North Star Port

DULUTHPORT.COM | 17 Duluth Seaway Port Authority Chief Financial Officer Kevin Beardsley recently earned Port P r o f e s s i o n a l M a n a g e r ( P P M ) certification from the American Association of Port Authorities following the successful com - pletion of his cap- stone project. Beardsley collab- orated with Ceasar Duarte, director of e n g i n e e r i n g a n d o p e r a t i o n s w i t h the New Bedford ( M a s s a c h u s e t t s ) Port Authority, to author "Optimiz - ing Capital Invest- ment Strategy," a paper detailing CIS d e v e l o p m e n t f o r m i d - s i z e d p o r t s. The duo explored the need to balance revenue maximization and strate- gic alignment with a port's mission, risk management, ethical consid- erations, the impact of the global economy, and local community engagement as part of creating a successful CIS. Their findings pro- vided valuable insights for port pro- fessionals looking to implement a CIS that drives profitability, growth and long-term success. Established in 1995, the PPM program is a comprehensive port and supply chain education cur- riculum that includes nearly 250 hours of study and participation across all aspects of the port man- agement profession. "Definitely a worthwhile experi- ence," said Beardsley. "Port leaders face a wide variety of topics and challenges each day, and the PPM program reflects that with its cur- riculum. Plus, as the saying goes, 'If you've seen one port, you've seen one port,' so by working with a cohort from all over the Americas, we learned from each other's dif- ferent experiences and perspectives." Beardsley joined the Port Authority in 2014 and leads all financial activities and planning for the organization. He is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 30 years of experience in financial anal- ysis, accounting, taxation and stra- tegic planning. " K e v i n a n d I came to the Port Authority at almost the same time, so we've worked together for 10 years, strategizing and implement- ing as a team. I credit that working partnership for much of what I feel has been a particularly fruitful 10 years for the Port Authority. Kevin has been a tremendous asset to the organization, a true catalyst in our success," said Deb DeLuca, execu- tive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. "His finance skills were fine-tuned from the start, and now, with a decade of experience helping drive the Port Authority's overall mission, plus his work in the PPM program, he's also enhanced his skills on the policy side of the port business. That's a winning combination for our team, our port and our region." Kevin Beardsley Christmas arrives early at Clure Terminal Beardsley earns PPM certification Duluth Cargo Connect unwrapped a shiny new addition to its fleet of lifting equipment in October with the arrival of a new telehandler from Nevada-based Xtreme Manufacturing. The American-made XR1255 fea- tures a maximum lift capacity of 12,000 pounds, a lift height of up to 55 feet and a forward reach of 38 feet. Its 120-horsepower engine meets Tier 4F standards, which are designed to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. With a wide outrigger stance and cen- ter-mounted powertrain, it's stable, nimble and ready to expedite cargo moves throughout the Clure Public Marine Terminal. "Our team is excited about it," said Jonathan Lamb, president of Duluth Cargo Connect. "Early feedback is that it's comfortable, agile and powerful. If it's all that and reliable, too, then it'll be a great addition to our operations."

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