Truly Global Representation at AAPA's Port Finance Seminar in New Orleans

An outstanding program attracted a global audience of financial professionals to New Orleans for AAPA’s Port Finance Seminar. Highlights of the program included:

• A cybersecurity panel moderated by Mike Macaluso, CFO, Port Tampa Bay, with representation from the FBI (Special Agent Corey Harris), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Bradley Hayes, director, congressional and public affairs) and insurance industry analysis (Cindi J. Heffernan, CPCU, McGriff, Seibels & Williams/BB&T) provided great information on a rising threat to the financial integrity of port operations.
• Brent Leslie, CFO, Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority moderated a panel on the Affordable Healthcare Act and its growing impact on public port authorities. Insurance experts offered strategic information on how ports might best position themselves in the future to manage this complex issue.
• Ricky Self, director of finance and administration, Port of Lake Charles, moderated an economic update featuring Peter Ricchiuti of the A.B. Freeman School of Business, Tulane University, and Sirous Thampi, technical consultant, WorleyParsons. This session provided a global macro-economic overview as well as a look at what is driving the U.S Gulf economy.

The Finance Committee under the direction of Chairman Jeff Strader, CPA, CFO, Port Freeport, produced a program that was informative, challenging and engaging. The presentations have been posted on the AAPA website.

At the 2014 AAPA Finance Seminar from left: Jeff Strader, CPA, CFO, Port Freeport, and chairman, AAPA Finance Committee; Maria Taitano, deputy general manager, administration and finance, Port Authority of Guam; Maria Natalia Urriza, administrative supervisor, Port of Bahia Blanca, Argentina; and Glenn Nelson, commercial manager, Port Authority of Guam.
Photo/AAPA