News Release
FOR RELEASE - August 31, 2020
Contact: Aaron Ellis, Public Affairs Director, aellis@aapa-ports.org
(703) 254-7098
American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org
 |
Among the four keynote presenters taking center stage at the 2020 Annual Convention and Expo of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) – the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas – will be Global Business Alliance President and CEO Nancy McLernon.
Ms. McLernon’s presentation, America’s Global Connections are Key to U.S. Economic Recovery, will address the latest trends and outlook on international trade and investment, as well as the key U.S. policy issues facing global commerce.
In a pre-convention statement, she noted that the coronavirus pandemic has brought out parochial tendencies in many countries, which could have a devastating impact on the United States’ path to recovery. “Ironically,” wrote Ms. McLernon, “it’s America’s global connections, which rely heavily on ports for trade, that will create resiliency in the U.S. economy and help lead us out of this crisis.”
Ms. McLernon leads the only Washington, D.C. organization focused exclusively on supporting the international business community. Her strong background in economics has helped focus her advocacy efforts on educating legislators on the important role U.S. subsidiaries play in the American economy and policy issues that would make the U.S. a more competitive location for foreign direct investment and job creation.
Originally slated for Québec City, QC, Canada, AAPA’s 109th annual conference, renamed Together Apart, will now be an exclusive, virtual experience.
The three-day business program, hosted in partnership with AAPA’s Diamond sponsor – Port Québec – features a robust slate of keynote speakers and subject matter experts focusing on topics ranging from international trade and tourism, to import tariff challenges and the U.S. elections in November. The full calendar of events is available here and on the AAPA website.
Just confirmed as the fourth keynote speaker for the virtual conference is Michael Dominquez, president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International, who will discuss the future of business travel in today’s COVID-19 pandemic environment.
Speaking on behalf of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. (GLDD), the convention’s Premier Fleet sponsor, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Business Development Bill Hanson said: “GLDD is proud to play a larger role with AAPA since the future is bright for U.S. ports and waterways. Since ‘it all starts with dredging’ is our trademark, the future is bright for all of us in the supply chain business as well. We look forward to working with port leaders and decision makers at the AAPA Together Apart annual conference (even virtually) to make sure that we’re all providing the high-level messaging to policy makers that will continue to help us all grow.”
More information about AAPA’s 109th Annual Convention and Expo, including its business program agenda, exhibitors and sponsors, is available at www.aapatogetherapart.org.
| WHO: | Hosted by American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) in partnership with its Diamond-level sponsor, Port Québec, its Premier Fleet sponsor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, and additional sponsors Mott MacDonald, Jacobs, ZPMC USA, AECOM, Konecranes, Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations, Green Marine, Moffatt & Nichol, TMEIC and Weeks Marine. |
| WHAT: | AAPA’s 109th Annual Convention and Expo, renamed Together Apart, features keynote presenter Nancy McLernon, president and CEO of the Global Business Alliance, together with Axios Co-Founder and Executive Editor Mike Allen, Volvo Trucks North America President Peter Voorhoeve and Associated Luxury Hotels International President and CEO Michael Dominguez. |
| WHEN: | September 21-23, 2020 |
| WHERE: | www.aapatogetherapart.org |
| MEDIA: | Professional journalists representing bona-fide media outlets may request complimentary access to open business sessions by contacting either AAPA Public Affairs Director Aaron Ellis (aellis@aapa-ports.org) or AAPA External Relations Vice President Mary Beth Long (mlong@aapa-ports.org). |
About AAPA
Founded in 1912 and recognized as the unified voice of seaports in the Americas, AAPA today represents 130 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 200 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports.
According to IHS Markit’s GTA Forecasting (previously known as World Trade Service), combined international sea trade moving through Western Hemisphere seaports in 2018 totaled nearly 4.2 billion metric tons in volume and US$3.7 trillion in value. Of that combined total, seaports in Central and South America handled 1.86 billion metric tons of cargo valued at US$1.17 trillion, while North American seaports handled 2.34 billion metric tons of goods, valued at US$2.53 trillion. Within North America, U.S. seaports handled 1.01 billion metric tons of international trade valued at US$1.95 trillion, while Canada’s seaports handled 380.53 million metric tons of goods valued at US$266.67 billion, and Mexico’s seaports handled 352.53 million metric tons of cargo valued at US$312.91 billion.
To meet the growing demand for trade, the AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable. For more information, visit www.aapa-ports.org. On Twitter: http://twitter.com/AAPA_Seaports
