AAPA Elects Seattle’s Tay Yoshitani its Next Chairman, Recognizes Port Persons of the Year

Tay Yoshitani was elected chairman of the board-elect of the American Association of Port Authorities during the Spring Conference meeting on March 18 of the AAPA Board of Directors.  

Mr. Yoshitani has been chief executive officer of the Port of Seattle since 2007. He is also former chief executive of both the Maryland Port Administration and the Port of Oakland and served as deputy executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. Born in Japan, he is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and holds a master’s in business administration from Harvard University. He received airborne and ranger training in the U.S. Army prior to service in Vietnam and was discharged with the rank of captain. 

He will formally assume the office of chairman of the board at this fall’s AAPA convention in Orlando.

Also during the Spring Conference, AAPA presented Port Person of the Year awards to U.S. Reps. Janice Hahn (D-CA) and Ted Poe (R-TX), co-founders of the bi-partisan Congressional PORTS Caucus. The award honors individuals for their significant contributions to the port industry.

"Both Congresswoman Hahn and Congressman Poe have displayed extraordinary leadership in bringing together representatives from both sides of the aisle to address the needs of our ports nationwide,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and CEO. "These two ardent and vocal supporters of the port industry have clearly demonstrated by their words and deeds that, given the importance of these trade hubs to the economy and national security, America’s seaports deserve a prominent place in the national dialogue.”

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