2024 WPPA Commissioners Seminar


 

Dear Port Commissioners:

Courtyard by Marriott in Richland, View from the patio

Welcome to the 2024 Commissioners Seminar, hosted this year in the Tri-Cities at the Courtyard by Marriott at Columbia Point in Richland, WA. If you are a new commissioner and this is your first Commissioners Seminar with us, the port community and I are pleased to welcome you to what we hope will be the first of many seminars with WPPA. And for those returning for their second, fifth, or fifteenth, I am thrilled to welcome you to another great event!

This conference is always a high point for me on the list of our educational seminars. At the Commissioners Seminar, our organization’s senor leaders get the chance to learn from each other and hear successes and challenges that make them stop and say “Hey, that same thing happened at my port!” And we also welcome presenters who come and share insight and experience on issues of relevance to your work. We are grateful that our commissioners take time from their busy lives to spend two days diving deep into port issues alongside commissioner colleagues and old friends. Careful or you might have some fun along the way!

We begin the Commissioners Seminar this year on the evening of Monday July 22nd with a reception, and the event will conclude on the afternoon of Wednesday July 24th.

Registration for the Commissioners seminar is $425 and you can register online below. As always, your spouse/partner is welcome at our evening social events, although we do need to know ahead of time for our internal planning purposes.

Please view the draft agenda, registration, and the frequently asked questions (including hotel information) below.

Thank you and we hope to see you in the sunny Tri-Cities!

 
 
 
 

Eric ffitch, Executive Director

Washington Public Ports Association

 

 

2024 COMMISSIONERS SEMINAR AGENDA

Meeting Location:

Courtyard by Marriott, Richland Columbia POint
480 Columbia Point Drive
Richland, WA 99352

509.942.9400


Draft Agenda


Monday, July 22

1:30 pm - Bus tour of the Port of Pasco

5:30 pm - Reception and dinner - Courtyard by Marriott, Columbia Point, Richland
Spouses/guests invited to the evening event


Tuesday, July 23

7:00 am - Breakfast Buffet

8:15 am - Welcome and Announcements

8:30 am - What’s on Your Mind? Open Discussion Forum
One success and one challenge from the past year or the year ahead: We will ask each port to speak, rather than each commissioner

10:00 am - TIF Update – Working Through Challenges with Your Local Government Partners

10:45 am - Break

11:00 am - Tax Levy & Banked Capacity

11:45 - Lunch

1:30 - Nuclear Energy in Washington – Industry Update

2:45 pm - Break

3:00 pm - What’s Happening in WA Wine

4:00 pm - Bus Tour of the Port of Benton

5:30 pm - 8:00 Cocktail Hour and Dinner Reception (offsite - details coming soon)


Wednesday, July 24

8:00 am - Breakfast Buffet

9: 00 am - We’re Hiring: Port Executive Director Recruitment

10:00 am - Break

10:30 am - Best Practices for Managing your Public Meeting With refresher on Roberts Rules of Order

11:45 am - Seminar Adjourn


2024 COMMISSIONERS SEMINAR REGISTRATION


 
 

2024 COMMISSIONERS SEMINAR FAQ

 

Courtyard by Marriott, Richland Columbia Point

 

Meeting Location:
Courtyard by Marriott, RIchland Columbia POint
480 Columbia Point Drive
Richland, WA 99352

509.942.9400


WILL I RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION OF MY REGISTRATION?

Yes! Confirmation of on-line registrations will be sent via email within 48 hours. The confirmation will be sent to the email address shown in the registration section. If you do not receive a confirmation within 2 days, please do not hesitate to email Mandy Lill at mlill@washingtonports.org or you can call 360.878.6299.

WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE?

Dress is business casual.

HOTEL INFORMATION

Our special group rate at the Courtyard by Marriott is $170/night + taxes and a $3.00 tourism fee. THE CUTOFF DATE FOR ROOM RESERVATIONS IS SATURDAY JUNE 22.

 Once our room block is “sold out", standard rates will apply (Please note: our block may sell out any time prior to the cut-off date). This hotel has a 48 hour cancellation policy or you will be charged for your first nights room + taxes and the resort fee.

Reservations can be made online by clicking here OR by calling 509.942.9400 and referencing the Washington Public Ports Association 2024 Commissioners Seminar. You will be asked to guarantee the reservation with a credit card. Check-in time is 3:00 p.m. and check-out time is 12:00 noon.

 

PARKING

There is complimentary self-parking at the Courtyard in Richland.

 

IS THERE A REGISTRATION DEADLINE?

The seminar registration deadline to attend the seminar is Monday, July 15, 2024.

 

WHAT ARE THE REGISTRATION FEES?

Registration for the Commissioners seminar is $425.

 

WHAT DOES MY REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDE?

The registration fees include everything listed on the Commissioners Seminar agenda.

 

DO I NEED TO REGISTER MY GUEST AND IS THERE A CHARGE FOR THEM TO ATTEND?

While there is no separate fee for a spouse/guest to attend the evening receptions, they do need to be registered in advance so we have a proper headcount. Please be sure to include your guests full name on your registration form.

WHAT PORTION OF THE EVENT IS MY GUEST INVITED TO?

Guests are invited and encouraged to attend the receptions on both Monday and Tuesday evening.

I HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES / I’M VEGETARIAN. HOW DO I LET YOU KNOW THIS?

There is a comment section on the registration form. PLEASE note this information there so we can be sure to order meals that accommodate your needs! If you forgot to add this information or have any questions, please contact Mandy Lill: mlill@washingtonports.org or call 360.878.6299.

 

WHAT IF I HAVE TO CANCEL?

A $100 administration fee will be charged for cancellations received after Monday, July 15, 2024, and for registrants failing to show.


 

2024 COMMISSIONERS SEMINAR SPONSORS


please contact mandy lill if you are interested in sponsoring the 2024 WPPA Commissioners Seminar! there are limited sponsorships available.