Erik Autor, president of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones, will leave the group as of Sept. 1, he said in an email. A replacement hasn't been named.
Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and an advocate for free trade, announced that he will not run for re-election. Kind has served in the House of Representatives for 26 years, representing a largely rural district in Wisconsin. "I always tried to make decisions that I thought were in the best interest of the people at home here and not for powerful special interests or the political leadership of either party," Kind said during his retirement speech. Kind was one of the founding members of the New Democrat Coalition, a centrist House group that promotes fiscal responsibility and economic growth.
Michael Brown advanced to president and CEO of Avalon Risk Management, succeeding founding partner Lisa Gelsomino in that role, the surety said Aug. 9. Brown was most recently executive vice president at the company, overseeing sales and marketing. Gelsomino plans to spend more time with her family but “will continue to serve Avalon as a Senior Advisor focusing on her continued role in the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) through various working groups,” the company said.
Jahna Hartwig, former associate general counsel for ethics and compliance at Booz Allen, joined Wilson Sonsini as a senior counsel for the national security practice in the firm's Washington, D.C., office, the firm said in an Aug. 9 news release. Hartwig will look to bolster Wilson Sonsini's national security team using her experience with export control and sanctions compliance, International Traffic in Arms Regulations matters and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act proceedings, the release said. Prior to Booz Allen, Hartwig held director and associate general counsel positions at Sikorsky Aircraft.
Gregg Sofer, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, joined Husch Blackwell in its White Collar, Internal Investigations and Compliance practice group, the firm announced Aug. 2. Sofer has a background in national security law, including experience in export controls, sanctions, trade secrets and regulatory compliance, the release said.
Breck Weigel has joined Squire Patton as part of the firm's global Litigation Practice Group in Cincinnati, the firm announced Aug. 2. He joins from GE Aviation, where he most recently served as chief compliance officer and deputy general counsel.
Brenda Barnes, co-chair of CBP’s 15th term Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee Export Modernization Work Group and export manager for Geo. S. Bush & Co., will retire July 29 after more than 30 years in the industry. Barnes served on several COACs and helped to produce the Export Modernization White Paper, a broad undertaking meant to serve as a road map for the export process (see 2106230056). “I have been devoted to exports for my entire career and I hope to have served its community well and for the betterment of our United States of America’s economic security,” Barnes said in a July 27 email.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced on July 22 the hiring of:
International trade lawyer Matt Lapin joined Porter Wright as a partner in the firm's Washington office, according to a June 28 press release. Lapin, previously with Torres Law, brings with him experience on export controls and international trade law, including compliance efforts with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations. He also advises on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other domestic and international anti-bribery laws.
John Demers, the President Donald Trump-appointed official at the head of the Department of Justice's national security division, is leaving by his post at the end of June, a DOJ spokesperson said. The Biden administration has nominated former Uber executive Matt Olsen to replace him. Olsen is awaiting Senate confirmation. A DOJ spokesperson confirmed that Demers' departure had been pre-planned for months with June being the ultimate cutoff time for him to leave the division. Demers was originally slated to leave his role on inauguration day but was asked to stay on to aid with the transition. The national security division handles many security-related issues, from counterterrorism to export controls.