ABOUT ISCM
WHO WE ARE
We are a consulting firm devoted to the international competitiveness of your organization, and specialize in Import/ Export Compliance, Foreign-Trade Zone setup and administration, Supply Chain Best Practices, and Lean Operations. Recently completed projects include:
- Structuring one of the largest Foreign-Trade Zone manufacturing projects in the US, with 18 sites in 2 states, all centrally administered from an eastern location
- Redesigning the import configuration for one of the largest displays in Times Square to slash import compliance costs by seven figures
- Lean implementation which reduced standard labor per unit by 44% for a Midwest manufacturer
- Analyzing export options for a US distributor of European products to preserve EU-MX FTA rate reductions
- Department of Commerce FTZ application approval in less than 7 days for a Chicago-area distributor of industrial products
- Reorganizing the Prince George’s County Foreign-Trade Zone in the Port of Washington, D.C. to take advantage of the new Alternative Site Framework (ASF) procedures.
Leadership Team
SEAN LYDON
President
Sean Lydon’s international career includes import/export compliance and Foreign-Trade Zone operation in some of the largest ports in the United States. He founded ISCM Inc. in 2011, a consulting firm which specializes in the unique challenges of organizations with global supply chains, and capitalizes on over 25 years of experience with government compliance in commercial and defense environments.
As President and General Manager of domestic and international operations including Matthews Brand Solutions-Americas, Precision Circuits Inc., and Sony, Sean understands the C-suite decision-making process. ISCM leverages that broad experience managing organizations that have garnered awards for their performance on projects such as the F-22, Space Shuttle, and Global Positioning System Satellites. An ACI Expert Speaker, Sean is a regular presenter at seminars and conferences addressing international trade and compliance, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ).
Sean initiated a Foreign-Trade Zone in Los Angeles in half the normal time by leveraging contacts in another port to meet the enhanced security requirements of the nation’s largest seaport. This project not only reduced costs but also reduced the amount of time required to transport over $5B in goods into the United States from Asia. FTZs he has established and supports operate in both the manufacturing and distribution FTZ environments, enlisting air, truck, rail, and sea transport and in electrical and electronic materials, apparel, and consumer goods industries.
Sean has extensive experience completing successful projects to improve international supply chains. For example, he analyzed shipping data, available production locations, and market dynamics to restructure the supply chain for an emerging consumer goods business which saved over $40 million in freight costs in its first year of operation.
Sean assembled a talented team to develop, introduce, and successfully pass legislation in the US Congress to suspend the duty disparity created by NAFTA on US-produced electronics. He has secured favorable US Customs rulings to expand the use of inverted tariff provisions and generate significant supply chain savings.
A native of New York City, Sean holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA in Finance and Operations Management from Columbia University.
Leadership Team
MELISSA IRMEN
Sr. Vice President
Since the beginning of her career as a consultant delivering custom software development projects, Melissa has always had a talent for translating complex business needs into technical solutions. Today, she is sought after for technology solutions that drive savings for importers, exporters, and FTZ operators while compelling trade compliance.
Melissa has a deep background in global trade and Foreign-Trade Zone management with a specialty in software and software interface development and implementation. Prior to joining ISCM, Melissa was Senior Vice President at Integration Point, a leader in Global Trade Management and FTZ software, which was acquired by Thomson Reuters in 2019. Melissa joined Integration Point in its infancy, and executed implementations and software delivery of the flagship FTZ product for petroleum, manufacturing, and distribution clients. Over her years at Integration Point, Melissa has worked with companies in all industries to automate their import/export operations and find savings in their trade compliance function. She combines her technical and trade compliance expertise, as well as her experience with a variety of import/export scenarios, to deliver global trade compliance solutions.
Melissa is a longtime member of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ). She currently serves as Chair of this association, the largest organization of Foreign-Trade Zone professionals in the United States. Over the past 2 decades, Melissa has served as chair of the Automation Committee and the ACE Task Force, numerous Working Groups, and holds the association’s Accredited Zone Specialist designation. She also serves as the Chair of the FTZ Committee of the Trade Support Network, which provides a forum for the trade community to provide recommendations and input on customs automation and modernization.
Based on her industry liaison work with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other government agencies regulating international trade including FDA, APHIS, FWS, NHTSA, EPA and CPSC among others, she has a unique perspective of the issues and challenges driving trade compliance-related technology. She is a regular speaker and trainer at public and private industry events and trade seminars on the subject.
Melissa graduated with High Honors and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Rochester Institute of Technology. She and her husband operate a Christmas tree farm in Northern Virginia where they live with their two kids.
Welcome to ISCM. We are a consulting firm devoted to the international competitiveness of your organization, and specialize in Import/Export Compliance, Foreign-Trade Zone setup and administration, Supply Chain Best Practices, and Lean Operations. Recently completed projects include:
