(NEW YORK) — The board of the U.S. chapter of the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) has appointed Parker Harrison, vice president of procurement for Crowley Maritime Corp., as president at WISTA USA’s annual general meeting in New York City. She takes over the presidency from Alexandra Anagnostis-Irons of Total Marine Solutions.
The WISTA USA board includes Anagnostis-Irons, Jeanne Grasso of Blank Rome LLP, Frances Keeler of Clyde & Co. (U.S.), Laura Sherman of International Registries Inc., Boriana Farrar of Shipowners Claims Bureau Inc., Kathy Haines of Heidmar Inc., and Kathy Plemer of Chaffe McCall LLP. The membership also elected Marlene Boyer of Chembulk Tankers to the board.
“I am honored to be stepping into the role of president of an organization to which — and to the members of which — I owe so much, both professionally and personally. We are a bigger, stronger, and more diverse group now than ever before and I look forward to further developing WISTA USA with the support of our chapter presidents, members, and partners,” said Harrison.
Harrison has been a member of WISTA USA since 2004 and has served as WISTA USA membership secretary since 2008. In her acceptance speech, Harrison noted that WISTA USA has grown rapidly in the last 10 years. She plans to continue this expansion, through the creation of additional chapters and a pilot student chapter program to further mentoring and professional development of the next generation of female leaders in the marine industry.
WISTA is an international networking organization for women in management roles in the maritime industry and related trades. WISTA comprises nearly 3,000 members in 40 countries. WISTA USA, founded in 1997, is among the largest National WISTA Associations (NWAs) worldwide, with more than 540 members spread across ten regional chapters: Connecticut; Delaware River and Bay Area; Florida; New England; New Orleans; New York/New Jersey; the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Washington, and Oregon); Texas; Washington, D.C. metro; and West Coast (California and Hawaii). WISTA USA members represent all facets of the maritime industry, including shipowners, charterers, operators, brokers, bankers, insurance professionals, attorneys, analysts, and government officials.
WISTA USA’s main goals are providing networking and educational opportunities for WISTA USA members. In pursuit of these objectives, regional chapters hold periodic meetings, seminars, and social gatherings throughout the year, occasionally in conjunction with larger marine industry events. In addition, the WISTA USA annual general meeting takes place each spring, and the international conference, open to all WISTA members worldwide, takes place each fall. All of these events — whether local, regional, national, or international — provide networking and educational opportunities for members and thereby enhance the benefits of membership in the organization. For more information on WISTA USA, visit http:www.wista.net/us.
