Equal representation of females across the business and governmental worlds is a much-discussed topic at the moment. OWIT and its partners are particularly interested in female representation and leadership in the world of trade.
Join OWIT and CT Strategies as we discuss and examine gender equality in trade from the perspectives of three women who have lived it. Our panel will discuss why gender representation is crucial in the trade industry, the current state of women in customs and trade organizations, and how all of us (male and female) can help elevate women in the corporate or government world.
CINDY COVELL most recently served as the Executive Director, Regulatory Audit in the Office of International Trade, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As a Senior Executive, she provided executive leadership to 400 auditors and administrative personnel located in over twenty-five cities in the United States. Ms. Covell has over 32 years of auditing experience, 34 years of federal service, and 12 years in senior executive leadership.
She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Roanoke College, Cum Laude, and received a Masters in Public Administration from American University. Additionally, Ms. Covell is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and the Customs Leadership Institute at the Columbia University School of Executive Business Management.
LAURA ESCALANTE is a trade policy and trade facilitation expert with over thirteen years of international negotiation, border management and law optimization experience. She has worked on free trade agreements and multilateral and bilateral agreements, and has participated in and led trade negotiations with the United States, the European Union, China, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Peru and Colombia.
Mrs. Escalante has a graduate degree in International Relations from the National University of Costa Rica, and a Master's degree in International Law and Settlement of Disputes from the UN mandated University for Peace. She also attended the Mastering Trade Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School.
KELLEY SANABRIA is an experienced Customs official with expertise in international trade policy. During her time at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Ms. Sanabria advanced a variety of initiatives which sought to streamline the import/export system-notably the CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise (CEEs). Ms. Sanabria currently serves as CT Strategies' Chief Communications Advisor.
Ms. Sanabria received her Bachelor's Degree in International Affairs from Florida State University, continuing on to receive her Master's Degree from FSU in International Affairs with a focus on Economics, where she graduated with Distinction.