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Maine Trade Day: Customs. Community. Collaboration. May 19, 2026 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM L.L. Bean Headquarters – Freeport, Maine
Join the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade (CONECT) for a day of informative presentations by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officials, State of Maine representatives, Canadian trade experts, and U.S importers and exporters navigating the current trade terrain. This will be an engaging and unique opportunity to meet and speak with CBP, state and local government officials, as well as importers and exporters walking the new path of cross border trade. The day will include presentations, keynote luncheon, and networking opportunities. Registration Fee: $125 Agenda (subject to change) 9:00-10:00 AM 9:55-10:00 AM | Registration and Networking Welcome: Amy Elmore, Director, International Logistics, Bob’s Furniture: President, CONECT | 10:00-10:45 AM | Conversation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection William Ferrara, Co-Founder, Harbour Island Consulting, LLC; Former Executive Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Field Operations, U.S. CBP Chadi Nicolas Kiami, Acting ADFO, Trade, Boston Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
| 10:45-11:15 AM | Current trade and tariff developments affecting importers today
Moderator: Paula Connelly, Member, Sandler, Travis, and Rosenberg Speakers:
Christa Hurley, Director Global Trade Compliance, Clarios
Greg Wallace, Lead Trade Compliance Analyst, L.L. Bean, Inc. | 11:15 AM-12:00 PM | USMCA developments and cross-border trade with Canada
Moderator: Jack Bender, Director, Strategic Accounts, VISY Global Logistics
Speakers:
The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada in Boston, United States
Arthur Bodek, Partner, GDLSK
| 12:00-1:30 PM | Luncheon Keynote Keynote Speaker: Wade Merritt, President, Maine International Trade Center (MITC) | 1:30-2:15 PM | Internal Customs Compliance Monitoring and Auditing Moderator: Kerri Hawley, Senior Customs and Trade Compliance Manager, RG Barry Brands Speakers:
Ania Fuller, Director of Consulting and Regulatory Affairs, A.N. Deringer
Erika T. Vidal-Faulkenberry, Global Head Trade Compliance, Biogen
| 2:15-2:45 PM | The Impact of Global Conflict on the Movement of Freight Matthew Bock, Partner, Bock Trade Law Abel Edgington, Director of Projects, Janel Group | 2:45-3:30 PM | Emerging approaches to data, analytics, and AI in trade compliance Cindy Allen, CEO and Managing Director, Trade Force Multiplier LLC Tom McCullough, Senior Manager, KPMG Rick Lawlor, Director, KPMG; Former CBP Reg Audit Field Director | 3:30 to 4:30 PM | Networking and light refreshments featuring Mast Landing Brewing | | |
Speakers:  | Wade Merritt President Maine International Trade Center MITC |  | Chadi Nicolas Kiami Acting ADFO, Trade Boston Field Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection | 
| Cindy Allen CEO and Managing Director Trade Force Multiplier LLC |  | Jack Bender Director, Strategic Accounts
Visy Global Logistics
|  | Matthew Bock Partner Bock Trade Law |  | Arthur Bodek Partner GDLSK |  | Paula Connelly Member Sandler, Travis, and Rosenberg |  | William Ferrera Co-Founder Harbour Island Consulting, LLC Former EAC for the Office of Field Operations, U.S.CBP
|  | Kerri Hawley Senior Customs and Trade Compliance Manager RG Barry Brands
|  | Ania Fuller Director of Consulting and Regulatory Affairs
A.N. Deringer
|  | Bernadette Jordan Consul General of Canada in Boston |  | Christa Hurley Director Global Trade Compliance Clarios
| | Bio | Erika T. Vidal-Faulkenberry Global Head Trade Compliance Biogen |  | Greg Wallace Lead Trade Compliance Analyst L.L. Bean, Inc.
|  | Abel Edgington Director of Projects Janel Group |  | Amy Elmore Director, International Logistics Bob’s Furniture |  | Rick Lawlor Trade and Customs Director KPMG |  | Tom McCullough Senior Manager KPMG |
   Approved for 4 CCS/MCS, CES/MES, LCB credit type(s).
Cancellation Policy: Registrations cannot be refunded but can be transferred to another individual. Please notify sbeland@conect.org to transfer a registration
There are several hotels in the area, Recommended Hotels: Freeport Maine Hotel – Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Fairfield Brunswick/Freeport, Maine Sponsored by: | Premier Sponsors: | | |  |  | |  | Corporate Sponsors: 
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Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Susan at sbeland@conect.org. Attendees
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