As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on what truly drives this Association: the strength of our members and the collective impact of this port community across the Americas. Your engagement, leadership, and collaboration continue to shape an industry that is resilient, forward-looking, and essential to the global economy.
Over the past year, we made meaningful progress across advocacy, events, and the member services you rely on—along with recognizing the people and work that move our industry forward. Our
25 in ’25: Year by the Numbers recap offers a quick look at how that work came to life.
Looking ahead, our focus remains clear and unwavering. The Association enters the new year with strong leadership, a committed Board, and a dedicated staff advancing the priorities that matter most to ports and their partners. The foundation strengthened in 2025 positions us well for continued growth, impact, and opportunity in the year ahead.
From all of us at AAPA, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a healthy, successful start to 2026. We’re energized by what lies ahead and grateful to move forward together.
Warm regards,
The AAPA Leadership Team
John Bressler
Vice President of Government Relations
Shannon McLeod
Vice President of Member Services
Charissa Meikle
Vice President of Finance and Administration
Jonathan Toomey
Vice President of Business Development, Events & Marketing
