Brandon Fried
Executive Director
Brandon Fried was appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association in November 2005. Brandon has more than 38 years of experience in the air freight industry. He started his career as a sales representative in Los Angeles. He then moved to Washington, DC. where he began, owned and operated the Washington office of a global freight forwarder specializing in time definite air cargo transportation.
In 2000, Brandon joined the Airforwarders Association and was elected as Chairperson in 2001, serving for two consecutive terms. In August 2005 he sold his company interest and began consulting air cargo companies on business strategy and management practices until his appointment as Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association.
Brandon is a recognized expert on the air cargo industry and regularly comments for major trade publications such as American Shipper, The Journal of Commerce and Air Cargo World. He also continues to educate and advocate for forwarders in national publications, including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald and USA Today. He has also appeared on National Public Radio, CNN News and C-SPAN’s Washington Journal television shows.
Brandon represents the Association on all security matters and serves on several Federal Advisory Committees. He advocates for the industry in the halls of Congress, the Department of Homeland Security and is the public face of the Airforwarders Association.
A graduate of Syracuse University, Brandon holds a Masters in Business Administration and lives in Chevy Chase, MD, with his wife Kim and two children, Evan and Jordan.
Ann Crampton
Administrative Director
Ann Crampton is the Robin to the Airforwarders Association’s Batman, Brandon Fried, helping keep the mission on track with calm, capable leadership. With more years managing trade associations than she cares to count, Ann ensures everything runs smoothly and that the sacred anti-trust policy is always respected. She’s the steady hand behind the scenes, making sure no detail is overlooked. Outside the office, Ann enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing at the beach, and wrangling her two lovable, 100+ lb dogs, Sonny and Jerry. Organized, reliable, and quietly essential—Ann keeps it all moving, no cape required.
Doug Brittin
Senior Advisor
Doug Brittin is well recognized as a global leader in the area of air cargo security. He retired from The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) at the end of 2016, where he was Secretary General since 2013. TIACA (www.tiaca.org) is a global association representing all segments of the global air cargo supply chain, advocating on behalf of its worldwide members with regulatory groups such as the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal; the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Brussels, the TSA and the European Union; as well as the multitude of State security and customs regulatory organizations.
Prior to TIACA he served in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Air Cargo Office. Upon joining TSA at headquarters in 2007 he was responsible for the development of the Certified Cargo Screening Standard Security Program CCSSSP) as well as security programs and screening technology development. He was promoted to the TSA’s Senior Executive Service as Division Director, Air Cargo in 2010, where he was additionally responsible for all global air cargo security policy development, vulnerability and risk assessments, and industry engagement programs.
He began his career in transportation in 1977, and has held executive level sales, marketing and operations positions within the transportation and logistics industry at companies such as CF Airfreight, BAX Global, Panalpina, and Emery Worldwide/Menlo Logistics. His 40+ years’ experience in the industry also includes the rail and trucking sectors. Brittin is a graduate of the University of Denver and was appointed as Executive Director of its prestigious Denver Transportation and Supply Chain Institute in 2018.
Michael D. Taylor
Government Relations Director
Michael Taylor is a Senior Advisor with HillStaffer LLC, and Managing Partner at Diakon Partners Inc. He brings clients more than 40 years of strategic advisory expertise in public policy, trade, sustainability, regulatory and legislative affairs within manufacturing, energy, chemicals, plastics, transportation, infrastructure, logistics, mobility, and technology sectors at the global, federal, state and local levels. Much of his professional career has focused on federal and state lobbying, regulatory agencies and rulemakings, legislation, appropriations, crisis communications, issues management, image enhancement, political action committee management and growth, and grassroots and coalition advocacy.
In particular Michael’s experience covers air, land, and maritime policy issues, including more than eight years focused on fleets. This includes deep regulatory experience across the federal government particularly with the Department of Transportation, the Maritime Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration, the Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Labor, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Michael received his B.A. in International Affairs and History from the George Washington University, and an M.A., World Politics, from Catholic University of America. He lives on five beautiful acres in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia with his wife and partner, Teresa, their youngest daughter, three retired performance horses, five mini-Australian Shepherds, and one very cranky cat.
Joe Puncavage
Director of Membership
Joe Puncavage, a 43-year veteran of the airfreight business, has spent 38 years with BAX Global in Regional Operations / Sales, and National / Global Account Sales. I finished my last eight years as a Cargo Manager, selling the excess space on our aircraft to other forwarders, through The BAX Forwarder Network. That’s how I came to know many of our AfA members and potential members.
“After BAX l worked another five years as VP Sales in the Expedited LTL business, prior to retirement. I am very familiar with the needs of Forwarders, 3PL’s, trucking, and all interconnected businesses within our industry.
I’ve been with The Airforwarders Association part time, for over six years, enjoying what I’ve always loved in this business. Getting to continue old friendships while garnering new ones.”
Ally Norat
Membership Coordinator
Ally Norat is driven by a genuine commitment to connecting people and creating a sense of community. She’s passionate about engaging directly with members to better understand the industry and support their growth. Ally is dedicated to helping members make the most of their membership benefits while fostering an environment where they can confidently grow and build meaningful, lasting connections within the AfA. She loves a well-planned event or community chat almost as much as a perfectly color-coded spreadsheet. When she’s off the clock, you’ll find her chasing her three spunky little boys around the yard—embracing the chaos.
