The American Association of Port Authorities’ 101st annual convention drew more than 500 port industry leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere to Mobile, Ala., Oct. 21-25 for five days of meetings and informal interactions, including an Oct. 22 opening reception at Cooper Riverside Park.

The reception, with a carnival theme fitting with Mobile’s status as the birthplace of Mardi Gras, was hosted by The Cooper Group of Companies, featured regional cuisine and live music, and was capped off with fireworks launched from a barge in the Mobile River.

The opening reception was enjoyed by numerous past and present port directors, port authority commissioners and other industry leaders, some with their spouses. For a report on AAPA convention business sessions, please turn to page 14. (Photos by Paul Scott Abbott, AJOT)

(L to R) Incoming AAPA Chairman Armando Duarte-Peláez – Port of Santa Marta, Colombia, Lori Baer – AECOM, Anthony Taormina – Port Directions LLC, Patricia Taormina – Port Directions LLC, Christy Callahan – AECOM.

(L to R) Rosalee Mierzwa, Michael Mierzwa – Port of Galveston, Chett Chiasson – Port Fourchon, Myrna Griffin, Larry Griffin – Port Fourchon.

(L to R) Patricia Cardenas – Port Corpus Christi, Eduardo Campirano – Port of Brownsville, Bill Mathis – Port of Texas City, Nelda Olivo – Port Corpus Christi.

Ray Barberesi – MTS Corp., Jean Godwin – AAPA, Jacqueline Hutman – Hutman Marketing Corp., George Williamson – Cemex, Elaine Williamson – The Breakers.

(L to R) Ravi Singhania, Tom Perryman, Glenn Carlson and Bill Terry (all representing Port Freeport, Texas).

(L to R) Dick Steinke – Moffatt & Nichol, Ken Frederickson – Samsung Construction & Trading, Elizabeth Warren – FuturePorts, Rachel Velthuisen – ENVIRON International Corp., Joseph W. Hower – ENVIRON International Corp.

(L to R) Mike Fields, Bill Bru, Anna Bell Bru, James K. Lyons and Joe McCarthy (all representing Alabama State Port Authority).

(L to R) Ed Oppel – Port of Palm Beach, Renée Bridges, outgoing AAPA Chairman Jerry Bridges – Virginia Port Authority.

(L to R) Scudder Smith – Parsons Brinckerhoff, Shannon McLeod – Parsons Brinckerhoff, Paul Anderson – Jacksonville Port Authority, Diane Hurst – Page & Jones Inc.

(L to R) Jodie Dailey, Peter Dailey – Port of San Francisco, John Mohr – Port of Everett, Cheryl Mohr.

(L to R) Darold Dietz – Port of Longview, Ken O’Hollaren – Port of Longview, Geir-Eilif Kalhagen – Port of Longview, Ralph Cowen – Port of Brownsville.

(L to R) James Renner – Tampa Port Authority, Steve Tyndal – Port Manatee, Patricia Sandul, Duane Sandul – Port of Redwood City.