Several of AAPA\u2019s policy and technical committees met at the AAPA Spring Conference in Washington, D.C. Plus, the board of directors elected William D. Friedman to serve as the association\u2019s chairman of the board.<\/p>\n
\u00a0* By Bridget Gorman Wendling, Photos by Aaron Ellis * <\/em><\/p>\n In addition to presentations and discussion on the effects of U.S. trade policies and infrastructure spending on ports, several of AAPA\u2019s policy and technical committees met at the AAPA Spring Conference in Washington, D.C. Plus, the board of directors elected William D. Friedman, president and CEO of Northeast Ohio\u2019s Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, to serve as the association\u2019s chairman of the board for the 2018-19 activity year that begins in October. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) was recognized as the AAPA 2018 Port Person of the Year.<\/p>\n Dr. Noel Hacegaba, PPM\u00ae, Port of Long Beach, led a panel discussion on The Future of the Workforce. The four panelists discussed practical and tactical ways \u201cto invest in and maximize human capital\u201d through apprenticeship programs, partnerships and collaboration with existing education avenues.<\/p>\n Clement Reid from the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands, Sean Strawbridge from Port Corpus Christi, and John Thorington from Port Tampa Bay, presented Lessons Learned in Emergency Preparedness and Response. They spoke about the keys to preparedness, safety, communication and resiliency before, during and after a catastrophic weather event based on their own experiences.<\/p>\n