CONECTivity Coalition of New England Companies for Trade Who We Are What We Do How We Can Help You! • Member Benefits • Scholarship Info • An Interview with Our Man In DC • Event Photos www.CONECT.org CONECT: Continued Growth for a Strong Future We’re in this The Secrets of Our Staying Power By Carol Turner Over the next decade and beyond, for our young professionals to continue the Welcome to CONECTivity magazine, a CONECT will continue to grow, and its CONECT tradition of learning, network- TOGETHER CONECT Young Professionals (CYPs) ing, developing business, and advocating for celebration of the Coalition of New En- For 60 years, Yusen Logistics has provided unsurpassed gland Companies for Trade’s accomplish- will fill its board seats. Let’s continue to free and fair trade practices. work together to make our organization the service to our customers. We offer a portfolio of ments since its founding more than two Carol Turner is the Executive Director of best it can possibly be in the future: a place decades ago. What you’ll find inside is a CONECT. ([email protected]) transportation, warehouse and supply chain solutions look at CONECT’s current members as designed to meet our customer’s needs. Leverage our well as its board of directors, legal coun- expertise to optimize your distribution processes today. sel, and office staff. You’ll also learn about CONECT Membership Breakdown CONECT’s updated member benefits and Rest assured we’ll be with you all the way. the opportunities this nonprofit trade asso- Port Authorities/Terminal Partners ciation offers members in terms of industry Ocean Carriers/NVOs/Agents Warehouses education, networking, business building, Logistics Attorneys and career growth. Providers/ Government Offices 3PLs Consultants Twenty-odd years ago, when I attended my Special Products/ first CONECT meeting, I was also involved Insurance Services Think Together. Move Together. Success Together. in a number of other international trade Providers groups across New England. Most of them www.yusen-logistics.com | 800.414.3895 are no longer in existence. Yet CONECT is stronger than ever, and its membership Freight Forwarders/ continues to grow. Customs Brokers What has given CONECT its staying power? In my opinion, there are seven key elements: • A loyal group of over 1,000 CONECT members who continue their support Rail/Truck/Chassis year after year Shippers Associations • A dedicated board of directors, some of BCOs: whom have served for 25 years Importers/Exporters • A legal counsel/trade advocate who is the ultimate “Washington insider,” provid- ing members with valuable insights into what’s going on in government • Alliances with government and regulato- CONECT Mission Statement ry agencies to keep CONECT mem- bers abreast of important changes, new CONECT’s mission is to educate the New England business community, programs, and regulations as well as local, state, and federal government representatives as to the • A cadre of committed partners and spon- benefits and importance of free and fair trade to our region. sors, whose continued support helps to CONECT serves the interests of New England businesses that depend defray costs and make CONECT events on international trade. In today’s complex and challenging global affordable for members to attend trade environment, CONECT provides educational and networking • Great relationships with key media opportunities to keep its members well informed. CONECT also sources who act as advisors and market- serves as a unified and highly effective voice to enhance the trade and ing specialists transportation infrastructure of New England. CONECT is comprised • Staffers who truly enjoy what they of importers, exporters, customs brokers, freight forwarders, port do, who treat CONECT members as authorities, NVOCCs, intermodal carriers, logistics providers, banks, law respected friends, and who produce firms, cargo facilities, consultants, and others active in international trade. exceptional events www.CONECT.org Coalition of New England Companies for Trade 1 CONECT: Continued Growth for a Strong Future We’re in this The Secrets of Our Staying Power By Carol Turner Over the next decade and beyond, for our young professionals to continue the Welcome to CONECTivity magazine, a CONECT will continue to grow, and its CONECT tradition of learning, network- TOGETHER CONECT Young Professionals (CYPs) ing, developing business, and advocating for celebration of the Coalition of New En- For 60 years, Yusen Logistics has provided unsurpassed gland Companies for Trade’s accomplish- will fill its board seats. Let’s continue to free and fair trade practices. work together to make our organization the service to our customers. We offer a portfolio of ments since its founding more than two Carol Turner is the Executive Director of best it can possibly be in the future: a place decades ago. What you’ll find inside is a CONECT. ([email protected]) transportation, warehouse and supply chain solutions look at CONECT’s current members as designed to meet our customer’s needs. Leverage our well as its board of directors, legal coun- expertise to optimize your distribution processes today. sel, and office staff. You’ll also learn about CONECT Membership Breakdown CONECT’s updated member benefits and Rest assured we’ll be with you all the way. the opportunities this nonprofit trade asso- Port Authorities/Terminal Partners ciation offers members in terms of industry Ocean Carriers/NVOs/Agents Warehouses education, networking, business building, Logistics Attorneys and career growth. Providers/ Government Offices 3PLs Consultants Twenty-odd years ago, when I attended my Special Products/ first CONECT meeting, I was also involved Insurance Services Think Together. Move Together. Success Together. in a number of other international trade Providers groups across New England. Most of them www.yusen-logistics.com | 800.414.3895 are no longer in existence. Yet CONECT is stronger than ever, and its membership Freight Forwarders/ continues to grow. Customs Brokers What has given CONECT its staying power? In my opinion, there are seven key elements: • A loyal group of over 1,000 CONECT members who continue their support Rail/Truck/Chassis year after year Shippers Associations • A dedicated board of directors, some of BCOs: whom have served for 25 years Importers/Exporters • A legal counsel/trade advocate who is the ultimate “Washington insider,” provid- ing members with valuable insights into what’s going on in government • Alliances with government and regulato- CONECT Mission Statement ry agencies to keep CONECT mem- bers abreast of important changes, new CONECT’s mission is to educate the New England business community, programs, and regulations as well as local, state, and federal government representatives as to the • A cadre of committed partners and spon- benefits and importance of free and fair trade to our region. sors, whose continued support helps to CONECT serves the interests of New England businesses that depend defray costs and make CONECT events on international trade. In today’s complex and challenging global affordable for members to attend trade environment, CONECT provides educational and networking • Great relationships with key media opportunities to keep its members well informed. CONECT also sources who act as advisors and market- serves as a unified and highly effective voice to enhance the trade and ing specialists transportation infrastructure of New England. CONECT is comprised • Staffers who truly enjoy what they of importers, exporters, customs brokers, freight forwarders, port do, who treat CONECT members as authorities, NVOCCs, intermodal carriers, logistics providers, banks, law respected friends, and who produce firms, cargo facilities, consultants, and others active in international trade. exceptional events www.CONECT.org Coalition of New England Companies for Trade 1 CONECT’s Benefits are Second to None By Karen Kenney Back in 1991, few of us who attended that first meeting with Peter from around the U.S.; and even learned about free trade agreements Friedmann in Reebok’s conference room would have guessed that directly from a U.S. trade representative. I’ve met future customers we were founding what would one day become the largest interna- and vendors and have made lifelong friends. I’ve saved my company tional trade and transportation association in New England. Today money and helped our organization secure new business. Because CONECT, the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade, is of the friends and mentors I’ve come to know through CONECT, recognized as an industry leader in free and fair trade advocacy and I had the privilege of serving on the Commercial Customs Opera- education. tions Advisory Committee, known as the COAC, alongside two of the customs commissioners I met in the early days of CONECT, an CONECT offers unparalleled access to industry leaders, learning honor I’ll never forget. and networking opportunities, and the chance to influence policy locally, regionally, and nationally. At CONECT, we get things done. If you are interested in networking, meeting industry leaders, learn- From securing U.S. Fish & Wildlife status for the Port of Boston to ing something new, growing professionally, influencing policy, ex- advocating for local and national policies that benefit our members, panding your horizons, and getting things done, then this is where we make things happen. you should be. Become a CONECT member. Come to a CONECT event. It’s a smart bet. Throughout my membership in CONECT over the years since the group was founded, I’ve personally exchanged ideas with every I am incredibly thankful for the tremendous value CONECT has U.S. Customs commissioner who’s held office since 1991; discussed brought to me both personally and professionally. I hope to meet policy with senior-level Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and you at a future event! Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) officials; shared concerns with Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) commission- Karen Kenney is President of CONECT and V.P. Global Partnerships, ers and chairs; reviewed challenges and solutions with port directors Janel Group Inc./Liberty.