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Ten earn AAPA Professional Port Manager certification

Ten earn AAPA Professional Port Manager certification
Nine new Professional Port Manager program graduates and one Latin PPM program graduate will receive their certificates on Nov. 12 in a luncheon ceremony at the American Association of Port Authorities’ 103rd Annual Convention in Houston, hosted by the Port of Houston Authority. Several graduates work at ports that handle sizable cruise business.

PPM participants must hold professional management positions at port authorities and other maritime-related entities, complete a prescribed curriculum of seminars and participate in an AAPA Standing Committee. They must also complete a two-week residency at AAPA headquarters or a port other than their own, or submit a research paper that contributes substantially to the body of knowledge concerning public port management, subject in each case to approval by AAPA’s Curriculum Committee.

'The final papers we’ve received from the 2014 graduating class are very high quality—something you’d expect from graduate students. We really have a very talented group,' said Rex Sherman, AAPA’s director of research and information services and administrator of the PPM program.

The Latin PPM program is offered in Spanish and Portuguese and designed to address the challenges affecting ports in Latin America. AAPA’s Latin American Delegation and TRAINMAR AMÉRICAS designed courses that address their specific requirements.

Those receiving their PPM or Latin PPM certification in November include two professionals from Port Everglades. J. David Anderton II, assistant director, strategic planning and development, wrote a paper titled 'Improving Airport-Seaport Connectivity: A Case Study of Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.' Neil Kutchera, special projects coordinator and petroleum specialist, wrote 'A Mobile Cruise Guide Application: Report on PPM Residency at the Port of San Diego.'

From Massport (Boston), Michael Vanderbeek, deputy port director, sales and marketing, produced 'Report on Residency at the Ports of Ningbo and Qingdao, China.'

Cathy McGrail, cruise development and corporate affairs director for the Halifax Port Authority, addressed 'Cruise Growth Strategy & Shore Power Technology.'

Paula Copeland, manager of corporate communications & governance for Port Saint John (New Brunswick), wrote 'An Inclusive Approach to Port Management: Stakeholder Engagement in Practice at Port Saint John.'

Michael Bragale, director for Latin America and Caribbean Affairs for TASC (Chantilly, Va.), submitted 'Port Residency Essay: A Case Study of the Tampa Port Authority.'

Donald J. Brinkman Jr., director of engineering, maintenance & development for the Lake Charles Harbor & Terminal District (Louisiana), chronicled 'Port Professional Manager Residency at the Port of Corpus Christi Authority.'

Noel Hacegaba, managing director of commercial operations and chief commercial officer for the Port of Long Beach (California), wrote 'Big Ships, Big Challenges: The Impact of Mega Container Vessels on US Port Authorities.'

Larry A. Kelley Jr., deputy port director for the Port of Port Arthur (Texas), produced 'Valuation of Public Ports: Communities Context and Public Policy Perspective.'

Marcos Nicocia, administrator, Administración Portuaria Puerto Madryn (Argentina), wrote 'Plan de Negocios para el Desarrollo de la Terminal Intermodal y Logística Madryn' (Business Plan for the Development of Madryn's Intermodal and Logistics Terminal).