New Education Director Joins NCBFAA’s Washington, DC Staff

Washington, DC: National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA) Officer and Education Chair Darrell Sekin announced today that Cynthia Allen, has been selected as the NCBFAA’s new Education Director.As Education Director, Ms. Allen is tasked with, among other things, overseeing the NCBFAA Educational Institute (NEI) department, marketing its certifications programs, developing educational outreach and ensuring that the Association meets its education and professional development goals.
        “It is a tribute to the growing influence and importance of the NCBFAA that it is able to attract such a talented and motivated individual as Cindy to undertake management of this critical aspect of the NCBFAA’s overall mission of service to the logistics community,” said Ms. Reilly, Executive Vice President of the NCBFAA. “Her extensive industry experience brings an entirely new insight to the position that will enhance the value of the products we are able to deliver to our students and other clients, “added Mr. Sekin.
        Ms. Allen was formally Vice President of Corporate International Customs and Director of Compliance, Argents Air Express, Ltd. She received her Customs Broker License in 1990 and is a Certified Customs Specialist through the NCBFAA with expertise in customs technology integration and the Food and Drug Administration’s Bio-Terrorism Act. She is actively involved with numerous trade groups and is currently President of the Detroit Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association and Trade Co-Chair of the Release Sub-Committee for CBP’s Trade Support Network (TSN). Recently, she was appointed to the Automation Sub-Committee Chair of the NCBFAA Customs Committee.
       “As this position very closely mirrors the passion that I have for training, outreach, and education within the brokerage industry overall, it is the perfect fit for me,” she said of her new role as Education Director.
        With 20 years of customs experience on the Canadian-US border as well as in the air and ocean environment as both freight forwarder and customs broker, she has a unique perspective on the current changes that are taking place in the international trade arena. At Argents she had oversight of both Import and Export Compliance for the company. 
        “I look forward to continuing to work with everyone in my new capacity as the NCBFAA Educational Institute Director, as I continue to represent the NCBFAA at the TSN, and as the NCBFAA Automation Chair,” she said. “I expect that my industry involvement will continue to increase as I integrate my industry experience in the NEI and its offerings.”
        Headquartered in Washington, DC, the NCBFAA represents nearly 800 member companies with 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 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 meetings and conferences throughout the year. 

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