October 24th, 2024 | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
1455 West Loop South, Suite 900, Houston TX 77027

REGISTER

The 1st Annual Export Conference, organized by the Houston District Export Council, a 501(c)(6) not for profit corporation, is an annual event, which brings together experts to share their knowledge about various export topics including supply chain, financing, insurance, export controls and sanctions, tax planning, due diligence and Foreign-Trade Zones. This is a must-attend event for companies new to exporting as well as experienced exporters in manufacturing, logistics, shipping, transportation, energy, healthcare, chemicals, insurance, aerospace, food, banking, financial institutions and many others.

AGENDA

8:30 am: Registration and Networking

9:00 am: Welcome Remarks

  • Andrew Pidgirsky, HDEC Chair, Partner, Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith

9:05 am: “U.S. Commercial Service Assistance to U.S. Exporters”

  • Jason Wilson, Director-Houston, U.S. Commercial Service

9:15 am: “International Update”

  • Marc E. Knapper, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Senior Foreign Service, U.S. Department of State

9:30 am: “Navigating the Current Supply Chain Environment”

Moderator:

  • John Hark, HDEC Education Committee Chair, Director, Bertling Logistics Inc.

Panelists:

  • John Moseley, Chief Commercial Officer, Port Houston
  • William Netzinger, Regional Business Development Director for Global Energy & Capital Projects, UTC Overseas, Inc.
  • Waleed Haque, Global Supplier Performance Manager, SLB

10:30 am: “Export Financing”

Moderator:

  • Hector Escobar, HDEC Treasurer, International Advisor, Senior Vice President, PNC Bank

Panelists:

  • Eric Miller, Regional Director, Export-Import Bank of the United States
  • Jeremy Foreman, Export Finance Manager, Texas, New Mexico & Oklahoma Office of Int’l Trade, U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Kashmira Sutaria, Senior Director – Global Banking, Vinmar International, Ltd.

11:35 pm: “Export Controls, Sanctions, Enforcement and Export Compliance”

Moderator:

  • Andrew Pidgirsky, HDEC Chair, Partner, Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith

Panelists:

  • Diana Urelius, HDEC Secretary, Senior Manager Trade Compliance, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas Inc.
  • Tracey Anthony, Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, Crane Worldwide Logistics
  • Geoffrey Flowers, Special Agent, Office of Export Enforcement, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS)

12:35 pm: Luncheon Keynote Speaker Presentation – “Developing International Business Relationships Beyond the Textbooks”

  • Robert Sakowitz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hazak Corporation

1:15 pm: “Tax Planning for Exporters”

Moderator:

  • Gerardo Mendez, CFO, OpenView Products LLC 

Panelists:

  • Max Koss, Managing Director – Int’l Tax Services, BDO
  • Rolando Garcia, Tax Director, Doeren Mayhew
  • Francisco Grados, Tax Partner, HL&B

2:15 pm: “Marine Cargo Insurance, Credit Risk Insurance and Other Export Insurance”

  • Ryan Luna, Senior Account Executive, Hotaling Insurance Services

2:45 pm: “Exporter Due Diligence on the Foreign Counterparties and Other Third Parties”

Moderator:

  • Pam Holdrup, Principal, Proven Logistics Solutions

Panelists:

  • Brendan Kelly, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service
  • Geoffrey Flowers, Special Agent, Office of Export Enforcement, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS)
  • David Beard, Vice President, Fuel Markets, Mattr

3:30 pm: “Foreign Trade Zones: Benefits for Exporters”

Moderator:

  • Diana Urelius, HDEC Secretary, Senior Manager-Trade Compliance, Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas, Inc.

Panelists:

  • Rina Lawrence, Economic Development Manager, Port Houston
  • Catherine James, CEO, Dixie Cullen Interests
  • Shane Williams, Managing Director, EY Global Trade

4:30 pm: Closing Remarks Andrew Pidgirsky, HDEC Chair, Partner, Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith