NCBFAA Receives Presidential “E” Award for Exports
On May 17, 2012, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA) was awarded the Presidential “E” Award for Exports by U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary John Bryson at the White House in Washington, D.C. The “E” Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity may receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.
“Exports continue to contribute vitally to the fundamental growth of America’s GNP and the NCBFAA’s membership is a prime mover in that growth,” said NCBFAA Chairman of the Board Jeffrey Coppersmith, who, along with NCBFAA Executive Vice President barbara reilly, was on hand to receive the award. “Our Association is extremely proud of this recognition and on behalf of our members around the country, and those who set up the foundation of our organization over 115 years ago, I thank our federal regulatory agency partners at the Department of Commerce (DOC) for this acknowledgement of our role in the international trade and commerce arena.”
“I am pleased to recognize NCBFAA for receiving the President’s “E” Award which honors companies that provide momentous assistance towards increasing U.S. exports,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson. “This Administration is committed to leveling the playing field for American businesses and workers to help U.S. companies build things here and sell them around the world. “E” Award winners like NCBFAA have excelled in this effort, demonstrating four years of successive export services growth. It is organizations like this that are helping to grow our economy and put more Americans back to work.”
Throughout the years, for example, NCBFAA has worked closely with the DOC in not only finding participants for the U.S. Export Pavilion NCBFAA kiosk that travels to various convention locations nationwide, but also in arranging a variety of diverse, timely and informative educational offerings throughout the country. Whether these meetings, roundtables or seminars are coordinated through our various Affiliated Associations, or directly through the different DOC agency partners that include Census, BIS, AES, and ITA to name a few, NCBFAA supports DOC's outreach and educational initiatives. It's another way in which the Association goes beyond its charter to inform industry participants on issues of importance to them.
Other examples include:
- NCBFAA’s (past) President, Jeffrey Coppersmith’s, appearance in a two-part video describing the work of the freight forwarder and the importance of relying on industry professionals to avoid the pitfalls for exporting
- DOC representatives joining us for conferences and informing our members of their services and initiatives
- NCBFAA’s weekly e-newsletter continually providing DOC’s Commercial Service with a forum for publicizing its efforts to increase export activity in this country
Through efforts such as these, and in many other ways, the NCBFAA seeks to engender an understanding and appreciation on the part of the public and private sectors of the critical role this industry plays in the commercial life of America.
U.S. companies are nominated for the “E” Award through the U.S. Commercial Service office network in 108 U.S. cities and more than 75 countries which helps U.S. companies export. The primary criterion for the “E” Award is four years of successive export growth or of supporting the export growth of others. The “E” Award is awarded to applicants that can demonstrate a significant contribution to U.S. export expansion that is measurable, innovative, sustainable, and has broad impact.
All nominations are reviewed by the “E” Award Committee, which is chaired by the Department of Commerce, and includes representatives of ExIm Bank, the Small Business Administration, and the Departments of Agriculture, Labor, State, and Transportation.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first presentation of the President’s “E” Award by President John F. Kennedy. The President’s “E” Award was created by Executive Order in 1961 to encourage U.S. companies to sell their products abroad. A second award, the President’s “E Star” Award, was authorized by the Secretary of Commerce in 1969 to recognize “E” Award recipients for their continuing significant contributions to U.S. export expansion.
A total of 41 U.S. companies and organizations were presented with the “E” Award at the May 17, 2012, World Trade Week ceremonies at the White House in Washington DC.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, the NCBFAA represents over 870 member companies with more than 100,000 employees in international trade - the nation's leading freight forwarders, customs brokers, ocean transportation intermediaries (OTIs), NVOCCs and air cargo agents, serving more than 250,000 importers and exporters. Established in 1897 in New York, NCBFAA is currently celebrating 115 years as the effective national voice of the industry. Through its various committees, counsel and representatives, the Association maintains a close watch over legislative and regulatory issues that affect its members. It keeps them informed of these and other related issues through its weekly Monday Morning eBriefing and various conferences, meetings, website and educational offerings throughout the year.