- Registration is Open
Copper Summit 2026
Trade Compliance Conference
As global trade continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, businesses are facing both unparalleled challenges and extraordinary opportunities. Join Copper Hill and industry leaders at Copper Summit 2026, the must-attend event for staying ahead in this dynamic landscape.
Open to both Copper Hill clients and other trade compliance professionals.
Event Details
When
September 14 - 16, 2026
Where
Saint John's Resort | Plymouth, MI
Registration
Registration is Open!
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What to expect from Copper Summit 2026.
Immerse yourself in cutting-edge strategies and deep-dive discussions on today’s most pressing trade compliance topics. Gain insights that uncover hidden savings, streamline your compliance operations, and drive measurable growth.
Network with top experts, connect with peers, and leave equipped with the tools to navigate the complexities of global trade with confidence and foresight. From practical solutions to forward-thinking innovation, Copper Summit 2026 delivers everything you need to future-proof your business and thrive in a changing world.
Earn 9 CCS/MCS &
LCB Credits
Network with
your peers
Learn from Global Trade Experts
Nightly
Events
Meet our Keynote Speakers.
Gary Vaynerchuk "GaryVee"
Serial entrepreneur, Chairman of VaynerX, and CEO of VaynerMedia.
Widely regarded as one of the leading global minds on future cultural and internet trends, Gary—known as “GaryVee”—is celebrated for his ability to spot early patterns that shape markets and consumer behavior.
An accomplished angel investor, his early-stage portfolio includes Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase, and Uber. Through VaynerMedia, his full-service global advertising agency, Gary helps Fortune 1000 brands build relevance across digital platforms, culture, and commerce. VaynerMedia operates within the VaynerX holding company, which includes VaynerProductions, Gallery Media Group, The Sasha Group, Tracer, VaynerSpeakers, VaynerTalent, and VaynerCommerce. Gary is also the co-founder of VaynerSports, Resy, and Empathy Wines, successfully leading Resy and Empathy to acquisitions by American Express and Constellation Brands.
Claude Silver
Claude Silver is VaynerMedia’s Chief Heart Officer, the capstone of a career focused on guiding client relationships, global brand strategies, operations, and management—and the author of the USA Today bestselling book Be Yourself at Work. An abiding passion for creating spaces in which people can thrive has defined her leadership positions at JWT London, Publicis London, SAYMedia, and Organic, among others.
Claude’s passion is facilitating growth and change in people, teams, and companies. She is dedicated to helping people find meaning in what they are doing and guiding colleagues in how to identify—and remove—roadblocks. Claude has a successful track record of hiring great talent and leading global teams of experts in solving complex client challenges with digital innovation, simplicity, and passion.
Brian Solis
Brian Solis is a globally recognized futurist and digital anthropologist who helps audiences make sense of the evolving digital landscape—and what it means for their business, markets, and future.
From generative AI and spatial computing to Web3, the metaverse, digital twins, and quantum computing, Brian humanizes emerging technologies to turn complexity into clarity and shift mindsets from overwhelmed to forward-looking.
Currently Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow and a special adviser to the United Nations’ global innovation team, he sets strategic direction and translates trends into actionable strategy.
Forbes heralded Brian as “one of the more creative and brilliant business minds of our time,” while ReadWrite named him a Top Futurist Speaker and ZDNet called him “one of the 21st century business world’s leading thinkers.” He is an eight-time, best-selling author (currently writing his ninth book) and the voice behind BrianSolis.com, followed by more than 800,000 people worldwide.
Frank Lavin
Frank Lavin is an author, business advisor, and public speaker, long active in U.S.-Asia policy, U.S. domestic politics, and trade policy matters. He previously served as a Fellow at the University of Southern California and as a Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
Lavin served as Under Secretary for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Bush (43) Administration. In that capacity, Lavin served as lead trade negotiator for both China and India and was responsible for commercial policy, export promotion, and trade negotiations across the globe. Lavin was previously U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, where he helped negotiate the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
2026 Schedule
Meal
Registration & Lunch
11:00 am
All-track Sessions
Opening remarks
12:45 PM
Claude Silver Keynote
1:15 PM
Designing High-Performance Trade
Compliance Programs
Through Hybrid
Automation & Expert Oversight
2:15 PM
Fundamentals Track
The Changing Face of CBP and Its Shifting Approach to Enforcement - Policy, Operations, and On-the-Ground Perspectives
3:15 PM
Hot Topics Track
EU–U.S. Trade Relations in a Shifting Global Landscape
3:15 PM
Technology Track
Emerging AI Trends in Global Trade
3:15 PM
Fundamentals Track
What Keeps Compliance Professionals Up at Night?
4:15 PM
Hot Topics Track
Supply Chain Due Diligence in Practice: Compliance, Controls, and Risk Management
4:15 PM
Technology Track
Best Practices in Foreign-Trade Zone Implementations
4:15 PM
All-track Sessions
Gary Vee Keynote Fireside Chat with Claude Silver
5:15 PM
Meal
Cocktail hour
6:00 PM
Dinner
7:00 PM
Activity
Networking: Euchre, Monday Night Football, & Putt Putt
8:00 PM
Meal
Breakfast
8:00 am
All-track Sessions
TBA
9:00 PM
Fundamentals Track
Is an FTZ Right for You? A Practical Guide to Feasibility and ROI
10:15 AM
Hot Topics Track
Trade Industry Discussion
10: 15 AM
Technology Track
The Most Common Implementation Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
10:15 AM
Fundamentals Track
Tariff and Trade Policy - Is There a Method to the Madness?
11:15 am
Hot Topics Track
USMCA - TBA
11:15 am
Technology Track
ACE and AI Nexus
11:15 am
Meal
Lunch
12:00 PM
All-track Sessions
Frank Lavin Keynote
1:00 PM
Hot Topics Tracks
Randy Rucker - Faegre Drinker
2:15 PM
Fundamentals Track
Top Down Enforcement: From the President to CBP and Everywhere in Between
3:15 PM
Hot Topics Track
Trade with Mexico: From Compliance to Competitive Advantage
3:15 PM
Technology Track
Roadmap of Copper Hill Solution Model
3:15 PM
All-track Sessions
Brian Solis Keynote
4:15 PM
Meal
Networking + Cocktail hour
5:15 PM
Dinner
6:00 PM
Activity
Casino night
7:00 PM
Meal
Breakfast
8:00 AM
All-track Sessions
Closing remarks
8:45 PM
Dr. Lee Meadows
9:00 AM
The Trade Pipeline: The Future of Trade Experts
10:00 AM
Fundamentals Track
Origin Matters: Trade Compliance Implications Across FTAs and USMCA
11:15 am
Hot Topics Track
Valuation/Recon: Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game
11:15 am
Meal
Lunch
12:00pm
Speakers | Industry Experts
More Coming Soon
Andrew Seibert
Andrew Seibert is the Director of Solutions Consulting at Copper Hill, Inc., with more than a decade of experience in
Ashlyn Holeyfield
Ashlyn Holeyfield, Principal and Co-Founder of Parapet Advisors, a strategic trade policy advisory firm. Previously, she served Deputy Director for
Beata K. Spuhler
Counsel, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath
Beata Spuhler has more than 25 years’ experience counseling on international trade and other
Daniel Cruz
Daniel Cruz has over 15 years of experience in foreign trade. His expertise is with Free Trade Agreement qualification, country
Darren Maynard
Principal, DPM Consulting, Inc.
Darren Maynard has more than forty years of experience with leveraging technologies to
Grow revenue,
Dr. Eugene Laney Jr.
President and CEO, American Association of Exporters and Importers
Eugene Laney Jr. is President and CEO of the American Association
Dr. Lee E. Meadows, Ph. D
Dr. Lee E. Meadows serves as the Workplace Innovation Leader for Copper Hill, where he helps
organizations prepare for
George Bogden
Dr. George E. Bogden is Senior Counsel for Trade at Continental Strategy, where he advises clients on international trade, economic
Greg Husisian
Gregory Husisian is a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP and chair of the firm’s International Trade and National Security
Hayley Dege
Hayley Dege serves as Senior Vice President of Client Experience at Copper Hill, where she leads the teams responsible for
Heather Litman
Heather Litman is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman & Klestadt LLP (“GDLSK”), a
James Amyx
James Amyx is a Member with Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., resident in the Houston office. Mr. Amyx provides legal
James Grogan
James Grogan co-leads the Trade & Customs practice for Kroll, a dedicated team specializing in Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ), duty
Janelle Wilhelm
With over two decades of experience in international trade compliance, Janelle Wilhelm serves as the Senior Director of Account Management
Jenae Ciecko
Jenae Ciecko is Founder, President, and CEO of Copper Hill, a global trade solutions company helping organizations simplify, modernize, and
Martin Spencer
Martin Spencer serves as Chief Operating Officer of Copper Hill, where he leads the company’s global operations and helps drive
Melissa Irmen
Melissa Irmen is the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Relations at the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ. Melissa has
Mike Yates
Mike Yates serves as Senior Vice President of Product & Technology at Copper Hill, where he leads the company’s product
Mollie D. Sitkowski
Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
A recognized authority in trade compliance, Mollie Sitkowski combines a deep understanding of
Randy Rucker
Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath
William R. “Randy” Rucker is a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath and
Rich Davenport
With nearly three decades of experience delivering technology-enabled business solutions across multiple industries, Rich Davenport has spent more than a
Ted Murphy
Partner, Sidley Austin LLP
TED MURPHY, co-leader of Sidley’s Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy practice, counsels companies and trade associations
Copper Summit 2025 Recap
Catch the highlights from last year’s event with expert panels, networking moments, and behind-the-scenes insights.
Book Your Hotel Stay
Please click the link below to book your hotel stay at the Copper Summit discounted rate.
