Board of Directors
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USA-ITA’s Board of Directors includes sourcing and compliance executives from the leading American retailers, brands, and importers of textiles and apparel.
Board Officers:
Maureen Gray, Chair
Vice President of International Trade, Ralph Lauren Corporation
Maureen Gray joined Ralph Lauren Corporation in July 1997 and is currently the Vice President of International Trade. Ms. Gray champions Ralph Lauren’s regulatory Customs, Federal Trade Commission, and Fish and Wildlife Service compliance for all Ralph Lauren divisions – working closely with the Finance, Legal, Production/QA, and Distribution departments to ensure seamless and compliant international transactions. These responsibilities have grown over the last several years to include Europe, Canada, Greater China, Southeast Asia, and South America.
Ms. Gray received her Customs Broker License in 1989. Prior to joining Ralph Lauren Corporation, Ms. Gray was the Director of Customs Laws and Regulations at Barthco Trade Consultants in Philadelphia, PA where she advised clients on their regulatory import obligations and performed in-house audits of clients Customs procedures and records.
Ms. Gray served as Customs Liaison for the Philadelphia port community from 1993-1995. In 1995, Ms. Gray was elected President of the Philadelphia Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association and served in that capacity until joining the Ralph Lauren Corporation.
Ms. Gray has been affiliated with USA-ITA since 1998. In addition, she serves on the Government Relations Committee for the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and as a charter member of the European Branded Clothing Alliance (EBCA). She has served on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Cotton Board since she was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in 2002.
John Clark, Vice Chair
Vice President, Michar LLC
John Clark is the Vice President of Michar, LLC, which specializes in design, sales, sourcing, importation and distribution of all genders and ages of wearing apparel. Mr. Clark holds a B.A. in International Relations and International Business from University of Southern California and has been a member of the Cotton Board since 1998.
Mr. Clark and his wife Suzanne live in Los Angeles and have three grown daughters.
Michael Singer, Treasurer
Director, Customs & Social Compliance, Macy’s Merchandising Group
Michael Singer is the ECP Director of Customs and Social Compliance for Macy’s Merchandising Group. MMG is responsible for conceptualizing, designing, sourcing, importing and marketing private brand goods sold at Macy's, and in some cases, at Bloomingdales. MMG product is sold in over 800 Macy’s Inc. stores as well as e-commerce, and outside customers.
Mr. Singer joined Macy’s in 1983 and has extensive experience in Customs, Social Compliance, Environmental, and Logistics issues. During his tenure at MMG he has worked to keep Macy’s at the forefront of all Custom’s initiatives and has partnered with Logistics Providers and Suppliers to automate processes and reduce carbon footprint and expenditures thru the supply chain.
Mr. Singer has a B.A. in Economics from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a licensed Customs Broker. He has served on the Board of Directors of USAITA for over 10 years and is currently Vice Chair of the National Retail Federation’s ITAC committee. He also is a member of MMG’s Sustainability Committee.
A native New Yorker, Mr. Singer lives in Great Neck and has two sons. He is an avid New York sports fan and fitness enthusiast.
Janet Ydavoy, Secretary
Vice President of Customs Compliance & International Operations, The Jones Group
Janet Ydavoy has 35 years of accomplishments in manufacturing, retailing and international trade. She has held senior management positions in international sourcing and production where she applied her expertise in successfully aligning sourcing strategies with international trade programs that guarantee competitive supply chain advantages.
Janet’s focus on the overarching strategic objectives result in speed, efficiencies and cost savings within the framework of global social responsibility and international trade partnerships. Her extensive travel throughout the world has provided on-site knowledge to maximize business opportunities that are sensitive to their locales.
Janet currently holds the position of Vice President of International Operations and Customs Compliance for the Jones Group. Her scope of responsibility includes managing international operations and logistics for all Jones brand labels in all product categories.
Prior to Jones, Janet held the position of Vice President of Corporate Global Compliance and sourcing for Chico’s FAS, Inc. where she led a corporate supply chain / trade compliance team for the company’s three subsidiaries. During her tenure her accomplishments included initiating a corporate C-TPAT program that resulted in Tier III Validation; maintaining margin improvement by duty savings via trade programs, first sale and tariff engineering initiatives while improving speed to market and faster Customs clearance; and initiating a corporate social responsibility program to assure sustainability, throughout the supply chain, to labor laws, human rights and the environment.
Ms. Ydavoy retains a seat on the board of directors of the Cotton Board, appointed by the USDA. She is a licensed United States Customs broker.
Strengthening businesses in today’s competitive and constantly evolving international trade environment is challenging and complex. Janet Ydavoy knows how to create and implement programs and strategies that maximize speed, efficiencies, and cost savings.
Board Members:
Brenda Brainerd
Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Production
Kohl's Department Stores
Jon Brewer
Senior Vice President of Product Development & Supply Chain
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc.
Kerry Caban
Director of Customs
Warnaco, Inc.
Sonja Chapman
Director of International Traffic & Customs Compliance
Golden Touch Imports, Inc.
Mathew Gluckson
Executive Vice President of Manufacturing
New York & Company
Laurie Goldman
Head of Global Trade Policy & Worldwide Government Affairs
Levi Strauss & Co.
Debi Gregg
Senior Vice President of Supply Chain
Quiksilver Americas, Inc.
Pam Hunter
Vice President of Sourcing
J.C. Penney Purchasing Corporation
Lisa Martin
Director of Trade & Regulatory Compliance
American Eagle Outfitters
Gary Ross
Vice President of Global Fashion & Home Supply Chain
Avon Products Inc.
Barbara Rozsas
Executive Director of Sourcing
Urban Outfitters
June Sassler
Director of International Services
Saks, Inc.
Jim Schwartz
President & CEO
Mast Global Fashions
Past Chairs:
2009-2010: Janet Fox, J.C. Penney Purchasing Corp.
2006-2008: Robert Zane, Liz Claiborne, Inc.
2002-2005: Peter McGrath, J.C. Penney Purchasing Corp.
1997-2001: Frank Kelly, Liz Claiborne, Inc.
1992-1996: Julia K. Hughes, Associated Merchandising Corporation
1989-1991: Sam Nysenbaum, Gitano