AAPA Seaports
From the President’s Desk: AAPA Poised for Growth, Change in 2020
*By Chris Connor, President & CEO, American Association of Port Authorities*
It is hard to believe that, as I write this column, it has been nearly one month since I became CEO of AAPA. Honestly, it seems like it has been longer, and I attribute that to the fact that I’ve been able to meet so many AAPA members via the Annual Convention in Norfolk, the Marketing & Communications seminar up in Montreal, the AAPA Latin American Congress in Miami and, last but not least, the tour of ports that I’ve undertaken during November and early December.
A few things I’ve noticed about port CEO’s and their senior staffs is this:
- they love their respective ports
- they are genuinely proud of the role their ports play in our ecosystem
- they are driven to continue to build out their infrastructure to accommodate trade growth
And rightfully so… There’s a lot to be proud of and impressed by, and I have found myself quickly shifting into advocacy mode when I’m around family and friends and they ask me about how my new job with AAPA is going.
I’m thrilled to be a part of this association and to have the chance to champion the efforts of promoting seaports throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome and the opportunity to lead AAPA.
