AAPA Seaports
New Interactive Ports Map Powered by ESRI
AAPA has launched a new interactive map aimed at providing a hemispheric-wide view of the association’s member ports. Created by AAPA member ESRI using its innovative geographic information systems (GIS) technology, this interactive map charts out AAPA member ports throughout the Western Hemisphere. This visually compelling, easy-to-use tool allows members to utilize its powerful mapping and analytics software to their benefit. An extension of AAPA’s membership directory, the interactive map displays the location of ports, and pop-ups provide information about primary cargoes, channel depths, and other general information by clicking on each port’s pin marker. Check out the mobile-friendly map via AAPA’s website at bit.ly/ESRI-map.
AAPA Board Appoints New Chair
AAPA’s Board of Directors unanimously elected Paul Anderson, President and CEO of Port Tampa Bay, as the Chairman of the 111-year-old association. Anderson will serve out the remainder of the two-year term begun by Sean Strawbridge, CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi. Strawbridge resigned his chairmanship of AAPA and his post at the port effective June 2. The Association, its members, and its staff thank Mr. Strawbridge for his tenure as chair, during which the groundwork was laid for national freight planning and infrastructure permitting reform.
Anderson brings a wealth of experience to AAPA, most especially as a former Presidential appointee at the Federal Maritime Commission and his leadership of Port Tampa Bay, which has hosted numerous Association events including the POWERS Program Summit this past January. Anderson is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Jacksonville Port Authority. He currently chairs the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Program and is the former chairperson of the Florida Ports Council.
AAPA Welcomes New Director of Conferences and Events
Chelsea Kertes joined the AAPA team on May 23 as Director of Conferences and Events. She will lead the collaborative planning and execution of all AAPA events. Before joining AAPA, she held event and volunteer management roles mainly within the sports and tourism industries. Most recently, Chelsea was a conference producer at Smithers, where she handled the production and sponsorship responsibilities for her portfolio of conferences. She earned a BA in Sport Management and Public Relations from Baldwin Wallace University, as well as an MBA from Tiffin University. Chelsea loves to travel, hike, and spend as much time with her family and friends as she can.
Port Fourchon Executive Director Chett Chiasson Elected Vice-Chair of AAPA Board
AAPA’s governing body has elected Chett Chiasson, Executive Director of Port Fourchon, as Vice-Chair of the AAPA Board of Directors for the 2022-24 term. Chiasson has served on the board as a director for the U.S. Gulf Ports region since 2016. He will assume the board’s vice chair role for the remainder of a two-year term. Chiasson has been Executive Director of the Greater Lafourche Port Commission (GLPC), which runs Port Fourchon and the South Lafourche Leonard Miller, Jr. Airport, since January 2010. He has played a leadership role in working to protect Port Fourchon and Louisiana’s surrounding coast while also stressing the importance of servicing the ever-expanding energy industry for local, state, and national economies and U.S. energy security.
