Kansas City: Big Crowd, Big Heart, Big Takeaways

Kansas City delivered our largest NAFTZ Annual Conference ever—nearly 540 attendees—and the energy matched the numbers. That turnout says something important: in today’s trade environment, interest in the U.S. FTZ program isn’t just strong; it’s surging.

What thrilled me most wasn’t only the record size, but who was in the room. Almost one-third were first-time attendees. Many told me they felt welcomed before the opening session even began—some said the warm reception started at the very first evening event. That’s NAFTZ at its best: members helping members, veterans taking time for new colleagues, and practical wisdom flowing freely across grantees, users, operators, and service providers.

Content was the star. Our program committee built a smart, FTZ-specific agenda designed for each role in our community—on-point speakers, timely topics, and real-world solutions you could take home and use. On Monday morning, Melissa Irmen set the frame with a clear view of the current trade landscape. The message many carried out of KC was simple and steady: the FTZ program has evolved through nearly a century of change, and it will evolve again—supporting U.S. jobs, encouraging investment and reshoring, and helping companies stay competitive in a turbulent world.

Kansas City itself was a fantastic host. The main reception at the historic Union Station was stunning, the jazz was pure KC, and yes, the barbecue lived up to the hype. I was proud that our community also rallied behind Operation Breakthrough, the local charity we spotlighted—another example of this association showing up with purpose.

We also had a special moment of history. Kansas City is the hometown of Marshall Miller of Miller & Co., one of NAFTZ’s founders. Hearing Marshall share early memories of the association was a gift; not many professional communities can say their founder is still active more than fifty years on.

Bottom line: NAFTZ showed up. We showed up for the program, for our organizations, and for each other. We learned, we compared notes, we solved problems, and many of you expanded your professional network in meaningful ways—especially our first-timers, who jumped in with both feet.

What’s Next

• Legislative Summit – Washington, DC (February 2026): New venue, the Ronald Reagan Building in the Federal Triangle, with agency, CBP, and Hill voices—and coordinated teams heading to Capitol Hill to carry the FTZ story directly to Congress.
• Spring Seminar – Portland, ME (May 2026): We’re piloting a live hybrid format with a single high-quality stream so those who can’t travel can still benefit from the in-room content.
• Annual Conference – San Diego, CA (October 2026): We’ll gather at Loews Coronado Bay Resort—an all-in setting that will make it easy to connect, learn, and keep the momentum going.
• Regional Fundamentals of FTZs – Austin, Hawaii, Louisville and more to be announced: Starting next month, NAFTZ will launch our new regional offerings for this foundational course.  Visit naftz.org for more information or to register.

To everyone who made the trip to Kansas City—nearly 540 strong—thank you. If KC was your first NAFTZ event, welcome to a community that’s rooting for your success. If you’re a long-timer, thank you for making the newcomers feel at home. See you in DC, Portland, and San Diego. Let’s keep showing up!

NAFTZ President Jeff Tafel and new Chair Katie Tangman present former Chair James Grogan with an award honoring his years of service on the NAFTZ Board of Directors.

 

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NAFTZ Executive Committee from left to right: Diana Urelius, Secretary, Leigh Ryan, Treasurer, Katie Tangman, Chair, Patty Cannon, Vice-Chair

NAFTZ Founding Father and Co-Sponsor of NAFTZAnnual25 Main Reception, Marshall Miller, and NAFTZ member Danielle Converse

NAFTZ Attendees: Madison Lackey, Autumn Mitchell, Emily Higgins

NAFTZ staff: Jeff Tafel, President, Olivia McDonald, Operations and Programs Coordinator, Kristine Wells, Director of Communications & Member Services, Melissa Irmen, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Relations, Victoria Cartwright, VP of Events & Education