Bruce A. Wilson, Director

Mr. Wilson’s career in surety (specializing in customs), international trade insurance, ATA Carnet, customs brokerage, freight forwarding and entrepreneurship spans 45 years. He is world-renowned specialist in ATA Carnets, Carnet bonds and U.S. Customs bonds.

In addition to developing innovative distribution channels through customs brokers and freight forwarders for U.S. Customs bonds in the 1960’s, he is also responsible for assisting in authoring the vast majority of customs bonds and carnet bonds in the United States. During that time, he also established six captive insurance companies, all of which survive today as mainstream companies in the U.S.and international surety market.

From 1969 to 1982 Mr. Wilson also served as Chairman and CEO of J.E. Bernard and Co., Inc., the largest customs broker/freight forwarder in the Chicago metropolitan area with a large office and presence in New York City as well.

During that same period he was Chairman of J.E. Bernard, Ltd, a leading UK forwarding and logistics management company. He continued as a Director of that company, now named Bernard Group Plc. Bernard Group received gold and silver “Freight Service Awards” from the British Institute of Freight Agents (BIFA) each year since 1992, including January 2002.

Mr. Wilson’s contribution to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB)  established the USCIB as the premier national guaranteeing association in the ATA Carnet system of 87 countries and territories. He has traveled extensively internationally representing the USCIB in International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and World Customs Organization (WCO) gatherings. Through that effort he has developed a deep understanding of both North American and international surety markets.

One of his many accomplishments at USCIB was the development and implementation of a bi-lateral agreement between the United States and Taiwan that mirrors the ATA Carnet system thus opening up Taiwan to additional U.S trade and trade promotion. This bilateral agreement resulted in the development of the TECRO/AIT carnet which is used by U.S.companies traveling with samples into Taiwan.

Although Mr. Wilson is regarded as an expert in his fields, he is first and foremost a successful entrepreneur. His venture, Corporation for International Business/boomerang carnets®, began as a claims handling operation for carnets and has grown into a major player in the carnet and carnet bond market in the U.S. For example, boomerang carnets® market share has grown from 15% in 1996 to 40% in 2012 and it continues to be the most innovative of its kind. Boomerang carnets®' foray into the Internet was in 1996 when the first online carnet application system was introduced. Carnets-by-Internet®, marked a significant improvement in the application process and was the only online application available in the U.S. for several years.