JONATHAN SOTO

**** *********** ***** - **********, **. 27410 - adownj@r.postjobfree.com - 336-***-****

Summary of Qualifications

Import/Export Compliance

Import-Export Customs Compliance, Documentation & Project Management

Solutions-Driven Business Professional with strong performance in high-volume domestic and international operations, technical classification, customer relations, productivity/process improvement, research and development. Strong team-building, training and leadership skills. Proficient in assimilating and communicating technical information. Excellent knowledge with MS Office tools. Experience with SAP. Fluent in Spanish.

Success in improving global productivity and efficiency through analysis and

Implementation of strategies, processes and technologies.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Centric Brands Group formerly Global Brands Group Inc., Greensboro, NC. - 2017-Present

Director, Customs Compliance

●Responsible for oversight of compliance team for the U.S., Canada supporting Asia & EU.

●Oversight and improvement of First Sale Program – Vetting & Auditing. Annual savings of over $10 Million.

●Review and implementation of Drawback Process for Duty Refund.

●Implementation of SOP’s for external and external customers.

●Import document management and liaising with Customs Brokers.

●Submission of Binding Rulings.

●Post Entry Review

●CF28 ’s (Post Entry Requests from Customs and Border Protection).

●Onboarding of export oversight and compliance overview.

●Maintain/Update Harmonized Tariff Schedule numbers in SAP/PLM.

●Onboarding of newly acquired or transitioning companies.

●Daily Account Management of 14 Apparel Importers of Record.

●Post Entry Review.

●Monitoring of shipments requiring OBL's that require stamping, signing, and forwarding to carrier.

●Maintain Ship logs for Canada and US shipments

●Responsible for CTPAT Program

●Oversight of export operations

Qorvo US, Inc. f/k/a RF Micro Devices, Inc., Greensboro, NC. - 2007-2017

Manager, Import & Export Compliance, Empowered Official, FSO

●Leadership role in developing and overseeing the implementation of import/export compliance systems within the U.S. and EU.

●Responsible for evaluating complex international business requirements, products and strategies to ensure compatibility with export compliance

●Provide support to all RFMD U.S. and foreign subsidiaries to evaluate Import/Export requirements and objectives, implement corrective action plans, where needed, and drive the implementation of such plans.

●Provide education and training to RFMD employees on the appropriate interpretation and implementation of EAR, ITAR & Import Regulations.

●Responsible for design and maintenance of Import/Export compliance audit programs in accordance with governmental guidelines.

●Responsible for providing import/export compliance leadership and guidance to all applicable RFMD business units.

●Responsible for import/export classification methodology (classification reviews, binding rulings, ECCN/USML determinations, CCATS submissions, export license applications and corresponding activities to support EU export controls).

●Monitor and determine the impact of changes in import/export trade laws and regulations. Develop necessary changes in procedures as required by these changes. Effectively communicate these changes to appropriate RFMD business units and personnel.

●Serve as subject matter expert on import/export issues, denied parties, CF28 & CF29’s, FA’s, embargoed countries, anti-boycott compliance and reporting red flag issues. This includes acting as point of contact during audits conducted by various gov’t agencies domestically and internationally.

●Leadership role on projects to establish new processes and system enhancements to support delivery of RFMD products, services and information to global customers.

●Supervise and support Import/Export Trade Analyst. Includes training and mentoring.

●Facility Security Officer for Trusted Foundry, responsible to ensuring compliance to all requirements.

JPMorgan Chase Vastera, Longmont, CO. - 2005-2007

Client Operations Manager

Promoted to manager of operations for a multi-billion-dollar automotive commercial truck account. Responsible for team of 10 analysts overseeing import & export operations. Managed and coordinated processes to improve overall efficiencies of time sensitive international shipments.

●Involved in PAPS (Pre-Arrival Processing System) training and implementation

●Assisted NAFTA team file 520d claims for $450,000 refund in 2005

●Managed overall import operations which included NAFTA, U.S., Canadian & Mexican Classifications, ECCN and broker management

●Assisted client with ISA certification in 2005

●Assisted in annual NAFTA qualification Monitor trade alerts for opportunities or impacting changes to the client

●Provided monthly performance metrics

●Developed an improvement plan for broker management

●Involved in strategic business opportunities for client for sourcing and duty optimization

●Identified areas of improvement and executed new processes and procedures improving compliance rating to above 95%.

●Provided training on Importation, Compliance and Quality procedures

●Exposure with C-TPAT

Vastera, Southfield, MI - 2004-2005

Import Operations and Classification Supervisor

Import operations supervisor for multi-billion-dollar automotive commercial truck account. Lead a team of 3 classification analysts overseeing database of over 300,000 parts.

●Reviewed, revised and assigned U.S. HTS for products

●Protested $50,000 of overpaid duties to the U.S. Government

●Provided training on HTS classification and import requirements thereby improving analyst efficiency

●Managed broker operations

●Audited import entries for import compliance

●Implemented work new work procedures, reducing classification backlog by 25%

●Responsible for Import classification and compliance

Vastera, Longmont, CO - 2002-2004

Trade Analyst (Vastera Global Managed Services)

Maintained all trade content for global the clients of Lucent and Nortel Networks. Helped managed and coordinated operation processes to improve overall efficiencies of time sensitive international shipments.

●Assisted in protesting and recovering over $200,000 of overpaid duties to the U.S. Government

●Involved in Compliance audits resulting in higher due diligence standings both internally and externally

●Assigned both U.S. and Canadian HTS including Export Classification (ECCN)

●Reviewed historical database for classification accuracy and compliance

●Responded to CF28 and CF29’s

●Responsible for government inquires

Fritz Companies Inc., Cheektowaga, NY - 1999-2002

Trade Import Analyst (Nortel Global Compliance Management Team)

In charge of planning, developing, data input and management of parts database for $15 billion NYSE listed company with over 90,000 employees worldwide. Analyzed database system processes and reporting tools. Participated in the implementation, maintenance and support of applications services as a member of a support team. Direct functions included involvement customer contacts, account management, RFQ’s and purchasing involvement. Enforce procurement policies and processes with training, direct involvement to motivate and educated a team of four analysts. Helped manage and coordinate action plans for daily operations, establish work priorities and ensure duty optimization were handled effectively while maintaining import compliance, productivity and quality. Work closely with personnel to ensure standardization and accuracy of database. Involved in project management efforts in support of achieving goals.

●Monitor and report on service levels and actively look for ways to improve service efficiency and effectiveness with documented resolutions.

●Established performance and quality tracking system with the help of the Global Compliance Management Team, establishing a seamless link between Supply Chain Management and Global Compliance Management. Results produced a 20% increase in compliance rating from a low 70% to a high 90% and increase in delivery interval with higher supply chain assets.

●Coordinate and work with system engineers to determine the functions/capabilities of all products.

●Responsible for research, analysis and application of Nortel’s new parts table for classification of fiber optics, data processing and telephonic switching systems.

●Research classification accuracy of existing products/parts database for duty optimization and compliance.

●Act as a liaison between contracted service providers and system engineers.

●Developed and presented interactive presentations to upper management on ISO standards and customs compliance procedures.

●Coordinated training seminars with the global classification team to educate them on new technologies, procedural changes and acquisitions within the industry, etc…

A.N. Deringer Inc., Buffalo, NY - 1991-1999

UPS Supervisor/BCRS III Import Analyst

Supervised and performed import clearances of all UPS shipments. Monitored and analyzed customer satisfaction, developed and managed daily operations. Implemented training programs to enhance knowledge of importing regulations and ISO procedures.

●Designed, established and directed customer satisfaction analysis area charged with identifying areas of customer dissatisfaction. Cross-trained team to eliminate host cause and increase satisfaction.

●Implemented procedures to improve release time, increase volume, increase new business and expand client base.

●Complied financial account data targeting potential business and growth opportunities by developing a customer access base system for ultimate use by marketing and sales.

●Conducted sales calls providing information and making recommendations on products and services offered.

Emery Worldwide Customs Broker, Buffalo, NY - 1989-1991

U.S. Customs Broker/Special Accounts Analyst

Diverse responsibilities included daily import operations management, duty optimization, policy and procedure development, documentation and compliance auditing. Major emphasis focused on situation analysis, process improvement and release time enhancement. Prepared entry documents for U.S. Imports for special accounts.

●Updated client profiles made recommendations for value added services.

●Targeted new business via sales calls and marketing efforts.

●Prepared price quotes for rendering services and cost-effective strategies.

Training

●Encryption and Licensing Authorities

●Enforcement Environment for U.S. Export Controls & Trade sanctions

●Compliance Policy Training

●OFAC, EAR and ITAR

●EU Regulations

●US Export Classification (ECCN) Training & Examination

●QOS Conceptual

●Software and Technology Classification and Jurisdiction

●ISO Processes and Procedures

●OGA (Other Government Agencies) FDA, FCC, FDA

●EAR and ITAR Licensing

●AES/EEI

●ACE

Certifications

●International Import-Export Institute (IIEI)

(Completed all certified U.S. Export Compliance Officer Courses)

Completed EAR & ITAR Courses GPA 4.0/ GPA 3.5

●Secret Clearance

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