Agenda
The Summit officially begins with the Welcome Reception on January 25. Activities are selected during registration.
Monday January 25, 2027
Breakfast and Networking
Registration
Welcome and Opening Session
Speakers: AAPA President and CEO Sang Yi * Humberto de Castro, CEO, Curaçao Ports Authority * Lawrence Bennett, Acting President, Curaçao Ports Authority Supervisory Board
Session: “Cultivating the Soil for Effective Governance”
Speakers: Dan Stahl, Leadership Coach and former CEO, Port of Longview * Additional speakers TBA
Networking Break
Session: “Telling Your Port’s Story”
Speakers: Jason Hodge, Commissioner, Port of Hueneme * Additional speakers TBA
Lunch
Workshop: TBA
Afternoon Break
Commissioners Partnering Session and Roundtable
Event Activities / Jan 25 - Ferry Tour of Willemstad
Departing from the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort (Select only one ferry tour)
Welcome Reception
The Summit officially begins with the Welcome Reception.
Tuesday January 26, 2027
Breakfast and Networking
Registration
Opening Remarks and Summit Welcome
Speakers: AAPA Professional Development Board Chair Jonathan Daniels, Director and CEO, PortMiami * Humberto de Castro, CEO, Curaçao Ports Authority * Charles Cooper, Minister of Traffic, Transportation and Urban Planning, Government of Curaçao
Session: “Navigating the Politics You Didn’t Choose”
Morning Break
Workshop: “Who Gets the Keys? Succession and Leadership Growth”
Speakers: Nick Pestello, PPM, Director of Engineering, Maintenance, & Development, Port of Lake Charles * Mike Bomar, PPM, Chief Economic Strategy Officer, Port of Vancouver USA * Donald Brinkman, PPM, Director, Westwood Professional Services * Additional speakers TBA
Lunch
Workshop: “Gumby Meets the Machine: Using AI Without Losing Your Shape”
Afternoon Break
Session: “Taking the Helm”
Speakers: Dr. Noel Hacegaba, PPM, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Long Beach * Additional Speakers TBA
Peer Exchange Roundtable
PPM Candidate Dinner
PPM candidates only
Wednesday January 27, 2027
Breakfast and Networking
Professional Development Board Meeting
Event Activities / Jan 27 - Curaçao Port Bus Tour
Transportation departs from the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort and continues to the cruise vessel after the tour
Board Cruise Ship
Session: “Taking off Cruise Control”
Speakers: Jonathan Daniels, Director and Chief Executive Officer, PortMiami * Michael Vanderbeek, PPM, Founder, FRAME Strategies LLC
Lunch on Cruise Ship
Workshop: TBA
Return to Renaissance
5-minute walk.
PPM Candidate Activity
PPM Candidates only
Thursday January 28, 2027
Breakfast and Networking
Workshop: “Leading in Both Directions”
Facilitators: Dan Stahl, Leadership Coach and former CEO, Port of Longview * Additional facilitators TBA
Morning Break
Session
Lunch (Walk to Venue)
Workshop: TBA
Afternoon Break
Session: TBA
Cultural Reception
Including Port Directors Seminar attendees.
Friday January 29, 2027
Breakfast, Networking, and Registration
Event Activities / Jan 29 - Ferry Tour of Willemstad
Departing from the Renaissance Wind Creek Curaçao Resort (Select only one ferry tour)
Partnering Session
Session: “What I Wish I Had Known”
Speakers: TBA
Session: “Saying No Without Closing the Door”
Speakers: TBA
Lunch
Decision Lab: “Competing Priorities, Limited Capacity”
Speakers: TBA
Afternoon Break
Session: TBA
Roundtable Discussion
Curaçao Ports Authority New Year's Stakeholder Reception
Cocktail attire