FREE Webinar: FTZ Production Notifications in 2026: Navigating the New FTZ Board and Commerce Review Process

Description

The NAFTZ FTZ Production Notifications in 2026: Navigating the New FTZ Board and Commerce Review Process Webinar in response to event attendee surveys requesting to cover this topic in more detail. 

Featured Speaker(s): James Grogan, KROLL, will review protocols and best practices and developments. A Q&A session will follow the presentation. By registering one agrees to be compliance with NAFTZ policy/guidelines and emailed up to once per sponsor (if applicable).

1. Evaluate recent trends in FTZ Board review of Production Notifications and understand how the review process has evolved over the last 18 months.
2. Identify the questions, requests for additional information, and areas of increased scrutiny that commonly arise during the Board's review process.
3. Develop stronger Production Notifications by effectively demonstrating economic justification, public benefits, and other key elements that support Board approval.

Speakers:

• James Grogan, Managing Director, Trade & Customs, Kroll
• Lulu Arrigoni, Trade & Customs, Kroll
• Robert Balli, Customs Duty Savings Optimization, Phillips 66
• Stephanie Daigle, Celanese

James Grogan is a global trade practitioner with substantial experience in the areas of Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ), duty and tariff mitigation strategies, general U.S. customs compliance and global trade function assessments. He provides regulatory and strategic guidance to small companies, complex multinational corporations, and local government entities.

Mr. Grogan assists his clients in all aspects of the FTZ program, including preparing strategic feasibility analyses, managing all federal and local implementation steps, conducting customized training, developing inventory control and operational procedures, responding to government agency inquiries, and building compliance programs. For grantees and economic development groups, he has built and executed tailored marketing plans designed to drive increased FTZ utilization in those regions.

Mr. Grogan has built a strong reputation in the FTZ community through his involvement with the NAFTZ. Since 2015, he has served on the Board of Directors, and currently serves as an Officer within the Executive Committee. He has also chaired several committees, working groups and task forces for the association. His network of professional relationships includes many operators/users, grantees, service provider colleagues and officials within the FTZ Board and CBP.

In addition to his FTZ expertise, Mr. Grogan works with companies to evaluate and periodically review their participation in other CBP partnership programs, including CTPAT, the Importer Self-Assessment (ISA) program (i.e., CTPAT Trade Compliance), and other AEO-modeled voluntary programs. He has designed testing processes for these programs and assisted companies navigate periodic reviews from the customs authorities.

Mr. Grogan also has unique experience assisting companies examine the structure and effectiveness of their global trade function. Whether through an internal audit lens or through the trade group directly, he has helped companies conduct reviews into the structure, location and success of a company’s trade-related personnel, procedures, and technology. These customized reviews typically generate escalation procedures, identify inherent risks and savings opportunities, and benchmark against global leading practices.

James graduated with honors from Saint Louis University where he received a B.A. in Economics, Spanish and International Studies. He is also a licensed US Customs Broker and Accredited Zones Specialist (AZS).

Lulu Arrigoni, Trade & Customs, Kroll

Lulu draws upon previous experience in trade compliance at a leading consulting firm, as well as her master’s degree in international economics, to help clients navigate complex international trade issues.

She advises clients on duty and tariff mitigation strategies, customs classification, and the implementation of special customs programs, with particular expertise in Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs). Lulu has supported dozens of FTZ implementations across the United States for clients spanning industries including semiconductors, logistics, and core industrials. Her experience covers the full project lifecycle, from geographic designation and application through activation and ongoing post-activation support.

In addition, Lulu has advised clients on duty valuation, customs classification, and country of origin questions, often resulting in reasonable care memorandums. She is experienced in supply chain data analysis and tariff modeling, helping clients identify cost-saving opportunities, mitigate trade and compliance risks, and quantify duty impacts. Lulu has supported complex export control and sanctions matters, such as large audit engagements, prior disclosures, and export classification under the International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

Robert Balli is the Director of Customs Duty Savings Optimization at Phillips 66, bringing over three decades of experience in the manufacturing sector and more than 15 years specializing in Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ). His career spans a diverse range of roles within the petroleum industry, including indirect tax, yield accounting, and FTZ operations. Prior to earning his accountng degree, Robert gained hands-on experience in refinery operations, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both the technical and financial aspects of the industry. Known for his collaborative spirit and approachable demeanor, Robert is widely respected as a knowledgeable and a nice guy.

Stephanie Daigle is Vice President of Global Government Affairs and Trade Compliance at Celanese Corporation, a Fortune 500 global chemical and engineered materials company. She leads Celanese’s global government affairs strategy and oversees the company’s global trade compliance and policy office, helping the business navigate complex regulatory, trade, tax, and geopolitical developments that affect manufacturing competitiveness and global operations.

With more than 25 years of experience across the private sector, the federal government, and the U.S. Senate, Stephanie advises Celanese’s senior executives and Board of Directors on policy risk and legislative strategy, including issues related to trade enforcement, chemical regulation, corporate tax, and industrial policy. At Celanese, she has led high-impact advocacy efforts related to Toxic Substances Control Act implementation, anti-dumping matters, and federal tax reform, including initiatives that protected key end markets, strengthened compliance planning, and reduced corporate exposure.

Before joining Celanese, Stephanie served as a public policy advisor at Crowell & Moring LLP, where she counseled Fortune 500 companies and coalitions on federal climate, energy, and environmental legislation. She also held senior roles at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, including Associate Administrator for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations, and served on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, where she helped shape federal environmental and manufacturing policy.

Stephanie represents Celanese with major industry organizations, including the American Chemistry Council and the National Association of Manufacturers. She holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from The Catholic University of America and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with honors, from Simmons College.

Educational CREDIT

Learn more about AZS and CZS credit eligibility for webinar attendance on their applicable websites.