May 22, 2024 – Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) USA, celebrated a notable increase in membership, with nearly 60% first-time attendees, at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference held on May 16 – 17 in San Diego, California.
The event commenced with Pre-Conference Professional Development Sessions, featuring Lourdes Evans, Connecticut Chapter President; Kirsten Buccigrossi, RiverTech/Akima; Tara Joseph, Make Your Mark Communications; Alexandra Anagnostis, Total Marine Solutions; Erica Compton, The Pasha Group; Danielle Centeno, The American Club; and Elizabeth McCarthy, Lyons and Flood Law Firm; offering members valuable perspectives on upskilling, effective communication, and navigating career transitions. This was followed by a Port of San Diego Harbor Tour, providing participants with an immersive experience into the bustling operations of the West Coast maritime industry.
At the AGM segment of the two-day event, WISTA USA elected Kassandra Savicki, Counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright to its board of directors, replacing Jeanne Grasso, Partner at Blank Rome LLP, who concluded her tenure on the board. Additionally, Christina Liviakis Gianopulos, Director of Business Development at American Ship Repair and WISTA USA President, and Jillian Tobias, Founder and President of LogOn Media Strategies and WISTA USA Vice President, were elected to serve for a second term; and Marlene Boyer, Global Commercial Manager at Stolt Tankers was elected to a third term.
WISTA USA recognized Ms. Grasso for her decades of outstanding leadership and dedication to WISTA USA. Ms. Grasso served as President of WISTA USA from 2008 through 2013 before being appointed Executive Committee Member for WISTA International for two terms. She will now serve on the Advisory Council.
The 2024 – 2025 WISTA USA Board includes Ms. Gianopulos, Ms. Tobias, Ms. Boyer, Ms. Savicki, as well as Kate Belmont, Associate General Counsel, American Bureau of Shipping; Sarah Brennan, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard; Sarah Burroughs, Senior Manager Audit Programs, Holland America Group; Meredith Kirby, General Counsel, International Registries, Inc. and Executive Committee Member, WISTA International; and Anna Silva, HSE/Cruise Manager, Port Everglades Terminals.
Emily Sinclair, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications and Brand Management at The Pasha Group, replaced Amanda Newberry, Senior Manager of Strategic Marketing at the American Bureau of Shipping, as Press Secretary. Ms. Newberry served three years as Press Officer, building WISTA USA’s Communications Committee and overseeing media and outreach responsibilities. Rae Velez, long-time WISTA USA member, concluded her tenure as Membership Secretary.
After the AGM, the conference began with a welcome address from Randa Coniglio, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of the Port of San Diego. Following this, the ‘Women on the Water’ panel, featuring Cassandra Clark, Maersk Line, Limited; Jenny Johnson, Maritime Inclusion Partners; Vera Lannek, Carnival Corporation; Serena Martin, Matson & MEBA; and Ashanti Storr, ABL Group; engaged attendees with an inspiring discussion on career transitions and initiatives promoting inclusivity within the maritime industry.
The ‘Curious Case of California: Environmental Reality Check’ panel, with Jacqueline Moore, PMSA; Valerie Do Carmo, TraPac, LLC; Frances Keeler, Peacock Piper Tong + Voss, LLP; Shawn Bennett, Baydelta Maritime; and Heather Arias, California Air Resources Board; discussed California’s freight environmental regulations, how companies are navigating, and collaborative opportunities.
Additionally, the ‘Geopolitical Issues, Global Trade & Sustainability’ panel, with Bill Gallagher, IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry; Gina Venezia, NorthStandard; Ifigeneia Xanthopoulou, Genco Shipping & Trading Limited; and Marlene Boyer, Stolt Tankers USA, Inc.; shed light on the intersection of current geopolitical realities with sustainability and global trade dynamics. Introducing a new feature to the conference presented by Alison Torbitt, Nixon Peabody, the ‘Innovation Stage’ presentations showcased groundbreaking projects from Eileen Tausch, Crowley; Lina Tenenbaum, International Seaways; Meg Dowling, American Bureau of Shipping; Dina Aryan-Zahlan, Port of Los Angeles; and Samantha Fennell, Pacific Maritime Association; that ignited dynamic discussion about the future of maritime innovation. The conference concluded with a gala honoring WISTA USA’s 26 years of leadership and progress in the U.S. maritime community.
2024 WISTA USA AGM Sponsors include 2024 Lighthouse Sponsor, IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry; Harbor Tour Sponsor, Port of San Diego; Gold Sponsors, American Maritime Officers, American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier, and The American Club; Silver Sponsors, Jones Walker, K&L Gates, The Pasha Group, and Total Marine Solutions; Bronze Sponsors, American Ship Repair, Cozen O’Connor, Curtin Maritime, EMR, Jeffrey Fenneman, Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA), Port of Los Angeles, and SUNY Maritime College Offshore Wind Program; Coffee Sponsors, Flynn Delich & Wise LLP, and International Seaways, Inc.; and Yoga Sponsor Peacock Piper Tong + Voss LLP. WISTA USA Annual Corporate Sponsors include ABS, Blank Rome LLP, Crowley, Maersk Line, Limited, Matson, OSG, The Pasha Group, Total Marine Solutions, and Venable LLP.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, WISTA International is an international networking organization for women in management roles in the maritime industry and related trades. WISTA International comprises more than 4,000 members in 56 countries. WISTA USA, founded in 1997, is the largest National WISTA Association (NWA) worldwide, with more than 900 members spread across twelve regional Chapters: Connecticut; Delaware River & Bay Area; Florida; Great Lakes/Midwest; Hampton Roads; New England; New Orleans; New York / New Jersey; the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Washington, and Oregon); Texas; Washington, DC Metro; and West Coast (California and Hawai’i). WISTA USA members represent all facets of the maritime industry, including shipowners, charterers, operators, brokers, bankers, insurance professionals, attorneys, analysts, and government officials.
WISTA USA’s main goals are providing networking and educational opportunities for WISTA USA members. In pursuit of these objectives, our various regional Chapters hold periodic meetings, seminars, and social gatherings throughout the year, occasionally in conjunction with larger marine industry events. In addition, the WISTA USA Annual General Meeting takes place each spring, and the International Conference, open to all WISTA members worldwide, takes place each fall. All of these events – whether local, regional, national, or international – provide tremendous networking and educational opportunities for our members and thereby enhance the benefits of membership in the organization.
