Curaçao to Host 2003 Convention in September

Agustin Díaz, deputy general manager of the Curaçao Ports Authority, Inc., was installed as Chairman of the Board of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) during the September 26th Annual Membership Meeting at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL. Díaz succeeded as Chairman of the Board Dick Steinke, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach. “We’re pleased to have Agustin lead the Association on behalf of AAPA’s Latin American delegation,” said Kurt J. Nagle, AAPA President. “He will be working to help connect and build stronger relationships between our 150 port members who come from more than 30 countries and speak a variety of languages. We will all benefit from Agustin’s international focus.” Before joining the Curaçao Ports Authority, Díaz was the commissioner of the island government in charge of ports. He has served as a senator in the Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles and been a member of the Island Council of Curaçao. Diaz also worked as an educator and served as the chief editor of the daily “La Prensa.” He holds a degree in teaching the Dutch language and a law degree from the University of the Netherlands Antilles. Also installed at AAPA’s 91st Annual Convention was John Mohr, Executive Director of the Port of Everett, WA. Mohr will serve as the U.S. Delegation and Legislative Policy Council (LPC) Chairman in the coming year. The LPC determines AAPA policy positions on U.S. legislative and regulatory issues. Mohr has over 20 years experience working for four ports in Oregon and Washington (Coos Bay and Newport, Oregon; Olympia and Everett, Washington). Mohr has an extensive background in shipping, waterfront commercial development, environmental issues and industrial development matters. His experience also includes large-scale marina management and airport operations, and he has established a reputation for quality redevelopment of port waterfront property.