LaGrange next AAPA chairman

LaGrange next AAPA chairman    The American Association of Port Authorities has named Gary LaGrange, executive director and chief executive officer of the port of New Orleans, as its next chairman.
   The appointment was made March 22, during AAPA’s annual spring conference in Washington, D.C. He will formally take over as chairman of AAPA at the association’s convention this fall in Long Beach.
   LaGrange came to the port of New Orleans in 2001 after serving as port director at the port of Gulfport, Miss., the port of South Louisiana and the port of West St. Mary, La.
   He has nearly 30 years of experience as a port director and is also involved in policy and legislative issues affecting the port industry, through AAPA.
   LaGrange is a past president of the Gulf Ports Association, past president and chairman of the board of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterways Association, past president of Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association, former national chairman of the Water Resources Congress, founding president of the Ports Association of Louisiana. He is a member of the executive committee of National Waterways Conference and the Waterways Council, Inc.