2025 Annual Conference
August 14 – 15 • Chicago, IL
Loews Chicago Hotel
Host Hotel
Loews Chicago Hotel will host the AGLPA 2025 Annual Conference. This contemporary, 400-room property sits near the junction of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. The hotel is steps from Navy Pier attractions, Michigan Avenue shopping, and is surrounded by iconic architecture.
Conference Overview
On August 14th & 15th, the American Great Lakes Ports Association will host its 2025 Annual Conference in downtown Chicago.
Last year, more than 250 people registered for 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.
Featured Topics
Each year, experts from government and industry share insights on the most critical issues shaping the future of Great Lakes ports:
- infrastructure development
- economics & trade policy
- maritime safety & navigation
- manufacturing
- technology & innovation
- maritime education
- industry perspectives
- emerging markets
Registration Rates
- AGLPA Member & Associate Member Rate: $450.00
- Non-Member Rate: $550.00
- Federal Government Rate: $350.00
Become a Sponsor!
Don’t miss this opportunity to promote your company, its products and services to ports and terminals who are actively working to modernize their infrastructure. Space is limited so sign up today!
Thanks to Our 2025 Event Sponsors!
Platinum Sponsor
Still Available!
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Media Sponsors
2025 Speakers
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Additional Speakers Coming Soon!
Bio
Check back for speaker updates and our finalized agenda!
2025 Agenda Coming Soon!
Expect engaging sessions, timely topics, and valuable insights from our outstanding lineup of speakers. Stay tuned for the full agenda! View our 2024 agenda and attendee list.
