Tucker Perkins is the President and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit that invests in the research and development of propane-powered innovation and promotes the safe, efficient use of propane through safety training and education programs.

Perkins has 40 years of experience in the propane industry, including operating his own propane retail company in Virginia, as well as holding executive positions at CleanFuel USA and Inergy Propane. He is active with many industry organizations, including the National Propane Gas Association, World LP Gas Association, Industrial Truck Association, and Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.

Perkins is a dynamic and relatable leader who has amplified propane’s voice in the national energy conversation as a frequent keynote speaker on energy-related topics. He is also host of the podcast Path to Zero, which provides a platform to engage with energy thought leaders in provocative discussions regarding energy and the environment.

He holds a BS in civil engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the University of Richmond.

Mr. Darwin Telemaque was born in the village of Wesley, on the Caribbean island of Dominica.

Mr. Telemaque’s tertiary studies began at the University of the Virgin Islands and he subsequently continued studies in Management and Marketing at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. He holds a Master’s in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the Caribbean Maritime University in Jamaica, and his professional designations include Certified Port Executive (C.P.E). He is presently pursuing his Professional Port Manager (PPM) designation from the American Association of Port Authorities.

Mr. Telemaque is employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua Port Authority, where he is currently overseeing the USD $100 million redevelopment of the St. John’s Harbour. This development represents a major step in regional port and transportation management and will include a comprehensive digital platform, of which the IMO required Maritime Single Window has become a reality and is being considered the basis for further integration across the Port Eco system.

Mr. Telemaque’s many years of training and experience has afforded him opportunities to engage with several regional and international agencies including:

• The World Bank
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States
• Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States
• CARICOM
• Organization of the American States (OAS) and
• Port Management of the Association of the Caribbean (PMAC)

In addition to Chairman of the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC), Mr. Telemaque is currently Vice Chairman of the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and Vice President, International Committee of Ports of the Organization of the American States (OAS).

Greg Sisson is an executive-level cybersecurity leader with extensive experience in developing and implementing cybersecurity programs that address the unique challenges faced by critical infrastructure owners and operators. As a co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of CI-Discern, Greg leads efforts to enhance governance, oversight, and strategic capabilities for critical infrastructure owners and operators, helping them align cybersecurity programs with regulatory requirements, and ensuring a risk-based approach.

Prior to co-founding CI-Discern, Greg served as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), where he oversaw department-wide cybersecurity operations, risk management, and compliance. He also held the position of Managing Director in EY’s Energy Cybersecurity Consulting practice, where he worked with CISOs across power and utilities, oil and natural gas, and global manufacturing sectors to transform their cybersecurity programs.

Greg’s public service career includes leadership roles at Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN), where he directed global defensive cyberspace operations, and at the Joint Staff, where he contributed to the development of the DOD’s Cyber Strategy. A proud military veteran, Greg retired as a Signal Officer after serving over 20 years in the U.S. Army.

Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of South Carolina Aiken and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Warfare in Newport, RI. He is a respected advisor to CISOs, CIOs, and CTOs, bringing deep expertise in aligning cybersecurity programs with frameworks like NIST and CISA guidelines to foster resilience and operational efficiency.

Thomas Damsgaard is head of BIMCO in the Americas, where his responsibilities encompass member interest and industry engagement for the Americas.

Thomas started an exciting shipping career in 1990 and has earned his stripes in a succession of increasingly challenging roles within senior management and leadership for maritime market leaders. He has lead several maritime start-ups and turnarounds and acted as an external advisor on leadership, strategy and optimization to global maritime, logistics and PE organizations. He has served on professional boards within shipping and logistics.

An active member of the Houston community, he fills leading roles including for the Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association, Advisory Board at University of Houston; he founded the Danish American Chamber of Commerce and a non-for profit maritime scholarship fundraiser.

Thomas holds an MBA in Shipping & Logistics (Blue MBA) from Copenhagen Business School.

As Director of Public Safety & Security, Mr. David St. Pierre is responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of the port’s security and emergency action plans and manages the daily activities of the SeaPort Manatee security department. He also oversees the port’s licensing and permitting programs. In addition to his routine duties Mr. St. Pierre is the course writer and lead instructor for the port’s certified Facility Security Officer (FSO) training program.

Mr. St. Pierre retired from the United States Coast Guard in 2002 after 22 years of honorable service and has been employed at SeaPort Manatee since 2005. Mr. St. Pierre holds a degree in Homeland Security from Keiser University, is a Certified Port Executive and a member of the Tampa Bay – Area Maritime Security Committee.

Wilfred de Gannes is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Shipbuilding and Repair Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. (SRDC). He currently leads the development of the La Brea Shipyard Project, a transformational maritime hub positioned to serve international shipping, offshore energy, and industrial repair markets. Expanding his vision into technology, Mr. de Gannes also heads the “Marseille of the Americas” AI Data Center initiative, designed to position Trinidad and Tobago as a global leader in hyper scale computing and competitive digital infrastructure.

James Watson is currently an independent consultant providing business development services to maritime clients. He previously held the position of Senior Vice President of American Bureau of Shipping Global Government Services, where he was responsible for the government market sector across the four ABS divisions and technology. Before becoming Senior VP of Global Government Services, Watson was President and COO for the Americas Division where he was responsible for all operations of the American Bureau of Shipping in the Western Hemisphere. Prior to joining ABS, Watson served as Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement at the US Department of Interior. In this role he provided regulatory oversight for energy exploration and production on the US Outer Continental Shelf. Before becoming BSEE Director, Watson served as the US Coast Guard’s Director of Prevention Policy for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship, where his responsibilities included commercial vessel safety and security, ports and cargo safety and security and maritime investigations. He was also designated as the Federal On-Scene Coordinator for the government-wide response to the Macondo incident in the Gulf of Mexico. Watson earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Marine Engineering from USCGA in 1978. He received his Master of Science in Naval Architecture and his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1985. Watson earned an additional Master of Science in Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in 2001.

Mr. Von Ah has been a Director in GAO’s Physical Infrastructure team since 2017. He is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of work on a variety of infrastructure issues including maritime and maritime-related infrastructure among other things. Mr. Von Ah entered federal service with GAO in 2000 and has spent his entire career examining various issues related to infrastructure. Mr. Von Ah received a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of California at Los Angeles in 2000, and a Bachelor’s of Cultural Anthropology from the University of California at Irvine in 1992.

Kevin Anjel Damoa is the inventor, engineer, and designer behind Glīd Technologies, where he’s fundamentally reshaping how the world moves freight through autonomous road-to-rail vehicles and AI-powered coordination platforms.

A 23-year logistics operator and dual-service U.S. military veteran, Kevin brings a rare blend of deep operational expertise and forward-looking innovation. His impactful career includes leadership roles at SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Hydroplane, Harley Davidson, and XOS Trucks. Notably, at SpaceX, Kevin personally architected and scaled the flight module logistics division from the ground up, building the foundation for launch and recovery operations across multiple national sites.

His unique fusion of hands-on design thinking and masterful systems execution now anchors Glīd’s mission to decarbonize freight, enhance labor efficiency, and revitalize underutilized infrastructure across ports, rail, and industrial corridors. Glīd’s innovative approach, powered by its AI logistics platform EZRA-1SIX, is projected to slash emissions by over 90% while comprehensively modernizing America’s supply chain.

Kevin is deeply passionate about building solutions that serve both people and planet. He’s leading the charge to reindustrialize America, creating dignified jobs and accessible pathways for workforce development, particularly within marginalized communities, and pioneering new standards in clean, resilient logistics. His work embodies engineering excellence fused with bold, human-centered evangelism, driving innovation that truly moves the world forward.

Joseph C. Powell, MPE, is a seasoned maritime executive with over two decades of expertise in waterfront operations, port security, emergency management, and business development. With a distinguished career spanning the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard, and private sector leadership, Joseph has built a reputation for his ability to strategize, implement, and oversee complex safety, security, and development programs on both national and international stages.

Currently serving as the Director of Security for Port Pascagoula, Joseph has been instrumental in advancing the port’s operational growth and environmental sustainability. He spearheaded the development of the port’s Green Marine certification, significantly reducing its environmental footprint. His innovative Maritime Cybersecurity Program, aligned with NVIC 01-20 compliance, earned the prestigious Lighthouse Award for Best Practices in Cybersecurity from the American Association of Port Authorities. A proven leader in business development, Joseph successfully crafted and implemented a Strategic Plan Request for Proposal (RFP), outlining long-term objectives and positioning the Port of Pascagoula for sustained growth. His efforts directly led to the approval of customs clearance for 1,500 containers monthly, streamlining import/export operations and enhancing the port’s revenue potential. As the primary liaison for workforce initiatives, Joseph actively promotes maritime careers and generational education through programs such as “We Work the Waterways” and “GenSea.”

Previously, as Director of Compliance at Maritime Defense Strategy LLC, Joseph worked closely with Fortune 500 companies to design and implement cutting-edge security and compliance programs, ensuring adherence to Department of Homeland Security regulations. His leadership resulted in the creation of over 300 U.S. Coast Guard-approved Facility Security Plans, 1,500+ safety audits, and the development of training programs that enhanced operational efficiency for clients nationwide.

An industry thought leader, Joseph is a Certified Maritime Port Executive and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from the University of Arizona. He is a member of the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee and serves as President of the Port of Pascagoula Propeller Club.