AGLPA 2026 SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS
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DAY ONE
Welcome Address
- Brian Oszakiewski, Executive Director – American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA)
- Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III, President – American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA)
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway: Current Priorities and Perspectives
- Introduction: Sylvonica Madlock, Executive Officer – Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS)
- Mike McCoshen, Administrator – Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS)
- Demetrios (Jim) Athanasiou, President & CEO – St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC)
MARAD Priorities: A Focus on the Great Lakes
- Capt. Stephen M. Carmel, Administrator – Maritime Administration (MARAD)
An Update from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
- CAPT Rhianna Macon, Commander, Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan – USCG
- Travis Black, Director of the Inland Waterways Gateway & Acting Director of the Great Lakes Gateway – MARAD
The Great Freight Connection: Expanding Cargo Flows Between the Great Lakes & Inland River System
- Mary Beth Eddy, Senior Consultant, US – CPCS Transcom Inc.
- Shuake Wuzhati, Senior Consultant, US – CPCS Transcom Inc.
Sponsor Spotlight – Ports of Indiana
- Jody Peacock, Chief Executive Officer – Ports of Indiana
Investing in Maritime: State & Provincial Strategies
- Moderator: Eric Oberhart, Transportation Program Director – Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors
and Premiers - Emily Finnell, Great Lakes Senior Advisor and Strategist – Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
- Jean-François Hould, Delegate – Québec Government Office in Chicago
- Randy Lane, Freight and Maritime Manager – Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
- Brian McCoy, Marine Transportation Program Planning Specialist – Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Sponsor Spotlight – Foth Companies
- Amanda Minks, Project Manager – Foth Companies
Built for More: The Future of Containerization on the Great Lakes
- Moderator: Peter Hirthe, Director of the Office of Trade and Economic Development – GLS
- Kevin Beardsley, Executive Director – Duluth Seaway Port Authority
- Brian Dooley, European Trade Representative – Ports of Indiana
- Jeff Epstein, President & CEO – Port of Cleveland
- Tony Fisher, Chief of Staff – MARAD
- Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III, Port Director – Port of Monroe
Host Port Closing Remarks – Illinois International Port District (IIPD)
- Erik Varela, Executive Director – IIPD–Port of Chicago
DAY TWO
Doing Business with Great Lakes Ports: What Industry Partners Need to Know
- Moderator: Kevin Artl, Executive Director – American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois
- Kevin Beardsley, Executive Director – Duluth Seaway Port Authority
- Joe Cappel, VP of Business Development – Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
- Dave Gutheil, Chief Operating Officer – Port of Cleveland
- Tiffany McClelland, Executive Director – Lorain Port and Finance Authority
- Benjamin (Benji) Timm, Port Director – Port Milwaukee
Leveraging Federal Funds: Grow Port Power with the Export-Import Bank of the United States
- Christopher McClain, Senior Business Development Officer – Export-Import Bank of the U.S.
American Great Lakes Ports Association Awards Ceremony
Great Lakes Lifelong Leadership Achievement Award
- James H.I. Weakley, President – Lake Carriers’ Association
Maritime Leadership and Public Policy Achievement Award
- Mark Schrupp, Executive Director – Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority
Updates from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- Lieutenant Colonel David K. Dawes, Chicago, District Commander & District Engineer – USACE
- Nick Zager, Detroit District Chief of Operations Division, Great Lakes Navigation Team Lead – USACE
- David Swiatek, Chief, Technical Services Branch, Buffalo District – USACE
- Kristine Meyer, Acting Chief, Operations Division, Chicago District – USACE
Maritime Safety: An Update from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
- Capt. Marcel Muise, Marine Accident Investigator – NTSB
Iron Ore Market Trends on the Great Lakes
- Jason Janisch, Policy Advisor – Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board, Minnesota
Marine Fuel Innovation on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway
- Kelcie Kraft, Energy Analyst – National Laboratory of the Rockies
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA)
- Introduction: Leslie Zager, Member, WISTA Great Lakes/Midwest Chapter, Communications Director – AGLPA
- Emily Huggins Jones, Co-President, WISTA Great Lakes/Midwest Chapter, Partner –Troutman Pepper Locke
Agriculture Update: A View to 2050
- Introduction: Gary Williams, Director, Transportation & Regulatory Affairs – U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance
- Todd Main, Director of Market Development – Illinois Soybean Association (ISA)
- Eric Griffin, Vice President Global Energy Sales – Inmarsat, a Viasat Company
From Feasibility to Futureproofing: Building the Great Lakes’ First Maritime Innovation Terminal
- Moderator: Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Sector Lead, Ports, Transportation & Infrastructure – Ramboll
- Thomas McKenney, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Engineering – University of Michigan
- Mark Schrupp, Executive Director – Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority
Ports, Policy & Partnership: The Great Lakes Role in U.S. Maritime Dominance
- Moderator: Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III, Port Director – Port of Monroe
- Capt. Tony Brandano, President – Lakes Pilots Association
- Lisa Braun, Director Supply Planning & Logistics – Carmeuse
- Patrick Kelly, Chief Executive Officer – Fraser Shipyards
- Sydney Plante, Acting Associate Administrator for Strategic Engagement – MARAD
- Jim Weakley, President – Lake Carriers’ Association
- Tom Wiater, President – Central Marine Logistics