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Florida Ports Council News

19 Mar 2019

AAPA, Port Industry Mourn Loss of Steve Cernak

Steven M. Cernak

Mr. Cernak was AAPA’s immediate past Chairman and its 2019 Cruise Award recipient.Port Everglades Chief Executive and Director Steven M. Cernak passed away over the weekend, following a long, valiant battle with cancer. He was the immediate past Chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and immediate past Chairman of the Florida Ports Council.Upon learning of Mr. Cernak’s passing, AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle said: “Today we mourn the loss of one of the greatest champions of the port industry…

26 Jul 2018

INSIGHTS: William D. Friedman

Port of Cleveland President & CEO and newly elected Board Chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities William Friedman weighs in this month on the Port of Cleveland and its role in the all important Great Lakes trades.When the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) announced the election of Port of Cleveland President and CEO, William D. Friedman, to serve as chairman for the 2018-19 year, beginning this October, it was perhaps a conscious decision to tap someone who has a broad range of experience and skills in myriad ports, large and small. That’s Friedman in a nutshell. AAPA represents 140 of the leading maritime port authorities in this hemisphere. If you’ve seen one port; well, you’ve seen one port.

18 May 2016

Maritime Leaders Convene in the Caribbean

Representatives from all aspects of the maritime shipping industry met in Cocoa Beach, Fla., May 16-18 for the Caribbean Shipping Associations’ (CSA) Shipping Executives Conference. Attendees include shippers, ship owners, port authorities and terminal operators, and non-vessel owners, such as brokers. A major theme of the conference was the close relationship between Florida ports and the Caribbean markets. “Florida ports have had a long relationship of trade with the Caribbean nations, and are proud to count them as some of our most valuable partners,” said Doug Wheeler, president and CEO of the Florida Ports Council. The CSA conference focused on the emerging market opportunities represented by the opening of Cuba to commerce, as well as the widening of the Panama Canal.

02 Feb 2010

Payne Helps Steer Fla. Transportation Panel

Photo courtesy Canaveral Port Authority

Developing a roadmap for Florida’s transportation needs during the next 50 years is the challenge that Port Canaveral CEO J. Stanley Payne has accepted as a member of the 2060 Florida Transportation Plan (FTP) Steering Committee. The plan, adopted five years ago, provides the policy framework for allocating the department’s transportation funds. Payne is the current chairman of the Florida Ports Council. The Steering Committee will focus on updating the plan to respond to new trends and technologies that have developed.

22 Dec 2009

Payne Named to AAPA Board

Photo courtesy Canaveral Port Authority

J. Stanley Payne, Chief Executive Officer of the Canaveral Port Authority, will serve on the 2009-10 Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). He was named to the 10-member board during the annual AAPA meeting held this year in Galveston, Texas. AAPA is an alliance of leading ports in the Western Hemisphere. The mission of the organization is to protect and advance the common interests of its diverse members as they connect their communities with the global transportation system.

24 Apr 2007

Gontarski Named Southeast Region Propeller Club Maritime Person of the Year

Port Manatee’s Joe Gontarski was elected the International Propeller Club of the United States Southeast Region Maritime Person of the Year April 20th at ceremonies in Charleston, S.C. The award is the Southeast Region’s highest honor and was won on the fourth ballot from among 14 eligible ports. Gontarski’s nomination was brought forth by virtue of receiving a similar award in March from the Port Manatee Propeller Club. He is now qualified for consideration in October for the International Maritime Person of the Year at ceremonies planned for Athens, Greece. Considered by many to be the dean of Tampa Bay’s maritime community, Gontarski has been Port Manatee’s senior director and special assistant to Executive Director David McDonald PPM for the past 20 years.

08 May 2001

Florida Port Regs Aim To Stop Drugs

Florida's deep-sea ports are about to get a security makeover aimed at slowing the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S., Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said. A bill passed in the waning hours of the state legislative session is expected to earmark more than $30 million for port security enhancement in the next three years as part of an effort that officials say is needed to stem the tide of drugs entering the United States through Florida ports. Bush said the seaport security measure would come on top of existing programs to halt the offloading of illegal drugs from freighters on the Miami River and to divert out to sea smaller cargoes carried in speedier vessels.