NASF Report: April 2017

The National Association for Surface Finishers (NASF) hosts the 2017 Washington Forum on April 25-27 in Washington D.C. featuring top analysts and experts discussing key issues for the surface treatment industry. The event is an educational opportunity for those interested in emerging policy developments that will reshape the manufacturing landscape.

This year’s event includes over 16 hours of presentations and networking followed by a full day of meetings with legislators and congressional staff.

For a list of all speakers and event information, visit nasf.org/events/washington-forum.

 

Forum Highlights

Rainer Venz is president of the German Electroplater Association (DGO) and vice president of the Central Association for Surface Treatment in Germany (ZVO). Since 2011, he served as advisory board chairman of the professorship “electrochemistry and electroplating” at the University of Ilmenau, Germany. He is global director of Key Industry Management Automotive programs and managing director of Coventya, Germany, since 2006, and was formerly at INA Schaeffler, where he was responsible for standards, design engineering, development of surface treatment systems and auditing of job shops. 

Skip Hartquist has represented several industries in international trade litigations. He advised the U.S. government in trade negotiations with China, the European community, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and others, as well as with the World Trade Organization. He also served as counsel to the China Currency Coalition relating to the undervaluation of the Chinese currency. 

 

Wednesday, April 26  –  9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

After joining Trump's campaign in January 2015, Corey Lewandowski served as campaign manager through June 2016. During that time, he ran the most-discussed and unconventional campaign in American history. He was named a CNN political commentator days after leaving the Trump campaign. He is co-founder of Avenue Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in politics and government affairs. Lewandowski discusses the behind-the-scenes workings of the Trump operation to show how it will likely function over the next four years. 

 

An expert on political affairs, Andrew Friedman was a senior partner with the law firm of Covington and Burling in Washington, D.C., serving as head of tax and corporate groups for almost 30 years. Friedman has appeared on the Larry Kudlow Show, the Fox Business Channel and POTUS radio, and has been profiled in the Washington Post and Research magazine. 

 

The Honorable Tammy Duckworth returns to the Forum this year. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after representing Illinois’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms. She is an Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. She was among the first Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. 

 

Washington Forum Full Agenda

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

1:00 - 1:15 p.m. | Opening Remarks           

Paul Brancato, Epner Technology, NASF President

Rick Delawder, SWD Inc., Chairman, NASF Government Advisory Committee         

 

1:15 – 1:30 p.m. | NASF Update: The Industry Agenda

Christian Richter, The Policy Group

 

1:30 – 1:45 p.m. | North American Associations Update: Welcome Remarks

Abelardo Gonzalez, AMAS (Mexican Association for Surface Finishing)

Mike Kuntz, CASF (Canadian Association for Surface Finishing)

 

1:45 – 2:15 p.m. | Surface Treatment and Global Regulatory Policy: A German Plating Perspective

Rainer Venz, President, German Electroplater Association (DGO)

 

2:15 – 3:00 p.m. | NASF and EPA Outlook: Industry Progress on Pending Metal Finishing Effluent Guidelines

John Lindstedt, Advanced Plating Technology, Milwaukee

Christian Richter & Jeff Hannapel, NASF | The Policy Group           

 

3:15 – 4:15 p.m. | Trade: The President’s Agenda

Peter Morici, Economist & Professor, Former Director, International Trade Commission

 

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Trade and Manufacturing: A Steel Industry Perspective

David “Skip” Hartquist: Partner, Kelley Drye

 

5:00 – 5:15 p.m. | Congressional Meetings:  Preparing for Meetings for Capitol Hill (Optional)

Christian Richter and Jeff Hannapel, NASF | The Policy Group

 

5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | NASF Forum Reception, The Ritz Carlton, Ambassador Room

 

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Update on the U.S. Automotive Industry Policy Agenda

Ann Wilson, Senior Vice President, Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association

 

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Morning Keynote: The 2016 Campaign and the Trump Presidency: A Review

Corey Lewandowski, former Campaign Manager, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.           

 

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Small Business Policy: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Priorities

Tom Sullivan, Vice President, US Chamber Small Business Council

 

10:45 – 11:15 a.m. | Nickel Developments: Latest Global Trends and their Impact on Manufacturing

Dr. Hudson Bates, Executive Director, Nickel Producers Environmental Research Association

 

11:15 – 11:45 a.m. | Labor and Workplace Safety: A Changing Agenda

David Sarvadi, Partner, Keller & Heckman, Washington, DC

 

12:00 – 1:30 p.m. | LUNCH KEYNOTE, Ambassador Room

Washington Outlook, Jim VandeHei, Co-founder, Politico & Founder/CEO of Axios

 

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Afternoon Keynote: Outlook on U.S. Budget, Tax and Spending for 2017 and Beyond

Andy Friedman, The Washington Update

 

3:00 – 3:30 p.m. | Plating and Finishing at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, Washington D.C.

Steve Olszowy, U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving (invited)

 

3:30 – 4:00 p.m. | Chemicals Policy: New Developments in Washington and the States

David Fischer, American Chemistry Council (invited)

 

4:15 – 5:00 p.m. | Capitol Hill Briefing:  Review of Issues for Congressional Visits (optional)

Christian Richter and Jeff Hannapel, NASF | The Policy Group

 

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | NASF Forum Reception – Capitol Hill

The Honorable Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senator (D-IL)

 

Thursday, April 27, 2017

7:00-8:30 a.m. | NASF Breakfast Briefing                              

Christian Richter and Jeff Hannapel, NASF | The Policy Group

 

8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | Congressional Visits, Capitol Hill        

(NASF Desk: The Ritz Carlton | Ambassador Room)

 

 

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Originally published in the April 2017 issue.