January 30, 2024 — The APP’s 2024 Winter Conference — January 24 to 26, 2024 at the Turtle Bay Resort on O’ahu — is receiving high marks by attendees for the balance between networking opportunities and interesting and engaging presentations. Early responses to the APP’s survey of the 2024 Winter Conference have provided some great feedback that will help with planning for both the 110th Annual Conference — August 11 to 14, 2024 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan — and next year’s Winter Conference in Hawaii, the central meeting point for members on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.
In a first for any APP Conference, the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives has granted eight Continuing Education credits to any attendee who would like to receive them. Attendees can email Eric Gilmore, Director of Business Development, IAMPE, directly to process the certificates. “This is a testament to the relevance of APP Conferences,” said APP Executive Director Jane McIvor. “Hawaii provides the perfect setting as a half-way meeting point to allow attendees from both sides of the Pacific Ocean to come together for the purposes of learning from each other, building relationships, and demonstrating leadership within the port community.”
Highlights of this year’s conference include a keynote speech from DreanaLee Kalili, Deputy Director for the Hawaii Department of Transportation, which received high marks and praise. “Very interesting opening remarks and very relevant to the subject matter at hand,” said one respondent to the APP’s survey. Ms. Kalili also participated in two other panel sessions with both sessions receiving some of the highest marks of the conference.
In terms of learning about best practices, the Port Update Session and the Port of San Diego’s presentation (Environmental Champion and Economic Powerhouse) were complimented by a presentation from the Port of Stockton’s Jeff Wingfield and SSA Marine’s Joe Carrillo which not only outlined the strategy that has seen the Port’s success in moving toward electrification and zero emissions but emphasized the importance of partnerships in attaining progress. And keeping on the “partnership” theme, Captain Jamie Marshall’s presentation, All Aboard! Navigating the Complex and Changing Future of Port Developments Together encouraged attendees to put their heads together to come up with solutions to issues that all ports face.
From a networking perspective, 100 percent of respondents to the survey felt the balance struck for this year’s conference between providing opportunities to develop relationships with the educational content of the conference’s agenda was well done. Scoring a perfect five out of five, the APP Dinner on the Beach was a memorable affair for all as was the field trip to the Dole Plantation where attendees learned about supply chain logistics to ensure pineapples arrived at their destinations in the freshest condition possible.
While Turtle Bay as a venue received extraordinarily high marks for service, food and hospitality, none could escape the transportation challenges in getting from the Honolulu Airport to the location. Despite this however, 60 percent would recommend holding the conference there again.
To view photos of the conference: Click here.
Presentations (pdfs):
January 25, 2024:
- Disaster Relief and Recovery: Maui Fires — Moderator: DreanaLee Kalili, Deputy Director, Hawaii
Department of Transportation
Panel: Greg Chu, General Manager, Container Operations, Matson; Chris Martin, Vice President, Operations, Young Brothers; Michael Ohashi, General Sales Manager, Pasha Hawaii, The Pasha Group - Port Infrastructure Development Process — Moderator: Derek Chow, Pacific Rim Business Development Manager, Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc.
Panel: DreanaLee Kalili, Deputy Director, State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation; John Daley, PAMP Engineer Manager, Port of Alaska; and Rory Respicio, General Manager, Port Authority of Guam - The Transformation of Heavy Duty Equipment at Seaports in California: A Partnership Approach with Port Authority and Terminal Operators — Joe Carrillo, Regional Vice President, Northern California, SSA Pacific; Jeff Wingfield, Deputy Port Director of Regulatory and Public Affairs, Port of Stockton
- Port of San Diego: Environmental Champion and Economic Powerhouse — Dan Malcolm, Board of Port Commissioners, and Randa Coniglio, Acting President and CEO, Port of San Diego
- Port Infrastructure Modernization — Erik Soderberg, PE, D.PE, SE, President, Liftech Consultants Inc.
- Kapalama Container Terminal: A Roadmap to Clean Energy — Randy Grune, Managing Director, Hawaii Stevedores, Inc.,
a Pasha Group Company - Reducing Risks While Expanding Ports — Alan K. Goldstein, Lawyer, Law Office of Alan K. Goldstein
- All Aboard! Navigating the Complex and Changing Future of Port Developments Together — Captain Jamie Marshall, National Sector Lead, Ports & Marine, Colliers Project Leaders
- Nature-Based Solutions to Improve Coastal Resilience of Ports — Lessons Learned from the Department of Defense — Sam Whitin, Vice President and Coastal Resilience Director, EA Engineering, Science, and Technology Inc., PBC
January 26, 2024:
- From Stem to Stern: Proper Roles on Board your Agency’s Ship — Ruben Duran, Managing Partner, BBK Best Best & Krieger LLP, and Mary Anne Rooney, Commissioner, Oxnard Harbor District/The Port of Hueneme
- SEEiNg the unSEEN — Hamish Clark, Global Head of Sales, SEEN Safety Inc.
View the video from Mr. Clark’s presentation here. - A Remote Real-Time Intelligence Platform to Enhance Port Operations — James Spencer, CEO, Shift Environmental Technologies
Thanks to our Sponsors!
A big thanks to:
Admiral Sponsors: Port of San Diego, Pasha Group, Matson, and Port of Long Beach
Commodore Sponsor: Port of Stockton
Captain Sponsors: Liebherr, American Samoa Department of Port Administration, Port of Umatilla, EA Engineering, Port of Hueneme
Lieutenant Sponsor: Port of Nanaimo
Crew Sponsors: Port of Redwood City, FCS Group, Burns & McDonnell, GHD, Port of Alaska, Lynker, Liftech, Fiji Ports Corporation, SSA Marine, Best Best & Krieger LLP, and Schrader Co.