By Paul Scott Abbott, AJOT

A cooperative approach is critical to continuing advancement of Western Hemisphere seaports, according to both the immediate past chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities and his successor.

Such spirit of collaboration was evident Sept. 23 when Michael A. Leone, port director of the Massachusetts Port Authority, passed the ceremonial AAPA chairman’s gavel to A.J. “Pete” Reixach Jr., executive port director and chief executive officer of Port Freeport, Texas, on the final day of the association’s 99th annual convention.

Delivering his outgoing chairman’s address at the Cunard Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Leone reflected upon how the port industry’s proverbial seascape has changed between the 2003-04 association year, when he first served as AAPA chairman, and his 2009-10 term. (The Port of Boston’s Leone is the only person to have been elected to two separate terms as AAPA chairman.)

Leone noted that, during his 2003-04 term, the hemispheric association was advancing efforts to bring greater value to member ports in its Caribbean and Latin American delegations, including through the launch of its Seaports of the Hemisphere Allied in Relationships for Excellence, or SHARE, initiative for sharing best practices, encouraging partnerships, and promoting education and training.

In his brief remarks after the gavel passing, Reixach said he sees further progress in AAPA serving its members from beyond the United States and Canada – in particular through an impending merger of the Caribbean and Latin American delegations, which he described as “a good idea whose time has come.”

Leone cited other steps forward for Latin American port members, including the success of the Latin American Congress of Ports and the development of a version of AAPA’s professional port manager certification program tailored to the needs of Latin American participants.

In fact, Leone said, the interactive class format of the Latin American PPM program has proven so beneficial that, in the past year, a similar collaborative group format has been adopted for AAPA’s entire PPM program – a change initiated by Dr. Geraldine Knatz, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, who preceded Leone as AAPA’s chairman.

Also in the past year, Leone noted, AAPA has entered the social media realm with opening of a Twitter account, and the association’s emergency management relief fund, which assists member port employees who have become victims of disaster, is advancing toward federal tax-exempt status that should facilitate additional charitable donations.

“The industry really enjoyed a significant improvement in visibility,” Leone said of the past year. He cited the National Port Summit held in February with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, as well as listening session interactions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Leone also lauded the port industry’s environmental progress, including establishment of programs to reduce emissions by phasing out older, heavily polluting trucks from port drayage operations.

Leone commended AAPA’s Alexandria, Va.-based staff for its dedication and urged port leaders to work closely with association staff members and with each other, including on AAPA committees.

“It’s the work that you do and your commitment to the association that makes it so great,” Leone said.

In passing the chairmanship to Reixach, Leone offered to provide his assistance, adding, with a smile, “I’m not really unhappy to be turning it over to you after this.”

Reixach responded, “I am excited about the opportunity this association has given me.”

Reixach said the past year has seen numerous challenges for the port industry that he expects will continue into the coming year.

“But challenges often present opportunities,” he added.

In the coming year, Reixach said, he hopes to see more youthful port leaders pursue greater involvement in AAPA and its committees, succeeding longtime participants who are re