Coalition of New England Companies for Trade (CONECT) event features high-caliber speakers as the group winds up its 25th year of service to the New England international trade community. Top policymakers and industry experts will share their perspectives at the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade’s (CONECT) 15th Annual Northeast Cargo Symposium (NECS) at the Biltmore Hotel in Providence, R.I. on Thursday, November 10. Over 200 importers, exporters, government officials, legal experts, and providers of international trade and transportation services are expected to attend the conference, which will feature seven educational sessions as well as networking opportunities, and exhibits. The high caliber of speakers is indicative of the importance of this conference within the Northeast international trade and transportation community. Keynote speaker, Walter Kemmsies, Managing Director, Economist, and Chief Strategist of Jones Lang LaSalle will deliver a global economic forecast for 2017 and beyond. Heidi Bray of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ U.S. and Global Customs Compliance Office will discuss the ever-changing government regulations affecting importers and exporters; Dale Kelly, Chief of the International Trade Management Division of the U.S. Census Bureau will join her. Peter Friedmann, a D.C. insider from FBB Federal Relations, also CONECT Counsel, will cover election results and offer post-election trade projections. Lenny Feldman, Attorney for Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. will discuss the global perspective on Trade Security programs, and Brandon Fried, Executive Director of the national group, Air Forwarders Association, will examine air cargo screening and airfreight e-booking practices. On the transportation side, Trevor Lachapelle, VP Global Transportation for BJ’s Wholesale Club, is to comment on the ocean freight market, and how shipping alliances affect world trade. Michael Vaccaro, VP, Hyundai Merchant Marine America, will join him. Michael DeVitto, Transportation Manager for L.L. Bean will join a panel describing important new technological developments in global logistics and international supply chains. He’ll be joined by guest speakers from eProvenance and Acuitive Solutions who will each cover specific tech designs. A special NECS segment will introduce U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s new Director of Field Operations at the Boston Field office, William A. Ferrara, who now oversees CBP operations of the six-state New England region. Mr. Ferrara works under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security and CBP to ensure oversight and compliance in all programs related to anti-terrorism, immigration, customs, agriculture and trade at 17 seaports, 44 ports of entry, and at Boston Logan International Airport and 6 other smaller regional airports.