Ronald E. Edelstein Ron’s trade compliance career started over forty years ago when he reported to work at the Mexican border in San Ysidro, Ca as a customs inspector. He was later a Supervisory Inspector in Los Angles Harbor and Director, Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures of the Los Angeles District. In the nearly three decades since he left the Customs Service he has worked as head of trade compliance in four very large multinational companies. He has had experience taking these companies through customs and export audits in the United States as well as several other countries in Europe and Asia. Ron was involved early on in the organization of the Professional Association of Exporters and Importers (PAEI) in the Bay Area and served on the interim board and the first elected board the International Compliance Professionals Association (ICPA) and was the longest serving board member of the organization, which now has a membership of companies and service providers world wide. He was also involved in forming customs and export control groups in such organizations as the American Electronics Association (now TradeAmerica) and the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI). He has a private consulting practice in import/export compliance. Ron is a licensed customs broker. He is a retired Naval officer with extensive sea duty in submarines and in Special Warfare as a PT boat commander in the Riverine Forces (Brown Water Navy) during the Vietnam War and continued his career in the Navy Reserve on a variety of ships until past Desert Storm. His hobbies include building computers. He is a GIA certified gemologist, a numismatist and enjoys restoring antique cars with a special interest in old Mercedes Benz.