Communications Daily is a service of Warren Communications News.
Subscriber Login

CBP Announces Membership for 12th COAC Term

March 30, 2011 by Karen Marzullo|Top News

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin has announced the membership for the 12th term of the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection (COAC). This 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.

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!

Start My Free Preview

(Note that several Customs brokers/logistics providers will be on COAC this term, as well as a number of manufacturing, importing and exporting firms.)

List of 20 Members

The COAC 12th term members are:

  1. Leman “Chip” Bown, Jr., FedEx Trade Networks, Buffalo, N.Y.
  2. Scott Childers, The Walt Disney Company, Kissimmee, Fla.
  3. Colleen Clarke, Roanoke Trade Services, Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.
  4. Mary Ann Comstock, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Sweet Grass, Mont.
  5. Jeffrey Coppersmith, Coppersmith Global Logistics, Inc., El Segundo, Calif.
  6. Robert DeCamp, A.N. Deringer, Inc., Rouses Point, N.Y.
  7. Matthew Fass, Maritime Products International, Newport News, Va.
  8. William Ferguson, NYK Line (North America) Inc., Jackson, N.J.
  9. Michael Ford, BDP International, Philadelphia, Pa.
  10. Carol Hallett, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
  11. Donald Huber, General Electric Company, Ft. Myers, Fla.
  12. Karen M. Kenney, Liberty International, Inc., Pawtucket, R.I.
  13. Karen Lobdell, Integration Point, Chicago, Ill.
  14. Kathleen Neal, A.O. Smith Corporation, El Paso, Texas
  15. James Phillips, General Motors LLC, Detroit, Mich.
  16. Edward “Ted” Sherman, Target Corporation, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
  17. Barbara Vatier, Air Transport Association, Washington, D.C.
  18. David Vitale, Urban Partnership Bank, Chicago, Ill.
  19. George Weise, Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, Leesburg, Va.
  20. Jeffrey Whalen, Nike, Inc., Beaverton, Ore.

COAC Members to Consider Streamlining Customs Procedures, Import Safety, Etc.

During the 12th term, the COAC may consider issues such as: the development of advance electronic cargo information requirements, streamlining Customs procedures, and other issues related to trade facilitation and cargo security; safety of imports and protection of intellectual property rights; management by account and the interaction of all government agencies in the border environment.

COAC to Meet on April 12 to Discuss Broker Revision Project, Air Cargo, Bonds, ITDS, Etc.

CBP recently announced that COAC will meet on April 12, 2011 in Washington, DC. Broker Power staff will be attending the meeting and reporting on it.

According to CBP, COAC will be meeting to review and discuss next steps on the following issues:

  • Managing by Account: Center of Excellence and Expertise (CEE) and Account Executive Pilots
  • The Role of the Broker, a Broker Revision Project
  • One U.S. Government at the Border - Interagency Issues
  • Automation/International Trade Data System
  • Enhancing Air Cargo Security
  • National Strategy Global Supply Chain Security and the Secretary’s work to foster international standards and cooperation
  • Enhancing Intellectual Property Rights
  • Enforcement Efforts
  • Risk Based Bonding and Risk Factors

(See ITT's Online Archives or 03/28/11 news, 11032818, for BP summary announcing the meeting.)