Pathways: Careers in Trade and Fashion

The WITA Academy Pathways program consists of a series of career pathways sessions hosted by trade professionals from the Washington D.C. policy community. The curriculum, divided between the public and private sector, highlights different roles and career paths that are available in Washington D.C. and around the world.

Students will gain insight from trade professionals, pose questions to policymakers, and learn about exciting career opportunities in international affairs, political science, business, and trade. Students come away with an understanding of the trade policy-making community, the role of its key players, and the opportunities for internships and careers available to them.

This online event is free and open to ALL students. Hosted in partnership with the University of Delaware and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Registration is free for students and faculty – must use university email to register.

Program Agenda:

All times US/Eastern

2:30 – 2:35 PM ET – Welcome & Opening Remarks

• Kenneth Levinson, Chief Executive Officer, WITA – The International Trade Membership Association (B.A. University of Massachusetts, Amherst; M.A. New York University)
• Diego Anez, WITA Academy Executive Director, WITA Managing Director, WITA – The International Trade Membership Association (B.A. University of Georgia)

2:35 – 2:55 PM ET – One-on-One Career Conversation

• Stephen Lamar, President & CEO, American Apparel & Footwear Association (B.A. Colgate University; M.A. The George Washington University)
• Moderator: Kenneth Levinson, Chief Executive Officer, WITA – The International Trade Membership Association (B.A. University of Massachusetts, Amherst; M.A. New York University)

2:55 – 3:45 PM ET – Panel 1: How Trade Shapes the Fashion & Apparel Industry

• Yusra Siddique, Attorney, ArentFox Schiff (B.A. University of California, Riverside; J.D. Washington University in St. Louis)
• Julia Hughes, President, United States Fashion Industry Association (B.S. Georgetown University; M.A. Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies)
• Katherine Stubblefield, Acting Division Chief, Chemicals and Textiles, Office of Industries and Competitiveness Analysis, U.S. International Trade Commission (B.A. Middle Tennessee State University; M.A. Middle Tennessee State University)
• Moderator: Alyson Demirdjian, International Trade Specialist, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (B.F.A. Otis College of Art and Design; M.S. University of Delaware)

3:45 – 3:55 PM ET – Break

3:55 – 4:15 PM ET – One-on-One Career Conversation

• Ed Gresser, Vice President & Director for Trade & Global Markets, Progressive Policy Institute; author of the Trade Fact of the Week; former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade Policy and Economics (B.A. Stanford University; M.A. Columbia University)
• Moderator: Nicole Bivens Collinson, Managing Principal, Operating Committee, and International Trade and Government Relations Practice Leader, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. (B.A. Georgetown College; M.A. The George Washington University)
  

4:15 – 5:00 PM ET – Panel 2: Careers in Fashion, Trade & Policy

• Frank Chioccola, Vice President, Global Trade, Customs & Product Compliance, Tapestry (B.A. Queens College)
• Erin Ickes, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Human Resources, American Textile Company (B.A. Indiana University of Pennsylvania; J.D. University of Pittsburgh School of Law)
• Marin Weaver, Chief of the Services Division, Office of Industry and Competitiveness Analysis, U.S. International Trade Commission (B.A. University of Richmond; M.Sc. Political Science)
• Moderator: Dr. Sheng Lu, Professor & Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, University of Delaware (B.S. Donghua University; M.S. Donghua University; ​Ph.D University of Missouri-Columbia)

Speaker Biographies

Frank Chioccola leads the global customs, trade and product compliance function at Tapestry, Inc. Tapestry, Inc. is a New York-based house of modern luxury lifestyle brands. The Company’s portfolio includes Coach and Kate Spade. Mr. Chioccola leads a worldwide team of trade professionals and oversees all import, export and regulatory affairs matters for the company. In this role, Mr. Chioccola focuses on driving the trade function's long-term strategic agenda, supporting the rapid global growth of the business and brand by enhancing the company's global compliance infrastructure, improving cross-border productivity and operations, and minimizing regulatory barriers to growth for market expansion. Mr. Chioccola utilizes strong internal networks and works collaboratively with cross-functional and divisional leaders by counseling on free trade opportunities, the development of the global supply chain network and security, regulatory matters, product compliance, labeling, and advocating the company's interests to relevant government authorities, and driving customs process and systems Improvements.

Prior to Tapestry, Inc., Mr. Chioccola served as the Director of the Global Customs & Trade Function at PepsiCo, where he spent over eight years optimizing the company’s import/export function. A Certified Public Accountant and US Licensed Customs Broker, Mr. Chioccola started his career in Big Four consulting before joining PepsiCo, first with Deloitte & Touche, and later with Ernst & Young, where he spent almost a decade advising multinationals on various customs and trade matters. Mr. Chioccola is a frequent speaker at various trade forums and organizations on customs and trade matters and has co-authored numerous publications including Internal Controls and the ISA Program (The CPA Journal, 2005) and The Import Handbook (John Wiley & Sons, 1997).

Nicole Bivens Collinson is a Managing Principal, Operating Committee, and International Trade and Government Relations Practice Leader with Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. She is located in the Washington, D.C., office. Ms. Collinson is a commentator on trade matters on MSNBC, NPR, and BBC and is the producer of the Two Minutes in Trade podcast.

Ms. Collinson has nearly 40 years of experience in government, public affairs, and lobbying. She has drafted and guided the successful implementation of several pieces of key international trade legislation positively affecting the bottom line of many U.S. companies. Clients have saved millions of dollars through the successful drafting, guidance, and passage of legislation that reduces or eliminates duties — crafting creative measures to benefit clients such as blocking changes to the first sale doctrine, miscellaneous tariff bills, specific trade preference legislation, the Generalized System of Preferences, etc. Such a track record demonstrates her ability to effectively move your agenda forward.

Ms. Collinson has been very effective in assisting clients in finding options – through exclusion or other tariff mitigation strategies – to reduce duty liability for goods subject to section 301 or section 232 duties. In addition, she is a leader on the firm’s initiatives to address forced labor concerns via supply chain reviews, due diligence strategies, and proactive remediation to prevent the importation of any goods that may violate section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 for goods made with forced labor.

Ms. Collinson prepares countries, companies, and associations for negotiations with the United States on free trade agreements, trade and investment agreements, labor disputes, and preferential trade programs. She is well-known for her ability to foster dialogue among a diverse set of stakeholders to resolve complex issues in trade policy making and implementation. She also works directly with U.S. multinational corporations and associations, as well as foreign companies, associations, and government agencies, to clearly represent their positions in Washington. In doing so she analyzes and monitors cross-cutting trade issues, including labor, the environment, food safety, customs regulations, international development, and others, and helps build strong coalitions to advocate for change.

Further, her work representing clients before Congress has earned her a well-respected position among politicians involved in international and business affairs. She is a well-known international trade authority in Washington, regularly called upon by members of Congress and the administration to help explain complex trade programs. Her decades of work with the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security committees and the Senate Finance; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Foreign Relations; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees has established deep and lasting relations with members of Congress and their staffs.

Prior to joining ST&R Ms. Collinson served as assistant chief negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, responsible for the negotiation of bilateral agreements with Latin America, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, the Sub-Continent, and Africa. She also served as a country specialist in the International Trade Administration at the Department of Commerce, where she was responsible for the preparation of negotiations on specific topics between the U.S. and Latin America, Eastern Europe, China, and Hong Kong as well as the administration of complex textile agreements.

Ms. Collinson holds a master’s degree in international relations from The George Washington University and a triple bachelor’s degree in political science, European studies, and French from Georgetown College. She also studied at the Université de Caen in France. She is past chair of the Women in International Trade Charitable Trust, past president of Women in International Trade, an advisory board member of America’s TradePolicy.com, treasurer and board member of the Washington International Trade Association, and a member of the Washington International Trade Association Foundation and Women in Government Relations. She serves on the board of trustees for Georgetown College and is the past executive director for the U.S. Hosiery Manufacturers Coalition, the U.S. Apparel Industry Coalition, and the U.S. Sock Distributors Coalition. She is conversant in both French and Spanish.

Alyson Demirdjian is an International Trade Specialist at the International Trade Administration.

After 10 years of industry experience in design and product development, she pivoted to something more actionable, and that supports the domestic fashion industry from the federal government. Her objective is to help fashion production and consumption become accountable and future proof the industry. Her experience encompasses a holistic understanding of the corporate perspective on fashion, involvement in supply chain operations, and collaboration with stakeholders at all levels across the value chain. A diversity of roles has created a swath of skills that make her highly versatile, adaptable, and valuable, the result of their passion and drive for personal growth.

Ed Gresser is Vice President and Director for Trade and Global Markets at PPI.

Ed rejoined PPI in 2021, after an earlier tour from 2001-2011.  Before joining us, from 2015 to 2021 he served as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade Policy and Economics at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). In this position, he led USTR’s economic research unit, oversaw the Generalized System of Preferences, and chaired the 21-agency Trade Policy Staff Committee.

Ed began his career on Capitol Hill before serving USTR as Policy Advisor to USTR Charlene Barshefsky from 1998 to 2001. He then led PPI’s Trade and Global Markets Project from 2001 to 2011. After PPI, he co-founded and directed the independent think tank ProgressiveEconomy until rejoining USTR in 2015. He is a graduate of Stanford University and holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Columbia Universities and a certificate from the Averell Harriman Institute for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union.

Ed is the author of Freedom from Want: American Liberalism and the Global Economy (2007), has published in a variety of journals and newspapers, and regularly testifies before Congressional Committees on trade and global-economy topics.  His research has been cited by leading academics and international organizations including the WTO, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, and covered by leading journalism outlets from the New York Times and Washington Post to Vogue, NPR, CNN, Politico, the Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times. In 2013, the Washington International Trade Association presented him with its Lighthouse Award, awarded annually to an individual or group for significant contributions to trade policy.

Julia Hughes is President of the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), which represents brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers based in the United States and doing business globally. She represents the industry in front of the U.S. government as well as international governments and stakeholders, explaining how fashion companies create high quality jobs in the United States and economic opportunities around the world.

An expert on textile and apparel trade issues, Julie has testified before Congress and the Executive Branch. She frequently speaks at international conferences including the China & Asia Textile Forum, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Harvard University’s Bangladesh Development Conference, MAGIC, Prime Source Forum, Vietnam Textile Summit, and others.

Julie served as the first President and is one of the founders of the Washington Chapter of Women in International Trade (WIIT) and is one of the founders of the WIIT Charitable Trust. She also was the first President of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT).  In 1992, she received the Outstanding Woman in International Trade award and in 2008, the WIIT Lifetime Achievement Award. She also is a member of the International Women’s Forum.

She has an M.A. in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Erin Ickes is the Legal and Compliance Officer for American Textile Company, an international bedding manufacturer based in Duquesne, PA.  As general counsel Erin handles labor and employment, product liability, contracts, and a variety of other legal functions.  Prior to joining American Textile Company Erin worked in house for TeleTracking Technologies, a healthcare technology company, ServiceLink, a mortgage-servicing company owned by Fidelity National Financial, and EQT, a Pittsburgh-based natural gas producer, and spent 3 years at firms before that handling insurance litigation and transactional issues in the energy industry. 

Erin earned her J.D. degree from Pitt Law and her BA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She currently serves as a Board member for the Jefferson Regional Foundation and a Vice Chair of the Board for FamilyLinks, both of which are nonprofits focused on healthcare and social services in the Pittsburgh region.

Stephen Lamar is President and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the national trade association representing more than 1,000 brands in the apparel and footwear industry. Steve leads a dedicated team of professionals who represent AAFA members before the government, through the media, and in industry settings on key brand protection, supply chain and manufacturing, and trade issues. Steve also advises AAFA member companies on legislation and regulatory policies. Prior to becoming President and CEO, Steve served as Executive Vice President for the association.

Prior to AAFA, Steve spent more than a decade engaged in international public policy work, including stints at the U.S. Commerce Department and in the Peace Corps. A runner, juggler, and genealogist in his spare time, Steve is on the Board of the Washington International Trade Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Colgate University and a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs (with a concentration on African politics and international trade) from George Washington University.

Dr. Sheng Lu joined the department in 2015. Dr. Lu’s research focuses on the economic and business aspects of the global textile and apparel industry, including international trade, apparel sourcing, fashion supply chains, and trade policy. Dr. Lu also studies social responsibility and sustainability issues related to apparel sourcing and trade and the implications of big data and related digital technologies on the fashion industry, particularly from a supply chain perspective.

Dr. Lu received the 2014 Rising Star Award and the 2019 Mid-Career Excellence Award from the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) to recognize his research and teaching excellence. He is also the multiple-time recipient of the Paper of Distinction Award at the ITAA annual conferences. He was also invited to serve as a consultant for the International Trade Centre (ITC), co-run by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN).

Dr. Lu has achieved over 80 publications in leading academic and trade journals in the textile and apparel discipline. His works were cited by government reports such as the Congressional Research Service (CRS) studies prepared for members of U.S. Congress, U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) official assessment on the economic impacts of free trade agreements as well as the World Bank, International Labor Organization, and the United Nations research publications. Dr. Lu and his work were also regularly featured by media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, BBC World News (UK), Bloomberg, Nikkei Asian Review (Japan), Associated Press, the Economist (UK), South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), and Business of Fashion.

Yusra Siddique is a trusted advisor to leading brands in the fashion, apparel, and consumer products industries, guiding clients through the evolving landscape of US trade compliance and regulatory requirements. With deep experience in export controls, import regulations, and trade remedies, Yusra delivers practical, business-focused solutions that empower clients to navigate complex global supply chains and maintain a competitive edge.

She brings a nuanced understanding of the unique regulatory challenges facing the fashion and consumer products sectors. She has successfully advised clients on Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) short supply petitions, tariff classifications, and compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Her tailored strategies help brands optimize their import operations, mitigate risk, and uphold the highest standards of ethical sourcing and supply chain transparency.

Her practice is distinguished by her in-depth knowledge of regulations administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Department of State under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). She partners with clients to design and implement robust trade compliance programs, ensuring seamless classification of goods and effective management of export licensing requirements—particularly for items with military or critical applications.

Her experience extends to representing clients in high-stakes anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations, including matters involving ceramic tiles from India and sodium gluconate from China. She manages every phase of the investigation process, from petition preparation and regulatory filings to advocacy before the US Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission. Her strategic approach ensures clients’ interests are protected in both initial proceedings and subsequent sunset reviews.

Katherine Stubblefield is Acting Division Chief of the Chemicals and Textiles Division at the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). She has extensive experience in international trade research and analysis, with a focus on textiles, apparel, and footwear. She has been an author for several USITC studies, on topics such as PPE, apparel production, and FTZs. She has also previously served on temporary assignment to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as Director for the Caribbean. Prior to her role at the USITC she worked in the private sector at Husch Blackwell LLP and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Katherine graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a B.S. in International Relations and a M.A. in International Affairs.

Marin Weaver is the Chief of the Services Division at the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Office of Industry and Competitiveness Analysis.   Prior to this, she served as the Acting Director of the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) in the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), Industry and Analysis Unit. She was also OTEXA’s Team Lead, focusing on advanced textiles for national and economic security, forced labor, and EU and China’s trade measures. Previously, Marin was a Senior International Trade Analyst at the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). There she provided strategic guidance and research for fact-finding investigations addressing a range of issues including competitiveness, supply chains, and trade measures. She served as Director of the Generalized System of Preferences while on detail to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Marin started her trade career as an International Trade Compliance Analyst in the ITA’s Enforcement & Compliance Unit. She earned her Master of Science, in Politics of Development, from the London School of Economics and Political Science and her Bachelor’s degree, in International Studies, from the University of Richmond.

Kenneth Levinson serves as the Chief Executive Officer of WITA – The International Trade Membership Association and Washington International Trade Foundation. 

WITA is the world’s largest non-profit, non-partisan membership organization dedicated to providing a neutral forum for the open and robust discussion of international trade policy and economic issues. WITA and its affiliated groups have over 10,000 members, and more than 160 corporate sponsors and group memberships.

Ken has over 30 years of experience working with companies, associations, NGOs and governments, advocating innovative solutions to complex public policy challenges. Over the years, Ken has worked with clients in the technology, telecommunications, biopharmaceuticals, agriculture and food, financial services, retail, apparel, energy, and consumer products sectors.

Previously, Ken served as Senior Director for Global Government Affairs for AstraZeneca. Prior to joining AstraZeneca, Ken served as Senior Vice President and COO at the Washington, DC consulting firm of Fontheim International. Ken joined Fontheim after spending six years on the staff of U.S. Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV.  Ken advised the Senator on foreign policy and national security matters, and served as the Senator’s chief advisor on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, dealing with issues related to international trade and tax policy.

Ken received his Master’s Degree from New York University after doing his undergraduate work at the University of Massachusetts, in Amherst. Ken also spent a year studying at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Ken and his wife, The Reverend Donna Marsh, live in River Forest, IL.

Diego Añez is the Managing Director of WITA – The International Trade Membership Association and the Executive Director of the WITA Academy. He is responsible for management of operations, policy programs, strategic engagements and member services for the organization’s 5000+ members and corporate sponsors across all 50 states and over 100 countries worldwide. He provides direction, with the WITA CEO and Board of Directors, to WITA’s portfolio of programming and capstone events, such as the Washington International Trade Conference and Annual Dinner.

Diego also spearheads the organization’s WITA Academy – a program of the Washington International Trade Foundation which strives to make trade education and career opportunities in international trade accessible to communities in the United States and around the world. The mission of the WITA Academy is to make the trade community itself more diverse and inclusive.

Diego is originally from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia and was raised in Mobile, Alabama. Diego graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs with concentrations in International Political Economy and Comparative Politics.

Bringing Trade Education and Career Development Opportunities to Communities Across the United States and Around the World

The mission of the WITA Academy™ is to provide trade education and career development opportunities in international trade to individuals across the United States and around the world. By expanding the network, the WITA Academy™ builds a stronger and more dynamic trade community.

The WITA Academy™ is a program of the Washington International Trade Foundation. Through its programs, the WITA Academy is committed to strengthening the trade community by bringing together a broad range of perspectives and creating opportunities for engagement amongst the trade community. These educational and professional development programs ensure the continued growth and success of the trade community, shaping the future of trade policy.

Thank you to our WITA Academy Sponsors