Port Everglades Association

What Port Everglades Association does

Port Everglades Association is a Florida-domiciled, non-profit membership association founded in 1979 that convenes and represents the businesses operating in and around Port Everglades, Broward County's seaport. It serves 172 member companies spanning cruise lines (Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Viking Cruises), cargo and terminal operators (Port Everglades Terminal LLC, Florida Stevedoring, Ports America, SSA Marine), logistics providers (King Ocean Services, Crowley Logistics, Seacor Island Lines), engineering and professional services firms (AECOM, Jacobs, WSP, Moffatt & Nichol), and financial institutions. Its mission is to champion the success of the port and its member businesses through advocacy, information sharing, and networking.

The association's core products are membership itself, monthly business luncheons held on the first Friday of each month at Lauderdale Yacht Club, the weekly Turn the Tide newsletter, an annual Seaport Golf Tournament, an annual retreat, the 30th Annual International Golden Compass Award Gala (held in partnership with Seafarer's House), the Economic Engine Performance Report, and a searchable member business directory. Underlying technology is limited to a ChamberMaster-hosted website (portbiz.org) with member login, member directory/map, and event registration; the source materials explicitly note that no proprietary technology stack or AI capabilities exist.

The business model is a subscription-recurring membership model: revenue comes from member dues across 21 application categories, supplemented by event-based guest fees (e.g., $40 per luncheon guest) and signature-event sponsorships. Distribution is direct — through the website portal, monthly luncheons, and outreach by a small staff (9 employees) led by Executive Director Lori Baer from the association's office at 1850 Eller Drive, Suite 405, Fort Lauderdale. The association works closely with the Port Everglades Department (Port Director/CEO Joseph Morris), Broward County, and federal agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Name

Port Everglades Association

Legal name

Port Everglades Association Inc

Website

https://portbiz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Port Everglades Association is a 1979-founded Florida non-profit membership association that convenes and advocates for the 172 businesses operating in and around Port Everglades, Broward County's seaport, through monthly luncheons, newsletters, and signature annual events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Port Everglades Association generates revenue through membership dues from port-related businesses including cruise lines, cargo operators, terminal operators, logistics providers, engineers, builders, banks, legal partners, and other maritime service providers. The association offers different membership categories as indicated by the member directory which includes enhanced members and standard members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Port Everglades Association is a non-profit membership organization that unites the businesses powering Port Everglades — including cruise lines, cargo operators, terminal operators, logistics providers, engineers, banks, and legal partners. It sells annual memberships that grant access to monthly business luncheons, networking with port leadership and government agencies, weekly industry updates via the Turn the Tide newsletter, signature annual events, and a searchable member directory.

Product overview

Port Everglades Association operates as a membership-based business organization offering a portfolio of networking and informational services. The core offering consists of membership access combined with monthly luncheons, annual events (golf tournament and retreat), a weekly newsletter (Turn the Tide), and an annual Economic Engine Performance Report. The association also maintains a searchable member business directory. These products work together to connect maritime industry businesses, provide industry intelligence, and advocate for Port Everglades interests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Port Everglades Association Membership Annual membership program connecting port-related businesses (cruise, cargo, terminal operators, logistics, engineering, banks, legal) to Port Everglades leadership, federal/state agencies, and the broader maritime member network. Delivered across 21+ member categories including Accounting & Finance, Banking, Cruise Operations, Terminal & Stevedoring, Marine Services, and Shipping.
• Monthly Business Luncheons
• Turn the Tide Newsletter
• Economic Engine Performance Report
• Annual Sea Port Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament at Plantation Golf Course and Club featuring a hot breakfast, 9am shotgun start, and post-play barbecue lunch with tournament winners and raffle prizes. Open to all members, with foursome booking and sponsorship opportunities.
• PEA Annual Retreat
• Member Business Directory

Quantifiable outcome

• 150,000 seafarers and port workers supported annually through Seafarer's House partnership

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Seafarer's HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort Everglades Association partners with Seafarer's House for the annual International Golden Compass Award Gala. Seafarer's House supports 150,000 seafarers and port workers each year through hospitality, transportation, emergency assistance, pastoral care, and other essential services. The Port Everglades Pilots Association is being honored at the 30th Annual International Golden Compass Award Gala.
• MIASF (Marine Industries Association of South Florida)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort Everglades Association partners with MIASF for community initiatives including the 'Fill That Boat!' School Supply Drive supporting Broward County students and Marine Magnet and CTE Programs, while also supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.
• Lauderdale Yacht ClubminorOthersLauderdale Yacht Club serves as the venue for the association's monthly business luncheons, held on the first Friday of each month at 1725 SE 12th St, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316.
• American Association of Ports Authorities (AAPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort Everglades Association participates in AAPA events including the Annual Convention & Expo scheduled for September 28-30, 2026 at New Orleans Marriott, connecting with ports professionals nationwide.
• Broward CountycoreOthersPort Everglades Association maintains close working relationships with Broward County, including hosting the 18th Annual Southeast Florida Climate Leadership Summit at the Broward County Convention Center. The association works with Broward County Commissioners on issues impacting the port.
• Port Everglades (Broward County Department)coreOthersPort Everglades Association has an integral relationship with Port Everglades (Broward County Department), working collaboratively on port operations, advocacy, and promotion. Joseph Morris serves as Port Director, CEO of Port Everglades.
• U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of AgriculturecoreOthersPort Everglades Association provides networking opportunities with representatives from key federal agencies including U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, helping members navigate regulatory requirements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA): AAPA is the national trade association for port authorities and the broader port industry. Port Everglades Association already participates in AAPA's Annual Convention. AAPA serves a broader national membership and operates at a higher strategic level, but it competes for member engagement and event sponsorship across overlapping port-sector stakeholders.
• Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce: The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber is the regional business chamber covering Broward County. While broader than the maritime niche, it competes for the same enterprise member companies (banks, logistics firms, professional services) that Port Everglades Association serves, and offers overlapping networking and advocacy services at a wider geographic scale.

Regional players

• Broward Workshop: Broward Workshop is a public-policy leadership group of Broward County CEOs and executives addressing regional issues including port infrastructure. It is comparable as a high-level executive networking and advocacy organization in the same Broward County territory, with overlapping membership drawn from the same C-suite at major employers.
• South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: A regional business association serving South Florida's Hispanic business community. Comparable as a regional membership organization offering networking, advocacy, and events in overlapping South Florida territory, competing for the same small/mid-sized business member segment.
• Northwest Maritime (formerly Northwest Marine Trade Association): Northwest Maritime is a Pacific Northwest regional maritime industry association serving boating, marine trade, and port-related businesses. It operates a similar membership/events/advocacy model but focused on the recreational and small-commercial marine industry rather than a single major port.
• Port of South Louisiana (industry association activity): The Port of South Louisiana operates an industry coordination and advocacy function for the largest U.S. port by tonnage. While structured as a port authority rather than a pure membership association, it performs comparable stakeholder coordination and is a relevant benchmark for how regional port ecosystems organize industry representation.

Others

• International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN): ISWAN supports seafarer welfare globally — comparable in mission to Seafarer's House (Port Everglades Association's core partner supporting 150,000 seafarers/port workers annually). Adjacent/partner rather than direct competitor, but relevant for understanding the welfare ecosystem the association participates in.

Direct peers

• Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF): MIASF is the closest peer — a regional maritime industry association serving South Florida's recreational and commercial marine industry. It overlaps directly with Port Everglades Association's geographic territory, runs its own events (e.g., 'Fill That Boat!' School Supply Drive, which they co-host), and competes for the same member companies across the marine/maritime ecosystem.
• Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay: A port-specific maritime exchange serving the Port of Philadelphia/South Jersey region. It is a direct functional peer — providing maritime industry information, advocacy, and networking for businesses operating around a major U.S. port — and competes for the same membership model and value proposition as Port Everglades Association.
• Houston Maritime Industry Association: HMIA is the Houston Ship Channel's port industry association, providing advocacy, networking, and industry information for maritime businesses in one of the largest U.S. port complexes. Direct functional peer operating the same port-stakeholder coordination model in a different (larger) geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/port-everglades-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Port Everglades Association