SAVE THE DATE!
AGLPA 2026 Annual Conference
July 30 – 31 • Chicago, IL
Loews Chicago Hotel
Host Hotel
Loews Chicago Hotel hosted the AGLPA 2025 Annual Conference. The hotel is steps from Navy Pier attractions, Michigan Avenue shopping, and is surrounded by iconic architecture.
2025 Conference Overview
On August 14th & 15th, the American Great Lakes Ports Association held its 2025 Annual Conference in downtown Chicago.
Over 200 people attended the conference, including seaport managers, terminal operators, shipping company executives, maritime trade associations, educators, state and federal government officials and the many service providers who help ensure the industry’s success.
Agenda at a Glance
Day One: Thursday, August 14th
- Registration: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Welcome Lunch: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
- Sessions: 1:00 pm – 4:45 pm
- Dinner Cruise: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Day Two: Friday, August 15th
- Breakfast: 7:00 am – 8:00 am
- Sessions: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Lunch: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
- Sessions: 1:00 pm – 3:15 pm
Thanks to Our 2025 Speakers
Jan Allman
Chief Executive Officer, Fincantieri Marinette Marine
Bio
Jan Allman, CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine, is an experienced global operations leader with a proven track record in shipbuilding, engineering, and organizational change. She brings deep expertise in lean manufacturing, process improvement, and strategic execution.
Kevin Artl
American Council of Engineering Companies - Illinois
Bio
Kevin Artl is President and CEO of ACEC Illinois, where he leads advocacy efforts on behalf of the state’s engineering community and advances legislative and regulatory initiatives to strengthen the industry’s business environment.
Jim Athanasiou
President & CEO, St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation
Bio
Jim Athanasiou is President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), where he leads the Canadian portion of the bi-national Seaway system. Since joining SLSMC in 2008, Athanasiou has spearheaded impactful initiatives including the Seaway’s $100 million Modernization Program.
Kevin Beardsley
Executive Director, Duluth Seaway Port Authority
Bio
Kevin Beardsley is the Executive Director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority and serves on the board of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA).
Joe Cappel
Vice President of Business Development, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Bio
Joe Cappel is the Vice President of Business Development at the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and serves on the board of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA).
Ken Carey
General Manager, Commercial, St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation
Bio
Ken Carey leads Real Estate Business Development and Service Delivery at the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. A multimodal expert skilled in negotiation, budgeting, operations, freight, and reverse logistics, he has managed major accounts for some of Canada’s largest retailers and shippers.
Kate Fineske
Executive Director, National Museum of the Great Lakes
Bio
Kate Fineske is Executive Director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes, where she leads efforts to preserve and share the rich history of the Great Lakes through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and community engagement.
David S. Gutheil
Interim President & CEO/Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Cleveland
Bio
David Gutheil is the Interim President & CEO/Chief Commercial Officer of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority and serves on the board of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA).
Adam Hamm
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Bio
Adam Hamm is Chief of Operations Branch for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Buffalo District where he oversees dredging, structural maintenance and lock operations across Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.
Bill Hanka
President, Hanka Advisor
Bio
Bill Hanka, President of Hanka Advisor, has 26 years of experience advocating for private sector and government clients at the federal level. A skilled strategist, grant writer and lobbyist, he’s helped secure over $140M in funding for major infrastructure projects across the region.
Peter Hirthe
Director, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Bio
As Director of Trade and Economic Development at GLS, Peter Hirthe brings deep expertise in the Great Lakes bi-national maritime system. He’s a trusted resource for shippers, known for promoting port capabilities, multimodal access, and the value of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Mitch Holzrichter
Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
Bio
Mitch Holzrichter is a partner in the Projects & Infrastructure and Public Policy & Regulatory practices at Mayer Brown LLP, a global law firm. He represents government agencies, investors, developers, and lenders in complex public infrastructure transactions and investments.
Jennifer L. Homendy
Chairwoman, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Bio
Jennifer L. Homendy, is Chairwoman of the NTSB, where she leads efforts to advance transportation safety across all modes. A recognized voice in U.S. and global policy, she is a strong advocate for maritime safety and infrastructure resilience.
Tony Kazakevicius
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad
Bio
Tony Kazakevicius is Director of Sales & Marketing at the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad. With over 20 years in the rail industry, he has held leadership roles at Indiana Harbor Belt, Indiana Rail Road, RailAmerica, and Iowa Interstate. He holds a BBA from Marian University.
Patrick Kelly
Chief Executive Officer, Fraser Industries, LLC
Bio
Patrick Kelly is CEO of Fraser Industries LLC, parent company of Fraser Shipyards in Superior, WI, a full-service facility supporting the Great Lakes fleet. Kelly brings decades of global leadership experience in industrial and transportation sectors, including executive roles at BP and Amoco.
Paul C. LaMarre, III
Director, Port of Monroe
Bio
Capt. LaMarre is Director of the Port of Monroe and President of the AGLPA. A third-generation Great Lakes mariner and licensed tug captain, he is widely recognized for his leadership in maritime advocacy and for revitalizing the Port of Monroe into a national model for seaport redevelopment.
Joe Liebau, Jr.
Senior Strategic Advisor, Foth Companies
Bio
Senior Strategic Advisor at Foth, Joe Liebau leads port and harbor initiatives focused on water quality and coastal infrastructure. With experience across private, local, state, and federal sectors, he specializes in dredging, sediment management, and marine construction projects.
Tom Livingston
Vice President, Government Affairs, CSX Transportation
Bio
Tom Livingston is Vice President of Government Affairs at CSX Transportation, where he oversees government and community relations in Chicago and Illinois and leads a team across CSX’s 21-state network. He advocates for the freight rail industry’s key policies at all levels of government.
Sylvonica Madlock
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Bio
Sylvonica Madlock is Executive Officer at the GLS. With over 20 years in federal service, she is an expert in operations, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement and has led initiatives and projects across multiple U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) components and program offices.
Mollie Mahoney
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Bio
Mollie Mahoney is Senior Project Manager for USACE – Detroit District, leading the $3.2 billion New Lock Mega Project at the Soo. She oversees construction efforts designed to enhance the reliability of the Great Lakes Navigation System, a critical link in U.S. manufacturing and national security.
Tiffany McClelland
Executive Director, Lorain Port and Finance Authority
Bio
Tiffany McClelland is the Executive Director of the Lorain Port and Finance Authority and serves on the board of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA).
J.M. (Mike) McCoshen
Administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Bio
As the newly appointed Administrator of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Mr. McCoshen oversees the U.S. portion of the Seaway and leads efforts to strengthen maritime trade and economic development across the Great Lakes region.
Paul Mazzeno
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Bio
Paul Mazzeno is Chief of the Operations & Regulatory Division for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Chicago District. He oversees dredging, structural maintenance, lock operations, regulatory, and emergency management programs across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.
Alec Messina
Partner, HeplerBroom
Bio
Alec Messina leads the Government Affairs Practice Group at HeplerBroom advising clients on regulatory, legislative, and permitting matters across energy, environment, and natural resources. He has held senior legal roles in Illinois state government and is a former Director of the Illinois EPA.
Kristine Meyer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Bio
Kristine Meyer is Chief of the Lake Michigan Project Office for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Chicago District. She leads a team of specialists and staff responsible for operating and maintaining harbors, confined disposal facilities and dams throughout the Great Lakes region.
Eric Oberhart
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers
Bio
Eric Oberhart is the Maritime Program Director at GSGP. He leads initiatives advancing sustainable shipping, infrastructure development, and economic growth throughout the region to strengthen the competitiveness of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system.
Libby Ogard
President, Prime Focus LLC
Bio
Libby Ogard, President of Prime Focus, LLC, is an experienced transportation executive with a strong record in multimodal freight planning, carrier management, and operations. She is also a skilled negotiator and successful state and federal grant writer.
Jody Peacock
Chief Executive Officer, Ports of Indiana
Bio
Jody Peacock is CEO of the Ports of Indiana, a self-funded statewide port authority supporting over $7.8 billion in annual economic activity. He leads efforts to grow Indiana’s economy by expanding multimodal freight connections across the state’s three ports.
Doug Pryor
President & CEO, Will County Center for Economic Development (CED)
Bio
As President and CEO of the CED, Doug Pryor has helped deliver over $4 billion in projects across industries including transportation, logistics, and retail. He is also an Instructor of Economics and Statistics at Dominican University and currently serves on the State of Illinois Enterprise Zone Board.
Tom Rigolo
Vice President, Shipyard General Manager - The Great Lakes Group
Bio
VP and Shipyard General Manager at The Great Lakes Group, Tom Rigolo is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. With 25+ years of experience, he has a proven record of creating efficiencies, improving quality, and driving growth at some of the nation’s most successful shipyards.
Colonel Kenneth P. Rockwell
Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Chicago District
Bio
Commander and District Engineer of USACE-Chicago District, Col. Kenneth Rockwell oversees water resources development in IL, WI and IN. He leads flood risk management, navigation, ecosystem restoration and more. His district provides vital engineering services for the Chicago metro area and key Great Lakes watersheds.
Mark Ruge
Partner, K&L Gates
Bio
Mark Ruge is a public policy attorney specializing in maritime and Great Lakes issues. A former Capitol Hill staffer, he counsels the American Maritime Partnership and other transportation clients. He was the first attorney inducted into the Great Lakes Marine Hall of Fame (2018).
Thomas Schneider
Interim Executive Director, Port of Oswego Authority
Bio
Thomas Schneider is the Executive Director of the Port of Oswego Authority and serves on the board of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA).
Mark Schrupp
Executive Director, Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority
Bio
Mark Schrupp is the Executive Director of the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority and serves on the board of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA).
Dylan Sparks
Director of Operations, Mythos AI
Bio
Dylan Sparks is a roboticist and electrical engineer specializing in autonomous marine systems. As Director of Operations at Mythos AI, he leads initiatives focused on modernizing port operations through advanced autonomous technology.
Adam Tindall-Schlicht
Senior Advisor for Transportation - U.S. and Canada, Ramboll
Bio
Adam Tindall-Schlicht is Senior Advisor for Ramboll, where he supports sustainable infrastructure and transportation across North America. He previously served as Administrator of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation and as Director of Port Milwaukee.
Erik Varela
Executive Director, Illinois International Port District (IIPD)
Bio
Erik Varela is the Executive Director of the Illinois International Port District (IIPD) and serves as the Treasurer of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA).
John Waggoner
CEO and founder, Victory Cruise Lines
Bio
CEO of Victory Cruise Lines, Waggoner is a veteran of the passenger vessel industry with 30+ years of experience. His passion for the water fuels a vision for intimate Great Lakes adventures, realized through the launch of Victory I and Victory II with his wife Claudette.
James H.I. Weakley
President, Lake Carriers’ Association
Bio
As President of the Lake Carriers’ Association, Jim Weakley serves as a spokesman for the industry and frequently testifies before Congress on Great Lakes and shipping issues. He represents Ohio on the Great Lakes Commission and sits on the board of directors for America’s Maritime Partnership.
Sang H. Yi
Administrator (Acting), Maritime Administration (MARAD)
Bio
Sang H. Yi is the Acting Administrator of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Mr. Yi oversees MARAD's responsibilities that provide critical infrastructure and support for the nation’s maritime sectors.
Nick Zager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Bio
Nick Zager is Chief of Operations for USACE–Detroit District and Great Lakes Navigation Team Lead. He oversees dredging, maintenance, operations, regulatory and emergency efforts in MI, WI, and MN and is the primary USACE contact for Great Lakes navigation budgeting and stakeholder engagement.
Thanks to Our 2025 Event Sponsors!
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