AAPA posthumously honors Cernak for port industry service

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has posthumously recognized the late Steve Cernak with the Distinguished Service Award.

Cernak was chief executive officer and director of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He died last month after fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63.

The association's Distinguished Service Award is periodically presented to an individual for his or her dedicated efforts on behalf of all ports in the Western Hemisphere for the enrichment of the maritime and port industries, according to an AAPA press release.

Cernak also was the AAPA's immediate past chairman and its 2019 Cruise Person of the Year Award recipient.

"Steve was a good friend for many years, starting back when he worked with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and through his time at Galveston and at Port Everglades," said AAPA President and Kurt Nagle. "He was always supportive and a champion for the importance of ports being united to share best practices, collaborate on common challenges and advocate collectively on key policy issues."