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Chairman's Letter - December 2019

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Written by

NIBA

Published

December 19, 2019

Reading time

2 min

Candy Canes and Cocoa Tariffs, Brexit, weather, trade wars -- 2019 has been quite a year. Even as markets and market participants have worked their way through disruption, NIBA has helped our members and their customers understand and use new rules, new products - indeed, new trading platforms! December marks the 28th and one/half anniversary of the NIBA. From a group primarily made-up of ag-related IBs who held their first planning meeting in a small room at the Italian Village Restaurant in Chicago, NIBA has grown to represent all IBs and CTAs who place trade globally for their customers. We have the support of all domestic FCMs that handle substantial retail business and service providers with unique products for the industry. NIBA is recognized and respected by our regulators, serving on advisory and committees, and called upon when comment and opinion is needed. To paraphrase a 1980’s perfume commercial, “We’ve come a long way, baby!” But NIBA has a long way to go. You may have noticed a new look to our website, and particularly, to the online Broker Directory. I urge you to review your listing. To make corrections or additions, contact IB/CTA membership chair, Brad Janitz, bjanitz@midlandira.com. Service Providers should contact Steve Petillo, spetillo@straitsfinancial.com. FCMs contact Mike Burke, mike@highgroundtrading.com or me, Melinda@futuresrep.com. In the coming months, you will also notice a new look and focus for our newsletter and member notices. We’ll be using social media to communicate with you more often too. Additionally, two new board members were elected in November - John Roe, BTR Trading (CTA) and Katie Tervin, Zaner Group (IB). They attended their first board meeting along with new FCM representative Tom Mitchell, Gain Capital. I’m looking forward to sharing whatever 2020 brings with you. Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year.

Melinda Schramm, Founder & Chairman melinda@futuresrep.com

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