Suzanne Palmer
Paul Lasko
Patricia Dudley
Edie Bretz
John Pisa-Relli
William Lowell
Matthew McGrath
Dave Tarbell
Suzanne Palmer, President, Export Compliance Solutions
Suzanne Palmer, President, Export Compliance Solutions, has over 15 years experience with the State Department working on export related issues with 5 years in the defense industry interpreting and applying U.S. export control laws including licensing, training, and ITAR compliance. Ms. Palmer has conducted intensive training sessions both inside and outside the federal government and has intimate knowledge of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
Suzanne Palmer founded Export Compliance Solutions LLC (ECS) after 15 years in the State Department followed by five years of hands on import and export experience in the defense industry sector. The company assists a wide range of businesses in their understanding of the very complex maze of federal regulations controlling exports and imports administered by the Departments of State and Commerce.
Prior to founding the company, Ms. Palmer worked as Manager of Export Compliance for the Space Department at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. As Manager of Compliance, Ms Palmer performed all the export training for the Space Department Program Managers, created policy directives and procedures, participated in and conducted all follow-up for an export audit, classified products and technology, drafted and administered export licenses and agreements and acted as the U.S. Government liaison for the Space Department.
Previous to this position, Ms Palmer worked as the Export Manager for the Electronic Systems division of Northrop Grumman in Maryland. During her tenure, she witnessed the acquisition of Litton Corporation and managed the export activity of the existing and incoming business units. Export training, overseeing license transactions, ITAR exemption use and creating procedures for technical paper review were just a few of her responsibilities.
Before joining the defense industry, Ms. Palmer worked in the U.S. Department of State and served in a variety of positions:
Ms. Palmer holds two Bachelors degrees from Mary Washington College in International Affairs and French. She also earned a Masters degree from American University in International Affairs and has taken courses toward a Masters of Business Administration at Johns Hopkins University.
Ms Palmer is married to Scott Miller and they have two children, four animals and an old boat. They reside in Annapolis, MD.
Paul G. Lasko joined Westinghouse in 1985 following a 25-year career in the U. S. Navy. While in the U. S. Navy, Mr. Lasko served in the Republic of Vietnam as Second Coastal Zone Intelligence Officer; Executive Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence; and Commanding Officer of the Naval & Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center. Mr. Lasko served in the USSR as Assistant Naval and Air Attach. He was also a founder of the Atlantic Fleet Tactical Training Group. His afloat duties included surface ships and Carrier Group Staffs. He retired in 1985 with the rank of Captain. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Combat V, Defense and Naval Meritorious Service Medal, four Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star.
Upon joining Westinghouse in 1985, Mr. Lasko founded and subsequently managed the Westinghouse Technology Assessment Laboratory (TAL) that is responsible for assessing various technologies. Mr. Lasko received the George Westinghouse Signature Award for his leadership in establishing the TAL as a successful new business operation.
Mr. Lasko assumed duties as Oceanic Division International Marketing Manager in 1988. In 1993, Mr. Lasko was Oceanic Divisions recipient of the Presidents Quality Achievement Award for Management.
Mr. Lasko joined the Northrop Grumman Electronic Sensors and Systems International Company in 1996 as Manager, Ship Systems International where he provided strategic and marketing leadership to identify and win international naval Business. He retired in 1998 and formed The Lasko Corporation to provide management consulting services.
The Lasko Corporations contracts include providing strategic and tactical advice to a major defense contractor for an international Naval procurement; providing international business classroom instruction for the Universities of Baltimore and Maryland; and developing new business strategies for a Cambridge, Massachusetts technology company. In 2003, Mr. Lasko was elected to the Board of Directors of Maryland Technology Corporation where is a Senior Advisor.
Mr. Lasko graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in economics and received an MBA from Georgetown University.
Patricia Dudley has an extensive background in international trade controls and direct experience working with the U.S. foreign policy and national security establishment. With more than 14 years experience with the U.S. Department of State, serving three Secretary of States, and more than five years of hands-on experience in the satellite services and defense industry, Ms. Dudley possesses a unique combination of Government experience with practical application and implementation. Ms. Dudleys last assignment with the U.S. Department of State was as a licensing officer for the Office of Defense Trade Controls (now known as the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls or DDTC). There, Ms. Dudley averaged more than 350 cases a month, specializing in USML categories VIII, XI, XII and, at that time, was DTCs primary licensing officer for night vision. Ms. Dudley also provided training and guidance for new licensing officers and industry, and drafted decision memos and papers for the Assistant Secretary. Soon after her departure from the State Department, Ms. Dudley went to Intelsat, the worlds second largest satellite owner/operator. As Senior Manager, Export Compliance and Administration for Intelsat, Ms. Dudley was instrumental in transforming an intergovernmental organization to a private corporation with a state-of-the-art international trade compliance program. Her duties included effecting policies and procedures for export compliance, due diligence process for international agents, comprehensive Denied Party Screening System, training for more than 900 employees, and Intelsats primary liaison to the U.S. Governments executive agencies. Ms. Dudley is an experienced public speaker, presenting for groups ranging from 50 to 500 attendees, and is a member of several professional trade associations, including the Society for International Affairs and the National Council for International Trade and Development.
Yraida Bretz, better known as Edie, is Vice President of Priority One International, a US Customs Broker and Freight Forwarding company headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
Mrs. Bretz began her career with Priority One in 1989 as an import specialist, and from that time she has played a crucial role in the research and development of the companys international logistics and compliance programs. Edies knowledge in international trade goes well beyond the US border.
Mrs. Bretz and her husband, Paul Bretz, are the owners of Priority One International. It is their goal to provide a superior level of exceptional service in both freight forwarding and Customs brokerage far exceeding that of their competitors.
In order to stay abreast of the regulations affecting international trade, Edie regularly attends import and export seminars throughout the year such as SIA conferences, BIS Updates and workshops, and Customs seminars relating to the compliance of international trade.
John Pisa-Relli joined the Law Department of Thales North America, Inc. in September 2005 as Senior Counsel. Principally, he advises Thales Group affiliates on achieving effective compliance with U.S. export and trade controls, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, economic sanctions, antiboycott laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and Customs and import requirements.
Previously, John handled national security and international trade issues for the federal government and in private practice. In the government, he served with the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the State Department’s Office of Defense Trade Controls, and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Export Administration. In each agency, he managed a diverse portfolio of licensing, compliance, and enforcement matters, including compliance audits and civil penalty cases. In the Treasury Department, he investigated and designated for sanctions suspected front companies and agents for terrorist organizations and drug cartels, as well as parties involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
In private practice, John was senior counsel with Foley & Lardner LLP, and associated with Dickinson Landmeier LLP. In both firms, he audited corporate clients to evaluate export compliance, gave them day-to-day advice and periodic training, and represented their interests before the government. His private practice experience also includes white collar litigation, intellectual property, and general corporate compliance.
Admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and before the U.S. Court of International Trade, John is a frequent lecturer and panelist on export controls and global trade compliance.
William Lowell is Managing Director of Lowell Defense Trade, LLC, a national security consulting firm located in the Washington, D.C. area, providing assistance to the private sector and governments on strategic export controls and technology transfer matters.
Lowell was Director of the U.S. State Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls (November 1994-January 2003) and is also a former staff member of the U.S. Congress' Committee on International Relations (January 2003-December 2006).
During his career at State, Lowell held a number of management and senior staff positions, including with the offices of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, U.S. Special Envoy for the former Yugoslavia, and as Deputy Director of the Office of Advanced Technology. He led many delegations to international negotiations and conferences, and served as U.S. representative in the 1995-1996 negotiations establishing the Wassenaar Arrangement for export controls on conventional arms and dual use goods and technologies. Upon retiring from State in January 2003, Lowell received the Secretary of State's career achievement award.
Matthew J. McGrath counsels companies on export control matters, and also focuses on government contracts and international business transactions. He is experienced in the areas of export controls under the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (ITAR); Export Administration Regulations (EAR); Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations, and other related areas of law. He is a member of the technology working group (TWG) for the Militarily Critical Technologies Program (MCTP). Mr. McGrath is also experienced in foreign military sales; international commercial disputes; international finance programs for the Agency for International Development (AID), the Export-Import Bank, the World Bank, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency; and issues associated with U.S. and foreign government procurement.
Mr. McGrath is a frequent lecturer and commentator on the above topics. He authored articles and has spoken for such organizations as the Federal Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the National Contract Management Association, and private groups, such as the American Conference Institute and Federal Publications. Mr. McGrath has held committee chairmanships in the American Bar Association, as well as the Federal Bar Association.
Dave Tarbell currently manages Tarbell Trade Consulting which provides advice and representation to defense/aerospace and commercial clients on compliance with laws and regulations governing export controls, anti-bribery (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act), and sanctions and embargoes. Services include conducting compliance risk assessments, developing compliance programs, training, audits, enforcement advice and support, and policy assistance in interacting with government regulators.
Prior to starting Tarbell Trade Consulting, Dave was Director for International Trade & Compliance for ITT Corporation from March 2003 to May 2007. In this corporate position, he managed and coordinated international trade and export compliance programs and activities including export compliance, Customs/import compliance, anti-bribery compliance, anti-boycott compliance, and compliance with restrictions on trade with embargoed or sanctioned countries and entities.
Dave joined ITT corporation from the law firm of Vinson & Elkins, where he was a non-lawyer senior policy advisor providing advisory and representational services on a wide variety of international and security matters from 2001 to 2003.
From 1994 to 2001, Dave was Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Technology Security Policy and Director of the Defense Technology Security Administration in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense. He was responsible for establishing Department of Defense policies on export controls and foreign acquisitions of U.S. defense-related and advanced technology companies, and worked closely with interagency partners in the State, Commerce, and Treasury regulatory agencies.
Dave’s career began with the U.S. Government in 1979 as a Presidential Management Intern. Between 1979 and 1994, Dave held a number of positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and had two brief assignments on the White House National Security Council staff dealing with defense issues, international trade, foreign investment, and energy security issues. Dave’s broad experience included managing the 1990-91 Desert Storm program that collected $54 billion in non-U.S. government contributions and organizing the U.S. Government response to the oil fires in Kuwait set by Saddam Hussein.
He has a B.S. degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Masters degree in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Pennsylvania.