Philadelphia Hosts Port Management Program

June 5, 2012 -4:00 pm Eastern -Philadelphia – In an industry as dynamic and competitive as the maritime seaport industry, how do you ensure you have the most effective workforce? Recruit, retrain, and retain. Ports around the world must recruit, retrain, and retain management personnel to allow marine transportation systems to remain competitive. And given the vital link seaports play in the global supply chain, it is crucial that our North American ports stay competitive.

Training and professional development opportunities are important tools for business executives in managing sustainable and competitive operations in the maritime and port industry. The seaport industry has significant training for compliance with security regulations, but the industry was lacking an all-encompassing solution for port management executives. MacDonnell Group, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is offering the CPE Certified Port Executiveä Program to fill the training gap.

“The CPE Certified Port Executive™ Program is a program designed to enhance the skill sets of port executives,” said Capt. Jeff Monroe, who is the program designer and instructor. “We needed to offer a program for executives that built on their experience and allowed both senior and up-and-coming personnel to enhance their management capabilities,” said Monroe. “This program is designed with an intensive focus on port management and development from the executive’s view point.”

MacDonnell Group is committed to improving the competitiveness and sustainability of North American ports, and has been encouraging training and information sharing in the maritime and port industry since 2004. MacDonnell Group has trained more than 10,000 port employees throughout North America in maritime and port security, and hosts annual conferences to provide a gathering space and forum for sharing best practices in operations.

The CPE Certified Port Executiveä Program creates a new learning pathway for professionals in the port world. Course topics include an overview of the worldwide intermodal transportation system; port and terminal operations; cargo management; safety and security; emergency planning and response; public and media relations; environmental management; and strategic, master, and business planning.

Ralston MacDonnell, CEO of MacDonnell Group, indicates that the interest in the program to date has been strong. “The CPE Certified Port Executiveä Program is an example of how leading maritime organizations are investing in education and training. In less than two years the program has attracted over 100 participants from port authorities, terminal operators, labour organizations, first nations and the Coast Guard; all of whom are deeply interested in the competitiveness of our ports”.

This week’s program takes place in Philadelphia June 4-8, and participants from as far away as Prince Rupert, British Columbia and Knoxville, TN are attending to expand their port management skills and knowledge. The graduates will become part of a rapidly growing alumnus that is making a difference in the competitiveness of North American ports. Future sessions in 2012 are planned for Miami and Vancouver.

About MacDonnell Group

MacDonnell is a 50 year old engineering and management company that has developed broad interests in Port Management and Seaport Security Training. The company began marketing the PortStar ™ web based Seaport Security Training System for US ports, in 2011. This coupled with a partnership with Georgian College for Great Lakes and Arctic markets and an earlier agreement with British Columbia Institute of Technology for servicing the Canadian west coast, allows the company to meet the needs of customers throughout North America who must meet the regulatory requirements of MTSR in Canada or MSTA in the US. MacDonnell offers MARAD and Transport Canada approved instructor-led or web-based training solutions for the 3.5-4 million workers in the ports of North America. The company now offers the CPE Certified Port Executive Program™ in the US and Canada and has graduates from coast-to-coast. Last month the company hosted the sixth annual Port Security Conference of Canada in Vancouver, Canada, and the first Port security Operations Conference and Expo was held in Tampa, Florida, in March of 2012.

www.macdonnell.com
Press Contact: Leanne Marriott:
p. 902 425 3980