California Maritime Leadership Symposium
The 2010 California Maritime Leadership Symposium (CMLS), held May 5th and 6th in Sacramento, boasted the highest attendance of its ten-year history. Attracting key members from California’s State Legislature and representatives from all of California’s ports, the 2010 Symposium encouraged productive dialog among maritime industry leaders and effectively communicated port needs to California decision makers.
Organized by a coalition including the California Association of Port Authorities (CAPA), California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference (CMANC), California Marine & Intermodal Transportation System Advisory Council (CALMITSAC), the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce, the Propeller Club of Los Angeles/Long Beach and the California Maritime Academy, this year’s CMLS event marked the 10th anniversary of successfully bringing together trade and transportation organizations with close ties to California’s vital maritime industry. Expert panelists covered a range of issues including federal freight policy, maritime workforce development, and the impact of climate change on California shipping.
As the symposium’s venue was strategically located across the street from the Capitol building, several members of the California State Legislature were also in attendance, including Assemblymember Nancy Skinner and Assemblymember Mike Eng. Senator Alan Lowenthal, Senator Bob Huff, and Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal were featured as speakers at the 10th annual event.
Senator Alan Lowenthal remarked, “I have been very impressed by the valuable role this event plays in bringing together those with a vested interest in the goods movement industry with me and my colleagues. The content-rich sessions truly provide us with an understanding of the complex challenges facing them, and equally important, provide us with an awareness of their substantial successes in resolving those obstacles.”
A “crowd favorite” at this year’s symposium was the TransPORTer display. Provided by the Port of Los Angeles, the TransPORTer allowed attendees to try out a number of interactive exhibits, including a crane operator simulation. An additional 2010 highlight was the symposium’s “Evening Reception.” Held in the beautiful Capitol Rotunda, Senator Alan Lowenthal addressed the California Association of Port Authorities with the Senator Proclamation and a letter of support from Governor Schwarzenegger.
In addition to being the most well attended CMLS event to-date, the 2010 symposium was also the most environmentally friendly. Three Squares Inc. (TSI), a sustainability consulting firm, implemented a number of greening strategies to minimize event production waste, ranging from “no water-bottle”
