Charlene Riley
2025 Captain of Industry Recipient
The NY/NJ Foreign Freight Forwarders & Brokers Association, Inc. is pleased to honor Charlene Riley with its “Captain of Industry” Award for 2025. This award is bestowed on an individual who has steadily and generously given their knowledge, time and commitment to the Association.
With decades of high-ranking leadership positions in all aspects of transportation with freight forwarders and customs brokerage, Charlene has helped the industry and NYNJFF&BA membership navigate the challenges of the rapidly changing global supply chain and regulatory environment.
Charlene has long served the NY NJ Freight Forwarders & Brokers Association in several roles, on the Board of Governors, as the Treasurer, Vice President of Imports and President and more recently in the role of senior advisor and former Chair. Her extensive operational knowledge and strategic thinking have proven to be a great resource for the NYNJFF&BA.
In addition, she is actively involved with the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (“NCBFFAA”), representing the Port of New York/New Jersey on the Customs Committee, chairing the Legislative Committee and heading the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) committee. Charlene represented the NCBFAA at two FIATA World Congress events.
Charlene is currently East Coast Import Operations Manager with J. W. Allen, a logistics firm that has been in business for 92 years and been in the customs brokerage and foreign freight forwarding business for more than 35 years. Ms. Riley has served in a variety of managerial roles, beginning her career with Barthco, where she managed numerous offices across the country. She then spent over two decades with John A. Steer Co., rising to the position of Vice President of their NY/NJ office. Ms. Riley is an alumnus of Pennsylvania State University and obtained her Customs Broker’s license in 1989.
Her achievements and dedication to the Association deserve recognition!
Charlene will be honored on June 25th, at the Annual Dinner Cruise please join us for an incredible evening with your peers and congratulate Ms. Riley.