wife and two boys, live in Framingham, MA. 


Bob Kenneally 

 

Robert Kenneally has been a Licensed Customs Broker since 1976.  He is the Director of National Account Development for the C.H. Powell Company.  He is the past  President and current Chairman of the Boston Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association (BCBFFA), prior Chairman of the Affiliated Presidents Network for the National Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) and a Director/BOD member of CONECT (Coalition of New England Companies for Trade.)   He is also the President of New England Drawback Specialists, Inc.

 

Kevin Laffey


Kevin Laffey has spent his entire career of nearly 25 years in international transportation based in Boston, MA working in various jobs for container shipping lines, a freight forwarder/OTI and port authority. Kevin’s career began in 2004 as a sales rep with United States Lines.  Following U.S. Lines, he was the District Sales Manager for Maersk Line, before joining Expeditors International as Import Transportation Manager and then Ocean Manager.  He is currently employed by the Massachusetts Port Authority as Director of Freight Marketing for the Port of Boston.  Kevin sits on the Board of Directors for both CONECT and the FCC of Boston. Kevin resides in Billerica, MA with his wife and two children, and is actively involved in his church and town youth sports programs.




Christine Lanoue.


Christine Lanoue has been in the apparel and accessory retail environment over 20 years. In 2005, she joined Talbots and currently holds the position of Senior Manager, Global Logistics. Headquartered in Hingham, MA. Presently, her role includes Import/Export Regulatory Compliance, Supply Chain Security, end to end Supply Chain Management, and related Operations to support speed to market and quality service for this multi channeled International retailer. She was elected to the board in 2008. 



Bob Leadbetter
 

 Bob Leadbetter began his career with a Boston based customhouse broker in 1980 and has been involved with trade and logistics in a number of capacities since.  They include air/ocean brokerage duties, dispatch and CFS dock supervisor with a Boston port trucking/CFS company, ocean carrier sales/operations management with NOL / APL, 3PL sales and 3 stops with importers in customs and global logistics management positions.  The importers were/are Goodman Knitting Co Inc (apparel wholesaler), J. Baker/Casual Male Inc. (footwear and apparel retailer) and The Robert Allen Group (Textile Home Décor supplier). 

Bob is presently Director, Global Logistics with The Robert Allen Group, responsible for domestic / international transportation, logistics, customs compliance, corporate purchasing and many facets of managing the supply chain.  He is also a licensed customs broker.   

As a founding member of the CONECT organization he believes that CONECT holds an important place within the international trade and logistics community.  He feels that it is extremely important that the organization continue its work of educating importers, exporters and legislators on various issues and the need for responsible trade.  To make sure that the members of CONECT, who come from across the entire scope that international trade consists of; have their voice heard on issues that affect trade.  After all, the members are professionals in their fields and can help guide our country’s way forward.

  

 
Alison Leavitt, Maine State Chair


 

Alison Leavitt has been involved in the international logistics industry for over 20 years. Alison is currently the Director of Business Development for Albatrans Inc, a multinational global logistics provider and US Customs Broker.  Alison is a licensed customs broker and is on the board of the Maine Port Authority and is the Maine State Chair for CONECT.  Ms. Leavitt has worked in all aspects of ship agency work, customs brokerage, and freight forwarding, developing a network of offices throughout the USA and agents throughout the world.


Joseph O'Connor

 
Joseph O'Connor has been a member of CONECT since 2002. Joseph is employed by Franklin Sports, Inc, Stoughton, MA as Director of International Transportation. Joseph has been in the shipping community for 22 years and has experience in Brokerage, Freight Forwarding Trucking, Ocean LCL/FCL consolidation and Airfreight transportation.  Joseph currently reside in Franklin MA. with his wife and two children.  




Barbara Dawley, Connecticut State Chair


Barbara Dawley is a partner in the law firm of Meeks, Sheppard, Leo & Pillsbury.  She received her B.S. degree from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1973 and her J.D. degree from Quinnipiac College School of Law in 1997.  While in law school, Ms. Dawley served as associate editor on the Quinnipiac Law Review.  She is a member of the Connecticut Bar and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of International Trade.    

Ms. Dawley began her career in customs and international trade as an Import Specialist for the U.S. Customs Service, serving in the Hartford District from 1974 to 1984.  In 1984, she entered the private sector as a licensed Customs House Broker and joined a national customs brokerage and freight forwarding firm.  When she left to begin her legal career, she was Vice President for the brokerage, managing their Connecticut branch office.  Ms. Dawley has extensive experience in U.S. import law and regulations, and is a member of CONECT and its board of directors. 
 



Andrew Rosener


Andrew Rosener’s professional experience includes broad range of International/Domestic logistics and supply chain activities at both the retail and manufacturing sectors.  He has held Management positions at Morse Shoe, Inc., Hasbro, Inc., KB Toys and currently Christmas Tree Shops, a division of Bed Bath and Beyond.

Andrew is a founding member of the CONECT Board of Directors and sits on Massport’s Advisory Committee.  He received a BS Degree from the University of Rhode Island and an MBA from Bryant University.



Herb Rothstein

Herb Rothstein has been a member of CONECT since 2003 and was elected to its board in 2008. He is also a member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). He headed the Customs Committee of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), appointed an advisor to the National Maritime Commission, certified by the American Association of International Executives and the Council of Economic Priorities (CEP) SA 8000 Auditing Course. Herb Rothstein is the president of H. Rothstein & Assoc. Ltd., a consulting firm dealing in all segments of International Trade with a specialty in Corporate Social Responsibility.



James Mitchell, Massachusetts State Chair



Jim Mitchell serves on the CONECT Board as the State Chair for Massachusetts and has almost three decades of experience in the international transportation and supply chain management industries. Jim is a proud employee of OOCL (USA), Inc and is their Director National Accounts for New England.  In November 2008, he began his 16th year of service with the company. During his tenure with OOCL, Jim has assisted his many customers with ocean freight services, supply chain management solutions, vendor management systems and domestic distribution alternatives. As CONECT’s State Chair for Massachusetts, he welcomes the everyday opportunity to contribute to the international trade community and make a difference. Jim graduated from Southern New Hampshire University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing.




Anne Neary


Anne Neary has the experience of having worked many years in Boton’s international trade arena. Anne held positions in a Boston Steamship Agency as well as New England Custom House Brokerage & Freight Forwarding company.

Since those positions, Anne has been the Import Manager for the Christmas Tree Shops for over 20 years.  She is
a licensed Customs House Broker and has been a CONECT Board Member since 1995.

  
Robert Shepard




Rob Shepard has 20 years experience in Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing operations.  He is currently Director of Transportation & Logistics for the Kraft Group whose Paper & Packaging businesses include the Rand Whitney Corporation, New England's largest vertically integrated independent corrugated packaging company; and International Forest Products, one of the largest US exporters that supplies customers in five continents.

Prior to that Rob was Director of Global Import Operations for Reebok where he was involved in several trade initiatives that included authoring Reebok's successful CTPAT application and setting up its US Foreign Trade Zone and EU Centralized Bonded Warehouse.  An ex Marine infantry officer, Rob has an MBA from Harvard and a BA with a double major in Math & Economics from Amherst College. He holds a customs broker license and is a certified quality engineer from American Society of Quality Control.  Rob lives in Milton MA with his wife Eileen and son Michael & daughter Hannah.