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Port of Cleveland CEO begins term as AAPA chairman

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Port of Cleveland's William Friedman looks forward to representing the AAPA in its efforts to inform policymakers about the importance of maritime trade in the Western Hemisphere
William Friedman, president and CEO at the Port of Cleveland, began his one-year term as the 2018-19 chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities.

Succeeds Steven Cernak

He succeeds Steven Cernak, CEO and port director for Port Everglades, who began his one-year term in October 2017.

The entire slate of 2018-19 delegation officers and board of directors were inducted as part of AAPA's 107th Annual Convention in a membership meeting in Valparaíso, Chile, earlier this month.

Friedman was elected chairman in a March vote of AAPA's board of directors, representing port officials throughout the Americas.

'I look forward to representing the AAPA in our efforts to inform policymakers about the importance of maritime trade in the Western Hemisphere,' Friedman said. 'Our ports are the linchpins in the global supply chains that generate jobs and economic prosperity for our regions and our nations. I look forward to working closely with port leaders and stakeholders to strengthen our vital industry.'

'With his valuable experience as a port director involved with diversified cargo, his background in real estate development, multimodal transportation and the international supply chain, and his longstanding active engagement with AAPA and our member ports throughout the hemisphere, Will Friedman will be of enormous value as our member ports work together to address common challenges and legislative priorities,' said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and CEO.

US, Canadian, Caribbean, Latin American delegations

As AAPA chairman, Friedman also serves as the association’s US delegation chair. Other officers include chairman-elect Gary Nelson, Port of Grays Harbor (Washington); vice chairman Mario Cordero, Port of Long Beach (California); and immediate past chair Steve Cernak, Port Everglades.

Canadian delegation officers are chairman Carl Laberge, Saguenay Port Authority (Québec); chairman-elect Sean Hanrahan, St. John’s Port Authority (Newfoundland and Labrador); and vice chairman Denis Caron, Belledune Port Authority (New Brunswick).

Chairing the Caribbean delegation this year is Glenn Roach, Barbados Port Inc. Chairman-elect is John Bishen, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority, and vice chairman is Orlando Forbes, Freeport Harbor Co. (Bahamas).

Officers of the Latin American delegation are chairman Giovanni Benedetti, Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena (Colombia); chair-elect Francisco Javier González Silva, Empresa Portuaria Arica (Chile); and vice chairman Angel Elías, Puerto Rosario (ENAPRO, Argentina).