Export Compliance Solutions Instructors
Suzanne Palmer
Paul Lasko
Patricia Dudley
Edie Bretz
John Pisa-Relli
Susan Clark
Matthew McGrath
Ginger Carney
Suzanne Palmer, President, Export Compliance Solutions
Suzanne Palmer founded Export Compliance Solutions LLC (ECS) after 15 years of experience in the State Department followed by five years of hands-on import and export work in the defense industry sector. The company is well-known for its training academy that was developed to assist the defense industry in their understanding of the very complex maze of federal regulations that controls exports and imports administered by the Departments of State and Commerce. Ms. Palmer served on the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) and was appointed by State/DDTC as a Special Compliance Official (SCO) to a local defense company.
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 export audits, 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:
- Bureau of Non Proliferation where she played a central role in the establishment of the NATO WMD Center and contributed regularly to substantive debate on critical proliferation problems within the NATO Senior Political-Military Group on Proliferation.
- Arms Control & Disarmament Agency (ACDA) where she worked on conventional arms control, nonproliferation of missiles and weapons of mass destruction and regional arms control.
- Office of Defense Trade Controls (ODTC) where she oversaw licensing for various commodities.
- Office of Defense Trade Policy where she contributed to the ITAR USML review, drafted policy papers for the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) and assisted in the formulation of defense trade policy toward the former Soviet Union.
Ms. Palmer holds two Bachelor’s degrees from Mary Washington College in International Studies 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. Suzanne is married to Scott Miller and they have two children, four animals and a couple of boats. 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 State’s, 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. She is also an experienced auditor, public speaker and trainer.
Ms. Dudley’s 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 DTC’s 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 work for Intelsat, the world’s 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 Intelsat’s primary liaison to the U.S. Government’s 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. Ms. Dudley lives in Fairfax, Virginia with her husband, Rich, and their three boys
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.
Susan Clark started her career with the U.S. export control system in 1969 when she began her government career with the Department of Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, concentrating on the Foreign Military Sales Program. In the early 70’s she worked for Navy International Program Office, then a four person operation, and had oversight of all Department of Commerce cases.
After a tour in Germany with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, she returned in 1989 to the U.S. and joined the Department of State, Office of Munitions Control. Over the next ten years she became a senior analyst acquiring expertise in all USML categories. Senior State Department officials, Congressional staffers and foreign government officials as well as the defense industry representatives relied heavily upon her expertise.
Ms. Clark joined the Department of Defense, Defense Technology Security Administration in 1999. For nearly two years, she adjudicated all export compliance cases reviewed by DoD. Ms. Clark returned to State Department in March 2001, where she became Division Chief for Night Vision, Vehicles & Vessels. At that time, she created and oversaw a management program for all Operation Enduring Freedom exports. Shortly thereafter she was selected as Special Advisor for the Director under the Defense Technology Security Initivitive (DTSI). Although this government initiative was short lived due to requirements levied on defense companies, several aircraft programs benefited from her extensive expertise in the creation of the Joint Strike Fighter Global Project Authorization and the European Fighter Multiple Program Authorization. Ms. Clark also authored the largest Brokering Authorization --the British Air Tanker Program.
During the major reorganization of the Office of Defense Trade Controls to a Directorate, Ms. Clark was reassigned to the Office of Compliance as Deputy Director. Initially, she used her managerial skills to structure and implement new office procedures and hiring of staff. She travelled extensively to U.S. and foreign defense industry and government locations to create and implement compliance programs. She worked closely with U.S. defense attorneys as an expert witness involving AECA export violations.
Due to extensive growth in the caseload of the Office of Licensing, in 2005 Ms. Clark was relocated as Deputy Director of Licensing. In 2006 she became Acting Director of Licensing and in the fall, was selected Director of Licensing. Due to personal reasons she resigned as Director and in 2010 retired from federal government service.
Ms. Clark lives in National Harbor, Md and enjoys her three grandchildren who live in nearby Virginia.
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.
Ginger Carney is well-versed in practical application of the ITAR and assists clients in all aspects of establishing and managing an export compliance program. She has managed export compliance programs at Varian Associates, Watkins-Johnson Company, McDonnell Douglas (acquired by Boeing in 1997), Smiths Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems. These positions included experience at UK-owned companies, and responsibility for export compliance audit and training programs at the corporate level. Prior to opening her own business, Ginger was the Director Export Compliance at the Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium (NCOIC®).
Ginger began her export compliance career at the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA) when it was created in 1983. In 1987, she left government service and continued her export licensing and compliance career in the private sector.
Ginger actively participates on committees and trade group associations. She has been an active member of the Defense Trade Advisory Group since 2005. She served on the Board of Directors of the Society for International Affairs (SIA) for eight years, culminating her service as President. She continues to be an active SIA volunteer, and has participated on the International Council for the Aircraft Industries Association.
Ginger lives and works from her home office in Bend, Oregon.