AAPA Names Baer Director of Communications

Port industry veteran Lori A. Baer has been appointed director of communications of the American Association of Port Authorities. "We are pleased to be able to bring to this key position an experienced professional with such familiarity with the goals of ports throughout the Western Hemisphere," said Kurt J. Nagle, president of the AAPA. Baer began her port industry career at AAPA in 1982, initially as executive assistant to the president and then as director of membership services. She was involved in the development of the AAPA's highly successful education and training programs. In 1985, Baer began a 12-year stint at the Port of Miami, serving four years as marketing and public relations assistant and the final eight of those years as director of promotions and advertising. During this tenure, she coordinated the 1986 AAPA Convention hosted by the Port of Miami and also served a term as chairperson of the AAPA Public Relations Committee. Since 1996, Baer has been a port and cruise industry consultant, working for CH2M HILL Inc. and, since 1999, for Gee & Jenson, which became a division of CH2M HILL earlier this year. She has continued to remain active in the AAPA. Baer is to begin work at the AAPA on Nov. 25. She succeeds Eileen E. Denne as director of communications at the AAPA. Denne, who had held that position for the past 12 years, has assumed a similar post at the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). AAPA also announced that Mary Beth Long is being promoted to Manager of Government Relations. Long has served as Government Relations Representative since September, 1999. Long has ten years of experience in government relations, working both in the private sector and on Capitol Hill. Prior to joining AAPA, she coordinated the legislative activities at the law firm of Thompson Coburn. On Capitol Hill, as Outreach Assistant for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Ms. Long advanced then Chairman Bud Shuster’s legislative priorities, including his TEA-21 agenda, to constituent groups and Members of Congress. She began her legislative career by promoting the interests of motor carriers as a Legislative Aide at Collier, Shannon, Rill and Scott. AAPA President Kurt Nagle stated “Mary Beth is an energetic and knowledgeable advocate for the public port industry. Her new position will allow her to focus a significant amount of resources on vitally important education and outreach initiatives on the Hill and with our members.”