Angela Chao Was a Featured Speaker at CMA Shipping 2015
Stamford, CT
March 25, 2015
March 25, 2015
The Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) Shipping 2015, International Shipping Trade Conference and Exposition, was a smashing success by all accounts. More than 2,500 shipping industry leaders, including company owners, managers and other professionals attended the annual event, held this year at the Hilton Stamford. The conference and exposition provided participants with three days of workshops, peer networking, and abundant opportunities to share ideas and industry developments.
One of the highlights of Shipping 2015 was the “Generational Shift” panel discussion, which brought together the younger generation of leaders representing some of the most influential shipping industry companies in the world. The event, which took place on the last day of the conference and was moderated by Dagfinn Lunde, a long-standing industry expert, offered a candid and rare glimpse into the shipping family dynasties and the gifts that are passed down from generation to generation. Angela Chao, Deputy Chair of the Foremost Group, was one of the speakers on the panel, along with industry colleagues Vassals Kertsikoff, Chairman and CEO of Eletson Gas LLC, Phrixos B. Papachristidis, CEO and Managing Director of Hellespont Ship Management GMBH & Co. KG, and Joshua Shapiro, Vice President of Liberty Maritime Corporation.
Angela Chao, daughter of the founders of the Foremost Group, shared with the audience the important lessons of personal and professional integrity that were passed down from her parents to their children. This theme of integrity was one that was repeated throughout the panel discussion. Papachristidis was asked if his family had ever made a mistake, to which he replied with the lesson he received in how to turn every mistake into a learning opportunity. Kertisikoff spoke about how his father stressed to him the importance of excelling at whatever job he undertakes, regardless of whether he joined the shipping industry or the sanitation department. Shapiro discussed his father’s emphasis on financial security—making it a priority to first reduce debt whenever cash is available.
With such personal tone, this panel discussion received excellent feedback from guests, and was said to be one of the top highlights of the conference.
One of the highlights of Shipping 2015 was the “Generational Shift” panel discussion, which brought together the younger generation of leaders representing some of the most influential shipping industry companies in the world. The event, which took place on the last day of the conference and was moderated by Dagfinn Lunde, a long-standing industry expert, offered a candid and rare glimpse into the shipping family dynasties and the gifts that are passed down from generation to generation. Angela Chao, Deputy Chair of the Foremost Group, was one of the speakers on the panel, along with industry colleagues Vassals Kertsikoff, Chairman and CEO of Eletson Gas LLC, Phrixos B. Papachristidis, CEO and Managing Director of Hellespont Ship Management GMBH & Co. KG, and Joshua Shapiro, Vice President of Liberty Maritime Corporation.
Angela Chao, daughter of the founders of the Foremost Group, shared with the audience the important lessons of personal and professional integrity that were passed down from her parents to their children. This theme of integrity was one that was repeated throughout the panel discussion. Papachristidis was asked if his family had ever made a mistake, to which he replied with the lesson he received in how to turn every mistake into a learning opportunity. Kertisikoff spoke about how his father stressed to him the importance of excelling at whatever job he undertakes, regardless of whether he joined the shipping industry or the sanitation department. Shapiro discussed his father’s emphasis on financial security—making it a priority to first reduce debt whenever cash is available.
With such personal tone, this panel discussion received excellent feedback from guests, and was said to be one of the top highlights of the conference.