ASSOCIATION IN ACTION

Thoughts of June typically include graduations, vacations, and enjoying warmer temperatures. June of 2023 will also be remembered for its election primaries to select the candidates in both political parties who will run to fill the 140 seats in the Senate and House of the Virginia General Assembly. Redistricting and retirements will result in the election of an unprecedented number of new members and loss of institutional knowledge. The VMA is committed to ensuring we are well positioned to work with those who will be elected to serve in 2024 and beyond. In June, this included discussions with leadership in the General Assembly and attending caucus events held by both political parties well attended by incumbent legislators as well as several seeking office for the first time.

It was also an honor for VMA’s Executive Director, David White, to moderate a maritime industry Q&A session held by Representative Jen Kiggans. The Congresswoman responded to questions covering ship building and repair, channel deepening and maintenance dredging, offshore wind, and more. The VMA is pleased to work with elected leaders on both sides of the aisle to represent and advance the business interests of our membership.

“Developing an Energy Roadmap for Virginia’s Maritime Industry” discussed state and regional efforts to ensure an abundant and reliable energy supply to meet the needs of maritime and transportation operations, and the prospects for hydrogen and other alternative fuel sources. The June 28 virtual Industry Update provided comprehensive overviews of shipping and the container trade, as well as an economic outlook and updates on port operations.

VMA is grateful to the Embassy of Finland and the Hampton Roads Alliance for the opportunity to address a visiting delegation of representatives from Finnish businesses in the maritime industry exploring opportunities to establish new business relationships in the U.S. Making connections with VMA member companies involved in ship building and repair, and port technology were specific areas of interest and discussion.

VMA strives to provide members with opportunities to make connections and to gain insightful and valuable business intelligence. The June 1 Maritime Mixer at The Famous in Portsmouth was well attended. The June 27 Breakfast Briefing

It was a special pleasure to attend the June 29 groundbreaking ceremony at Fairwinds Landing to kickoff construction of the Dominion Energy Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Operations and Maintenance Base. Milestone moments such as this reinforce the purpose and importance of the efforts by VMA dating to 2009 to position our port to become a hub for offshore wind.

VMA represents the interests of our port and member businesses on several standing boards, advisory committees, and in other venues. In June, these included:

• U.S. Coast Guard’s Port Security Grant Program Review Committee

• U.S. Coast Guard’s Area Maritime Security Committee

• Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization Freight Transportation Advisory Committee

New Members

ATLANTIC COAST HAULING

Cargo/Maritime Related Motor Carriers/Intermodal

3599 Progress Avenue Suite 6 Portsmouth, VA 23703 atlantichauling.com h Howard Rohm Chief Administrative Officer info@atlantichauling.com

(757) 800-3560

MUSCO LIGHTING

Cargo/Maritime Related Manufacturers and Distributors 100 1st Avenue, W. Oskaloosa, IA 52577 musco.com/large area lighting h Zack Schrock* Key Account Representative zack.schrock@musco.com

(800) 825–6030

New Additional Reps

h Crystal Bryant Operations Manager equipmentcontrol@midatlanticleasing.com

(757) 487-0303

MID-ATLANTIC LEASING CORP. Chesapeake, VA midatlanticleasingcorp.com

Club Contacts

Customs Brokers & Int’l Freight Forwarders Assn.

Ben Nelson • cbiffa.va@gmail.com

Hampton Roads Coal Association

Finn Host • treasurer@hrcoal.org hrcoal.org

Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council Kevin Speers • info@hrgcc.org hrgcc.org

GROVE, JASKIEWICZ AND COBERT LLP

Affiliated Business Law Firm

1025 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036 gjcobert.com h Andrew Danas Partner adanas@gjcobert.com

(202) 416–0219

PRECAST SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

Affiliated Business Engineers/Naval Architects/Surveyors 5320 Chesawadox Drive Exmore, VA 23350 precastsystemsengineering.com h JP Binard Owner jp.binard@precastsystemsengineering.com

(757) 999–4022 h Michael Lewis

Sr. Project Construction Manager, Marine Affairs michael.b.lewis@dominionenergy.com

(757) 236–8222

DOMINION ENERGY Norfolk, VA coastalvawind.com

MANAKIN INDUSTRIES, LLC

Cargo/Maritime Related Exporters/Importers

758 Doubl Oaks Lane Manakin Sabot, VA 23013 manakinind.com h Robert Kyle Massenburg* Manager of Global Logistics kyle@manakinind.com (804) 784-5514

Propeller Club - Port of Norfolk Noel Stokes • norfolkpropellerclub@gmail.com PropellerClubNorfolk.org

Shenandoah Valley Traffic Club shenandoahtrafficclub@gmail.com shenandoahtrafficclub.com

Tidewater Motor Truck Association Ray Jalkio • ray@servicetransfer.net tmtava.org h K. Barrett Luxhoj* Attorney kbluxhoj@cwm-law.com

(757) 623–3000

CRENSHAW, WARE & MARTIN, P.L.C. Norfolk, VA cwm-law.com

*Young Maritime Professional

Virginia Ship Repair Association Sylvia Bell • 757-233-7034 VirginiaShipRepair.org

Virginia International Business Council robert.davenport@vdacs.virginia.gov vaibc.org