2026 Spring Meeting Agenda
Skamania Lodge
1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way
Skamania, WA 98648
509-314-4177 (this is their general line, not the reservation number)
Monday, May 18
Spring Meeting Optional Activities:
Mini Golf Tournament | 2:00 – 3:30 | Little Eagle 18 at Skamania Lodge
We are once again having an optional mini golf tournament at the lodge and we hope you can join us on Monday, May 18th at 2:00 pm! There is no extra fee to participate but you must register to play and there are limited spots! Teams will be assembled by WPPA staff at the event. Side bets and heckling are allowed and a year’s worth of bragging rights are on the line!
Registration for golf is on the same form as the regular event registration, click on the link at the top of this page.
More details to come!
Port of Skamania Informal Open House | 4:00 – 6:00 pm | Port of Skamania Waterfront
The Port of Skamania has once again generously offered to host an open house at their port offices along the beautiful Columbia River in downtown Skamania! If you were there in 2024, you know this is a great event.
Stop by the Stevenson Waterfront to chat with Port of Skamania commissioners and staff, have some light appetizers, and network with your peers. This is located at the park next to the Port of Skamania offices. We look forward to seeing you there!
Port address: 212 SW Cascade Avenue, Stevenson
Tuesday, May 19
Registration Desk Opens at 8:00 am
Conference Center Lobby
Committee Meetings | 8:30 – 11:45 am
Committee meetings are open to everyone, even if you are not registered for the Spring Meeting. If you intend to stay after your committee meeting and want to join us for lunch or any other sessions, you do need to register as a Spring Meeting attendee. Let Mandy know if you have any questions.
Agendas will be posted here as soon as we have them
8:30 – 11:30 am
- Legal – Stevenson CD
8:30 – 10:00 am
- Trade & Transportation – Stevenson B
- Marina – Hood Room
- Environmental – Stevenson A1
10:15 – 11:45 am
- Economic Development – Stevenson B
- Aviation – Stevenson A
10:15 – 11:15 am
- Communications – View Agenda Here – Hood Room
Luncheon | 12:00 – 1:30 | Cascade Locks Ballroom
Spring Meeting Program Officially Begins with a Luncheon at 12:00 pm
Welcomer: Representative, Kevin Waters, 17th Legislative District
Keynote Program: “It’s goin’ down, I’m yellin’, “Timber!”
Jason S. Spadaro, WA Forest Protection Association
Heath Heikkila, American Forest Resource Council
General Session | 2:00 – 4:00 pm | Stevenson Ballroom
2:00 – 2:50 pm – World Cup in Washington: Regional Preparations & Long-term Implications
Cat Soper, Port of Everett
Beth Knox, SeattleFWC26
3:00 – 4:00 pm – Industry Update: The State of Nuclear Energy
Daniel Himebaugh, Energy Northwest
Andrew Neill, NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute)
Associate Member Reception | 4:00 – 6:00 pm | Cascade Locks Ballroom
Join us for a relaxing and welcoming afternoon of connection and conversation! All attendees and spouses are invited to enjoy delicious appetizers and refreshing beverages while mingling with our Associate Members. Whether you’re looking for expert insights, curious about industry trends, or just want to put faces to names, this is the perfect chance to engage in casual networking.
Here’s who you’ll find at the tables so far, come say hello!
Mantle Industries
Attention Associate Members: If you’d like to reserve a table, contact Mandy Lill.
Evening: Dinner on Your Own
Please plan ahead for dining out and make reservations when available.
Wednesday May 20
Rise-n-Shine Walk! Optional walk at 6:15 am with Your Executive Director, Eric ffitch!
This is a great opportunity to check out the beautiful scenery in Skamania! Meet in the main Hotel Lobby at 6:10 am, we leave at 6:15 am sharp! Waters and juices will be available.
Ports Only Breakfast | 8:00 – 9:00 am | Cascade Locks Ballroom
This breakfast is for registered Port Commissioners, Executive Directors, Port staff, and Life Members only
General Session | 9:15 – 11:30 am | Stevenson Ballroom
9:15 – 10:15 am – Public Meetings & Public Records in the Age of AI
Tim Schermetzler, CSD Attorneys at Law
10:30 – 11:30 am: Washington’s Manufacturing Economy
Max Martin, Association of Washington Business
Luncheon | 12:00 pm – 1:20 | Cascade Locks Ballroom
Keynote: Maryhill Museum of Art at 100 Years
Amy Behrens, Executive Director
General Session | 1:45 – 4:30 | Stevenson Ballroom
1:45 – 2:45 pm – Report on the 2026 Legislative Session
Eric ffitch, Executive Director, WPPA
Carly Michiels, Senior Director of Environmental Policy, WPPA
James Cockburn, Government Relations Manager, WPPA
3:00 – 4:30 pm – Port Reports
Port of Garfield
Port of Grandview
Third Port Invited
Hawaiian Luau Reception | 4:30 – 6:30 pm | Moonlight Pavilion & Forest Fire Pit
We’ll wrap up our day with a casual reception that will provide plenty of time to network with your peers and unwind from a long day of meetings! So get out out your Hawaiian shirts and island wear and join us to enjoy some delicious food and beverages. Spouses are encouraged to attend the festivities!
*Please note the programming change from years past. While we will have a great selection of food, this reception event will end at 6:30 which gives attendees an opportunity to go out and enjoy an evening on the town if you want!
Thursday May 21
Awards Breakfast | 8:00 am | Cascade Locks Ballroom
Please join us for breakfast and our Spring Meeting awards ceremony
- Spring Scholarship Award
- Community Outreach Award
- Creative Partnership Award
- Outstanding Job Creator Award
- Environmental Stewardship Award
- Compass Awards
Board of Trustees Meeting | Immediately Following Awards Breakfast | Cascade Locks Ballroom
Meeting adjourns by 11:00 am
* Please note: WPPA does not sell event attendee information, nor do we provide event information to anyone outside our membership. If you receive an email offering conference attendee lists, please forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org and report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.