AAPA appoints L.A. port chief as chair
The American Association of Port Authorities said Monday that Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz has been named as the group's chairman for 2008-2009.
Knatz, who was formally installed at AAPA's 97th Annual Convention in Anchorage last week, will also serve as AAPA’s U.S. Delegation chair for 2008-2009. The AAPA board of directors unanimously voted to appoint Knatz to the new positions.
In January 2006, Knatz became the first female executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in the Western Hemisphere. Prior to joining Los Angeles, Knatz served for two decades at the adjacent Port of Long Beach, ending her tenure as managing director of the port authority.
Other AAPA officers announced at the convention were:
' U.S. delegation: Michael A. Leone, port director for the Massachusetts Port Authority, chairman-elect; and Armand J. 'Pete' Reixach, executive port director of the Port of Freeport (Texas), vice chairman.
' Caribbean delegation: Orlando Forbes, port director for Freeport Harbour Co. (Freeport, Bahamas), chairman; Errol Douglas, general manager and chief executive officer for St. Christopher Air & Sea Ports Authority (Basseterre, St. Kitts), chairman-elect; and Capt. Anthony J. Allens, port controller for Nassau (Bahamas) Port Authority, vice chairman.
' Latin American Delegation: Armando Duarte, chairman of the Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta (Colombia), continues as chairman; Patricio Padilla, general director of Autoridad Portuaria de Manta (Manta, Manab', Ecuador), chairman-elect; and Guillermo Mor'n, president of Consorcio Guaritico, Isla de Margarita (Venezuela), vice chairman.
Founded in 1912, the AAPA represents port authorities in 160 ports throughout United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.
