Annual Meeting

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2025 NOACA Annual Meeting & Luncheon

NOACA held its Annual Meeting & Luncheon, on Oct. 3, 2025. This year's theme explored, "Northeast Ohio's Maritime Transportation System: Challenges and Opportunities," and featured a panel discussion on the state of our region's maritime industry, infrastructure, waterway connectivity, investment needs, economic development, and sustainability goals.

Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Executive and NOACA Board President, led this year's panel discussion that included a robust conversation with both local and national maritime professionals. Thanks for lending your time and expertise to this event:

Jon Altenberg, President & CEO, Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
David S. Gutheil, Interim President & CEO/Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Cleveland
Tiffany McClelland, Executive Director, Lorain Port and Finance Authority
Brendan O’Connor, COO, Interlake Maritime Services
Joe Starck, Chairman/CEO, The Great Lakes Group
John Waggoner, CEO, Victory Cruise Lines

Congratulations to this year's recipients of the following awards presented at the Annual Meeting:

Walter F. Ehrnfelt, Jr. Award for Outstanding Regional Contribution
James Rokakis, Senior Advisor for the Ohio Land Bank Association and Western Reserve Land Conservancy

Frank G. Jackson Leadership Award
The Honorable Michael Dylan Brennan, Mayor of University Heights