Port of Long Beach Educates Executives

The Port of Long Beach has not lost sight of the significance of professional development in supporting the Port’s decade-long $4 billion investment in upgrades and efficiency improvements. The port’s commitment to boosting its competitiveness in the long term extends beyond rebuilding and replacing outdated facilities and infrastructure, to ensuring its human resources are prepared to help build the port of the future.

“Having a full understanding of all the operations of the port and how departments and roles work together to achieve an overall goal is a valuable asset to our workforce,” says Dr. Noel Hacegaba, acting deputy executive director and chief operating officer of the Port of Long Beach. “And this course provided that comprehensive overview.” 

Dr. Hacegaba participated in this week’s CPE Certified Port Executive Program held at the port along with six other port employees and five other managers from rail, terminal operations and other American ports. The addition of the credentials gives the Port of Long Beach managers the tools and knowledge to individually make a more effective contribution to the organization, and to function more cohesively as a team. 

MacDonnell Group president Ralston MacDonnell explains the development of the program: “The maritime industry is constantly changing; management faces new realities and effective leadership requires a comprehensive understanding of the overall context. The course was designed to cover rapidly changing regulations and requirements that affect ports, marine facilities, transportation providers, supply chain operators and vessels, and is valuable to all levels of management from all related industry stakeholders.” 

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.

The course was developed by the MacDonnell Group and delivered by Captain Jeffrey Monroe, CPE, MM, MTM, a licensed master mariner with a master’s degree in transportation management.