IAMPE HOLDS MARITIME PORT MANAGEMENT SUMMIT

Port of Gulfport, CEO & Executive Director, Jon Nass speaks to attendees

The International Association of Maritime and Port Executives (IAMPE) is pleased to announce that it held a Maritime Port Management Summit in Gulfport, MS, USA. The 2-day program was held 19-20 February and hosted and sponsored by the Port of Gulfport. Presenting at the summit were several distinguished maritime industry professionals from all around the country, who spoke on a wide array of topics. The summit opened with a special welcome from Gulfport Mayor, Billy Hewes.

Presenting on day one of the summit was, Capt. Jeffrey Monroe, MM, CME – IAMPE, Topic: Maritime Industry Update; Dr. Peter Simonson, MPE – University of South Alabama, Topic: How IAMPE and Universities Are Cultivating the Next Generation of Port Professionals; Wayne Coleman – C3 Associates, LLC, Topic: Foreign Trade Zones; David Arnold, AMPE – IAMPE, Topic: Tariffs; Dale Murray, AMPE – IAMPE, Topic: Shipping Barge vs. Rail; and Jon Nass, MPE – Port of Gulfport, Topic: Application of Strategic and Master Planning. The day two program featured Mark Dubina, AMPE – Port Tampa Bay, Topic: Port Security During National Disasters & Resiliency; Dr. Don Maier – University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Topic: Finding Stability in the Supply Chain; Steve Ribuffo, CME – Don Young Port of Alaska, Topic: Infrastructure Replacement Challenges – They’re the Same Everywhere…Only Different; Amy Florentino, Wavetop Solutions/ Dartmouth College, Topic: Providing Effective Port Leadership; Beth Rooney, AMPE – Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Topic: Hotwash on Port Emergencies; JoAnne Zawitoski, North Atlantic Ports Association (NAPA), Topic: Recent Developments in the Supreme Court and Other Federal Courts Affecting Marine Terminal Operators; and Ryan Manning, MPE – Port of Long Beach, Topic: Port Risk Mitigation.

Attendees of the 2-day program came from various ports across the country and earned 16 hours of Continuing Education Credit. Attending in person was: Catherine Falgoust, MPE - Business Technology Analyst, Port of New Orleans; Eric Johnsen, MPE – IT Manager, Port of New Orleans; LaWanda Campbell, IMPM - Business Operations Manager, Arkansas Waterways Commission; Geoffrey Clemens - Deputy Director, Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission; Blaine LaFontaine, AMPE – Executive Director / CEO, Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission; Shane LaFontaine, AMPE – Port Director, Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission; Brooke Glass – Economic Development Specialist, Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission; Jeremy Rogers – Operations Manager, Jackson County Port Authority, Port of Pascagoula; Bo Ethridge – Port Director, Jackson County Port Authority, Port of Pascagoula; Andrew Thiess – Program Manager and Analyst, HDR; Josh A. Hanchett, MPE – Chief Financial Officer, Port of Victoria; Joel Whitehead, MPE – Executive VP/COO, International Propeller Club; John D’Antico, MPE- General Counsel, Port of Gulfport; Victor Martinez Jr. – Port Director, Port of Palacios – Matagorda County Navigation District No. 1; Mike Simonson, MPE – Operations Supervisor/ Facility Security Officer, Port of Port Angeles; Christyna Doege, MPE – Client Engagement Manager, Port Tampa Bay; John Guidry, MPE – Engineer 9, Port of New Orleans; and Joshua Gommel, MPE – Deputy Director Marine Operations, Port of New Orleans. Attending virtually were LT Andrew Mandley, MPE – Office of Port and Facility Compliance, USCG; CDR Brandon Link, MPE – Chief, Ports & Critical Infrastructure Division, USCG; LCDR Wade Mendenhall, MPE – Chief, Facility and Container Safety, USCG; and Casey Johnson, MPE – Program Manager and Analyst, USCG.

The IAMPE is proud to have 35 Education Partners including the Connecticut Port Authority; Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Georgia Ports Authority; Port of Alaska; Bruce Oakley, Inc.; Maine Port Authority; Little Rock Port Authority ; Port Milwaukee; the British Virgin Islands Port Authority; Port of South Louisiana; Port of Morgan City (LA); America’s Central Port; the United States Coast Guard; the US Environmental Protection Agency; Port Tampa Bay; Jacksonville Port Authority; South Carolina Ports Authority; Maher Terminals; The Port of Virginia; The Mississippi State Port Authority; New Hampshire Port Authority; the World Trade Center New Orleans; Ports Association of Louisiana (PAL); Kean Miller; Parker Towing, Port of Decatur; A. Ayala Colón Sucrs Inc.; the Ponce Port Authority; Halifax Port Authority; The Port of New Orleans; Port Liberty NY; Hawaii Department of Transportation; Ports of Indiana – Jeffersonville; The Port of Long Beach; Marine Exchange of Southern California; and University of Memphis.

The IAMPE is a non-profit industry association that provides professional development and certification for professionals at every level of their careers working in and around the maritime port industry. Programs are reviewed and approved for certification by the IAMPE’s Board of Advisors, comprised of 19 industry professionals. The Association offers professional and accredited programs in Coastal and Inland Port Management and Executive Management, as well as certification programs for Marine Terminal Operator and IMDG/Hazardous Awareness.