News Release
FOR RELEASE - March 13, 2012
Contact: Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org
703-706-4714
American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org
| WHO: | Noted political, port and financial leaders/experts, including U.S. Rep. John Mica, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who will accept AAPA’s “Port Person of the Year” award. |
| WHAT: | Luminaries addressing U.S. transportation infrastructure policy issues at AAPA’s two-day Centennial Spring Conference. |
| WHEN: | Monday, March 19, Noon - 3:30 p.m.; Tuesday, March 20, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| WHERE: | The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, 999 9th Street NW, Washington, D.C. |
| WHY: | To focus on freight transportation issues important to seaports throughout the Americas and recognize/celebrate AAPA’s 100th year as the Western Hemisphere’s leading trade association representing public port authorities. |
| MEDIA: | Credentialed journalists interested in covering AAPA’s Spring Conference business sessions for media purposes are asked to contact Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org, to obtain a media pass. |
Noted publisher and political analyst Charlie Cook will deliver the opening address on March 19 for the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 100th anniversary Spring Conference while Canada’s ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer, and U.S. Congressman John L. Mica (R-FL) will deliver separate keynote remarks on March 20.
Cong. Mica will also be awarded AAPA’s prestigious “Port Person of the Year” award prior to his March 20 luncheon remarks.
Celebrating its first century as the Western Hemisphere’s leading trade association representing public port authorities, AAPA will also feature a host of other elite presenters throughout its two-day centennial anniversary conference at the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown Hotel. The conference will focus on freight transportation issues important to seaports throughout the Americas and serve as a venue to recognize and celebrate AAPA’s 100th anniversary.
“This year’s Spring Conference takes place at a critical juncture; in these times of economic uncertainty, it’s vital that policymakers here in Washington, and in national capitals throughout the Western Hemisphere, prioritize improvements to infrastructure that connect us to the global marketplace,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and CEO. “Investments in landside and waterside infrastructure are an essential and effective utilization of limited resources and pay significant dividends in terms of international competitiveness, economic growth, long-term job creation and tax revenues.”
Charlie Cook—a leading authority on American politics and U.S. elections, and publisher of the Cook Political Report—will kick off the conference at noon on March 19 with his perspective on the 2012 U.S. elections.
Later that afternoon, global financial experts with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (Yoshiaki Ushijima) and the International Finance Corporation (Ari Skromne and Han Cao), together with Moffat and Nichol’s principal port finance and planning economist, Stephen Shaffer, and BMO Capital Markets Managing Director Jeffrey Holt, will discuss global finance sources for hemispheric port development.
Opening the second day of the conference at 8:30 a.m. will be U.S. Representatives Janice Hahn (D-Calif.) and Ted Poe (R-Tex.), co-chairs and founders of the congressional Ports Opportunity, Renewal, Trade and Security (PORTS) Caucus, who will examine port and infrastructure issues in the 112th Congress. Introducing the two members of Congress will be Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D.
At 9:00 a.m., noted port and maritime economist John Martin will address the economic dividends of investing in transportation infrastructure. He will be introduced by Canaveral Port Authority Chief Executive Officer J. Stanley Payne.
Immediately prior to the March 20 luncheon address by Cong. Mica, a panel featuring Washington Post transportation and policy reporter, Ashley Halsey III, Politico Pro transportation reporter Adam Snider, and StrategyOne President Robert Moran, who is a top market research specialist, will each provide their perspective on the changing political environment and its impact on U.S. infrastructure legislation and investment. The panel will be facilitated by Port of Oakland Media/PR Specialist Marilyn Sandifur, who chairs AAPA’s Public Relations Committee.
AAPA anticipates that more than 200 legislators, governmental staff members and port industry leaders and staff will take part in the two-day conference. Additionally, AAPA will hold its Centennial Celebration Dinner the evening of March 19 for more than 600 invited guests.
