CTPAT Best Practices: Building Resilience in an Era of Increased Enforcement

CTPAT Best Practices: Building Resilience in an Era of Increased Enforcement

Adobe Connect

As U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues to strengthen supply chain security expectations and increase enforcement efforts, maintaining a robust Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program is more important than ever. This webinar will explore practical strategies for strengthening your CTPAT program, enhancing supply chain security, and preparing your organization to meet evolving compliance expectations.

This webinar is NEI-Accredited for 1 CCS/MCS or LCB Continuing Education Credit.

Speaker(s)

Carlos Martel

Carlos C. Martel is a customs, international trade, and border security executive with 30 years of experience leading trade operations, regulatory enforcement, cargo security programs, and border operations. He retired from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in October 2025 after a career that included 17 years in the Senior Executive Service. He now serves as President and Principal Consultant of Gateway Advisory Solutions.

During his CBP career, Carlos served as Director of Field Operations for the Miami/Tampa and Los Angeles Field Offices, overseeing CBP activities across major international airports, the nation’s busiest cruise ports, and the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex, which handles approximately 40 percent of all U.S.-bound containerized cargo. He led workforces of more than 3,100 employees in Florida and 2,000 employees in Southern California responsible for trade and passenger operations, import and export compliance, agriculture inspections, and enforcement activities.

As Director, Carlos led CBP operations supporting more than 16.5 million TEUs annually, established CBP’s first Air Centralized Examination Station at LAX, improving cargo examination productivity by 25 percent, and provided executive oversight for CBP’s Agriculture & Prepared Products and Electronics Centers of Excellence and Expertise.

Carlos previously served as Port Director for the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport and Los Angeles International Airport, where he led cargo security, trade compliance, passenger operations, and border enforcement at two of the nation’s busiest ports of entry. He managed daily operations at critical international gateways supporting global commerce and millions of travelers each year.

Throughout his career, Carlos worked with government leaders, industry executives, and international partners on trade, border security, and operational issues. He also served as FEMA Region IV Incident Commander, overseeing emergency management and continuity operations for CBP personnel and facilities across eight states and two U.S. territories.

Today, Carlos advises companies on CBP trade and travel requirements, port operations, regulatory compliance, CTPAT, infrastructure planning, and technology modernization. He helps organizations understand CBP processes and engage effectively with government partners.

Carlos is an honors graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Vincent Iacopella 

Vince Iacopella has dedicated over three decades to managing global customer relationships in Transpacific markets. His expertise lies in working with importers and exporters who are considered trade-sensitive by U.S. government agencies such as CBP (Customs and Border Protection) and other government agencies. Through regulatory collaboration with these agencies and engagement with global trade groups, Vince drives value to importers and exporters customers subject to regulatory oversight. Vince works with Alba’s team on strategic partnerships

His strategic focus extends to emerging market services, including e-commerce solutions, emerging sourcing strategies, supply chain de-risking tools and supply chain resiliency strategies. At Alba, Vince spearheads initiatives that enhance customer value through this approach. Notably, he served on the Customs Commercial Advisory Committee (COAC) from 2013 to 2018, where he played a pivotal role in shaping trade policies and practices, and served as CoChair of the COAC from 2018 to 2025.

Vince is a past President of the Los Angeles Customs Broker and Freight Forwarders Assoc and a past President of the Pacific Coast Council where he worked on trade initiatives such as a CBP modernization . Vince sits on the Advisory Board for the UCLA Anderson Forecast and the Board of Governors of the American Association of Exporter and Importers, advocating for best practices and fostering collaboration within the trade community. Vince is on the Board of the LA Chamber of Commerce

Vince is a licensed customs broker at heart. His contributions to the Southern California trade community earned him the prestigious Stanley T Olafson Award in 2020, bestowed by the LA Area Chamber of Commerce.

MODERATOR:

David Harlow

Cancelation and Refund Policy
Written cancelations will be accepted up to seven (7) days before the day of the event for a full refund. Please email your request to info@lacbffa.org. No refunds will be given if cancelation notice is received later than seven (7) days before the event, or for no-show registrants.