Promotions in line with association's strategic plan and ongoing succession planning

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) … the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas … today announced that two current staff members are being promoted, effective Jan. 1, 2019. The promotions are part of an ongoing succession plan and further alignment of AAPA’s organizational structure with the five goals contained in its strategic plan.

“I’m pleased to announce that Mary Beth Long will become AAPA’s Vice President of External Affairs and Meredith Martino will be Vice President of Member Engagement,” said AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle. “Both Mary Beth and Meredith have been strong and energetic contributors to the work of the association for many years, are well known and respected by our members, and will be excellent leaders of their respective departments as AAPA continues to serve the public ports of the Western Hemisphere.”

When AAPA’s longtime Executive Vice President & General Counsel Jean Godwin indicated earlier this year her intention to reduce her role in 2019, the association set in motion a transition process and succession plan to ensure continuity moving forward.

“Jean will continue to serve as the association’s general counsel, while our Outreach & Membership Services department that she has led will be separated into two departments: External Affairs and Member Engagement,” added Mr. Nagle.

He further noted that the new External Affairs department will focus on two of the organization’s five strategic goals, awareness and professional development, while the Member Engagement department will be charged to address the goals of relationship building and relevance. AAPA’s fifth strategic goal, advocacy & representation for its U.S. members, will continue to be the focus of the association’s Government Relations department, led by Vice President of Government Relations Susan Monteverde.

Mary Beth Long began working at AAPA in 1999 as part of the Government Relations department and has held several positions within the association since that time. Prior to joining AAPA, she coordinated legislative activities at the law firm of Thomson Coburn. From 1996 to 1998, she worked for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and before that, worked on behalf of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association.

Ms. Long has a long career of promoting the interests of transportation industry stakeholders and looks forward to playing an even greater role building support and recognition of America’s seaports. In her new role, she’ll expand the association’s leadership on workforce development issues, continue to increase thought leaders’ awareness of the Western Hemisphere port industry and garnering support for U.S. ports among lawmakers.

Hired in 2004, Meredith Martino also got her start at AAPA in the Government Relations department and has been engaged in multiple areas of the association over the past 15 years. Her previous experience includes serving as AAPA’s director of Publications, Digital Media & Technology, lobbying for the Travel Industry Association of America (now U.S. Travel) and working in the United States Senate for retired Senators Tim Johnson and John Glenn.

In her new role, Ms. Martino will work to pursue new forms of non-dues revenue for the association, utilize more sophisticated technology applications to better facilitate member engagement with AAPA, and provide thought leadership and timely content on common challenges facing the Hemisphere’s ports. 

“As my role shifts here at AAPA, I’m excited that Mary Beth and Meredith are being promoted to lead their respective departments and believe this realignment sets the organization on a sound path toward continuing to enhance the value AAPA provides to our members and the hemispheric port industry,” stated AAPA’s Jean Godwin.