AAPA Convention 2014

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A speech by Vice President Biden was among the highlights of this year’s AAPA Convention in Houston, along with business meetings, panel presentations, award presentations and the unsurpassed hospitality of our convention host, the Port of Houston Authority. During the convention, the association installed new officers, including Chairman of the Board Kristin Decas, and elected a board of directors for the 2014-2015 activity year.

Vice President Joe Biden addressing AAPA Conventioneers in Houston
Photo/Victoria Angel Photography

If you asked the 600-plus people who attended AAPA’s 2014 Annual Convention and Expo in Houston, November 9-13, most would probably say the top highlight was the keynote address on November 12 given by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. The vice president’s 30-minute presentation focusing on investing more in America’s ports, was but one of the many reasons that drew delegates and exhibitors alike to this five-day event and venue, graciously and superbly hosted by the Port of Houston Authority.

Even though the convention’s business sessions officially began November 11, the convention kicked off the week on November 10 with a host of technical committee meetings and regional caucuses. They were followed by the meetings of the 2013-2014 Board of Directors, U.S. Legislative Policy Council, and the Canadian and Latin American port delegations.

The business sessions that appeared to generate the greatest audience attendance and buzz were presentations on global economic factors, and changing energy types, demands and policies (November 11); perspectives from beneficial cargo owners and ocean carriers, as well as port infrastructure funding strategies (November 12); and working with local communities, together with innovative approaches to port challenges (November 13).

On the final afternoon of the convention, informal roundtables discussing both container and non-container port issues generated considerable dialogue among those who participated.

Awards ceremonies were also part of each day’s business events. On November 11, Distinguished Service Awards were presented to former Port of Seattle CEO Tay Yoshitani (AAPA’s 2013-14 Chairman of the Board) and Steinberg & Associates founder Dr. Bory Steinberg, while Port of Everett CEO John Mohr received AAPA’s ImPORTant Service Award. On November 12, 10 newly-accredited Port Professional Managers (PPM®) received their PPM® certificates, while on November 13, six ports were honored for successful entries in AAPA’s Environmental Enhancement competition, one port for its entry into AAPA’s Information Technology Awards competition, and three for top scores in AAPA’s Communications Awards competition. Punctuating the November 13 awards luncheon was a narrated PowerPoint presentation, recognizing all 106 successful entries in AAPA’s 2014 Communications Awards Program.

PPM® certificate recipients at the Houston convention, from left: Larry A. Kelley Jr. (Port of Port Arthur); Cathy McGrail (Halifax Port Authority); Michael Vanderbeek (Massport); Paula Copeland (Port Saint John); Noel Hacegaba (Port of Long Beach); Marcos Nicocia (Puerto Madryn); Neil Kutchera (Port Everglades); Michael Bragale (TASC, Inc.); and Donald J. Brinkman Jr. (Port of Lake Charles).
Photo/AAPA

AAPA Chairman of the Board Kristin Decas (left) receives gavel from outgoing Chairman Tay Yoshitani.
Photo/AAPA

During the Houston convention, AAPA installed new officers and elected a board of directors for the 2014-2015 activity year.

Kristin Decas formally assumed the duties of chairman of the board at the association’s annual membership meeting on November 13. Ms. Decas is CEO and port director of the Port of Hueneme. As AAPA chairman, she succeeds Tay Yoshitani, the newly-retired executive director of the Port of Seattle.

Ms. Decas also chairs the association’s United States delegation, whose other officers include: Chairman-Elect M. Kathleen Broadwater, deputy executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, and Vice Chairman Mark McAndrews, executive director of the Port of Pascagoula.

James Quinn, president & CEO of the Saint John Port Authority, is the new chairman of the Canadian delegation. The other delegation officers will be announced later.

Chairing the Caribbean delegation is Orlando Forbes, port director, Freeport Harbour Company, Bahamas. The chairman-elect is James C. Parsons Jr., deputy port director of finance and financial controller of the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands.

Officers of the Latin America delegation are: Chairman Raúl Torre Gamboa, director general, Administración Portuaria Integral de Progreso, Mexico; Chairman-elect Victor Julio Gonzalez Riascos, gerente general, Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Buenaventura, Colombia; and Vice Chairman Juan Carlos Jairala, gerente, Autoridad Portuaria de Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Go to the AAPA website for complete rosters of the delegation officers and board of directors for 2014-2015.