NCBFAA Customs Committee Spotlight: 2025 Challenges, 2026 Opportunities & The Power of Community

Lalo Solorzano

Sandra (Sandy) Coty — Customs Committee Co-Chair

LinkedIn

Mary Jo Muoio — Chair Emeritus

LinkedIn

Ralph De La Rosa — Customs Committee Co-Chair

LinkedIn

Lenny Feldman — Customs Committee Counsel

LinkedIn

December 3, 2025

Approx. 44 min.

Global Training Center — Website

In this special collaborative episode with the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), Simply Trade highlights one of the organization’s most active and influential groups: the Customs Committee.

Host Lalo Solorzano is joined by committee co-chairs Sandy Coty and Ralph De La Rosa, alongside Mary Jo Muoio (Chair Emeritus) and counsel Lenny Feldman. Together, they unpack a highly dynamic 2025 driven by court cases, tariff unpredictability, modernization initiatives, and the ever-increasing complexity of trade policy.

This episode reveals what the Customs Committee does, how it supports the entire brokerage community, and why their work is essential for businesses of all sizes. From interpreting executive orders, to producing toolkits, to being the “eye of the storm” during regulatory upheaval — this group ensures brokers stay informed, compliant, and ready for whatever comes next.

The guests also look ahead to 2026, sharing expectations around tariff changes, new trade “deals,” evolving technology, and the crucial role of customs brokers as the industry continues to transform.

The committee’s primary mission is to provide clarity for NCBFAA members on anything related to CBP, trade policy, or customs requirements. This includes:

Webinars, toolkits, and e-briefings

Monday morning updates (now almost daily due to rapid change)

Direct member support for complex questions

Coordinated outreach to CBP, Treasury, USTR, and other agencies

Flowcharts, FAQs, and practical guides to help brokers execute requirements accurately

The group acts as a force multiplier, ensuring that one broker’s question becomes clarity for all.

Sandy highlights several “first downs” toward long-sought industry improvements:

Revenue modernization progress tied to the federal executive order

Duty payment flexibility, including paying duties at any port in certain situations

10-day extensions for trade remedy-related entry rejections

Improved ACE reports, including inbound, AD/CVD certifications, and low-hanging but highly useful enhancements

Ralph notes additional recognition for NCBFAA this year:

Sandy and another committee member were appointed to COAC

CBP is increasingly seeking NCBFAA’s input due to the committee’s credibility and expertise

Mary Jo emphasizes the committee’s role as a stabilizing force:

They provide institutional knowledge during times that feel overwhelming

They help members understand complex topics like tariff stacking, enforcement spikes, and Supreme Court review scenarios

They translate shifting rules into actionable guidance

They ensure that small brokers have the same insight as large brokers

The committee helps the industry “act like we’ve been here before,” even when the environment is unprecedented.

Lenny breaks down what’s at stake:

Whether Section 301/IEEPA tariffs remain valid

Whether tariff authority is properly delegated

Whether changes will apply prospectively or retroactively

How brokers should handle refunds, protests, or revenue collection depending on outcomes

His analogy:

Regardless of the ruling, the committee will deliver:

Updated tools

New flowcharts

Best-practice guidance

Member education sessions

A recurring theme: NCBFAA levels the playing field.

Ralph shares examples:

The AD/CVD certification toolkit

Harp/Nice Harmonized Tariff Schedule sequencing toolkit

Penalty and liquidated damages working groups

Center of Excellence and Expertise outreach calls

Direct lines of communication to CBP

A small broker becomes instantly connected to subject-matter experts, best practices, and national discussions — a major competitive advantage.

Panelists expect:

New forms of tariff collection

Faster, deal-based trade agreements

Increased use of AI and machine learning in compliance and enforcement

More de minimis-related shifts into formal/informal entry channels

Technology-driven expectations for brokers

Greater pressure on revenue collection

Higher need for accurate guidance, FAQs, and toolkits

The brokerage role continues evolving — from “customs house broker” to customs concierge.

NCBFAA’s Customs Committee is an unmatched resource for practical, real-world customs compliance guidance.

Even small brokers gain expert-level insight and decision support by being part of the community.

The association provides stability during rapid regulatory change.

The industry will continue evolving quickly — and NCBFAA helps members stay ahead, not behind.

Involvement (even at the local level) returns far more value than it requires.

Brokers, attorneys, carriers, and service providers all benefit from engagement.

All references below include embedded official links.

NCBFAA — ncbfaa.org

NCBFAA Customs Committee — via membership resources

COAC (CBP Advisory Committee) — CBP COAC Page

U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) — cbp.gov

U.S. Treasury Department — home.treasury.gov

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) — ustr.gov

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — dhs.gov

Department of Commerce — commerce.gov

IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) — Congress.gov Overview

Section 301 / Trade Remedies — USTR 301 Overview

Tariff Schedules (HTSUS) — HTS Search

ACE Reporting — CBP ACE Portal

AD/CVD (Antidumping & Countervailing Duties) — CBP AD/CVD Info

De Minimis / Section 321 — CBP Section 321

Federal Register Notices — federalregister.gov

Forced Labor Enforcement — CBP Forced Labor

AI in Trade Modernization — CBP Innovation Initiatives via CBP Trade Newsroom

Host:

Guests:

Sandra (Sandy) Coty — LinkedIn

Mary Jo Muoio — LinkedIn

Ralph De La Rosa — LinkedIn

Lenny Feldman — LinkedIn

Presented by:

YouTube: Simply Trade Channel

Spotify: Listen on Spotify

Apple Podcasts: Listen on Apple Podcasts

Trade Geeks Community: Join Here

In this kickoff to Series 4, Renee Chiuchiarelli and Julie Parks dive into one of the toughest parts of any trade or corporate role: difficult conversations. Whether it’s salary discussions, performance feedback, non-compliance discoveries, or delivering perceived “bad news,” Renee and Julie break down why these conversations feel hard — and more importantly — how to approach them with clarity, preparation, and confidence.

They outline:

What qualifies as a difficult conversation

How to prepare before you engage

How to choose the right words

How to use the Likes, Concerns, Suggestions (LCS) method to keep communication constructive and forward-moving

This is a practical, relatable episode with real-world scenarios from their careers — perfect for trade pros, team leads, new managers, and anyone navigating delicate workplace interactions.

Difficult conversations come in many forms: salary topics, performance discussions, non-compliance findings, and more.

Preparation matters: scripting, writing things down, framing the discussion, and thinking through tone can make or break the delivery.

Recapping the context is essential — your version of events may not match the receiver’s.

Anticipate their questions: put yourself in the other person’s shoes before you meet.

Use the LCS method: Likes → Concerns → Suggestions to structure discussions in a constructive, repeatable way.

Follow-up is crucial: especially if the first contact was via email — close it with a conversation.

Use the LCS Framework (Likes, Concerns, Suggestions) to keep hard conversations clear, structured, and less emotionally charged.

Practice using LCS this week — at work, at home, with your team, anywhere.

Join the discussion in the Trade Geeks community and share:

What difficult conversations you’re navigating

Whether you tried the LCS approach

What worked and what still feels challenging

We’re building these series so you don’t have to figure this out alone — come learn with us.

Renee Chiuchiarelli

Julie Parks

Lalo Solorzano

New TIPS episodes every Tuesday

Presented by:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

YouTube

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Trade Geeks Community

Email us at [email protected]

Hosts: Annik Sobing ([email protected] | LinkedIn)

Guest: Natalie Zink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliezink/

Producer: Annik Sobing 

Length: ~15 minutes

Presented by: Global Training Center

Episode Overview

In this episode of Simply Trade Roundup, host Annik Sobing interviews Natalie Zink, an experienced trade attorney and thought leader, about her journey in trade compliance education and why ongoing learning in this field is essential. Natalie discusses taking courses at Global Training Center and gaining practical insights into the daily challenges faced by in-house trade compliance teams. The conversation highlights key trade compliance pillars—tariff classification, country of origin, and valuation—and how a deeper understanding helps attorneys and professionals provide better business and legal advice. They also explore current issues like the upcoming IEPA Supreme Court decision and the critical role of thorough documentation in an evolving enforcement landscape.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

The importance of continuous education for trade compliance professionals and attorneys alike

Practical insights into how in-house compliance teams operate day-to-day

The three pillars of import compliance and why they matter: tariff classification, origin, and valuation

How collaboration between brokers, in-house teams, and legal counsel improves risk management

Upcoming regulatory challenges, including pending Supreme Court cases affecting tariffs under IEPA

The critical necessity of documenting import decisions to meet reasonable care standards and prepare for potential audits or enforcement actions

New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

Presented by Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals.

Connect with us:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

YouTube

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Trade Geeks Community

Email us at [email protected]

Episode: Thanksgiving Special 2025

Shannon Hynds, Co-Founder of QuickCode

This week, Andy and Lalo bring you a fun, festive, and surprisingly educational Thanksgiving special! They’re joined by long-time friends of the show, Shannon Hynds and Joe Morales from QuickCode, who accepted Lalo’s challenge to “classify Thanksgiving.”

From running shoes for the Turkey Trot, to football gear, to pasta anti-dumping surprises, and even a frozen turkey for bowling (yes, seriously!), Shannon gives a behind-the-scenes walkthrough of how QuickCode uses AI to classify everyday Thanksgiving items — and how the complex tariff environment impacts the cost of your holiday table.

This episode blends trade geekery with holiday traditions, showing how tariffs, food origins, USMCA benefits, anti-dumping cases, and even forced labor considerations affect the simplest things… like cinnamon. Viewers get an on-screen demo of QuickCode’s classification tools, tariff calculations, sourcing decisions, and bill-of-materials logic — so we recommend watching this episode on YouTube!

Funny, insightful, and packed with practical examples, this Thanksgiving edition is a refreshing break from the usual policy-heavy episodes.

Holiday items are full of tariff surprises — from sneakers to pasta to canned fruit.

Anti-dumping cases can hit unexpected products, like Italian pasta (Barilla at 19%!).

IEEPA and 301 tariffs dramatically change sourcing strategies, even for food.

USMCA benefits can wipe out tariffs for products like Topo Chico and tequila.

QuickCode's AI-driven workflow simplifies classification but still requires human judgment for 10-digit HTS codes.

Forced labor and denied party screening are becoming essential parts of import compliance.

Frozen turkey bowling is a terrible but hilarious classification challenge.

Nike Air Max running shoes (China) → Sneaker tariffs stack up to 47.5%

Football for backyard games → Rates vary widely depending on origin

Italian pasta (Barilla) → Anti-dumping shocker: 19%

Canned pineapple (Brazil) → Eligible for agricultural exemption on IEEPA

Cinnamon → Most sourced from Indonesia

Ranch Water components (Tequila, mineral water, limes) → USMCA to the rescue

Tamales → A surprisingly complex classification

Frozen turkey for bowling → Novelty sports equipment??? (Maybe.)

QuickCode – Trade classification and compliance automation

Shannon Hynds (LinkedIn)

Joe Morales (LinkedIn)

U.S. Customs & Border Protection – HTSUS

Presented by: Global Training Center

Shannon Hynds, Co-Founder of QuickCode – LinkedIn

Joe Morales, Co-Founder of QuickCode – LinkedIn

Producer: Lalo Solorzano

Stay connected with the Simply Trade community!

LinkedIn – Global Training Center

LinkedIn – Cindy Allen

YouTube – Simply Trade Podcast

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Trade Geeks Community

NCBFAA Transportation Committee Spotlight: 2025 Wins, 2026 Priorities & Industry Insights

Host: Lalo Solorzano

Guest(s):

Published: November 26, 2026

Length: ~ 44 min.

Presented by: Global Training Center — globaltrainingcenter.com

In this special collaboration with the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), Simply Trade launches a multi-episode series highlighting the critical work of NCBFAA committees. This episode features the Transportation Committee, covering NVOCC activity, export compliance, air freight, logistics, and the evolving regulatory landscape.

Host Lalo Solorzano speaks with committee chair Kim Calicott, along with subcommittee leaders Rich Roche (NVOCC) and Donna Kavanaugh (Export Compliance). The group breaks down the major wins and challenges of 2025, key regulatory shifts, and what members should expect heading into 2026.

Kim explains the structure of the Transportation Committee and its four subcommittees:

NVOCC Subcommittee (Rich Roche): Guidance on OSRA, FMC rulemaking, D&D billing, “clear as mud” interpretations, and a forthcoming NVOCC Best Practices Working Group.

Export Compliance Subcommittee (Donna Kavanaugh): Monitoring regulatory activity from BIS, OFAC, Census, CBP, and DDTC while educating members on practical impacts.

Air Freight Subcommittee (Donna Mullins): Infrastructure modernization efforts, partnership with the Airforwarders Association (AFA), and involvement in a GAO study on air cargo facility conditions.

Logistics Committee: Watching driver shortages, truck/equipment tariff impacts, Electronic Export Manifest (EEM) development, and alignment with international systems like ICS2.

Highlights include:

FMC’s D&D Final Rule implementation and the section struck down by the courts.

BIS tightening China-related controls and reevaluating rules inherited from prior administrations.

Pause on the significant Affiliates Rule, which may reemerge in 2026.

Changing rules related to firearms, AI, and Syria sanctions.

“Clear as mud” advisory responses from FMC’s General Counsel.

NCBFAA’s early engagement with agencies prevents harmful regulatory outcomes—such as removing unintended burdens on NVOCCs in OSRA’s original wording.

Both Kim and Donna stress:

No one starts out knowing everything

Every question matters

Committee involvement accelerates growth and strengthens the industry

The association thrives on collaboration across company size, mode, and experience level

Key upcoming items include:

Launch of the NVOCC Best Practices Working Group

Ongoing work on EEM and air cargo modernization

BIS rule reviews after the Affiliates Rule pause

Continued focus on driver shortages and equipment tariffs

NVOCC Day 2026 in New Orleans on January 22

NCBFAA membership is valuable for all trade professionals—brokers, forwarders, logistics providers, and affiliates.

Exporting remains highly regulated and rapidly evolving—missteps can be significant.

Committee participation is one of the most impactful ways to deepen knowledge and support industry-wide improvements.

Agencies are shifting priorities quickly; staying informed is essential.

Here are all referenced agencies, programs, and industry groups with embedded official links:

NCBFAA — ncbfaa.org

Airforwarders Association (AFA) — airforwarders.org

Government Accountability Office (GAO) — gao.gov

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) — fmc.gov

Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) — bis.doc.gov

Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) — home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/ofac

U.S. Census Bureau (AES/Exports) — census.gov/foreign-trade/aes

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — cbp.gov

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) — tsa.gov

Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC / ITAR) — pmddtc.state.gov

OSRA – Ocean Shipping Reform Act — FMC OSRA Overview

Demerage & Detention (D&D) Final Rule — FMC Rulemaking

Electronic Export Manifest (EEM) — CBP EEM Information

ICS2 – EU Import Control System 2 — European Commission ICS2

Host:

Guests:

Kim Calicott — LinkedIn

Rich Roche — LinkedIn

Donna Kavanaugh — LinkedIn

Presented by:

YouTube: Simply Trade Channel

Spotify: Simply Trade on Spotify

Apple Podcasts: Simply Trade on Apple Podcasts

Trade Geeks Community: Join Trade Geeks

Hosts: Renee Chiuchiarelli & Julie Parks

In this final installment of the Managing a Project series, Renee and Julie close things out with one of the most overlooked — yet most impactful — phases of any project: Taking a Lap.

Whether your project was large and complex or small and focused, how you wrap it up matters. Today’s tips center on:

The moment a project wraps is the moment to pause and recognize the people who made it possible. Renee and Julie break down practical ways to shine a spotlight on contributors, including:

Recognition emails (even ghostwritten for leaders)

Monetary or non-monetary awards

Shout-outs in staff meetings

Company swag

Sharing stories and standout moments

Formal celebration moments — both virtual and in person

Celebration isn’t superficial — it drives morale, retention, engagement, and team culture.

Once the recognition is done, it’s time for reflection:

What worked really well?

What slowed things down?

What would you do differently next time?

What should future teams know before they repeat the process?

Documenting lessons learned helps the next phase, the next project, or even the next team hit the ground running — and ensures knowledge doesn't disappear due to turnover or time.

Renee and Julie remind listeners that “projects” aren’t just software implementations or multi-month changes.

A compliance issue that took months to resolve? That's a project.

Broker management improvements? A project.

Process enhancements? Also a project.

And all of them deserve:

Practice celebrating.

Call it out

Share it upward

Tell the story

Recognize the impact

Spread it broadly so leadership sees your team’s value

Then hop over to the Trade Geeks Community and share your celebration moment!

Join the discussion inside the Trade Geeks community!

Continue the conversation here: Trade Geeks Community

Hosts:

Producer: Lalo Solorzano

New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

Presented by:

Connect With Us:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@SimplyTradePod?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/09m199JO6fuNumbcrHTkGq?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/simply-trade/id1640329690?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

Trade Geeks Community — https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/portal/?utm_source=SimplyTradePodcast

💬 Don’t forget to rate, review & share with your fellow trade geeks!

Want to Be on the Show or Have Topic Suggestions?

📧 [email protected]

Hosts: Anik Sobing ([email protected] | LinkedIn)

LinkedIn & Email Contacts:

Michelle Frennier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellefrennier/ | [email protected]

Bonnie Gutz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniegutz/ | [email protected]

Benita Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benitalee1/ | [email protected]

Kyle Grobler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylegrobler/ | [email protected]

Episode Overview

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Work-Life Balance Strategies

How to establish and communicate personal boundaries in a constantly evolving trade environment

Handling family priorities alongside trade demands with examples from different regions

The role that flexibility and clear leadership play in reducing stress at work

Leadership and Team Management Over Holidays

Approaches to distributing work and managing important deadlines during peak seasons

Why good communication and delegation are essential for team wellbeing

The impact of leadership style on team morale

Personal Well-being and Community

Tips for staying physically and mentally healthy, including holiday fitness challenges

The value of trade community connections, virtual book clubs, and shared resources

Encouragement for self-care and finding routines that support long-term resilience

Cultural and Holiday Trade Observances

Stories from the US, Canada, Ireland, and Europe about handling holiday schedules

How cultural attitudes toward work and time off affect trade operations

Preparing for and adapting to last-minute trade developments even during holidays

New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

Presented by Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals.

Connect with us:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

YouTube

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Trade Geeks Community

Email us at [email protected]

Host: Cindy Allen

This week on Simply Trade: Cindy’s Version, Cindy Allen unpacks a dramatic shift in global trade policy—one that touches everything from tariff reductions to new exemptions and unexpected reversals. Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Everything Has Changed, Cindy explains how seemingly overnight, the trade landscape has transformed in ways that directly impact importers, customs brokers, and compliance professionals.

From significant tariff rollbacks for China and Europe to new carve-outs for select products, Cindy walks through the week’s biggest developments and breaks down what’s real, what’s promised, and what’s still uncertain. In a moment where policies shift faster than supply chains can adapt, this episode brings clarity to the change—and perspective to the pace of it all.

• The administration announces a 10% reduction in tariffs on Chinese goods, including items previously subject to Section 301 duties

• China signals cooperation by easing rare earth export controls and increasing U.S. agricultural imports

Cindy highlights how quickly and massively the trade environment has shifted in just a few days. Overnight tariff reductions require importers to revisit landed costs, adjust contracts, notify customers, and reevaluate sourcing strategies. Customs brokers must reconfigure systems, classification profiles, and compliance workflows while fielding urgent questions from clients looking for immediate clarity. And with refund policy still unknown, teams must prepare for multiple scenarios, even as new developments continue to unfold. The cumulative effect: everything truly feels like it changed all at once.

• Tariff reductions could significantly cut duties for many importers

• Global Training Center

Host:

Producer:

New episodes every Friday.

Presented by Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals.

Connect with us:

Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with your fellow trade geeks!

Episode: #394

In this in-depth roundtable discussion, Andy and Lalo welcome back Eric Hargraves, a listener favorite and trade policy expert known for breaking down complex issues with clarity. This episode tackles one of the hottest topics in global trade: the future of tariffs, IEEPA, and how the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision could reshape U.S. trade policy.

Eric shares his early analysis of the recent Supreme Court oral arguments on the use of IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) to impose broad, country-wide tariffs—an approach now under scrutiny. Together, they explore whether the U.S. is shifting away from country-of-origin-based tariffs toward sector-based or product-based tariff frameworks, and what that means for importers, exporters, and manufacturers.

They also take a historical walk through Section 232 and 301, discuss China’s role in the global supply chain, unpack forced labor concerns, and examine how trade policy is being used not just as an economic tool—but a geopolitical one.

If your business relies on global sourcing, supply chain planning, cost modeling, or tariff strategy, this is a must-listen episode that cuts through political noise and focuses on operational reality.

Why the Court is skeptical about using IEEPA for broad tariff actions

Clarifying the difference between regulating importation and imposing de facto taxes

What a ruling against IEEPA tariffs could trigger

Eric outlines an emerging pattern:

More Section 232 investigations (steel, aluminum, copper, lumber, autos, medical devices, robotics)

More code-specific exclusions and carve-outs

More targeted vs. country-wide tariff strategies

The group revisits:

Post-WWII tariff negotiations and asymmetrical concessions

How China’s WTO accession reshaped global manufacturing

Forced labor issues (UFLPA) and global ethical responsibilities

Why bipartisan support exists for confronting unfair trade practices

Why 232 tariffs matter for:

Defense industrial base

Pharmaceuticals

Critical minerals

Rare earths

Robotics and advanced manufacturing

Andy and Eric also highlight how trade agreements with partners like Australia and Japan support de-risking supply chains.

Eric provides three practical action steps:

Map exposure & opportunities

Understand current tariffs vs. new exemptions/exclusions

Identify where sectoral shifts may affect your sourcing

Prepare for legacy frameworks to shift

USMCA review in 2026

New carve-outs in CAFTA-DR and other bilateral frameworks

Don’t pivot your supply chain based on rumors

Only respond to published Federal Register notices + CBP guidance

Model landed cost scenarios now to act quickly later

He also warns companies to anticipate supplier renegotiations if tariff burdens disappear—they may try to claw back FOB discounts.

Section 301 tariffs

Section 232 investigations

UFLPA (Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act)

WTO, GATT, and historical tariff frameworks

U.S. bilateral trade agreements and exemptions

Federal Register notices

CBP CSMS guidance

Series: Project Management (Episode 4)

In this fourth installment of the Project Management mini-series, Renee and Julie break down what happens after you've aligned stakeholders, gained approvals, and kicked off your trade compliance project.

This episode focuses on the real work — running the project, managing roadblocks, and keeping everything on track with structure, clarity, and communication.

Renee and Julie walk through four practical steps that successful project managers rely on, whether you're implementing trade software, managing a compliance program, or improving broker performance.

If you're involved in any ongoing project (big or small), this episode gives you a clear, repeatable framework that keeps tasks moving, risks controlled, and your team accountable.

Two types of meetings are essential:

Project Team Meetings: more frequent, tactical, working-level

Sponsor or Leadership Tag-Ups: higher-level updates, monthly/quarterly

These keep everyone informed, connected, and aligned.

A project without a plan… isn’t a project.

Microsoft Project

Excel (RAG status works great)

A shared issues log

Your issues log should track:

Item number

Description

Date opened

Responsible party

Date closed

Notes (timestamp each meeting)

The log keeps the team organized and accountable — without calling anyone out.

Projects evolve — and so do risks.

Track emerging risks

Flag issues for leadership

Prevent surprises during sponsor reviews

Every meeting should end with:

This creates a safe environment where team members feel heard, aligned, and empowered to raise real issues before they derail progress.

This week’s action:

Use Excel to track tasks, owners, dates, and notes. Send it out before and after each meeting.

Once you try it, share your results in the Trade Geeks Community!

Tell Renee and Julie how your issues log is working!

Hosts:

Renee Chiuchiarelli - LinkedIn

Julie Parks - LinkedIn

Producer:

Lalo Solorzano

New TIPS episodes every Tuesday.

Presented by Global Training Center — providing education, consulting, workshops, and compliance resources for trade professionals.

Connect with us:

Simply Trade Podcast on LinkedIn

Global Training Center on LinkedIn

YouTube

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Trade Geeks Community

Email us at [email protected]