Washington, DC - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske today announced the membership of the 14th Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, better known as COAC, at his “State of Trade” remarks given today at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The 20-member council advises the secretaries of the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security on the commercial operations of CBP and related DHS and Treasury functions.

“I am pleased to announce the selection of the membership of COAC’s 14th term,” said Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske.  “The partnership and experience they provide is invaluable to CBP and ultimately enhances American competitiveness.”

The COAC 14th term members are:

1. Cynthia D. Allen, DHL Global Forwarding, West Columbia, SC
2. Brenda Barnes, Geo. S. Bush & Co. Inc., Portland, OR
3. David Berry, Swift Transportation Corporation, Phoenix, AZ
4. Scott Boyer, Kraft Foods Group, Inc., Madison, WI
5. Heidi Bray, Chrysler Group, LLC, Auburn, MI
6. Celeste Catano, Kewill, Chelmsford, MA
7. Lenny Feldman, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., Miami, FL
8. Brandon Fried, The Airforwarders Association, Washington, DC
9. Lisa Gelsomino, Avalon Risk Management, Elk Grove Village, IL
10. Suzanne “Susie” Hoeger, Abbott Laboratories, Abbot Park, IL
11. Vincent Iacopella, Janel Group Inc., Inglewood, CA
12. Alexandra Latham, Costco Wholesale, Issaquah, WA
13. Amy Magnus, A.N. Deringer, Inc., Champlain, NY
14. Elizabeth Merritt, Airlines for America, Washington, DC
15. Julie Ann Parks, Raytheon, Plano, TX
16. Kevin Pinel, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
17. Adam Salerno, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC
18. Madeleine Veigel, Expeditors International of Washington, Inc., Seattle, WA
19. Michael White, International Air Transport Association, Miami, FL
20. Michael Young, OOCL (USA) Inc., San Ramon, CA

During the 14th term, the COAC may consider issues, such as: global supply chain security and facilitation, modernization and automation, air cargo security, customs broker regulations, trade enforcement, exports, trusted trader, revenue modernization, One U.S. Government approach to trade and safety of imports, agricultural inspection, and the protection of intellectual property rights.

Full remarks from the “State of Trade” at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are here: http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/speeches-and-statements/2015-03-24-000000/st...