AAPA Headquarters & Staff

• Contact AAPA for Help
• Leadership and Staff Biographies
• Organizational Chart
  
  
• Administration
  Cary Davis, President and CEO
  
  Responsible for overall office administration and finance, works with the Board of Directors and serves as staff liaison to the Legal Committee and U.S. Legislative Policy Council. 
  
  
• Business Development

Jonathan Toomey, Vice President of Business Development, Events & Marketing
Melodie George, Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing
Nicole Felter, Director of Events

Plans and coordinates the annual education and training programs, Legislative Summit, and Annual Convention; responsible for membership recruitment and sponsorship development; establishes external communications, marketing and event promotion, and brand awareness; produces annual Seaports of the Americas Membership Directory and digital Smart Guide, quarterly Seaports Magazine, weekly Advisory e-newsletter, and microsite; responsible for AAPA web development and information technology infrastructure; serve as staff liaisons to the Cruise and Public Relations Committees.

• U.S. Government Relations
  John Bressler, Vice President of Government Relations
  Ian Gansler, Director of Government Relations
  Shawn Balcomb, Senior Manager of Public Affairs
  Holden Haley, Legislative Associate

Tracks legislative and regulatory issues; lobbies members of Congress on bills of interest to industry; works with Administration, Congress, Federal Agencies on port issues; produces Advocacy Updates newsletter; serve as staff liaisons to the Defense, Environment, Facilities Engineering, Harbors & Navigation, and Security Committees.

• Member Services
  Shannon McLeod, Vice President of Member Services
  Liz Mancini, Director of Member Services
  Imani Poindexter, Database Manager
  Julie Barelas, Workforce and Professional Development Associate
  Jeff Mathew Sam, Data Specialist
  
  Leads the professional development programs Port Professional Manager (PPM®) Certificate, Port Professional Associate (PPA®), and Port Professional Executive (PPX®) Credential; administers the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Closing the Skills Gap ACCELerate grant program; responsible for the Foundation of the Seaports of Americas Emergency Relief Fund; manages research and data reporting including Port Statistics Program with Trade Currents, and salary and infrastructure investment surveys; manages membership retention and experience; maintains membership information and databases; oversees membership issues such as credentials filing and dues assessments; serve as staff liaisons to the Information Technology Committee, Maritime Economic Development Committee, and Professional Development Board.
  
  
• Finance
  Charissa Meikle, Vice President of Finance and Administration
  Sumi Cross, Business Operations Manager
  
  Oversees accounting, financial reporting, benefits administration, day-to-day office management, and serves as staff liaison to the Finance Committee.