AAPA welcomes Holden Haley as its new Administrative Operations Associate beginning July 24. Holden joins the AAPA team from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation, where he served as executive assistant to the foundation president. Holden is a December 2022 graduate of George Washington University with a BA in International Affairs. While studying at GWU, Holden gained experience as an intern in the policy department of the Zero Emissions Transportation Association (ZETA).

Paula White, Senior Manager of Membership Growth, has taken a new opportunity as membership manager for the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Paula’s work at AAPA over the last 2 1/2 years provided exceptional support and service to members, significantly increased the number of new member companies and positioned AAPA for more growth. She hosted AAPA''s well-attended webinar series to spotlight new members and facilitated expansion of the Facilities Engineering Committee as well as the Supply Chain Partner Council. AAPA wishes Paula all the best in her next endeavor.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Wednesday, July 26, at 1:00 p.m. ET will hold a virtual kickoff event for its thought leadership series Delivering the Benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and launch of the USDOT Project Delivery Center of Excellence.

Join U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Professor Bent Flyvbjerg, First BT Professor and Inaugural Chair of Major Programme Management, University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, and Villum Kann Rasmussen, Professor and Chair of Major Program Management, IT University of Copenhagen, for a conversation about the importance of transportation infrastructure project delivery. Register here.

California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a historic $80 million to the Port of Hueneme for projects that generate social and economic equity while providing substantial revenue streams to help transform the port to a zero-emission hub. The funds were allocated as part of the California State Transportation Agency’s (CalSTA) Port and Freight Infrastructure Program (PFIP) approved in the Governor’s 2023-2024 budget on June 30.

A complete list of projects is available for the Port and Freight Infrastructure Program.

Port of Long Beach dockworkers and terminal operators moved 597,076 TEUs last month, a 28.5% decline from June 2022, which was the port’s busiest June on record. Imports were down 34% to 274,325 TEUs, while exports declined 18% to 94,508 TEUs. The Port of Los Angeles moved 833,035 TEUs in June, its best performance since last July and just 5% less than last year’s record. “Cargo volume has increased a remarkable 70% since February with four months of consecutive gains,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka during a media briefing Wednesday.

As a Port of communities, the Port of San Diego is providing $400,000 to the upcoming Free Ride Around National City (FRANC) Program via the Port’s Maritime Industrial Impact Fund (MIIF). Through the MIIF, the port has directed $2.1 million in support of numerous efforts in communities adjacent to the maritime industry and terminals, such as youth programs, bicycle infrastructure, air-quality improvements, noise-reduction efforts, and more.

Port Everglades reported ratings for container operational performance are soaring thanks to aggressive capital investments in cargo handling infrastructure by the port and the actions of its container terminal operators and labor. In just one year, Port Everglades became the 89th-ranked port for operational performance worldwide, surpassing its 2021 ranking at 116, according to The World Bank, 2023.

The Board of Commissioners for the Port of Oakland elected Barbara Leslie as Board President for a second term. Yui Hay Lee will begin his second term as the First Vice President, and Andreas Cluver will replace outgoing commissioner Cestra “Ces” Butner as Second Vice President. Dr. Michael DeVaughn has been appointed commissioner to serve on the Port of Portland Commission. DeVaughn is Dean of the Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr. School of Business at the University of Portland and has served in this role since 2021. He also holds the George E. Swindells Chair as Professor in the School’s Management, Strategy and Entrepreneurship discipline group.

The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) announced the launch of the Westside Community Enrichment Initiative, a new venture aimed at fostering positive transformations to the West Side of Salt Lake City. Through this Initiative, the Utah Inland Port Authority is committed to supporting projects that promote environmental stewardship and economic prosperity.

NextDecade Corporation announced its final investment decision to build the company’s Rio Grande liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at the Port of Brownsville. Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano said, “This is a testament to our commitment in advancing the economic interests of our community for greater opportunities and a better quality of life.”

Hawaii-based Pasha Hawaii, together with Texas-based AmFELS (a member of Seatrium Group) announced the delivery of the MV Janet Marie, the second of two new ‘Ohana Class, 774-foot Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) powered container ships built at AmFELS. The new vessel joins Pasha Hawaii’s fleet serving the Hawaii/Mainland trade lane, as well as the company’s first ‘Ohana Class vessel, MV George III, which began service on August 17, 2022.

Port of Benton has received $2.4 million in new state funding for improvements to the port-owned rail line, thanks to a state capital request advanced by the 8th legislative district team of Reps. Barnard and Connors and Sen. Boehnke and funds from the freight improvement rail program. The Port has requested an additional $8 million in federal railroad grants.

Electronics Officer, U.S. Merchant Marine, Nationwide; American Radio Association