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Certification Board of Governors - A Delaware incorporated 601(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization 3511 Silverside Road, Suite 105 Wilmington, Delaware 19810 USA 877-299-7637 www industrycertfcation org = Certification” Board of Governors “Setting the Professional Standards forthe Intemational Trade Community Worldwide’ Dr. Donald N. Burton August 1, 2008 President, International Import-Export Institute 11225 North 28” Drive, Suite 8-201 Phoenix, Arizona 85029 Dear Dr. Burton: This is a consolidated response to the ongoing debate on International mport-Export Institute (IIE!) control of the Certification Board of Governors (CBG) through the CBG Board of Directors (Board). ‘The CBG Executive Committee (EC) continues to be most concemed about this serious unresolved problem that constrains the CBG's growth and development and detracts from our mission, goals and objectives. ‘The current situation is detrimental to the CBG and also hinders the evolution and ultimate success of the IIE. Communication and coordination between the CBG Board, the EC and CBG committees continues to be unacceptable and counterproductive. Maintaining this divisive internal wall further detracts and divides. Regretful, unfortunately and since there's been no meaningful movement on this, the members of the CBG EC after extensive discussion and thoughtful consideration, have decided to submit our resignations. This includes Doug Jacobson, Vice President & General Counsel of the CBG's EC and Chairman of the Compliance & Enforcement Committee, along with Patrick Donovan, EC Member and Chairman of the CBG Advisory Council. These resignations are a result of and in protest to this ongoing unresolved problem. My resignation as the CBG President was effective as a result of my email to you last night. After more than three years of trying to remedy this unfortunate situation, we came to the unanimous conclusion this is an entrenched position that will not change. Therefore, we can no longer condone, promote or support an organization that professes to be an independent certification body, when in reality, itis not. Unfortunately, the CBG is controlled by the IIEI. Further, the fact that Rick Oxford, the CBG Board Chairman has a conflict of interest as a financial contributor to and shareholder in the IIEI is particularly inappropriate and also contrary to the mission, goals and objectives of the CBG. Additionally, the secret 50-year contract between you and Rick Oxford as the CBG Board Chairman maintaining IIEI's control of the CBG is most disturbing and just as an unacceptable. We and many others joined the CBG with the understanding this was a separate and distinct organization, We asked other trade compliance professionals to join as well for what we believed to be a worthwhile cause and similarly misled them. We are stil song believers in the concept of and need for global certification standards. They are long overdue. However, we are no longer wiling to associate ourselves with an organization that's something other than what it professes to be. In reality, the CBG is a front company for the IIEI and is an ongoing effort to create and provide credibility and cover to facilitate profits for the IIE. ‘We are sincerely proud of the dedicated progress we've made in many areas related to the CBG. We are also grateful for the opportunity to serve our industry and government counterparts in the international trade community. However, in all honestly, in our tenure with the CBG, we have not been able to materially set maintain of refine the professional and ethical standards of performance for industry certfication. The IIEi has done as they pleased under your direction and the CBG is nothing more than a rubber stamp for what the IIEI does. The lack of progress on this all important issue is particulerly disturbing, In conclusion, we strongly urge you to let go, separate appropriately and cleanly from the CBG and allow the CBG and the IIEI to fully achieve the enormous potential that stil exists in this area and directly impacts the national security, foreign policy and economic well being of this Nation and many others around the world Respectfully Submitted, #5 Park VA 20111-8203 Ce: Douglas N. Jacobson, Patrick J. Donovan, Richard L. Oxford, F.A. Nicholson, Alexander Klein

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