FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deb Johnson (714) 316-5270

During its annual retreat, the Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association Board of Directors installed its newest members and elected its 2024 officers as follows:

Officers
President: Patty Tschaepe, J & K Fresh, LLC
Vice President: Mari Bermejo, A.N. Deringer, Inc.
Treasurer: Eng Szetho, Team Handling Services
Secretary: Rebecca Marek, Damco Customs Services, Inc.
Chair: Pat Vangtan, Western Overseas Corporation
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Directors
Barbie Clarke, Williams Clarke Company
David Harlow, ITC-Diligence International, Inc
Kris Lowery, KEET Logistics, Inc.
Kenneth Quartarolo, Empire Worldwide Logistics
Elvia Serrano, CH Robinson International
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Additionally, the Board appointed the following individuals as committee chairs:

Committee Chairs
Airport CBP – Mari Bermejo (Chair)
Forwarding & Logistics – Kenneth Quartarolo (Chair)
Legislative – Kris Lowery (Chair)
Marketing & Communications – Rebecca Marek (Chair)
Membership – Eng Szetho (Chair)
Participating Government Agencies – Barbie Clarke (Chair)
Programs & Education – David Harlow (Co-Chair), Elvia Serrano (Co-Chair)
Seaport Customs – Patty Tschaepe (Chair), Dan Meylor (Vice-Chair)

Left to right: Pat Vangtan, David Harlow, Elvia Serrano, Mari Bermejo, Patty Tschaepe, Rebecca Marek, Barbie Clarke, Eng Szetho, Kris Lowery

Incorporated in 1949, the Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association (LACBFFA) represents licensed U.S. customs brokers, freight forwarders, non-vessel operating common carriers, and firms facilitating international trade. The LACBFFA is the premier organization in Southern California for international trade and U.S. Customs issues, and its more than 300 members employ over 6,000 individuals and file more than 95% of all import entries in the Los Angeles Customs District.
LACBFFA members are the “boots-on-the-ground” in the international supply chain, working with the international trade community in expediting export and import shipments worldwide. They are specialists in proactively identifying potential challenges and developing contingency plans to minimize costs while increasing transit time predictability.
LACBFFA aims to achieve standardization in the industry and promotes a high degree of professional conduct among its members, including high standards of ethics and financial viability. LACBFFA provides leadership to its members in dealing with city, state, and federal agencies, as well as offering a forum for the exchange of ideas. LACBFFA acts as an authoritative voice for the industry at official and government levels.

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Special thanks to LACBFFA for providing this information.