Trending Topics with Customs Bonds and Compliance

Trending Topics with Customs Bonds and Compliance

Approved for 1 CCS/CES credit

Valuable insights to support your business and your importer clients.

In the world of customs brokerage, the only constant is change, and these fresh challenges always keep things interesting! Let’s get together and catch up on the issues that will help you successfully navigate the road ahead. Our expert presenters Colleen Clarke and Patrice Lafayette will conduct an in-depth webinar on Customs Bonds.

Speakers

Colleen Clarke is SVP of Surety Trade & Relations for Roanoke with 36 years of surety underwriting, claims and brokerage experience, and a specialization in transportation-related bonds. She held various roles throughout her career, including that of a customs claims adjuster, customs bond underwriter, division manager, marketing director and Vice President. Colleen has helped Roanoke maintain its position as the leading transportation/customs bond provider in the nation with her dedication to the industry.

Colleen’s experience and knowledge has assisted customs brokers, importers, insurance agents and Roanoke colleagues through various customs and transportation surety bond issues. Her expertise was acknowledged when she was appointed by the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Treasury to Customs & Border Protection’s Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC), serving four years from 2009-2012.

Colleen is a member of the American Association of Exporters & Importers Board of Governors and is the co-chair of their customs committee. She also participates in numerous trade associations and is the Roanoke liaison with the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association. She previously served on the Executive Committee of the Trade Support Network’s Trade Leadership Council and, as a current member of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation’s private sector working group, collaborates to promote the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement. Colleen is past President of the International Trade Surety Association (ITSA) and currently leads the Customs Surety Coalition.

In addition, Colleen supports the Roanoke service teams with updates to processes, procedures or communications affecting clients. She is also the relationship manager on several large national bond accounts, and maintains a Certified Customs Specialist designation and insurance broker license.

Patrice Lafayette began her career at Roanoke Insurance Group in 2007 in the Western Division Bond department and has held various positions, including managing both the west coast bond team and west coast sales team, until becoming Regional Vice President, in November 2023.  She has over 20 years of insurance and financial services experience with the last 17 years focused on the international trade community.  Patrice is responsible for managing both our Los Angeles and San Francisco offices with an emphasis on service and quality to provide a competitive edge.  Patrice also manages high-profile clients and brings invaluable expertise in cultivating and managing client relations and helping to determine where coverage gaps may exist and how to address them.  

Known for her insurance and international trade experience, Patrice is a well-respected advisor on risk management of insurance and bonds for the international trade community.  She frequently speaks at various local and national transportation association conferences, as well as conducts training workshops to help keep clients and the industry at large informed on the various changes taking place in logistics and transportation and the solutions available to respond to these changes.

Prior to joining Roanoke, Patrice worked for Underhill Insurance Agency in Woodland Hills, CA, gaining knowledge and expertise in Business and personal lines Insurance as well as life and health insurance.  Underhill Insurance is a family owned business that has been in operations for almost 70 years.

Patrice is a licensed insurance broker in both Property and Casualty and Life and Health in 12 states, and a graduate of California State University, Northridge where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Foreign Trade Association (FTA) and is also an active participant in numerous other West Coast trade associations.  She is a past board member of Women in International Trade Orange County.

Established in 1935, Roanoke was the first company in the United States to serve the needs of customs brokers and their clients.  Our mission has always been – and continues to be – to se the industry standard in delivering quality insurance, surety and risk management services to those businesses involved in importing, exporting or transporting goods.

Roanoke is a subsidiary of Munich Re, one of the top 10 commercial insurers and one of the top 100 largest companies worldwide.  We are also and affiliate of the Munich Re Syndicate, Ltd., the leading syndicate underwriting transportation risks of Lloyd’s of London.

Please note – your confirmation email will contain a link to register for this GoToWebinar.

Please do not share the log-in information. Only the first registered entry will be admitted to the webinar. Please contact info@lacbffa.org if you need assistance signing up multiple attendees.

Cancellation and Refund Policy
Written cancellations 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 cancellation notice is received later than seven (7) days before the event, or for no-show registrants.