Regiment

MMA Hosts Maritime Academies Conference

MMA proudly hosted the inaugural State Maritime Academy Leadership Conference during the weekend of March 24, 2017. Current and aspiring student leaders from Maine Maritime and Massachusetts Maritime Academy gathered to share ideas, network and participate in
presentations offered by leaders in transportation, business, manufacturing, construction and energy.

Delegates were welcomed by President Brennan during the opening dinner, and later attended the Inaugural Founders Day Ball.

Bethann Rooney, Assistant Director of Ports for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and a SUNY Maritime alumna, offered Saturday’s keynote address, “Leadership in the Changing and Challenging Maritime Industry.”

The program continued with presentations by MMA alumni Capt. Gordon “Mac” MacArthur ’00, Peter Mento, Ph.D. ’93, John Sewall ’87, and Alumni Association President Joseph Cote ’82. Speakers discussed their career paths and how experiential, hands-on learning at MMA shaped their abilities to lead, mentor and collaborate with other professionals.

Following, delegates enjoyed friendly competition in a 5K fun run, turns on the climbing wall and pick-up basketball games. The day concluded with a roundtable discussion in which leaders shared challenges and solutions for implementation on their campuses.

The weekend culminated with the presentation of challenge coins to attendees by Commandant of Midshipman, Capt. Nathan Gandy and a
palpable spirit of camaraderie among the student leaders participating in what will become an annual event.
— BY LT. ALLISON SMALL