Maine Trade Day: Customs. Community. Collaboration

5/19/2026

Event Details

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 Moderator: William Ferrera,  Co-Founder, Harbour Island Consulting, LLC; Former Executive Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Field Operations,  U.S. CBP Speakers, CBP to be announced 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  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 E merging 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    Afternoon/evening  Networking, light refreshments      Speakers:   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      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:     Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Susan at sbeland@conect.org.