Candidates About

Alan J. Wander

Summary

Licensed US Customs Broker and Subject Matter Expert on worldwide import and export compliance with 20+ years in international trade. Applied strategic and tactical skills to design, implement and maintain successful duty management programs, and manage global ocean freight contracts with efficient shipment execution.

Professional Experience

D&M Holdings, Inc., Mahwah, NJ                                                                                                   2011-2014

Bain Capital portfolio company that manufactures and markets premium audio products with annual revenues of $1 billion and 2,500 employees in 45 countries. Primary brands are Denon, Marantz and Boston Acoustics.

VP- Global Trade and Compliance

Reported to Global CFO and SVP- Global Operations, with responsibility for world-wide export/import compliance, duty management and logistics operations.

• Compiled import and export activity reports from US government for D&M legal entities for 2010/2011. Utilized data to identify improvements that strengthened export controls, revised EEI data, minimized number of Freight Forwarders/US Customs Brokers, and re-engineered HTS classifications.
• Created export and import compliance procedure manuals to ensure corporate compliance with applicable US laws and EAR export controls in Japan/US/EU, to demonstrate reasonable care, to define roles/responsibilities for international trade personnel, and to enhance C-TPAT/AEO security efforts.
• Re-classified HTS for Audio Video Receivers, headphones and speakers to reduce total US annual duty spend by $1.9 million (-50%). Recovered additional prior year refunds of $1.5 million through protests.
• Reversed a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) negative AVR classification ruling, resulting in annual on-going Canadian duty avoidance of $1.2 million. Claimed additional refunds of $1.2 million on prior duty payments through Detailed Adjustment Statements (DAS).
• Established 1^st sale transactions as basis for valuation of products imported into US and EU to lower associated annual duty spend by $2.1 million. Protested prior year US duty paid to claim additional refunds of $800k. Implemented annual value reconciliation program to perfect import valuation.
• Implemented successful duty drawback program for US businesses. Initially claimed refunds of duty paid on products imported into the US and subsequently exported to Canada, Mexico and additional country destinations going back 3 years. Drawback refund claims continue for $200k annually.
• Negotiated annual freight rates with ocean carriers for worldwide shipping lanes. Locked in fixed rates to avoid risk of general rate increases and additional fuel surcharges. Responsible for ocean container volume of 3000 FEU's annually and $5.3 million ocean freight budget.
• Oversaw RFQ process to determine 3PL providers for Hong Kong and Europe Distribution Centers. Negotiations resulted in same quality service at a comparable cost.
• Established Mexico legal entity with IMMEX license to assemble car speakers eligible for duty-free status and cost avoidance when exported from MX to auto manufacturers in South America and Europe.

Stanley Black & Decker, New Britain, CT                                                                                       2000-2011

Diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools and related accessories, mechanical access solutions, electronic security solutions and fastening systems with annual revenues of $9 billion and 38,000 employees.

Director- Trade Compliance, Hardware and Home Improvement Group, Lake Forest, CA

Manufacturer of hardware products under the Kwikset, Weiser, Baldwin, Price Pfister, Stanley, National and Fanal brands with revenues of $1.1 billion, 5,000 employees and operations in the US, Mexico and China.

Reported to CFO-Finance, with 5 US direct reports and 4 indirect reports in MX, Canada and China. Provided leadership and expertise in global trade for legal entities in US, Mexico, Canada and China. Responsibilities included duty management, FTZ operations, global export/import trade compliance, supply chain security, primary corporate interface with US CBP, North American Customs brokers and Freight Forwarders, and advisor on international finance and strategic trade initiatives.

• Avoided over $35 million in North American import duty spend in 2010 through NAFTA, Duty Drawback, Chapter 98 programs, GSP, Foreign-Trade Zone operations, Prosec, and Rule 8 exemptions.
• Prevented potential $25 million in import duties, fines, and penalties through Customs prior disclosure, and recovered $14 million in refunds of duties and interest through NAFTA 520d post entry claims.
• Implemented FTZ site designation and activation for West Coast Distribution Center. Established FTZ documentation and procedures for inventory control, e214 admissions, direct delivery and ePTT.
• Established export/import compliance programs and received government validation of these programs during NAFTA Joint Verification Team audit, NAFTA on-site verification audits from US, Mexico and Canada Customs, FTZ security audits, Duty Drawback desk audits, and FAST program approval.
• Participated in expansion of Mexican manufacturing operations and start-up of EPZ facility in China.
• Secured C-TPAT certification and on-site validations for 3 US companies and 2 foreign manufacturers.
• Managed HTS and ECCN classifications and assured export and re-export compliance of EAR and OFAC regulations.

Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY                                                                                     1985-2000

World’s largest manufacturer of photographic film and paper products. Diversified portfolio also included cameras, copiers, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. In 2000, company had annual revenues totaling

$16 billion with 125,000 employees world-wide.

Director- Import Services

Reported to VP and General Manager of US/Canada Region. Directed 14-person import team responsible for “in-house” Customs brokerage, FTZ operations, HTS classification, valuation and dutiable assists.

• Operated largest manufacturing Foreign-Trade Zone site in the US.
• Managed US import of finished products and components valued at $1.2 billion annually.
• Interfaced with US CBP officials and corporate government affairs office to address inquiries, assure corporate input on proposed regulations, and favorably influence trade laws to Kodak’s advantage.

SAP Export/Import Team Lead

Participated as subject matter expert within Kodak’s “order-to-cash” team to successfully implement SAP in Europe, USA, Dubai, and China.

• Promoted to elite 100+ person international team charged with replacing all existing global legacy systems with SAP.
• Managed Global Design Team that was responsible for design and implementation of export/import functionality within SAP. Included solutions within Sales and Distribution, Master Data Management, and Material Master modules, and the SAP Global Trade Services application.
• Requirements also included configuration of SAP GTS where applicable, country of origin determination, export customer screening, master data conversions, and international documentation to align with every country implementation.

Director- Export Regulations

Managed export compliance functions for all US legal entities. Responsible for coordinating trade initiatives within North America and Latin America (NAFTA, Mercosur, ALADI).

• Secured applicable export licenses for EAR commodities and ITAR controlled sensors, provided ECCN classifications for products, software, technologies and deemed exports, screened customers, complied with country-specific restrictions, and anti-boycott regulations.

• Implemented NAFTA program within Kodak’s North American operations. Wrote the specific Rules of Origin for HTS Chapter 37 products within NAFTA legislation. Saved $104 million in duty avoidance in US, Canada and Mexico during the first 3 years of the NAFTA program.
• Participated with US Commerce Department officials on rewrite of Export Administration Regulations through membership in RPTAC.

Prior Experience

Held positions of Warehouse Supervisor- US Domestic Shipping and Financial Analyst-Capital Assets.

Education

University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

BS degree in General Science (Major in Mathematics and minor in Statistics)

Other Considerations

• US Citizen.
• Licensed Customs Broker (LCB License # 20233).
• Proficient working knowledge of EAR, ITAR and OFAC Regulations.
• Active member of the International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA).
• Past member of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ).
• Past member of the Regulations and Procedures Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC).
• Past board member of the International Business Council of Greater Rochester, NY.