Cary Davis to succeed Chris Connor as AAPA president/CEO

He currently serves as VP government relations and general counsel for the association, which he joined in November 2019.  

'Cary speaks our business in a way policymakers and international maritime partners can grasp,' said Paul Anderson, AAPA chair and Port Tampa Bay CEO. 'With incredible enthusiasm, he creates an understanding that seaports are at the heart of a modern, global economy and, most importantly, he knows how to tell a compelling, collaborative industry story. Cary is the right leader to keep AAPA growing and innovating together now and in the future.'

Multiple strong candidates

Following the announcement of Chris Connor's pending departure as president and CEO earlier this year, AAPA said the vetting process considered multiple strong candidates over a period of five months before a specially convened selection committee unanimously recommended Davis to the board. The board unanimously adopted that recommendation.

Davis thanked Connor for his 'diligent work leading AAPA, along with the example he has set,' adding: 'We are living in era of great disruption — economic, political, technological, and environmental — and our association serves as a beacon in the midst of the uncertainty. Advancing the cause of America's seaports, dynamic, and often underappreciated, economic assets, is the highest honor.'

US Rep. Rick Larsen from Washington state's second congressional district and ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, congratulated Davis. 'I look forward to working with Cary and AAPA members to invest in maritime infrastructure and workforce to create more jobs, drive long-term economic growth, and build cleaner, greener, safer and more accessible ports in the Pacific Northwest and across the United States,' Larsen said.

Action-oriented

'In the midst of the unprecedented pandemic-induced supply chain crisis, Cary and the AAPA team were key in forging an action-oriented industry-government alliance that tackled myriad issues simultaneously,' said John Porcari, port envoy to the White House Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force. 'As a direct result of Cary and AAPA’s creativity, real-time problem solving and can-do attitude, our nation was able to quickly untangle the most urgent supply chain issues and simultaneously build a foundation for a stronger, more resilient supply chain that will better serve America in the future.'

'Cary has been key in elevating AAPA’s profile, policy and long overdue funding achievements on Capitol Hill and with the administration,' added Peter DeFazio, former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman. 'His promotion to CEO will enhance the association’s ability to build on their past success.' DeFazio said. '... We have created new funding for midsize, small and subsistence ports making Americas maritime supply chain stronger but more needs to be done and Cary will provide the leadership to achieve that goal.'

Cross-border cooperation

'Supply chain resilience, redundancy, efficiency and security in Canada and the United States relies on cooperation and coordination across our borders,' said Louise Yako, former co-dhair, National Supply Chain Task Force (Canada). 'Leaders like Cary Davis recognize this co-dependency and work towards fostering positive and supportive relationships to achieve this mutual aim.'

Yako said AAPA, represented by Davis, provided the Canadian National Supply Chain Task Force with 'thoughtful and insightful input about the issues, goals and achievements of AAPA members. He did this by highlighting the impact of recent supply chain challenges to the US maritime, providing a catalogue of AAPA policies, describing US operational improvements, and highlighting visibility tools that led to improved supply chain fluidity and resilience.'

Davis serves on the board of the Propeller Club of Washington, DC and was nominated CEO Update Lobbyist of the Year in 2021 for his work to address supply chain disruptions from the pandemic.