2025 Schedule

9:30am Welcome from William Keep, Dean Tammy Dieterich, TCNJ School of Business.

9:35 – 10:15: Keynote: Sam Levine, former Director of Consumer Protection, FTC

10:15 – 11:15: Session 1: FTC Processes and Updates

Erin, John & Sam will give thoughts on the NPRM on Business Opportunity Rule; NPRM on MLM Earnings Claims; and ANPRM on MLM disclosures to prohibit misleading earnings claims and related deceptive conduct and changes at the FTC

Douglas Brooks – moderator and Q&A

Erin Witte, Consumer Federation of America

John Breyault, National Consumer League

Sam Levine, former Director of Consumer Protection, FTC

11:15 – 11:30: Break

11:30 – 12:15: Session 2: The Legislative Process

The legislative process, Congressional Review Act Resolutions, expected MLM industry legislative initiatives and past industry efforts (e.g., HR 3409)

Erin Witte – moderator and Q&A

John Breyault, National Consumer League

Maddy Gitomer, Democracy Forward

Peter Vander Nat, PhD, Senior Economist, FTC, retired 

Bonnie Patten, TINA.org 

12:15 – 1:15: Lunch

1:15 – 2:00: Session 3: Law Enforcement Updates

FTC, State of Washington AG; State statutes; and Google Trends to detect pyramid scheme activity 

Douglas Brooks - moderator and Q&A

Jason Jones, Assistant Attorney General, Washington D.C.

Stacie Bosley, Ph.D., Hamline University

Tait Nelson, Legal Associate at TINA.org

Ben Brysacz, Assistant Attorney General, Washington State Office of the Attorney General

Joe Kanada, Assistant Attorney General, Washington State Office of the Attorney General

Kati Daffan, Assistant Director, Division of Marketing Practices, FTC

2:00 – 2:45: Session 4: Do MLMs contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)?”

Elizabeth Villagomez, Ph.D., researcher

Louisa Andrews, researcher, United Nations University (UNU) system

2:45 – 3:00: Break

3:00 – 3:30: Session 5: Little Bosses Everywhere

Bridget Read, author

3:30 – 4:00: Session 6: Tina.org update

Bonnie Patten, TINA.org