AAPA 2017 Spring Conference Features Key U.S. Leaders

Last week’s AAPA Spring Conference in Washington, D.C., (April 4-6) featured a keynote address by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao, the presentation of AAPA’s 2017 Port Person of the Year award to House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and the presentation of one of AAPA’s two 2017 Cruise Awards to Adam Goldstein, President & COO of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

 
RCC Ltd. President Adam Goldstein accepts 2017 AAPA Cruise Award from Massport Deputy Port Director Michael Vanderbeek
Photo / AAPA

 
AAPA President Kurt Nagle (left) and Port of Oakland Executive Director Chris Lytle applaud remarks by USDOT Secretary Elaine L. Chao
Photo / AAPA


AAPA Chairman Mark McAndrews (right) presents 2017 PPofY Award to House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.)
Photo / AAPA

Also presenting at last week’s conference were House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Chairman Garret Graves (R-La.) and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Ranking Member on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Other aspects of the conference included a session titled The Politics of Trade and Pressures on the Supply Chain that featured Bill Lane, former director of global government affairs for Caterpillar Inc., and Andrew Penfold, global maritime director for WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff in London. Two panels, comprised of seven port CEOs and senior level port executives, highlighted Success Stories in Port Planning and Development. In addition, the program featured a special session on using technology to stake out a leadership position in the port industry.

Tuesday, April 4, marked Western Hemisphere Ports Day – the annual recognition of the unity, importance and value of seaports throughout the Americas. Several AAPA technical and policy committees met and the AAPA Board of Directors elected Steve Cernak, chief executive and port director for Port Everglades, to serve as the association’s chairman of the board for the 2017-18 activity year that begins in October.

The final day of this year’s Spring Conference was punctuated by nine meetings with key Congressional and Administration leaders and staff officials to advocate for U.S. port policy and funding issues.

View the presentations from the 2017 Spring Conference.