DHS names new COAC members

DHS names new COAC members    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Tuesday notified industry representatives who have been selected for a two-year term on a federally chartered committee relied on for advice about the trade implications of regulations governing customs compliance and cargo security.
   The Commercial Operations Advisory Committee has 20 members who are limited to two consecutive terms. The new committee members, according to the list obtained from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, are:
   * Earl Agron, vice president of security, APL Ltd. (ocean carrier).
   * Sam Banks, executive vice president, Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services and a former acting commissioner and deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs.
   * Adrienne Braumiller, attorney, Braumiller Schulz & Co.
   * William Cook, senior manager international parts and material, customs and MOPAR, DaimlerChrysler Corp.
   * Jevon Jamieson, manager administration and customs compliance, ABF Freight System Inc. (motor carrier).
   * Barry O'Brien, director of global trade and customs, Hasbro Inc. (toy manufacturer).
   * Geoffrey Powell, vice president of operations, C.H. Powell Co. (customs broker).
   * Alison Reichstein, projects and systems manager, HP Americas (electronics manufacturer).
   * Leigh Schmid, vice president international trade and customs compliance, Limited Brands Inc.
   * Carol Sheldon, vice president customs and regulatory compliance North America, DHL.
   DHS reappointed 10 members for a second term. They are:
   * Anthony Barone, director, global logistics policy, Pfizer Inc.
   * Christopher Koch, president, World Shipping Council.
   * Bruce Leeds, senior export/import advisor, Boeing.
   * Bethann Rooney, manager port security, Port Authority of New York-New Jersey.
   * Peggy Rutledge, vice president maritime solutions, GreenLine Systems Inc.
   * Lisa Schimmelpfenning, vice president director imports administration and logistics, Wal-Mart Stores.
   * Bradley Shorser, manager customs compliance, Sears Holdings.
   * Curtis Spencer, president, IMS Worldwide.
   * Michael Zachery, director of port planning and logistics, Port of Tacoma.
   * Federico Zuniga, chairman of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America and a Laredo, Texas                      customs broker.
   Leeds will serve as the spokesman and government liaison for the committee.
   The appointments were originally expected to be made during the CBP Trade Symposium in mid-December. DHS officials apparently made their selections a while ago, but the list languished waiting for final approval from Secretary Michael Chertoff and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, according to industry sources.
   COAC is also an advisory committee to the Treasury Department because of CBP's revenue collection role and the legacy of the U.S. Customs Service under Treasury before the DHS was created in 2003.
   The appointments come two weeks before COAC's next quarterly meeting on Feb. 14. Much attention will be focused on the meeting because COAC is scheduled to make recommendations to CBP about the controversial '10+2' proposal to improve the targeting for container inspections by collecting trade data prior to overseas vessel loading.