AAPA’s New Chairman From Port Everglades Begins One-Year Term

Steve Cernak has officially begun his duties as the new chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities, replacing Mark McAndrews.

Cernak is the CEO of Port Everglades, a Florida port that handles a little more than 1 million industry-standard, 20-foot-equivalent unit containers, or TEUs, annually, putting it in the top 15 in North America.

“AAPA’s new chairman, Steve Cernak, will provide strong leadership as AAPA continues to educate stakeholders, provide services and advocate policies that strengthen the ability of member seaports to serve their global customers and create economic and social value for their communities,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and CEO. “Mr. Cernak has the experience, leadership skills, enthusiasm and respect to advance our industry’s priorities and partnerships on common issues.”

Cernak will also chair the association’s U.S. delegation, whose other officers include William Friedman of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority and John Wolfe of The Northwest Seaport Alliance.

The officers and board of directors were inducted at the AAPA’s 106th Annual Convention in Long Beach, Calif.