MIDDLETOWN, N.J. - TelAve -- The Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII) announced that John Nardi, President of the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey (SANYNJ), will receive the Connie Award. Steven Rothberg, Founding Partner of Mercator International LLC, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the CII Connie Awards Luncheon on December 8, 2025, at the Newark Liberty International Airport Hotel.

John Nardi, a 35-year veteran of the maritime industry, became SANYNJ president in 2013 after serving as executive vice president. He led negotiations for a landmark six-year labor agreement with the International Longshoremen's Association, ensuring stability at the Port of New York and New Jersey through 2024. He co-chaired the Port Performance Task Force in 2014 and currently serves as vice chair of the Council on Port Performance. Nardi began his career at Atlantic Container Line and later held senior roles at Hapag-Lloyd (America) Inc. He serves on the boards of the United States Maritime Alliance and the North American Maritime Safety Association.

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Steven Rothberg brings over 47 years of experience in global freight, port development, and intermodal infrastructure. A graduate of Cornell University and MIT, he began his career with Southern Pacific Railroad, helping design North America's first double-stack intermodal trains. Rothberg held senior roles at United States Lines, Sea-Land Service, and Macquarie Capital and has led Mercator International in completing more than 500 consulting projects worldwide. He also played a key role in forming the Northwest Seaport Alliance between the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma.

The event will also advance CII's education mission by awarding scholarships to logistics students and supporting institutions that train future industry leaders. CII has awarded over $1 million in scholarships to date.

Companies can support ongoing education by contributing to named scholarships starting at $1,000. For information, contact Executive Director Lisa Aurichio at 917-476-8366 or info@containerization.org