Global Regulatory Summit
This two-day seminar will touch on a variety of subjects, ranging from global trends, international expansion and taxation to working with the Better Business Bureau, privacy and data usage, and the FTC's new business opportunity rule. Read on for more information about the general sessions being planned and workshops available for specific interest areas.
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| International Sessions | |
| Legal Sessions | |
| Ethics Sessions | |
| Tax Sessions | |
General Sessions
International Workshops
Legal Workshops
Ethics Workshops
Tax Workshops
Opening General Session: Exploring Global Trends
The global business environment is constantly changing. Learn from industry experts about business, legal and regulatory trends around the world that could impact your company during the months and years ahead. The panelists will help you prepare for what they have identified as priorities for the direct selling industry.
• Adolfo Franco, Executive Vice President, Direct Selling Association
• Tamuna Gabilaia, Executive Director, World Federation of Direct Selling Associations
• Joseph Mariano, President, Direct Selling Association
Privacy Protection in Direct Selling
There are a number of federal and state laws regulating how to protect and secure data in the retail space and protect the privacy of consumers. Your company has to be aware of its privacy concerns, as well as your distributors’. Panelists will discuss:
• The various federal and state laws regulating privacy and data security
• Implementing internal policies and procedures in compliance with federal and state law
• Educating your field about privacy concerns and practices
• Patrice Ettinger, Senior Counsel, Global Privacy, Avon Products, Inc.
• Julia Simon, Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Mary Kay Inc.
Networking Lunch & Presentation: Protecting Your Company from Proselyting
Proselyting can be a problem for direct selling companies. Panelists will discuss how you can protect your company from proselyting, prevent it from occurring and appropriately respond should your company be a victim of such actions.
• Phil Broadbent, Chief Legal Officer, Scentsy, Inc.
• Catherine Landman, Chief Legal Officer, The Pampered Chef
Online Sales in the Direct Selling Industry
The majority of businesses are selling products on the Internet. However, concerns are raised when direct sellers are using eBay, Amazon and other online merchants. This session will discuss:
• How to protect the sales channel from unauthorized Internet sales
• Dealing with counterfeit products available through the Internet
• Educating your salesforce about online marketing and sales
• Jim Bramble, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, USANA Health Sciences, Inc.
• Halle Sminchak, Manager, Customer & Public Relations & Business Compliance, The Kirby Company
Keynote Presentation: Improving Trade Between Canada & the United States
The United States and Canada enjoy the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world. The Head of Economic and Trade Policy with the Embassy of Canada, Counsellor Martin Moen, will discuss the progress of the Beyond the Border initiative which seeks to secure and strengthen this vital trade relationship and the Regulatory Cooperation Council, formed to promote economic growth, job creation through increased regulatory transparency and coordination. Counsellor Moen also will discuss trade policy negotiations Canada is pursuing; the Canadian business and economic environment; and policies that have been put in place in Canada to make it easier to sell into the market.
• Counsellor Martin Moen, Head of Economic and Trade Policy, Embassy of Canada
Keynote Lunch featuring FTC Commissioner Ohlhausen
Make the most of this very special opportunity to hear from Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen as she addresses privacy issues in the marketplace. Your business is obligated to protect its consumer data, and the FTC is obligated to take action against those that don't. Learn more about the best practices that have been established here and the ways in which the FTC has enforced protecting consumer data.
• Maureen Ohlhausen, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission
Closing General Session: Social Media Around the World
Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media have a global reach that can and will impact your business if they haven't already. This session will help you explore the use of social media in the global marketplace, including:
• Creating online content that is relevant to your audience, market to market
• Using social media to connect your company with its international field
• Technological considerations for your various audiences
• John Cangany, Vice President, Social Media, APCO Worldwide
• Tom Kulik, Partner, Scheef & Stone
International Expansion: The Dos and Don’ts of Going Global
This panel of direct selling industry experts will help you begin or expand your company’s international presence. Highlights include:
• Choosing the market(s) that works for your business
• On-the-ground resources you can use to get started
• Elements to include in your expansion plan to ensure a smooth process
• Michaela Beltcheva, Vice President, Government & Legal Affairs, Oriflame Cosmetics
• Richard Holwill, Vice President, Public Policy, Amway
• Kerry Tassopoulos, Vice President, Government Relations & Compliance, Mary Kay Inc.
• John Venardos, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Regulatory, Government & Industry Affairs, Herbalife
Structuring International Payment Systems
With the expansion into international markets comes the need to be able to accept payments, pay vendors and employees, and compensate distributors globally. This session will address the challenges and strategies associated with international payment systems and help you develop a successful system for your company.
• Francisco Ortega Gaxiola, Associate, Turanzas, Bravo & Ambrosi
Staffing an International Operation
With global expansion comes the need for additional personnel to be on the ground in each market you enter. Selecting those personnel can be challenging for even the most seasoned global company as each new market has different traditions, different customs and different ways of doing business. In this session you will learn strategies for selecting appropriate in-country personnel who will help you navigate on-the-ground challenges and grow your business.
• Karlheinz Ossig, Founder, MERIDIAN GERMANY
Regulations in the Top International Markets
As the direct sales channel continues to extend its global reach, sometimes in the face of a changing regulatory environment, it is imperative that your company be able to deal with and adapt to country-specific regulations where it does business. This session will discuss:
• Regulatory requirements in various international markets
• How to adapt to and comply with the varying global regulations
• Implementing in-house international compliance programs
• Maurits Bruggink, Executive Director, Seldia
• Jeff Hanscom, Attorney & Government Relations Manager, Direct Selling Association
Structuring Compensation Plans for Direct Sellers
There are as many different compensation plans as there are direct sellers in the industry. It is imperative that you structure your compensation plan to comply with federal and state laws and regulations. This session will examine:
• Adopting appropriate recruiting policies and procedures
• Implementing an internal buyback policy
• Developing a compensation structure for sales and recruiting
• Dan Murphy, President & CEO, Selkirk & Sutherland Group, LLC
The FTC’s “New” Business Opportunity Rule
After years of fine-tuning, comment periods and redrafts, the FTC finally promulgated a new business opportunity rule. The panelists will discuss:
• The requirements imposed by the rule
• The impact the rule has on the direct sales channel
• Internal policies and procedures your company can adopt to ensure it’s not subject to the rule
• Christine Todaro, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission
• John Webb, Associate Legal Counsel & Senior Director, GR, Direct Selling Association
• Christopher Willis, Ballard Spahr LLP
Succession Planning in Direct Selling
Turnover happens in every company. Whether you have successful field members who are retiring, spouses getting a divorce who are splitting their downline or routine field members leaving the business, distributors quit your company every day. This session will address:
• How to determine when downlines should be reorganized
• Developing a company policy for downline succession
• Legal ramifications for downline reorganization
• Timothy Anderson, General Counsel, Stampin' Up!
• Dana Mehrer, Corporate Counsel, Silpada Designs
Effectively Working with the BBB
Numerous companies, websites and organizations provide reviews and ratings about companies and services, but the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is one of the most well-known and trusted to do so. Not only providing information about the companies listed with them but also resolving complaints that arise, this is an important organization your company cannot afford to ignore. Attend this session and learn how to successfully work with the BBB to maintain a positive rating and effectively respond to consumer concerns.
• Beverly Baskin, Council of Better Business Bureaus
• Michael Lunceford, Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Mary Kay Inc.
• Charlie Orr, Executive Director, Direct Selling Education Foundation
Fostering Ethical Practices among Distributors
You may have an excellent product at an excellent price, but you also need to have an ethical business, both at the corporate level and in the field. This session will show you how to:
• Successfully teach and train your field to conduct their independent businesses in an ethical fashion
• Use the tools available in the marketplace to encourage and enforce ethical conduct
• Incorporate the DSA Code of Ethics into your training programs
• Trey Campbell, Director, Communications, Southwestern Advantage
• Keith Clark, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Mannatech, Inc.
• Dr. O.C. Ferrell, University of New Mexico
• Dr. Linda Ferrell, University of New Mexico
• Tamuna Gabilaia, Executive Director, World Federation of Direct Selling Associations
Your Tax Questions Answered
There are a number of federal and state tax issues that affect the direct selling industry. This session will cover:
• What constitutes a nexus between your direct selling company and a state
• The impact of sales and use, business opportunity, corporate franchise and other taxes on the direct selling industry
• The party(ies) responsible for collecting and paying sales tax
• Harris Chandler, Senior Tax Manager, Stampin' Up!
• David Cowling, Partner, Jones Day
• Jim Richmond, President, Professional Tax Services
Business & Tax Concerns When Selling Abroad
This session will focus on the most critical business and tax considerations for direct selling companies marketing and selling their products abroad. Panelists will discuss:
• The legal presence and contractual standpoints of selling into a foreign market
• An overview of the national, local and global tax issues U.S. companies must consider
• Applicable tax treaties of which you should be aware
• Legal structures and limited liability protection that apply when doing business in foreign markets
• Timothy Anderson, General Counsel, Stampin' Up!
• Kenneth Levinson, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
The Impact of Sales Tax on Hostess Gifts
Virtually all party plan companies offer hostess gifts to entice customers to host parties. You’ll learn:
• How to minimize tax liability when providing hostess gifts
• Who is responsible for paying sales tax on the gift
• Renee Baruch, Assistant General Counsel, Blyth, Inc.
• Jim Richmond, President, Professional Tax Services