Last week’s AAPA Leadership Summit was a rounding success in laying the groundwork for the association’s goals for the program year. Although the event was shifted from in-person to virtual, the agenda facilitated engaging discussions. AAPA members serving as committee leaders also took part in the summit including Chris Novak (Georgia Ports Authority), Kent Britton (Port Corpus Christi), Mark Dubina (Port Tampa Bay), Patrick Robitaille (Québec Port Authority), Raquel Kibrit (AAPA LatAm), Nathan Orf (Port of Portland), Franc J. Pigna (Aegir Port Property Advisers) and Lauren Gleason (Massport).
AAPA President and CEO Chris Connor led the opening remarks, highlighting legislation and policy, membership growth and retention, sponsorship growth, improving upon seminars and events, professional and workforce development, and operations and administration. AAPA’s technical and policy committee representatives reviewed committee goals for 2022 and a plan of action toward achieving the goals.
Closing out the day, AAPA Vice President of Business Development Kevin Traver emphasized the importance of AAPA’s Industry Solution Provider (ISP) and Supply Chain Partner (SCP) members, changes for AAPA Technical Committees, and planning for the 2022 calendar. Additional focus included membership growth, specifically bringing new members on board in line with AAPA’s mission, and increasing the size of its annual conventions.