U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed Association of Pacific Ports President Kimberlyn King-Hinds’s call for collaboration “to rise to the occasion during this time of worldwide disruption.”
King-Hinds, who chairs the Commonwealth Ports Authority board, was one of the speakers at the three-day Association of Pacific Ports 107th annual conference held at various ports on the nation’s West Coast from Oct. 25 to 27.
In his remarks, Buttigieg said, “I’ll end with the reflection on what the Association of Pacific Ports President King-Hinds wrote in a letter to attendees at the conference. She noted the importance of working together to rise to the occasion in this global disruption and encouraged collaboration as one community across industries and geography. That’s a message that our department and our entire administration want to echo.”
Aside from King-Hinds, who presided over the conference, 22 other ports officials from different coastal states and jurisdictions also spoke on different topics.
In her remarks, King-Hinds said: “As drivers of economic growth, facilitating trade and generating thousands of jobs, ports of the Pacific Ocean share a common vision: To provide an efficient, fluid and cost-effective supply chain in a safe, environmentally viable manner.”
As ports directors, managers and operators, she added, their mission to meet the needs of their respective communities has always been of great importance.
“During this time of worldwide disruption, it has become even more critical that we do all we can to rise to the occasion,” King-Hinds said.
She noted that the conference agenda provided key insights into the many issues the ports community faces today, and more importantly, the challenges that are sure to follow as the world moves beyond Covid-19 and into the “new normal.”
“I encourage you to take advantage of your time here,” she said. “Listen closely to the information you’ll hear from our speakers and participate in the discussions that will follow each presentation. Engage with your colleagues and peers to hear of their own best practices and lessons learned. Build new relationships that can benefit your port. And last but definitely not the least, develop friendships that will live long beyond these few days together,” King-Hinds added.
Commonwealth Ports Authority Board Chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds delivers her remarks during the Association of Pacific Ports’ 107th annual conference.
