Bios
Director of International Traffic & Customs Compliance, Golden Touch Imports, Inc.
Sonja Chapman is a licensed customhouse broker with over 25 years’ experience managing international transportation logistics and customs compliance for apparel companies. She is currently Director of International Traffic and Customs Compliance for Golden Touch Imports, Inc. The firm provides administrative services to a group of apparel companies that special in women’s and junior apparel. Prior to working with Golden Touch Ms. Chapman served as Director of Logistics and Customs Compliance for Baby Togs, Inc., a large U.S. children’s apparel manufacturer, for 14 years. Ms. Chapman also teaches in the department of International Trade and Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She teaches courses in International Logistics and Import / Export Regulations. In addition, she is a regular coordinator of programs for FIT’s Executive Education Program and their International Exchange Programs.
The U.S. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture appointed Ms. Chapman in 2004, to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Cotton Board. She is currently chair of the Strategic Assessment Committee.
Ms. Chapman received her B.A. in International Politics from the CUNY Baccalaureate Program.
Ms. Chapman has been married for 28 years and has two children.
Executive Director, Global Trade and Compliance, URBN Inc.
Michael Lambert has spent over 30 years in the retail fashion business, primarily in the import/export and Customs compliance area, and is currently the Executive Director of Global Trade and Compliance for Urban Outfitters, Inc. Urban Outfitters, Inc. includes the Urban Outfitters brand, as well as Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain and Nuuly brands.
In his role at Urban Outfitters, Inc., Michael is responsible for Customs, Social, Vendor and Regulatory Compliance. Urban Outfitters has a global footprint, with stores in the U.S., Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom. Urban Outfitters designs and develops product throughout the world, working with a core vendor base across more than thirty countries.
Compliance with global Customs regulations, as well as ensuring the vendor base meets Urban Outfitters code of conduct and ethical sourcing guidelines, are critical components of Urban Outfitters Global Trade and Compliance mandate. Michael and his team have adapted to the ever-changing global trade landscape by engaging public officials in multiple countries and addressing changes in individual countries that impact the importation and sale of fashion products.
Prior to Urban Outfitters, Michael spent nine years with Limited Brands as head of their Import Planning department. He spent his last two years with Limited Brands in London, setting up Compliance activity for Limited Brands as they expanded overseas. While in London, Michael served as a representative for Limited Brands on the Private Sector Consultancy Group (PSCG), a working group of corporations, global service providers and global organizations that consults with the World Customs Organization (WCO) for the purpose of informing and advising the WCO Secretary General, the Policy Commission and WCO Members on Customs and international trade matters from the perspective of the private sector.
Michael has been a Licensed Customs Broker since 1998 and is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, with a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and Foreign Service.