News Release
FOR RELEASE - October 11, 2016
Contact: Aaron Ellis, Public Affairs Director, aellis@aapa-ports.org
(703) 684-5700
American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org
The Port of New Orleans, a major international goods movement and cruise hub in Louisiana’s famed Crescent City, is set to host the 105th Annual Convention and Expo of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) - the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas, Oct. 23-26. The four-day program will feature members of Congress discussing anticipated trade and transportation policy for the upcoming year; noted political commentator and executive editor for The Weekly Standard, Fred Barnes, focusing on the 2016 U.S. elections; an industry outlook on global and domestic supply chains and governments’ evolving role in optimizing goods movement; perspectives on port financing, investment and development initiatives; anticipated impacts of energy markets on ports; and presentations addressing effective communications strategies, technologies to enhance port productivity, and best practices in environmental stewardship.
The event will be in the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, where hundreds of leading port, government, trade and transportation leaders, port-industry suppliers and subject-matter experts will assemble.
“This year marks the seventh time New Orleans has played host to AAPA’s annual conference,” said Port of New Orleans President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “We’re honored to host this prestigious event and we know attendees will enjoy New Orleans’ hospitality and the unparalleled networking and business programs that AAPA events provide.”
Reflecting on Mr. LaGrange’s passion for his cherished city, AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle said, "AAPA and our member ports look forward to returning to New Orleans for our annual convention. With its inviting mix of cultural amenities and a world-class seaport, the Crescent City is an ideal location to bring together port representatives from throughout the hemisphere to collaborate on key industry issues and strengthen trading relationships. We greatly appreciate the hospitality of Gary LaGrange and his port’s Board of Commissioners for hosting this international event."
On the final day of the program, which will also feature AAPA’s annual awards luncheon, the ports association and Beaumont, Texas’ Lamar University will hold a signing ceremony to authorize a program agreement between the two organizations. It will enable current port professionals who have earned AAPA’s Professional Port Manager (PPM®) certification to jump start attainment of Lamar University’s fully online, graduate degree programs in port management. In June, AAPA and Lamar University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide mutually-beneficial educational and professional development opportunities for the benefit of students and port professionals.
More information about AAPA’s 105th Annual Convention and Expo, including its business program agenda, exhibitors and sponsors, is available at http://bit.ly/29B32Uu.
| WHO: | American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and Port of New Orleans. |
| WHAT: |
AAPA’s 105th Annual Convention and Expo, featuring U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.), U.S. Rep. and House Majority Whip Stephen Scalise (R-La.) and U.S. Rep. Steve Palazzo (R-Miss.), together with political commentator and executive editor of The Weekly Standard, Fred Barnes. |
| WHEN: | Oct. 23-26, 2016. |
| WHERE: | Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, 500 Canal St., New Orleans, La. 70130 |
| MEDIA: | Professional journalists representing bona-fide media outlets may request a media pass to open business sessions (Oct. 25-26) by contacting AAPA Public Affairs Director Aaron Ellis (aellis@aapa-ports.org or 703-684-5700). |
About Port of New Orleans
The Port of New Orleans is a deep-draft multipurpose port at the center of the world’s busiest port system — Louisiana’s Lower Mississippi River. Connected to major inland markets and Canada via 14,500 miles of waterways, six class-1 railroads and the interstate highway system, the port is the ideal gateway for steel, project cargo, containers, coffee, natural rubber, chemicals, forest products, manufactured goods and cruising. An extensive network of ocean carrier services, along with added-value services like transloading of bulk into containers, make the Port of New Orleans the superior logistics solution for many types of cargo. To stay ahead of market demand, the port has invested more than $100 million in capital-improvement projects since 2012 and has a Master Plan to expand the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal to an annual capacity of 1.5 million TEUs.
About AAPA
Founded in 1912, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) is the recognized and coordinated voice of seaports in the Americas. Our trade association represents more than 150 public port authorities in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America. In addition, association members include more than 300 sustaining and associate firms and individuals with an interest in the seaports of the Western Hemisphere. AAPA is dedicated to strengthening the ability of member ports to serve their global customers and create economic and social value for their communities. AAPA promotes the common interests of the port community, and provides leadership on trade, transportation, environmental and other issues related to port development and operations. AAPA also raises awareness among the public, media, and policy makers about the essential role ports play within the global transportation system.
