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Brought to you by Export Navigator, Doing Business in the USA (DBUSA) is a seminar dedicated to helping Canadian business owners enter the American market. One of Surrey's greatest trade assets is its proximity to the US border. However, crossing borders with commercial goods face ever-changing complexities and regulations. Gain access to a panel of carefully selected local Immigration and Cross-Border Lawyers, Tax Specialists, Customs Brokers, and Logistics Professionals. Don’t miss out on this interactive seminar if you want to ensure a foolproof US market access strategy.
Speakers and agenda below.
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Learn from our panel from Cascadia Cross-Border Law, Law Offices of Gene Moses, MNP, and PCB Global Trade Management. Whether opening a storefront with a US address or partnering with a distribution center for your eCommerce activity, our seasoned panel will help you determine your export strategy and understand your responsibilities with local and federal government agencies.
Small to medium-sized business owners who attend this event will learn:
• Optimal Structure For US Presence
• Cost-Effective Logistics And Distribution Channels
• Responsibility For Federal And State Tax
• What Is Considered "Working" In The US
• US Consumer Purchasing Behavior
• Canadian Export Requirements And US Import Compliance
• Investment and Free Trade Agreement Opportunities
9:00am to 9:30am
Networking breakfast
9:30am to 9:35am
Introduction
Chelsea Sang, Regional Manager, Export Navigator
9:35am to 9:50am
About Export Navigator
Linda Adimora, Export Advisor for Vancouver Lower Mainland, Export Navigator
9:50am to 10:20am
How to Access Immigration in the US
Heather Fathali, Attorney at Law, Cascadia Cross-Border Law
10:20am to 10:50am
How to Form Legal Entities: Structure, Formation and Compliance
Gene Moses, Founder and Principal, The Law Offices of Gene Moses P.S.
10:50am to 11:00am
Break
11:00am to 11:30am
How to Expand to the US the Smart Way
Sid Rao, Partner, US Tax Services, MNP
11:30am to 11:45am
About FTAs and CUSMA
Hassan Kamalinejad, Senior Trade Policy Manager, Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation
11:45am to 12:45pm
Lunch
12:45pm to 1:15pm
How to Import Your Goods into the US
Breanna Leininger, Vice President, US Operations, PCB Global Trade Management
1:15pm to 1:45pm
How to Optimize Logistics Efforts
Alexandra Haukaas, General Manager, Freight Operations, PCB Global Trade Management
1:45pm to 3:00pm
Q&A
Chelsea is a highly relational leader experienced in business operations and global trade. Having several years of experience working at a national law firm, she developed fundamental expertise in marketing and business development. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to join her third-generation family business, an established Canadian seafood retailer, wholesaler and exporter. Leading their business development and operations, she successfully grew their business in both international and local markets. Passionate about helping others through mentorship and empowerment, she takes pride in working with a variety of stakeholders to promote and support Canadian goods and services on the world stage.
Based in Chilliwack BC, Linda has diverse experience working across African, European, and North American markets. She’s also been involved in a vast range of industries through her work in marketing, manufacturing, construction, e-commerce, distribution, and retail. Over the years, she’s experienced the highs and lows of bootstrapping your own business. From participating in BC farmers’ markets to establishing trade partnerships with major retailers in the US and launching a brick-and-mortar in Downtown Chilliwack, Linda is more than capable of growing a business. Linda is passionate about establishing export as a key growth strategy and is excited to help you start your own export journey.
Heather Fathali has practiced as a US immigration attorney with Cascadia Cross-Border Law in Bellingham, WA since 2014. Heather’s practice focuses primarily on employment-based US immigration, with a significant portion of her client base consisting of professionals, entrepreneurs, and persons of talent; as well as US citizenship and expatriation matters. She also dedicates a special area of her practice to the Jay Treaty and the unique rules pertaining to American Indians Born in Canada. Heather received her Juris Doctor degree from Seattle University School of Law, graduating summa cum laude.
Gene R. Moses is the founder and principal of the Law Office of Gene R. Moses P.S. located in Bellingham, Washington. Mr. Moses specializes in the formation and compliance of cross border business entities. The Law Office of Gene R. Moses P.S. has represented business entities throughout the world for nearly 50 years.
As a partner with MNP’s International Tax Services group, Sid specializes in helping high-net-worth individuals and Canadian businesses with US activities navigate the complexities of cross-border tax so they can concentrate on the things that make them successful. He draws on his legal background and exposure to accounting to deliver cross-border tax solutions tailored to clients’ unique situations.
Hassan Kamalinejad currently serves as a Senior Trade Policy Manager within the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation, government of British Columbia. In this role, Hassan is responsible for providing advice on trade policy matters, advocating the interests of British Columbia in trade negotiations, and promoting the advantages and opportunities stemming from free trade agreements for businesses and investors within the province. Hassan holds a PhD in Law from the University of Victoria and specializes in international trade and investment law.
With over two decades in the industry, Breanna has been at the forefront of customs clearances and compliance concerns for a full spectrum of commodities at all ports of entry and all modes of transportation. She has a Bachelors Degree in Communications, Bachelors Degree in Political Science & Government, is a Licensed Customs Broker as well as Certified Customs Specialist.
Alex Haukaas is a logistics professional who has been in the freight forwarding, NVOCC, and brokerage industries for nearly 20 years. Alex has worked in all transportation modes, with a strong background in project management and business development. She holds the both CIFFA and FITT designations and is the recipient of the 2022 Corporate/Leadership Award for the Surrey Board of Trade's Surrey Women in Business Awards.